In Meitei religion and Meitei mythology, the Guardians of the Directions or Maikei Ngaakpa Lai refers to the deities who rule the specific directions of space according to Sanamahism.[1]
There are mainly ten Guardians of the Directions in Meitei mythology. These are the following:
| Name | Meitei Transliteration | Direction | Description | Consort | Associated creature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kounu | ꯀꯧꯅꯨ | North | She's the goddess who dwells in the snows of far north. Kounuthel (ꯀꯧꯅꯨꯊꯦꯜ), a stream, flowing in the Kounu Hill (ꯀꯧꯅꯨ ꯆꯤꯡ) is considered to be her native place. She's the mother of Lord Loyalakpa. | Lainingthou Koubru | |
| Lok Ningthou | ꯂꯣꯛ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ | South | He's the divine king of a hillock kingdom in the southern realms. | ||
| Nongpok Ningthou | ꯅꯣꯡꯄꯣꯛ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ | East | He's the ruler of the Selloi Langmai Nongpok Hill (ꯁꯦꯂꯣꯢ ꯂꯥꯡꯃꯥꯢ ꯅꯣꯡꯄꯣꯛ ꯆꯤꯡ), and is associated with attributes of being a hunter, a lover, an adventurer and a physician. | Panthoibi | He himself assumes the form of a ferocious tiger, whom goddess Panthoibi rides on. |
| Loya Lakpa | ꯂꯣꯌꯥ ꯂꯥꯛꯄ | West | He's the son of Lord Koubru and Lady Kounu. | He's the consort of Lady Thoudu Nungthel Leima (ꯊꯧꯗꯨ ꯅꯨꯡꯊꯦꯜ ꯂꯩꯃ), the adopted daughter of his own parents. | |
| Thangjing | ꯊꯥꯡꯖꯤꯡ | South west[2] | He's the progenitor of the Moilang dynasty in Moirang kingdom. He dwells both in the Ibudhou Thangjing Temple as well as on the Thangjing Hill.[3] | Ayangleima Ahal (Koirenleima Ahal) and Ayangleima Atompi (Koirenleima Atompi) | He rides on a Manipuri pony, which is a gift from Lord Marjing. |
| Ibudhou Marjing | ꯏꯕꯨꯙꯧ ꯃꯥꯔꯖꯤꯡ | North east | He's the God associated with horses, polo, sports, war, combat, battle, and animals.[4] His only child is Lord Tolongkhomba. | He's the consort of Lady Humuleima, the daughter of Kurulen Sidaba. | He rides on Samadon Ayangba, a winged flying horse, with white complexion. |
| Wangbren | ꯋꯥꯡꯕ꯭ꯔꯦꯟ | South east | He's the God associated with water, diseases, death and plaque.[5] | Anal Chanu Shangnulembi | He rides on a black tiger.[6] |
| Koubru | ꯀꯩꯕ꯭ꯔꯨ | North west | He's the God associated with hunting, animals and wind. Legend says thunderstorm is due to the firing of his divine gun and cloudiness is due to the spreading of his clothes.[7] | Kounu | He rides on Koubru Laishaa, a white elephant. |
| Salailen Sidaba | ꯁꯂꯥꯢꯂꯦꯟ ꯁꯤꯗꯕ | Zenith | He's the Supreme Being and the Sky God, who rules the heaven.[8] | Leimarel Sidabi,[9] Nong Leima and Tampha Lairembi. | He rides either on an elephant or on a winged horse. |
| Thongalel | ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯂꯦꯜ | Nadir | He's the God of death and the ruler of the underworld kingdom. | Laikhurembi, Thongak Leima, Khamnung Kikoi Louonbi and Lainaotabi. |
Development edit
According to Meitei mythology, before the creation of the universe, there were four deities who guard four realms. These are the following:
| Old name of the deities | Modern name of the deities | Divine jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
| Thawaa | Wangbren | Nonglam |
| Chengaa | Marjing | Mitlam |
| Yucheng | Thangjing | Eelam |
| Yuhaa | Koubru | Nungshitlam |
These four deities guardians guard the four main directions before the creation of the universe.[citation needed]
However, the following deities are also added to the guardianship of the directions after the creation of the universe:
| Deities | Direction |
|---|---|
| Nongpok Ningthou | Nongpok (East) |
| Loya Lakpa | Nongchup (West) |
| Laireima Kounu | Awang (North) |
| Lok Ningthou | Makha (South) |
Four main directions edit
- Ibudhou Marjing:- He is the Guardian of the North East direction.[10]
- Thangjing:- He is the Guardian of the South West direction.[11]
- Lainingthou Koubru:- He is the guardian of the North West direction.[12]
- Wangbren:- He is the guardian of the South East direction.[13]
See also edit
- Guardians of the directions, the Hindu equivalent.
- Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri, the Norse equivalent.
References edit
- ^ "The Manipuri Lais".
- ^ Tombi Singh, N. (1975). "Manipur and the Mainstream".
- ^ "The Manipuri Lais".
- ^ "The Manipuri Lais".
- ^ "The Manipuri Lais".
- ^ "The Manipuri Lais".
- ^ "The Manipuri Lais".
- ^ "The Manipuri Lais".
- ^ "The Manipuri Lais".
- ^ "The Manipuri Lais".
- ^ "The Manipuri Lais".
- ^ "The Manipuri Lais".
- ^ "The Manipuri Lais".