Sanamahi religion is one of the oldest religions of Western South East Asia (WESEA). It was developed in Kangleipak (now Manipur) and mainly worships by the Meetei tribes inhabiting in Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Myanmar, Bangladesh and other Northeastern Indian states.
With the dawn of proto history, group pf early men started to settle in groups ( during the New Stone Age) and they have been worshiping natural gods like the Sun, Water, Sky etc. as gods and goddesses. In due course, religions like Hinduism, Budhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism begins to spread around the World. Sanamahi religion is popular among the WESEA Kingdoms.
Meetei worships natural objects and later regarded Sanamahi - the son of "Tengbanba Mapu" as the supreme deity. Written evidence says that Meetei people first settled in Koubru mountains. From the hills, the Meetei (also called Lai people) descended to the valley and made civilizations in Kangla.
Our legendary ancestors (Koubru, Pureiromba, Thangjing, Marjing, Wangbren etc) whom we worship today have been establishing human settlements in different directions of the Kangleipak (Manipur) kingdom. Ningthou Kangba too established his kingdom at Kangmong village near Nambol Keithel of Imphal West District. From the neolithic tools and postherds discovered from Bishnupur district and Imphal West districts it can be assumed that Ningthou Kangba lived at least 2000 BC. Thus, Sanamahism also started to develop from his reign.
Several kings of Kangleipak - Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, Ura Konthouba, Loyumba, Ayangba, Kiyamba, Ningthoukhomba and Mungyamba have promoted Sanamahi region. This religion reached its zenith during the reign of Ningthou Khagemba.
However, the religion began to decline when Maharaj Garibaniwaz ascended the throne, renaming Kangleipak into Manipur. he embraces Ramandi religion and destroyed holy puyas (scriptures, books and documents). The Hindu king even demolished the Umang Lai and Lainingthou Sanamahi etc. Thus, Sanamahi religion was forced to decline till 1930.
The year 1930 is the revivalism of Sanamahi religion in Kangleipak. Naorem Phulo (also known as Naoriya Phulo) founded an organisation called "Apokpa Marup" in 1930.
Today, Sanamahi religion has been recognised by the State Government as well as the Central Government of India. The Manipur government constituted the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board Act 1976 to protect and safeguard Lainingthou Sanamahi shrine inside the First Manipur Rifle Compound in Imphal. Now, we need to promote our religion. We are fortunate to have our own religion, which is a symbol of rich civilisation and cultural heritage.
With the dawn of proto history, group pf early men started to settle in groups ( during the New Stone Age) and they have been worshiping natural gods like the Sun, Water, Sky etc. as gods and goddesses. In due course, religions like Hinduism, Budhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism begins to spread around the World. Sanamahi religion is popular among the WESEA Kingdoms.
Meetei worships natural objects and later regarded Sanamahi - the son of "Tengbanba Mapu" as the supreme deity. Written evidence says that Meetei people first settled in Koubru mountains. From the hills, the Meetei (also called Lai people) descended to the valley and made civilizations in Kangla.
Our legendary ancestors (Koubru, Pureiromba, Thangjing, Marjing, Wangbren etc) whom we worship today have been establishing human settlements in different directions of the Kangleipak (Manipur) kingdom. Ningthou Kangba too established his kingdom at Kangmong village near Nambol Keithel of Imphal West District. From the neolithic tools and postherds discovered from Bishnupur district and Imphal West districts it can be assumed that Ningthou Kangba lived at least 2000 BC. Thus, Sanamahism also started to develop from his reign.
Several kings of Kangleipak - Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, Ura Konthouba, Loyumba, Ayangba, Kiyamba, Ningthoukhomba and Mungyamba have promoted Sanamahi region. This religion reached its zenith during the reign of Ningthou Khagemba.
However, the religion began to decline when Maharaj Garibaniwaz ascended the throne, renaming Kangleipak into Manipur. he embraces Ramandi religion and destroyed holy puyas (scriptures, books and documents). The Hindu king even demolished the Umang Lai and Lainingthou Sanamahi etc. Thus, Sanamahi religion was forced to decline till 1930.
The year 1930 is the revivalism of Sanamahi religion in Kangleipak. Naorem Phulo (also known as Naoriya Phulo) founded an organisation called "Apokpa Marup" in 1930.
Today, Sanamahi religion has been recognised by the State Government as well as the Central Government of India. The Manipur government constituted the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board Act 1976 to protect and safeguard Lainingthou Sanamahi shrine inside the First Manipur Rifle Compound in Imphal. Now, we need to promote our religion. We are fortunate to have our own religion, which is a symbol of rich civilisation and cultural heritage.
