Pureiromba

Pureiromba
(Old Manipuri: Puleilompa)
Giver of rain and good farming
Member of Umang Lais
"Puleilompa", the Ancient Meitei (Old Manipuri) name of God Pureiromba, written in archaic Meetei Mayek abugida
Other namesPureilomba
AffiliationMeitei mythology (Manipuri mythology) and Meitei religion (Sanamahism)
Major cult centerAndro, Manipur
GenderMale
RegionAncient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur)
Ethnic groupMeitei ethnicity
FestivalsLai Haraoba
OffspringChinsongba (son)

Pureiromba (Meitei: ꯄꯨꯔꯩꯔꯣꯝꯕ) or Puleilompa (Old Manipuri: ꯄꯨꯂꯩꯂꯣꯝꯄ) is a God in Meitei mythology and religion. He is the giver of rain and good luck in farming. He is one of the major Umang Lai deities. He is the Ancestor God of the Angom clan of the Meitei ethnicity.

History

According to the Thalon text, Pureiromba (Old Manipuri: Puleilompa) was one of the 5 gods of 5 different places of the Selloi Langmai Hill (Nongmaiching Hill). Before the Meitei King Ura Konthouba (c. 7th century CE) killed all the Selloi Langmai people, the cults of these five gods were put together into that of a single God with the name "Langmai Ningthou" (lit. King of the Langmais). The personal names became the other names or various forms of the God. With this, the tribal society of the Selloi Langmai people became one chiefdom. This chiefdom later became the Angom clan.

Pureiromba (Old Manipuri: Puleilompa) was one of the 5 gods worshipped in the 5 divisions of the Selloi Langmai hills that gradually merged into one God with the name "Langmai Ningthou" (lit. King of the Langmais).

Description

The people who worship Pureiromba (Old Manipuri: Puleilompa) think of him as their ancestor. However, no one knows if he was a real person from history or a god that acted like a human. But the ancient texts that show his adventures in the human world show him as a strong, powerful and able founding ancestor. He was initially associated with a Loi village of Andro, Manipur. But in later times, the people of Moirang worshipped him as one of their deified ancestors.

In history

Pureiromba is said to have existed in history also. He was the founder of the Angom dynasty and the first Angom king/chief and the ancestor of the royal Angom clan. He was a senior contemporary of the first official Meitei king, Nongda Lairen Pakhangba.

Festival

The religious festival of Lai Haraoba is celebrated in honor of God Pureiromba (Old Manipuri: Puleilompa) in the months of Kalen (April-May). The Haraoba of Pureiromba belongs to the type of the Chakpa Haraoba. Chakpa Haraoba is one of the four types of Lai Haraoba. At Andro, Manipur, on the last day of the celebration of Pureiromba, a small mound of rice offerings is piled up by the maibis. Out of rice, the maibis construct a small landscape of mountain ranges, ravines, lakes, rivers, etc.

Cults and pantheons

There are pantheons dedicated to God Pureiromba and his son Chinsongba in the village of Andro in Manipur. God Pureiromba is also regarded as the ancestor of the people of the Sharumbam clan of Meitei ethnicity. The cult of Pureiromba was looked after by the people of Mangsatabam clan of Meitei ethnicity.

Namesakes

Pureiromba Youth Club

The Pureiromba Youth Club, Bamon Kampu, Imphal is a youths' club of Manipur. It reported to the Government of Manipur about the case of Thangjam Manorama.

References

  1. ↑ Parratt, Saroj Nalini (1997). The Pleasing of the Gods: Meitei Lai Haraoba. Vikas Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-259-0416-8.
  2. ↑ Devi, Lairenlakpam Bino (2002). The Lois of Manipur: Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai. Mittal Publications. p. 59. ISBN 978-81-7099-849-5.
  3. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. p. 10. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2.
  4. ↑ Parratt, Saroj Nalini (1980). Religion Of Manipur. Firma Klm. p. 15.
  5. ↑ Parratt, Saroj Nalini (1980). The Religion of Manipur: Beliefs, Rituals, and Historical Development. Firma KLM. ISBN 978-0-8364-0594-1.
  6. ↑ Singh, Dr R. K. Nimai (2018-06-25). Ne Scholar Magazine: World's Largest Mandalas from Manipur and Carl Jung's Archetype of the Self. NE Brothers. p. 32.
  7. ↑ Birajit, Soibam (2014-12-01). Meeyamgi Kholao: Sprout of Consciousness. ARECOM ( Advanced Research Consortium, Manipur). p. 79.
  8. ↑ Devi, Dr Yumlembam Gopi. Glimpses of Manipuri Culture. Lulu.com. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-359-72919-7.
  9. ↑ Roy Jyotimoy. Firma K. L. Mukhopadhyay. 1958. p. 178.
  10. ↑ Devi, Dr Yumlembam Gopi. Glimpses of Manipuri Culture. Lulu.com. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-359-72919-7.
  11. ↑ Neelbir, Sairem (2004). Erat Thouram Thounirol Lairik (in Manipuri). India: Internet Archive; Digital Library of India. p. 140.
  12. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2.
  13. ↑ Hareshwar Goshwami. Hareshwar Goshwami History Of The PEOPLE OF MANIPUR. p. 96.
  14. ↑ Basanta, Ningombam (2008). Modernisation, Challenge and Response: A Study of the Chakpa Community of Manipur. Akansha Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-8370-152-5.
  15. ↑ Kumar, Niraj; Driem, George van; Stobdan, Phunchok (2020-11-18). Himalayan Bridge. Routledge. p. 308. ISBN 978-1-000-21551-9.
  16. ↑ Hamilton, Roy W.; Ammayao, Aurora (2003). The Art of Rice: Spirit and Sustenance in Asia. UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History. ISBN 978-0-930741-98-3.
  17. ↑ Britain), Folklore Society (Great) (1913). Publications.
  18. ↑ Devi, Lairenlakpam Bino (2002). The Lois of Manipur: Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai. Mittal Publications. p. 50. ISBN 978-81-7099-849-5.
  19. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1993). Manipur: Treatise & Documents. Mittal Publications. p. 4. ISBN 978-81-7099-399-5.
  20. ↑ Gill, Preeti (2014-02-13). The Peripheral Centre: Voices from India's Northeast. Zubaan. p. 258. ISBN 978-93-83074-65-5.

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