Yumsharol

Yumsharol (ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯔꯣꯜ), also known as Yumsharon (ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯔꯣꯟ), is the classical architectural tradition of house-building in traditional Meitei society, reflecting both cultural heritage and ancestral craftsmanship. It encompasses the holy and sacred ceremonies, rites and rituals, related to construction and maintenance of the main house, associated sanctuaries of deities like shrines or temples, associated granaries or storehouses of food stock, associated barns, stables, sties of domestic animals, among others, in accordance to the traditional Meitei religion of Sanamahism.

Details of building a traditional Meitei house according to the art of Meitei Yumsharol
A typical Meetei temple of Kangleipak (Manipur)

Many concepts and problems of geometry are found in the treatise of Yumsharol.

"Yumsharol" (also known as Yumsharol Jagoi in case of its performing arts) also refers to a traditional Meitei dance form, which depicts the construction of houses, through different gestures called Yumsharol Khutthek (meaning hand gestures of house construction), notably accompanied with the Yumsharol song, and the playing of pena (musical instrument), traditionally enacted during Lai Haraoba performances.

Land plot

Before starting anything, ancient Meitei people try to find out if the proposed land plot is associated with Tillam or Lailam (Lairam) or not. They also analyse the features and the types of the land plot. Then, they perform tests to see if the land plot is auspicious or ominous through certain ceremonies, rites and rituals. If certain animal bones or skeletal remains are found in the land plot, it is considered bad luck and are to be removed from the land plot. Depending on the position and the shape of the land plot, they assume it as good or bad signs for the owner's fate.

Yumpham

Ancient Meitei people categorise Yumpham or housing position or settlement position in nine different types or groups. Each type has its own pros and cons. Depending on the owner's date of birth, the matching type is often decided. Moreover, there are certain kinds known as Lengdraba Yumpham, meaning fixed housing position or stationary settlement (position).

Types of Yumsharol

In a particular Ingkhol (or Eengkhol), meaning a land plot, there exist nine kinds of Yumsharol. In accordance to the Yumsharol types, the type of the Yumpham (housing position or settlement position) will be considered.

Foundation of building

Ancient Meitei people has strict rules and regulations for the timing of building houses. In certain months within the twelve months of Meitei calendar, building houses is considered auspicious, allowed, appreciated, whio in the remaining time, it is considered inauspicious and depreciated.

For building a house, they consider Pham (certain position), and to look into Pham, they consider Laiyum. They often consider the rules of Taoroinai Yumsharol, which is a subset of the Meitei Yumsharol, based on the paphal of Taoroinai. Every individual has their different auspicious and ominous timings of months, for carrying out the foundation for building houses, based on their date of birth, astrological and astronomical reports and many other factors. They often rely on the phases of the moon (thaa) and the types of stars (thawaanmichaak), considered matching or not matching for the individual owner of the land plot.

Seeing auspiciousness and omens through calendar

Associated with the timings in accordance to the Meitei calendar, the ancient Meitei people take serious considerations about the positions of Leisaa (or Leishaa), conditions of Leikhun Changba, Naamungba, among others. For crafting the roof, specifically the eaves (sai in Meitei language), they look at auspicious moments, directly related to the stars (thawaanmichaak), with the help of their calendar. They also take considerations about the concepts of Leikhaa (netherworld), Nongthou (heaven) and Leipaak (earth), whether these realms touch their house or not, possibly spiritually or symbolically, according to their considered criteria. Observing whether the sun and the star are against each other or alongside each other is also a serious matter. They not only take care about astrology during building of their own houses, but also during construction of barns, stables and sties of their domestic animals. For carrying out all these, they are aware of 12 lunar phases and 27 groups of stars. Distinct auspicious and ominous moments exist for the construction of shrines (temples) and granaries (paddy storehouses).

Series

Interlocking of wooden or bamboo poles for framework
Interlocking of wooden or bamboo poles for framework

Special events called Paring Laangsang Hunba, Chuksatlon (Chukshatlon), are performed. The patterns and designs for pillar erection are laid on, by digging holes where pillars are planned to be installed, with desired distances between the positions of the pillars. Separate and elaborate rituals are performed with sacred chantings for the pillar erection tasks.

Room layout

The internal part of the house is divided into four major divisions. The concepts of Lamjei Mapaan Thokpa, Kaaran Mapaan Thokpa, Ingkhol Kaaran (Eengkhol Kaaran), Yoimongba Kaaran, Lai Kaaran, Taoroinai Kaaran, Nongmadon Kaaran, Usoi Kaaran (Ushoi Kaaran), Yumlaithok, Khudup-ki Waayel, are deeply observed. Here, "Karan" refers to the crossing point of two or more diagonals of wooden or bamboo frameworks.

Setting up

A rooftop portion of a traditional Meitei house
A rooftop portion of a traditional Meitei house

Setting up of the building's main structures heavily rely on the wooden pillars, whose positions are necessary to be firm and fixed, which are frequently checked and investigated prior to the setting up of the main frame. Notably, each pillar is given a unique name ceremonially. There are many types of pillars, including Yumbi (Yumpi), Loi-u, etc. Ceremony of Humdaang Yaanba, Yum Houba Usin (or Ushin) for 7 days, are performed. Auspicious moments of stars for the Yum Houba ceremony are observed. The ritual of Asithong Thingba (closing the door of the death) is performed for the welfare and the longevity of the people to be residing in the house under construction. Auspicious and ominous moments of stats for the installation of rooftop of the house are seriously observed.

Inauguration

There are strict timing of auspicious and ominous months of the inauguration of a newly built house, in accordance with me the Meitei calendar. While inaugurating, there are many do's and don'ts. The timing is heavily relied on the positions of the stars.

Rules

After the inauguration, for the upcoming seven days and seven weeks, excluding certain days, belongings of the household are supposed to be kept for the family of the owner themselves and should not be lent to the third party people. Else, it is considered ominous and signs of drainage of wealth and good luck. Adding paddy into the granary is to be done only on particular auspicious days of certain months, according to the calendar. There are even certain days on which any commodity should not be taken inside the house, brought from outside. The door for granary should not be opened at any time, but only necessarily on certain auspicious moments. Full moon and new moon phases are strictly observed. There are countless rules and regulations for the maintenance of almost everything associated with the house and household.

Pavilion

Pavilion is constructed frequently, though not mandatory. There are vast rules and regulations for the layouts, designing of the setting up of a pavillion too.

Chantings

Holy and sacred chantings (Laison's or Laishon) are often associated with the house. These include Laison Ahaanba, Iru Laison (Eeru Laishon), Athou Laison, Yumdai Naakseng Laison, Atai Laison, Mei Iraat Laison, Yum Sang-gaaba Laison, Sanamahi Tengtha Laison, Lammitlon, Pungkhanpalon, Maikei 10 Laiming, Heisoi Ipaan Thaapa Laison, Yumjao Leima Iraat Laison, Konyailon Laison (Konyairon Laishon), Pongning Laison, Apoklon Laison, Umanglon, among many others.

References

  1. ↑ shortened from the Meitei Yumsharol (ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯔꯣꯜ)
  2. ↑ shortened from the Meitei Yumsharon (ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯔꯣꯟ)
  1. ↑ Vatsyayan, Kapila. A Study of Some Traditions of Performing Arts in Eastern India: Margi and Desi Polarities : Banikanta Kakati Memorial Lectures, 1976. India: Department of Publication, University of Gauhati, 1981.
  2. ↑ "Importance of Yumsharol in modem days discussed : 26th may24". EP. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
  3. ↑ "Manipur: Workshop on Meitei community's traditional style of housing 'Yumsharol' to be held on May 25". India Today NE (in Hindi). 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
  4. ↑ "Workshop on Meitei community's traditional style of housing 'Yumsharol' to be held on May 25". KRC TIMES. 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Indramani, Naoroibam (1995). Meitei Yumsharol (in Manipuri). India: Digital Library of India; Internet Archive.
  6. ↑ Kirti Singh, Moirangthem. Recent Researches in Oriental Indological Studies: Including Meiteilogy. India: Parimal Publications, 1998. p. 32
  7. ↑ Gopi Devi, Yumlembam. Glimpses of Manipuri Culture. 2019.
  8. ↑ Modern Practices in North East India: History, Culture, Representation. India: Taylor & Francis, 2017.
  9. ↑ Parratt, Saroj Nalini. The Religion of Manipur: Beliefs, Rituals, and Historical Development. India: Firma KLM, 1980.
  10. ↑ Vatsyayan, Kapila. A Study of Some Traditions of Performing Arts in Eastern India: Margi and Desi Polarities : Banikanta Kakati Memorial Lectures, 1976. India: Department of Publication, University of Gauhati, 1981.
  11. ↑ "YUMSHAROL DANCE STAGED". Archived from the original on 2025-06-22. Retrieved 2025-06-14.