Mongba Hanba
Mongba Hanba (Meitei: ꯃꯣꯡꯕ ꯍꯟꯕ) or Mongpa Hanpa (Old Manipuri: ꯃꯣꯡꯄ ꯍꯟꯄ) is a forest god in Meitei mythology and religion. He is mainly worshipped in a sacred forest named Mongba Hanba Umang in the banks of the Imphal River in Manipur.[3][1][2]
| Mongba Hanba (Old Manipuri: Mongpa Hanpa) | |
|---|---|
Forest God | |
| Member of Umang Lais | |
 "Mongpa Hanpa", the Ancient Meitei (Old Manipuri) name of God Mongba Hanba, written in archaic Meetei Mayek abugida | |
| Affiliation | Meitei mythology (Manipuri mythology) and Meitei religion (Sanamahism) |
| Major cult center | Mongba Hanba Umang (renamed as Mahabali Hanuman Thakur Temple Complex),[1][2] Imphal East district, Manipur |
| Abode | Mongba Hanba Umang |
| Gender | Male |
| Region | Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur) |
| Ethnic group | Meitei ethnicity |
| Festivals | Lai Haraoba |
| Hinduism equivalent | Hanuman |
History
changeOn Saturday, the 16th day of the Meitei lunar month of "Inga" of 1651 Saka Year (1729 AD), a stone was brought from a marketplace in Langmaiching to Mongba Hanba's place. That stone was to make a statue of Hindu God Hanuman. Nine Umang Lais were brought and gathered at the Mongba Hanba's place. All these were buried in the place during the reign of King Garib Niwaj Pamheiba. So, the cult of God Mongba Hanba was replaced by that of Hindu god Hanuman during the reign of King Garib Niwaj Pamheiba.[4][5][6][1][2]
On 6th June 1979, an association was formed for saving Mongba Hanba Umang. It struggled for controlling the Laipham (English: Sacred place) for worshipping the traditional deity.[6] There have been repeated attempts to revive the pantheon of the deity. However, there is still opposition from the religious body of the Mahabali Temple of Hindu God Hanuman.[7][1][2]
During May 2015, an organization named Mongba Hanba Umang Laipham Kanba Lup appealed not to stop them from constructing a place of worship for God Mongba Hanba. The organization claimed that it had not stopped devotees of God Mahabali (Hanuman) for the last 36 years. The organization expected the same thing from the Hindu bodies not to stop them from establishing a place of worship for God Mongba Hanba in the complex.[8]
Worship
changeAccording to religious custom, Tampak Maiba was to worship God Mongba Hanba (Old Manipuri: Mongpa Hanpa).[9] The atmosphere of blood sacrifice is said to be associated with the shrine of the deity.[10]
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "মোংবা হনবা উমং লূপ" (PDF). hueiyenlanpao.com (in Manipuri).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "মোংবা হনবা" (PDF). hueiyenlanpao.com (in Manipuri).
- ↑ Gupta, Dr Asha (2007). Biodiversity Conservation and Legal Aspects. Aavishkar Publishers, Distributors. p. 202. ISBN 978-81-7910-187-2.
- ↑ Devi, Jamini (2010). Cultural History of Manipur: Sija Laioibi and the Maharas. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-8324-342-1.
- ↑ Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh; Sadananda Mayanglambam (2013). A collection of Essays in Manipuri Folklore. p. 115.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Noni, Arambam; Sanatomba, Kangujam (2015-10-16). Colonialism and Resistance: Society and State in Manipur. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-27066-9.
- ↑ Assembly, Manipur (India) Legislative (1980). Assembly Proceedings, Official Report of Manipur State Legislative Assembly. authority of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
- ↑ "Devotess of Mongba Hanba appeal : 28th may15 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
- ↑ Session, North East India History Association (1982). Proceedings of the North East India History Association. The Association. p. 33.
- ↑ Traditional Customs and Rituals of Northeast India: Arunachal Pradesh, meghalaya, Manipur, Assam. Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture. 2002.
Other websites
change
- "Manipur Maoist urges government to renovate Sacred Mongba Hanba and Khurai Pung : 28th nov18 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". www.e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
- Shimray, A. S. W. (2001). History of the Tangkhul Nagas. Akansha Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-87606-04-8.