The 'Meitei Laining' is a term used to describe the original animistic religious belief system of the Meitei ethnicity in particular.[1][2][3][4] It refers to the pre-Hindu faith of the Meitei ethnic group.[5] It incorporates various teachings from the Meitei scriptures.[6] Meitei Laining is a large facet of the collective synthesis of beliefs known as Sanamahism.
Though Meitei Laining is treated as another name of Sanamahism, the latter term has wider coverage of the traditional beliefs and practices of the hill tribesman communities also. The term was used during the Meitei revivalism movement to promote the ethnic religion of the Meitei people explicitly.[6]
In every Meitei household, there is a sacred abode of God Sanamahi, called the Sanamahi Kachin.[3] It is an analogous term to Koshinto being used as a term for primitive Shinto in contrast with the current established tradition.
- ^ Singh, A. Prafullokumar (2009). Elections and political dynamics. Mittal Publications. p. 3. ISBN 978-81-8324-279-0.
- ^ Indian Council of Social Science Research (1982). ICSSR Journal of Abstracts and Reviews: Sociology and social anthropology. National Publishing House.
- ^ a b Chaudhury, Sukant Kumar (2006). Culture, Ecology, and Sustainable Development. Mittal Publications. p. 140. ISBN 978-81-8324-132-8.
- ^ Meinam, Binota Devi (2007). Population Dynamics and Economic Development: A Case Study in Manipur. Mittal Publications. p. 34. ISBN 978-81-8324-187-8.
- ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh (1993). People of India: Bio-cultural Dimensions : a K.S. Singh Festschrift. Inter-India Publications. ISBN 978-81-210-0325-4.
- ^ a b Chaki-Sircar, Manjusri (1984). Feminism in a Traditional Society: Women of the Manipur Valley. Shakti Books. ISBN 978-0-7069-1967-7.