Meitei guardians of the directions explained

See also: Meitei mythology and Meitei deities. In Meitei religion and Meitei mythology, the Guardians of the Directions or Maikei Ngaakpa Lai refers to the deities who rule the specific directions of space according to Sanamahism.^[1]

There are mainly ten Guardians of the Directions in Meitei mythology. These are the following:

Name	Meitei Transliteration	Direction	Description	Consort	Associated creature
	ꯀꯧꯅꯨ	North	She's the goddess who dwells in the snows of far north. Kounuthel (ꯀꯧꯅꯨꯊꯦꯜ), a stream, flowing in the Kounu Hill (ꯀꯧꯅꯨ ꯆꯤꯡ) is considered to be her native place. She's the mother of Lord Loyalakpa.	Lainingthou Koubru
	ꯂꯣꯛ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ	South	He's the divine king of a hillock kingdom in the southern realms.
	ꯅꯣꯡꯄꯣꯛ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ	East	He's the ruler of the Selloi Langmai Nongpok Hill (ꯁꯦꯂꯣꯢ ꯂꯥꯡꯃꯥꯢ ꯅꯣꯡꯄꯣꯛ ꯆꯤꯡ), and is associated with attributes of being a hunter, a lover, an adventurer and a physician.	Panthoibi	He himself assumes the form of a ferocious tiger, whom goddess Panthoibi rides on.
	ꯂꯣꯌꯥ ꯂꯥꯛꯄ	West	He's the son of Lord Koubru and Lady Kounu.	He's the consort of Lady Thoudu Nungthel Leima (ꯊꯧꯗꯨ ꯅꯨꯡꯊꯦꯜ ꯂꯩꯃ), the adopted daughter of his own parents.
	ꯊꯥꯡꯖꯤꯡ	South west^[2]	He's the progenitor of the Moilang dynasty in Moirang kingdom. He dwells both in the Ibudhou Thangjing Temple as well as on the Thangjing Hill.^[3]	Ayangleima Ahal (Koirenleima Ahal) and Ayangleima Atompi (Koirenleima Atompi)	He rides on a Manipuri pony, which is a gift from Lord Marjing.
	ꯏꯕꯨꯙꯧ ꯃꯥꯔꯖꯤꯡ	North east	He's the God associated with horses, polo, sports, war, combat, battle, and animals.^[4] His only child is Lord Tolongkhomba.	He's the consort of Lady Humuleima, the daughter of Kurulen Sidaba.	He rides on Samadon Ayangba, a winged flying horse, with white complexion.
	ꯋꯥꯡꯕ꯭ꯔꯦꯟ	South east	He's the God associated with water, diseases, death and plaque.^[5]	Anal Chanu Shangnulembi	He rides on a black tiger.^[6]
	ꯀꯩꯕ꯭ꯔꯨ	North west	He's the God associated with hunting, animals and wind. Legend says thunderstorm is due to the firing of his divine gun and cloudiness is due to the spreading of his clothes.^[7]	Kounu	He rides on Koubru Laishaa, a white elephant.
	ꯁꯂꯥꯢꯂꯦꯟ ꯁꯤꯗꯕ	Zenith	He's the Supreme Being and the Sky God, who rules the heaven.^[8]	Leimarel Sidabi,^[9] Nong Leima and Tampha Lairembi.	He rides either on an elephant or on a winged horse.
Thongalel	ꯊꯣꯡꯉꯥꯂꯦꯜ	Nadir	He's the God of death and the ruler of the underworld kingdom.	Laikhurembi, Thongak Leima, Khamnung Kikoi Louonbi and Lainaotabi.

Development

See main article: Meitei mythology. According to Meitei mythology, before the creation of the universe, there were four deities who guard four realms. These are the following:

Old name of the deities	Modern name of the deities	Divine jurisdiction
Thawaa		Nonglam
Chengaa	Marjing	Mitlam
Yucheng		Eelam
Yuhaa		Nungshitlam

These four deities guardians guard the four main directions before the creation of the universe.

However, the following deities are also added to the guardianship of the directions after the creation of the universe:

Deities	Direction
	Nongpok (East)
Loya Lakpa	Nongchup (West)
Laireima Kounu	Awang (North)
Lok Ningthou	Makha (South)

Four main directions

• Ibudhou Marjing:- He is the Guardian of the North East direction.^[10]
• Thangjing:- He is the Guardian of the South West direction.^[11]
• Lainingthou Koubru:- He is the guardian of the North West direction.^[12]
• Wangbren:- He is the guardian of the South East direction.^[13]

See also

• Guardians of the directions, the Hindu equivalent.
• Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri, the Norse equivalent.

External links

• India Through the Ages

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Manipuri Lais.
2. Web site: Manipur and the Mainstream. Tombi Singh. N.. 1975.
3. Web site: The Manipuri Lais.
4. Web site: The Manipuri Lais.
5. Web site: The Manipuri Lais.
6. Web site: The Manipuri Lais.
7. Web site: The Manipuri Lais.
8. Web site: The Manipuri Lais.
9. Web site: The Manipuri Lais.
10. Web site: The Manipuri Lais.
11. Web site: The Manipuri Lais.
12. Web site: The Manipuri Lais.
13. Web site: The Manipuri Lais.