Marjing

Not to be confused with Marching.

See also: Marjing Polo Statue, Marjing Polo Complex, and Daughters of the Polo God

Marjing
God of polo, hockey, horse, sports and war[1][2][3]
Member of Divine polo players
God Marjing riding on Samaton, the winged horse
Other names	Marching, Ibudhou Marjing, Ebudhou Marjing, Iputhou Marjing, Eputhou Marjing
Affiliation	Sanamahism
Major cult center	Marjing Hills
Abode	Marjing Hills
Weapon	Kangjei (Polo mallet)
Animals	Meitei horse[1][4]
Mount	Samadon Ayangba
Texts	Kangjeirol, Leikharol
Gender	Male
Region	Manipur
Ethnic group	Meitei
Festivals	Lai Haraoba
Genealogy
Consort	Humu Leima
Offspring	Loyalakpa
Dynasty	Salai Leishangthem[5]
Equivalents
Greek	Ares
Hindu	Kartikeya
Roman	Mars
Slavic	Perun
Norse	Odin

Marjing (Meitei: ꯃꯥꯔꯖꯤꯡ) is the God of horses, polo, hockey, sports and war in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur.^[6][7][8][9] The guardianship of the north eastern direction is alluded to Marjing and the other directions to Koupalu (north west), Thangching (south west) and Wangpulen (south east).^{[10][11][12][13]} According to the legend, he invented the game of polo (Sagol Kangjei) and introduced it as the national game.^{[2][3][10][14][15]} He and his divine creature, Samadon Ayangba, reside in the top of the Heingang Ching (Marjing hills).^[16]

Origin

According to the Leithak Leikharol PuYa, God Marjing (mentioned as "Maraching") originated from the intestines of Atiya Sidaba. He was created to control Samadon Ayangba, the divine horse (Old Manipuri: Sakon). The horse was created from the foot of Ashiba (Sanamahi).^[17]

Description

God Marjing is one of the five gods who enter into the human body and position themselves as one of the souls.^[17][18] Marjing dwells in the heart of human body.^[19] The God is also associated with Sagol Kangjei (Polo), the main sports of the Meitei people. Parratt says "His main importance in Meitei mythology is that he is credited with the invention of polo, the national game."^[17][18][20]

Mythology

Sagol Kangjei (English: Polo) is originally the game of gods. There are 7 players on each side. They used Kangdrum (a ball made from bamboo root). This is what the human beings imitate from them. The first divine polo match was played during the festival of Lai Haraoba.^[20]

Worship

During the Lai Haraoba festival, a maibi (priestess) performs a ritual in the form of a mime. She holds a mallet in her hand and enacts the game of polo.^[7]

Every year, in the top of the Heingang Hills, devotees offer polostick (Old Manipuri: ꯀꯥꯡꯆꯩ, romanized: kangchei, Meitei: ꯀꯥꯡꯖꯩ, romanized: kangjei) and bamboo-root-ball (Meitei: ꯀꯥꯡꯗ꯭ꯔꯨꯝ, romanized: kangdrum) to God Marjing.^[20] This is done even when any animal in one's house become sick.^[9]

In 1618 AD, during the reign of King Khagemba, a public worship took place at his abode and also at every watery place on the river side. Wild boars, ducks, cocks, hen, pigeons and other creatures were offered to God Marjing. This was recorded in the Cheitharol Kumbaba.^[20][21][22]

References

1. Mārg̲. Marg Publications. 1960.
2. Lightfoot, Louise (1958). Dance-rituals of Manipur, India: An Introduction to "Meitei Jagoi". Ministry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs. ISBN 978-1-01-374640-6.
3. Anvīkshā. Jadavpur University. 2004.
4. Singh, Moirangthem Kirti (1988). Religion and Culture of Manipur. Manas Publications. ISBN 978-81-7049-021-0.
5. Levin, Jonathan V. (2017-10-04). Where Have All the Horses Gone?: How Advancing Technology Swept American Horses from the Road, the Farm, the Range and the Battlefield. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-6713-3.
6. Saraswati, Baidyanath (1991). Tribal Thought and Culture: Essays in Honour of Surajit Chandra Sinha. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-340-5.
7. Bhattacharjee, Kishalay (2013-04-11). Che in Paona Bazar. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-4472-4741-8.
8. Fløistad, Guttorm (2012-12-06). Philosophie asiatique/Asian philosophy. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-94-011-2510-9.
9. Vijaylakshmi Brara, N. (1998). Politics, society, and cosmology in India's North East. Oxford University Press. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-19-564331-2 – via archive.org.
10. Devi, Dr Yumlembam Gopi (16 June 2019). Glimpses of Manipuri Culture. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-0-359-72919-7.
11. Mārg̲. Marg Publications. 1960.
12. Muthukumaraswamy, M. D.; Kaushal, Molly (2004). Folklore, Public Sphere, and Civil Society. NFSC www.indianfolklore.org. ISBN 978-81-901481-4-6.
13. Dzüvichü, Lipokmar; Baruah, Manjeet (2017-11-13). Modern Practices in North East India: History, Culture, Representation. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-351-27134-9.
14. Singh, Moirangthem Kirti (1998). Recent Researches in Oriental Indological Studies: Including Meiteilogy. Parimal Publications.
15. Singh, Dr Th Suresh (2014-06-02). The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India. Quills Ink Publishing. ISBN 978-93-84318-00-0.
16. "Manipur's female polo players are riding up a storm". e-pao.net.
17. A Critical Study Of The Religious Philosophy. August 1991. p. 57 – via archive.org.
18. Vijaylakshmi Brara, N. (1998). Politics, society, and cosmology in India's North East. Oxford University Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-19-564331-2 – via archive.org.
19. Vijaylakshmi Brara, N. (1998). Politics, society, and cosmology in India's North East. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-19-564331-2 – via archive.org.
20. A Critical Study Of The Religious Philosophy. August 1991. p. 59 – via archive.org.
21. Religion Of Manipur. Firma Klm. 1980. p. 31 – via archive.org.
22. Religion Of Manipur. Firma Klm. 1980. p. 121 – via archive.org.