| Wangpulen | |
|---|---|
water, rain, flood, disease | |
| Member ofLainingthous andMaikei Ngaakpa Lais | |
%2c_inside_the_Kangla_Fort_in_Imphal.jpg) Wangpulen and his divine consort, worshipped in the forms ofMeitei dragons, inside theKangla Fort inImphal | |
| Other names | Khana Chaoba |
| Affiliation | Meitei mythology andSanamahism |
| Major cult center | Sugnu |
| Abode | underwater world |
| Texts | Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Amailon Pukok |
| Gender | Male |
| Region | Manipur |
| Ethnic group | Meitei ethnicity |
| Festivals | Lai Haraoba |
| Consort | Shangnu |
| Offspring | Lok Ningthou |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek | Poseidon,Oceanus |
| Part ofa series on |
| Sanamahism |
|---|
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Wangpulen (Meitei: ꯋꯥꯡꯄꯨꯂꯦꯟ) is the god of water, rain, flood, disease and sickness inMeitei mythology andSanamahism.He is the ruler of the underwater world.[1][2][3] He is the Lord of the rivers.[4] The guardianship of the south eastern direction is alluded to Wangbren and the other directions toKoupalu (north west),Marjing (north east) andThangjing (south west).[4][5] He is one of theUmang Lais.[6][7]
He has a strong connection with theAnāl Naga people for marrying a lady from Khullen village.[8][9] Among the cult centres dedicated to him, the one atSugnu is the most significant in Meitei pantheon.[4][10]
In theWakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Amailon Pukok Puya, Wangbren is called Khana Chaopa Wangpulen. According to the text, He is one of the sevenLaipungthous and one of the manifestations of the Supreme God,Ipung Loinapa Apakpa.[11]
_and_tigers_in_the_sacred_site_of_Lord_Wangpulen_(Wangbren)_inside_the_Kangla_fort_in_Imphal.jpg)
Once Wangpulen went to the village of the Anāl people, disguising Himself as a human. He fell in love with a beautiful girl, Shangnu. The maiden was also attracted to helps good looks. The girl's affair with a stranger angered the community. The young men of the village challenged Wangbren to fight. There were competitions inrace, stone throwing, andarchery. If he failed, he would be killed. But he won all the challenges, and he took Shangnu away to his divine abode.[9][12]
Whenever anyone is drowned, Wangpulen is worshipped according to the traditional rites and rituals. They did so in a belief that there will be no further deaths in water. Whenever unusual flood water currents are seen, especially in rivers, He is worshipped by people to save them from drowning and other mishaps.[13]
If a drowned person's corpse is not recovered, then a portion of the trunk ofpalash tree is cremated. It is done in a belief that Wangpulen might have kept the corpse at a sacred place.[14]
Wangpulen is worshipped by offering fruits, flowers andkabok. The rites and rituals are performed by themaibas. It is to ward off the diseases, illness or sickness caused by the water god. Examples include skin diseases, cold andcough,diarrhoea, etc.[2]
_inside_the_Kangla_fort_in_Imphal.jpg)
A sacred shrine dedicated to Wangpulen still exists today in the Sugnu village. Annually, the non-ChristianAnal villagers give offerings to their priest. The priest took and offer the articles to the God inSugnu.[10]
Inside theKangla, the StateGovernment of Manipur is to renovate and reconstruct the holy altars dedicated to God Wangpulen and other deities.[15]
In 2010, a temple dedicated to God Wangpulen was constructed atWangoi,Manipur. The temple building construction costs₹8 lakh (equivalent to₹18 lakh or US$21,000 in 2023).[16]
Media related toWangpulen at Wikimedia Commons
