By Pr Kungsong Wanbe
The Koirengs are followers of a well set traditional religion which is a system of worship of the Supreme God called by them as Pathian. The Koirengs’ attitude towards God is that while the Supreme God or Pathian is worshipped on all occasions, small gods and evil spirits representing different form of nature are to be propitiated. The mode of worship of God is through a series of sacrifice, rites and ceremonies which may be done either by an individual or by the community to get God’s blessings.
The concept of Supreme God whom the Koirengs call Pathian is very clear and well understood. The Pathian is the supreme creator of the universe; the sun, the moon, the earth, the stars, all the living creatures on earth including human beings and other natural and animal kingdoms. He is the benefactor of mankind, and is the dispenser of the destiny of men. Pathian is worshipped by simple prayer or through rites, ceremonies or sacrifices which may range from mere offering of simple water to sacrifice of mithun. These sacrifices are the mode of worship of Pathian. He is worshipped during the festivals for health and prosperity of the village, for good harvest, for protection from pests, pestilence and epidemics. The Pathian does not have any image. The Koirengs have a belief in the village presiding deities. Every village has a presiding deity who is the protector of the village. Thus, it is found, the Koirengs worship the nearby Meitei deities. For example, the Koireng villages which are in the eastern face of Koubru mountain worship Koubru as their presiding deity. Likewise, it is claimed that god Thangjing, the presiding deity of Moirang in Manipur valley was originally a Koireng God when the Koirengs were settling at Thangjing hills in the south-west Manipur hills. Even today, God Thang-jing is referred to as Koireng (Koren) lai, the God of the Koireng/Koren.
The next important deity is the Inpathian, a household God (In means house, Pathian means God). The Inpathian is worshipped in every household for the welfare of the members of the family, for good harvest and for protection from disease. Inpathian is also worshipped daily by foun-ding the Chapikung post inside the house without any offering. Sometimes, offering of animals like pig is also made when the need arises. The process of worship of Inpathian by animal sacrifice is called “In rei” (In means house, rei means duty or worship). There is also a belief in the class of spirits known as Khopu Khoter who are inclined to do harm to men. They are evil spirits who try to take advantage of a weak moment in the life of a man. The evil spirits are also given offerings and sacrifices to propitiate them not to create disturbances.
There is also a belief of spirit possessed trees and holes called Thing-cho and Khur-cho (Thing means tree and cho means possessed; Khur means hole and cho means possessed). To heal the sickness of such tree or hole spirit possessed person, the priest of the village with some companions would go to the place either of the tree or the hole to sacrifice a cock to the Supreme God or Pathian. After the sacrifice is made, they would root out the tree and burned it in the fire and they would strike iron rod to the hole. With this ceremony the sick person is healed. The Koirengs, sometimes, sacrifice a goat to pay obeisance to God in a special occasion. The sacrifice of a goat or mithun is the most special and final worship to the supreme God or Pathian.
Lastly but not the least, there are thirteen ceremonies of the Koirengs in a year to worship the Supreme God. The elaboration of the ceremonies are not mentioned in this paper. Let us look one by one.
Source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Others/Articles.htm
The Koirengs are followers of a well set traditional religion which is a system of worship of the Supreme God called by them as Pathian. The Koirengs’ attitude towards God is that while the Supreme God or Pathian is worshipped on all occasions, small gods and evil spirits representing different form of nature are to be propitiated. The mode of worship of God is through a series of sacrifice, rites and ceremonies which may be done either by an individual or by the community to get God’s blessings.
The concept of Supreme God whom the Koirengs call Pathian is very clear and well understood. The Pathian is the supreme creator of the universe; the sun, the moon, the earth, the stars, all the living creatures on earth including human beings and other natural and animal kingdoms. He is the benefactor of mankind, and is the dispenser of the destiny of men. Pathian is worshipped by simple prayer or through rites, ceremonies or sacrifices which may range from mere offering of simple water to sacrifice of mithun. These sacrifices are the mode of worship of Pathian. He is worshipped during the festivals for health and prosperity of the village, for good harvest, for protection from pests, pestilence and epidemics. The Pathian does not have any image. The Koirengs have a belief in the village presiding deities. Every village has a presiding deity who is the protector of the village. Thus, it is found, the Koirengs worship the nearby Meitei deities. For example, the Koireng villages which are in the eastern face of Koubru mountain worship Koubru as their presiding deity. Likewise, it is claimed that god Thangjing, the presiding deity of Moirang in Manipur valley was originally a Koireng God when the Koirengs were settling at Thangjing hills in the south-west Manipur hills. Even today, God Thang-jing is referred to as Koireng (Koren) lai, the God of the Koireng/Koren.
The next important deity is the Inpathian, a household God (In means house, Pathian means God). The Inpathian is worshipped in every household for the welfare of the members of the family, for good harvest and for protection from disease. Inpathian is also worshipped daily by foun-ding the Chapikung post inside the house without any offering. Sometimes, offering of animals like pig is also made when the need arises. The process of worship of Inpathian by animal sacrifice is called “In rei” (In means house, rei means duty or worship). There is also a belief in the class of spirits known as Khopu Khoter who are inclined to do harm to men. They are evil spirits who try to take advantage of a weak moment in the life of a man. The evil spirits are also given offerings and sacrifices to propitiate them not to create disturbances.
There is also a belief of spirit possessed trees and holes called Thing-cho and Khur-cho (Thing means tree and cho means possessed; Khur means hole and cho means possessed). To heal the sickness of such tree or hole spirit possessed person, the priest of the village with some companions would go to the place either of the tree or the hole to sacrifice a cock to the Supreme God or Pathian. After the sacrifice is made, they would root out the tree and burned it in the fire and they would strike iron rod to the hole. With this ceremony the sick person is healed. The Koirengs, sometimes, sacrifice a goat to pay obeisance to God in a special occasion. The sacrifice of a goat or mithun is the most special and final worship to the supreme God or Pathian.
Lastly but not the least, there are thirteen ceremonies of the Koirengs in a year to worship the Supreme God. The elaboration of the ceremonies are not mentioned in this paper. Let us look one by one.
Source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Others/Articles.htm
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