In today's world many people do take up or change their religion from one to another in search of a meaning that may give them a purpose for their existence. Not only that we have a lot of cult blooming in different corners of the world.
I believe if someone takes up a religion, it is only for a better change, be it material or spiritual. They may as well take up another religion giving up the previous ones.
The only conflict that arises from religion is in trying to prove the superiority of one religion to another. These can be done in many ways which usually come in the form of convincing one with reasoning, or through miracles or though bloodshed, where the latter part is of no use than leaving a deep scar which eventually results in a revolt against the injustice done.
No religion or practices can be force to any individual. However any major religion stands its ground if there are a lot of followers.
Thus religion has always been exploited for political ends in every age. The Dark Age is one of the best examples, after which a new age explodes in the form of renaissance.
200 years before, such was the faith of the people in the valley of Manipur and now the revival of Sanamahism is a kind of renaissance.
Even though many are Hindu we still find they are Hindus in their own fashion, Ras Leela as an example is the fusion of indigenous dance movements and song praising the Hindu God.
Every Hindus in Manipur or outside India has their own customs and practice which usually comprises indigenous practice entwined in their Hindu customs.
This is also true for Christens in many remote places of the world. Where ever humans are they can't be entirely separated from some of their original practices and convictions that have been painted in their sub-consciousness form ages that, it almost becomes a genetic element.
Each of us whether Hindu or Christen or Muslims in Manipur, if belong properly to Manipur and particularly in the valley, know
that there is a particular corner in each house which is meant for Lainingthou and every house face the east.
This in fact shows where we belong. Any faith that we may follow are our own choices.
As for me I never believe in any religion or practices, but when it comes to the product of any religion such as The Bible, The Geeta or The Koran they become my religion and any words that appeals me the most in those scripts are my gods.
I too believe that there is a product of Sanamahism like the Puya or some where in future there would be one. That will be hold at highest regard.
And one of the interesting things about Sanimahism is that it is like a pagan religion or worship which is very old. It is most sensible to interpret Sanamahi as golden liquid, of holly fluid or Life Fluid or even semen.
To worship such a God make sense, for the highest effort of evolution is to produce more advance life form and fertility is the major factor which ensure evolution.
Sanamahism as a religion should be promoted not only because most Manipuri worship lainingthou in every house hold, but due to the reason that it is indigenous, very old and with it brings a whole new art and culture of a different race of mankind that is unique like a species which was not discovered until it became extinct.
And it's contradictory to make ourselves extinct by the very reason that we have our impulses to survive. Let us prevail through Sanamahi.
* supermale0072001, a pseudonym, contribute for the first time to e-pao.net .
You can contact the writer at supermale0072001(at)yahoo(dot)com .
This article was webcasted on September 01st, 2007
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