Eyes in Meitei culture

Eyes (Meitei: Mamit[1]/Mit[2]) play crucial roles in different elements of Meitei culture, including but not limited to Meitei dances (Jagois), Meitei festivals, Meitei folklore, Meitei folktales, Meitei history, Meitei language, Meitei literature, Meitei mythology, Meitei proverbs, traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism), Meitei writing system, etc.

Ancient Meitei letter "MIT" (M) - meaning as well as representing "eye"

Terms in Meitei language
Meitei language words Romanisation English translations Morphology Note(s)
ꯃꯤꯠ /mit/ eye [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯀꯨꯠ /mit ~ kut/ to have sunken eyes ~ kut- [~ to be sunken] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯉꯞ mit ~ ngap- (/mit ~ ŋəp/) to feel uncomfortable in the eyes ~ ngap- [~ to feel uneasy] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯇꯥꯡ mit ~ tāng (/mit ~ táŋ/) to be blind ~ tāng- [~ to be scarce] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯊꯛ mit ~ thak- (/mit ~ tʰək/) to be dazzled ~ thak- [~ to be dazzled] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯊꯧ mit ~ thou- (/mit ~ tʰəu/) to be quick to see ~ thou- [~ to be sharp] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯀꯔꯥꯝ mitna karām- (/mit.nə kə.rám/) to take (food, etc.) on one's own plate more than (s)he can eat mit‑na ka [eye‑Nominative; room‑to be hungry] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯀꯨꯞꯄꯗ mitna kuppada (/mit.nə kup.pə.də/) in a moment mit‑na kup‑pa‑da [eye‑Nominative; to cover‑Nom‑Locative] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯅꯥ mit ~ nā- (/mit ~ na/) to suffer from conjunctivitis; to be unpleasant to look at ~ nā- [~ to suffer] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯄꯦꯟ mit ~ pen- (/mit~ pén/) to be pleasing to watch ~ pen- [~ to satisfy] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯌꯥꯝ mit ~ yām- (/mit ~ yam/) to manage a relationship with more than one partner in love affair, etc. ~ yām- [~ to be many] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯌꯨ mit ~ yu- to fail to see ~ yu- [~ to leak] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯁꯤꯡ mit ~ sing- (/mit ~ siŋ/) to be alert ~ sing- [~ to be wise] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯁꯨꯛ mit ~ suk- to frown ~ suk- [~ to be dense] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯁꯦꯞ mit ~ sep- to be cross-eyed ~ sep- [~ to remain unbalanced] [2]
ꯃꯤꯠꯀꯨꯞ mitkup (/mit.kup/) moment mit‑kup [eye‑to cover] [3]
mitkup nāhum sing- (/mit.kup na.hum siŋ/) to be alert mit‑kup nā‑hum sing- [eye‑to cover; ear‑to blow; to be wise] [3]
mitkupta (/mit.kup.tə/) in a moment mit‑kup‑ta [eye‑to cover‑Locative] [3]
ꯃꯤꯠꯆꯥꯅ- mitcāna- (/mit.cá.nə/) to lock one’s eyes with those of another person mit‑cā‑na [eye‑to suit‑Reciprocal] [3]
ꯃꯤꯠꯆꯤ mitci (/mit.ci/) corner of the eye mit‑ci [eye‑corner] [3]
ꯃꯤꯠꯇꯥꯡꯕ mittāngba (/mit.táŋ.bə/) a blind person mit‑tāng‑ba [eye‑to be scarce‑Nom] [3]
ꯃꯤꯠꯊꯨꯞ mitthup (/mit.tʰup/) a fine groove on the upper eyelid mit‑thup [eye‑to fold] [3]
ꯃꯤꯠꯊꯧ mitthou (/mit.tʰəu/) stye mit‑thou [eye‑to be sharp] [3]
ꯃꯤꯠꯅꯍꯥ mitnahā (/mit.nə.ha/) pupil (of eye) mit‑nahā [eye‑youth] [3]
ꯃꯤꯠ ꯅꯥ mit nā (/mit na/) facial organs mit nā [eye ear] [3]
mit nā singna lei- (/mit na siŋ.nə ləi/) to stay alert mit nā sing‑na lei [eye‑ear; to be wise‑Adverb; to stay] [3]
ꯃꯤꯠꯄꯥꯟ mitpān (/mit.pan/) rim of eyelid mit‑pān [eye‑edge] [3]
ꯃꯤꯠꯌꯦꯡ mityeng (/mit.yeŋ/) view; glance mit‑yeng [eye‑to look at] [3]
mit ~ tā- (/mit ~ ta/) to look at ~ tā- [~ to fall] [3]
ꯃꯤꯠꯂꯝ ꯅꯥꯔꯝ mitlam nāram (/mit.lə́m na.rə́m/) sensation perceived by eyes, ears, etc. mit‑lam nā‑ram [eye‑path; ear‑path] [3]
mit ~ khang- (/mit ~ kʰə́ŋ/) to be dexterous, skilful ~ khang- [~ to know] [3]
ꯃꯤꯠꯂꯨ mitlu (/mit.lu/) inward corner of the eye mit‑lu [eye‑to be deep] [3]
ꯃꯤꯠꯁꯥꯡ mitsāng (/mit.saŋ/) rheum: a whitish sticky discharge from the mucous membranes of the eyes mit‑sāng [eye‑id.] [3]

In Meitei writing system
Ancient Meitei character "MIT" (ꯃ) represents as well as means "eye"
Smaller "MIT", known as "MIT LONSUM"
Ancient Meitei character "PAA" (ꯄ) represents as well as means "eyelash"
Smaller "PAA", known as "PAA LONSUM"

The traditional Meitei writing system has four letters, related to eye. The letter "ꯃ" ("Mit") symbolises the human eye, and its letter name "Mit" itself means "eye" in Meitei language. It has an additional form of letter, known as "Mit Lonsum" ("ꯝ"). The letter "ꯄ" ("Paa") symbolises the human eyelash, and its letter name "Paa" itself means "eyelash" in Meitei. It has an additional form of letter, known as "Pa Lonsum" ("ꯞ").[4][5][6]

Divine eyes
Main article: Eye of Providence

In Meitei mythology and traditional Meitei religion, god Salailen (alias Soraren) and his wife Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi are well noted for their "divine eyes", or "all-seeing eyes".

All-seeing eyes of Salailen

When goddess Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi descended from heaven down to earth and visited her native human parents, she consumed earthly foods and drinks, despite being warned in advance, by her husband Salailen, not to do so, even if her own parents insisted her. To avoid being seen by Salailen from heaven, Tampha's parents arranged Phijang Taret (Meitei for 'seven layers of canopies'), installed in the place where Tampha was relishing her foods and drinks. However, Salailen was omniscient and thus have the all-seeing eyes. So, he witnessed the scene, thereby resulting to ban his wife from entering heaven ever again.[7][8][9]

1000 eyes of Tampha Lairembi

After their marriage, God Salailen granted 1000 eyes and 1000 ears to his wife, Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi, to please her. Thus, she attained omniscience. It was through these powers that once Tampha, besides living in heaven, could sense the smokes of a funeral and the mourning sounds of people coming from the earth.[10][11][12]

Evil eyes
Further information: Evil eye

In Meitei mythology, folklore and religion, there is a belief of Hingchabi Changba (Meitei for 'evil eyes') of the Hingchabi (Meitei for 'evil spirits/possessors'). It is a supernatural phenomenon of the full control of a victim's body by a spirit, mentally and physically. Its common causes are the desires of the very spirit for eating or having something it desires. Usually, the victims of such incidence are women. Symptoms include abnormal behaviours like shivering, crying, laughing, frothing, difficulty in breathing, etc. Its treatments or exorcism are usually done by a Maiba by performing rites and rituals for warding off the evil spirit.[13][14][15]

In Meitei language, evil eyes are also known as “minu” (Meitei: ꯃꯤꯅꯨ, romanized: /mí.nú/) and “being affected with other's evil eye” is known as “minu changba” (Meitei: ꯃꯤꯅꯨ ꯆꯪꯕ, romanized: /mí.nú ~ cə́ŋ/).[16]

Eye contact

In the performances of traditional Meitei dances, there is a strict rule that dancers should not have any forms of eye contact with the spectators or the audiences. If the rules are not followed properly, then it is considered as a sacrilege.[17]

Pythons' eyes

Some Meitei people used to adore pythons' eyes as amulets in the protective rings they wore at their fingers. The preserved pythons' eyes are usually small in size, hard in texture, not quite round in shape, and milky opaque in colour. Real pythons' eyes are very hard to get, thereby leading to the manufacturing of the replicas of the much coveted python eye rings, notably sold at the Ima Keithel, Manipur's largest market.[18]

Some Meitei people believe in the positive attention, good fortune, guard against awa ana (Meitei for 'bad happenings') and the unhindered travelling to desired places.[19]

According to Jelle J. P. Wouters, the charm of pythons' eyes is a three sided charismatic relative materialism of the linkages between (1) Pakhangba and kingship, (2) pythons and Pakhangba, and (3) kingship and pythons.[20]

In dolls, idols and sculptures

Dolls

The eye portions of the laidhibi (Meitei for 'traditional Meitei dolls')[lower-alpha 1] are considered to be the most difficult part of crafting. These eyes are actually sewn on the face, using threads of different colours, usually black.[21][22][23]

Idols

In Meitei Hindu culture, idols of Hindu deities like Shri Govindaji, Radha Krishna, Baldev, etc. are crafted having extreme care and attention, specifically to the eye portions. The process of the installation of the eyes to the gods' idols is called “Nayan Chanba” (transl. the placing of eyes).[lower-alpha 2] In this procedure, pieces of conch shells are extracted and sculpted in the forms of eyes. Later, these eyes are attached to the idol applying a mixture of camphor and kerosene as its gluing substance.[24]

In Pung Cholom
Meitei and English bilingual description of the different body parts used by an artist while performing Pung Cholom art

In Pung Cholom performing art form of the Meiteis, eyes play a crucial role since every actions are done through vision. There are three different kinds of the way of looking, on the basis of the distance between the eyes and the objects to be seen.[25] The types are (1) anakpa (Meitei for 'nearby')[26] (about 2.6m of distance between eyes and objects), (2) mayai (Meitei for 'middle/center')[27] (about 4.3m of distance between eyes and objects), and (3) arappa (Meitei for 'far/distant')[28] (about 6m of distance between eyes and objects).[29]

See also

Notes
  1. also known as “Ita Laiphadibee”
  2. Here, “Nayan” is a Sanskrit term for “eye” and “Chanba” is a Meitei language term for installation.

References
  1. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Definition of "mamit")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. Digital South Asia Library. p. 140. Retrieved 2023-10-16. mamit ꯃꯃꯤꯠ /mə́.mit/ n. one's eye; eye of an animal or any other thing. Morph: ma‑mit [3pp‑eye].
  2. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Definition of "mit")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. Digital South Asia Library. p. 148. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  3. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. Digital South Asia Library. p. 149. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  4. Ghai, Deepika; Tripathi, Suman Lata; Saxena, Sobhit; Chanda, Manash; Alazab, Mamoun (2022-11-18). Machine Learning Algorithms for Signal and Image Processing. John Wiley & Sons. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-119-86184-3.
  5. Arambarn Parratt, Saroj Nalini, ed. (2009), "Meetei Mayek or Meetei script chart", The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur, Foundation Books, pp. 145–148, ISBN 978-81-7596-854-7, retrieved 2023-10-16
  6. "Meetei Mayek: The Script". tabish.freeshell.org. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  7. "Three millennia mythology still resonates at Konthoujam Lairembi By Phanjoubam Chingkheinganba". www.e-pao.net. Archived from the original on 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  8. Bhattacharyya, Rituparna (2022-07-29). Northeast India Through the Ages: A Transdisciplinary Perspective on Prehistory, History, and Oral History. Taylor & Francis. p. 188. ISBN 978-1-000-62390-1.
  9. Raatan, T. (2004). Encyclopaedia of North-east India. p. 183. ISBN 978-81-7835-274-9.
  10. Lisam, Khomdan Singh (2011). Encyclopaedia Of Manipur (3 Vol.). p. 680. ISBN 978-81-7835-864-2.
  11. Bhattacharyya, Rituparna (2022-07-29). Northeast India Through the Ages: A Transdisciplinary Perspective on Prehistory, History, and Oral History. Taylor & Francis. p. 188. ISBN 978-1-000-62390-1.
  12. Raatan, T. (2004). Encyclopaedia of North-east India. p. 183. ISBN 978-81-7835-274-9.
  13. "Ethnomedical Practice in Manipur: A Case of Evil Eye".
  14. "The Magic Art of Witchcraft and Black Magic" (PDF). "Evil-Eye" is also a Black art used in Manipur. Certain people possess this power that causes severe stomach- ache, falling of teeth and even destruction of ...
  15. "TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES IN KAKCHING DISTRICT OF MANIPUR" (PDF). a man who performed the rituals of healing Hingchabi Changba (Evil Eye); ...
  16. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Definition of "minu")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. Digital South Asia Library. p. 149. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  17. Baral, Kailash C. (2023-05-16). Cultural Forms and Practices in Northeast India. Springer Nature. p. 165. ISBN 978-981-19-9292-6.
  18. Wouters, Jelle J. P. (2022-05-16). Vernacular Politics in Northeast India: Democracy, Ethnicity, and Indigeneity. Oxford University Press. p. 205. ISBN 978-0-19-267826-3.
  19. Wouters, Jelle J. P. (2022-05-16). Vernacular Politics in Northeast India: Democracy, Ethnicity, and Indigeneity. Oxford University Press. p. 205. ISBN 978-0-19-267826-3.
  20. Wouters, Jelle J. P. (2022-05-16). Vernacular Politics in Northeast India: Democracy, Ethnicity, and Indigeneity. Oxford University Press. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-19-267826-3.
  21. "Laiphadibi: The Cloth Dolls that Guard and Guide Manipuri People". Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  22. "Laiphadibi : Cloth Dolls of Manipur – Asia InCH – Encyclopedia of Intangible Cultural Heritage". Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  23. "LAIPHADIBI: THE MAKING, EVOLUTION AND PROCESS PART II – MASH India". 2021-03-25. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  24. Devi, Jamini (2010). Cultural History of Manipur: Sija Laioibi and the Maharas. Mittal Publications. p. 31. ISBN 978-81-8324-342-1.
  25. Singh, Leitanthem Santosh (2021-12-10). "THE MOTOR SKILLS FOR PERFORMING MANIPURI PUNG CHOLOM". ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts. 2 (2): 151–160. doi:10.29121/shodhkosh.v2.i2.2021.49. ISSN 2582-7472.
  26. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Definition of "anakpa")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. Digital South Asia Library. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-10-16. 1) ꯑꯅꯛꯄ anakpa (p. 7) anakpa ꯑꯅꯛꯄ /ə.nək.pə/ adj. nearby. Morph: a‑nak‑pa [Att‑to be near‑Nom].
  27. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Definition of "mayai")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. Digital South Asia Library. p. 140. Retrieved 2023-10-16. mayāi ꯃꯌꯥꯏ /mə.yái/ n. middle; centre. Morph: ma‑yāi [NM‑middle\centre].
  28. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Definition of "arappa")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. Digital South Asia Library. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-10-16. ꯑꯔꯥꯞꯄ arāppa (p. 11) arāppa ꯑꯔꯥꯞꯄ /ə.rap.pə/ adj. far; distant; not near. Morph: a‑rāp‑pa [Att‑to be far‑Nom].
  29. Singh, Leitanthem Santosh (2021-12-10). "THE MOTOR SKILLS FOR PERFORMING MANIPURI PUNG CHOLOM". ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts. 2 (2): 151–160. doi:10.29121/shodhkosh.v2.i2.2021.49. ISSN 2582-7472.

Further reading
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