Koupalu

Term
Term
English	Koupalu
Ancient Meitei	ꯀꯧꯄꯂꯨ ; (kou-pa-loo)
Modern Meitei	ꯀꯧꯕꯔꯨ / ꯀꯧꯕ꯭ꯔꯨ ; (kou-ba-roo / kou-broo)
Assamese	কৌপালু / কৌবৰু / কৌব্ৰু ; (kou-pa-loo / kou-ba-roo / kou-broo)
Bengali	কৌপালু / কৌবরু / কৌব্রু ; (kou-pa-loo / kou-ba-roo / kou-broo)
Hindi	कौपलू / कौबरू / कौब्रू ; (kou-pa-loo / kou-ba-roo / kou-broo)
	Sanamahism

Koupalu
Koupalu
Guardian God of the North West Direction
Member of Maikei Ngaakpa Lais and Umang Lais
	"Koupalu" is the Ancient Meitei name of the God, written in archaic Meetei Mayek abugida.
Other names	Koubaru, Koubru
Affiliation	Meitei mythology (Manipuri mythology) and Meitei religion (Sanamahism)
Abode	Mount Koupalu (Mount Koubru)
Weapon	Spear
Animals	White elephant
Mount	White elephant
Texts	PuYas
Gender	Male
Ethnic group	Meitei ethnicity
Festivals	Koubru Lai Haraoba[1]
Personal information
Consort	Kounu ; Likla Leima ; Koujeng Leima
Children	Loyalakpa; Thoudu Nungthel Leima; Koubru Namoinu (according to the Nongban Pombi Luwaoba[2]);

Koupalu (also, Koubaru or Koubru) is a primordial deity in Meitei mythology and religion. He is the Guardian of the North West direction.[3][4][5][6] Legend says he is the founder of civilization in Ancient Manipur,[4] starting from the Mount Koubru, a peak where he abodes, in north-western Manipur.[3][6][7][8]

God Koubru resides in the Mount Koubru (Koubru Hill). The Mount Koubru (Koubru Hill) is the first place of settlement of the Meitei ethnicity, including the Lois of Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai.[3][6]

Origin

The traditional hymns supplement the theory of origin.

Awang Koubru Assupa
Leimalai Khunda Ahanba.
Nongthrei Ma-U Lingliba,
Irik Mapan Thariba,
Lainingthou!

English translation of the above passage:

North Koubru all-inclusive (pervasive)
Leima Lai first habitation,
Heaven-flower all things seen established,
Blood drop (Blood cell) planters,
O! Lainingthou (King of Gods)![9]

This is the hymn of invocation of God Koubru (Koupalu in PuYas).[9]

Description

Lord Koupalu (Koubru) is the Omniscient and the Omnipotent Guardian God. He lives on the top of Mount Koubru.[10] God Koubru, the Heavenly Lord, is said to be the controller of the nine underground wells/tunnels. These are associated with the birth and death of the mankind. The 9 tunnels are sacred to the Meitei people. So, these are still worshipped by the Meiteis.[11]

Worship

In the Lai Haraoba festival, a ritualistic folk song dedicated to God Koubru is sung like this:

Awang Koubru Assupa
Eeyen Khunda Ahanba

English translation of the above passage:

Koubru of the North, You are the overlord
You are the first place of settlement.[3][6]

The Meiteis offer a beautiful puppy to God Koubru to free themselves from the sufferings.[3][6] The Loi caste of the Meitei ethnicity worship God Koubru on every occasion, including birth, marriage and death.[3][6] All the Loi villagers excluding Andro are the worshipers of God Koubru.[10]

References

"Koupalu – Manipur News".
Oinam, Bhagat; Sadokpam, Dhiren A. (11 May 2018). Northeast India: A Reader. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-429-95320-0.
Prakash, Col Ved (2007). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0706-9.
Singh, N. Tombi (1972). Manipur: A Study. Available with Raj Stores.
Brara, N. Vijaylakshmi (1998). Politics, Society, and Cosmology in India's North East. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-564331-2.
Devi, Lairenlakpam Bino (2002). The Lois of Manipur: Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-849-5.
Devi, Dr Yumlembam Gopi. Glimpses of Manipuri Culture. ISBN 978-0-359-72919-7.
Singh, Kumar Suresh; Horam, M.; Rizvi, S. H. M. (1998). Manipur. Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 978-81-7046-127-2.
Singh, Dr Th Suresh (2 June 2014). The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India. Quills Ink Publishing. p. 11. ISBN 978-93-84318-00-0.
Bareh, Hamlet (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-790-0.
Singh, Dr Th Suresh (2 June 2014). The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India. Quills Ink Publishing. p. 12. ISBN 978-93-84318-00-0.

External links

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[auto-1] "Koupalu – Manipur News".

[2] Oinam, Bhagat; Sadokpam, Dhiren A. (11 May 2018). Northeast India: A Reader. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-429-95320-0.

[Prakash_2007-3] Prakash, Col Ved (2007). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0706-9.

[Manipur:_A_Study_-_N._Tombi_Singh_-_Google_Books-4] Singh, N. Tombi (1972). Manipur: A Study. Available with Raj Stores.

[5] Brara, N. Vijaylakshmi (1998). Politics, Society, and Cosmology in India's North East. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-564331-2.

[Devi_2002-6] Devi, Lairenlakpam Bino (2002). The Lois of Manipur: Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-849-5.

[7] Devi, Dr Yumlembam Gopi. Glimpses of Manipuri Culture. ISBN 978-0-359-72919-7.

[8] Singh, Kumar Suresh; Horam, M.; Rizvi, S. H. M. (1998). Manipur. Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 978-81-7046-127-2.

[Singh_11-9] Singh, Dr Th Suresh (2 June 2014). The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India. Quills Ink Publishing. p. 11. ISBN 978-93-84318-00-0.

[Bareh_2001-10] Bareh, Hamlet (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-790-0.

[11] Singh, Dr Th Suresh (2 June 2014). The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India. Quills Ink Publishing. p. 12. ISBN 978-93-84318-00-0.

Sanamahism
Practices and beliefs	Lai haraoba Ritual dance Polytheism Animism Meitei festival Mythology
Sanamahism shrines	List of Umang Lai Laishang Meitei architecture
Notable Lai	Taibang Mapu Sanamahi Lainingthou Koupalu Lan Leima
Important literature	Numit Kappa Sanamahi Laihui
See also	Religion in Manipur List of Meitei deities