Phou Ningthou

Phou Ningthou
Phou Ningthou
God of agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, harvesting, rice
Member of agricultural deities
Other names	Phouningthou
Affiliation	Sanamahism
Abodes	Paddy fields and granaries
Symbol	Rice plant
Gender	Male
Region	Manipur)
Ethnic group	Meitei
Festivals	Lai Haraoba
Consort	Phouoibi

This article contains the Meitei alphabet. Without proper rendering support, you may see errors in display.

Phou Ningthou (Meitei: ꯐꯧ ꯅꯤꯪꯊꯧ, lit. 'king of unhusked rice') is a deity in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur). He is the God and the divine male personification of the agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, harvesting, rice paddies, rice and wealth.^[1]^[2] He is the consort of Phouoibi (Phouleima), the goddess of crops and agricultural fertility.^[1]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]

Worship

Phou Ningthou is worshipped with Phouoibi, the goddess of rice. Farmers prayed to the two deities for a doubling of the previous year's yield, after the harvest.^[1]

Phoukourol (Phoukouron or Phougourol or Phougouron) is a sacred hymn to call the spirit of the paddy. It is generally sung during harvesting.^[8]^[9] It is done before the harvested crops are stored in the grain house.^[10]

The Phou Kouba (calling the paddy/rice) ceremony is usually performed during mis-happenings to the farmers. Mis-happenings may be theft or burning of the paddy/rice, an animal like cow trespasses the threshing ground, etc. People perform the rites and rituals to induce the deity to stay at their places.^[10]

Sareng (Wallago attu, helicopter catfish) with rice is the most important offering to the deity. It should be cooked with herbs and not with spices.^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Krishna, Nanditha (2014-05-15). Sacred Plants of India. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-93-5118-691-5.
^ Hamilton, Roy W.; Ammayao, Aurora (2003). The Art of Rice: Spirit and Sustenance in Asia. UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History. ISBN 978-0-930741-98-3.
^ Paniker, K. Ayyappa (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
^ Lairenlakpam Bino (2002). The Lois of Manipur: Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-849-5.
^ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1993). Manipur: Treatise & Documents. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-399-5.
^ Meitei, Sanjenbam Yaiphaba; Chaudhuri, Sarit K.; Arunkumar, M. C. (2020-11-25). The Cultural Heritage of Manipur. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-29637-2.
^ "Sharma, H. Surmangol. Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary. Meaning of Phouoibi". uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). 2006.
^ Singh, Moirangthem Kirti (1993). Folk Culture of Manipur. Manas Publications. ISBN 978-81-7049-063-0.
^ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
^ ^a ^b ^c Parratt, Saroj Nalini (1980). Religion Of Manipur. Firma Klm. p. 93.

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[Krishna-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Krishna, Nanditha (2014-05-15). Sacred Plants of India. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-93-5118-691-5.

[books.google.com-2] Hamilton, Roy W.; Ammayao, Aurora (2003). The Art of Rice: Spirit and Sustenance in Asia. UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History. ISBN 978-0-930741-98-3.

[3] Paniker, K. Ayyappa (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.

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

[5] Sanajaoba, Naorem (1993). Manipur: Treatise & Documents. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-399-5.

[6] Meitei, Sanjenbam Yaiphaba; Chaudhuri, Sarit K.; Arunkumar, M. C. (2020-11-25). The Cultural Heritage of Manipur. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-29637-2.

[7] "Sharma, H. Surmangol. Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary. Meaning of Phouoibi". uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). 2006.

[8] Singh, Moirangthem Kirti (1993). Folk Culture of Manipur. Manas Publications. ISBN 978-81-7049-063-0.

[9] Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.

[Parratt_1980_93-10] Parratt, Saroj Nalini (1980). Religion Of Manipur. Firma Klm. p. 93.

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v t e 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