RELIGIOUS MILIEU IN MANIPUR

This paper aims to reinterpret the state religion of Manipur. It involves discovering
how the various beliefs of the heterogeneous populations of Manipur were assimilated
into the neutralized belief system coined as Umanglaism towards the creation of a
socially integrated national community and how the influences from Mahayana Buddhism
and Bhakti movement led to the development of two branches of Umanglaism, viz.
Sanamahism and Bhagyachandra school respectively and how these two branches enhanced
the idealistic doctrines of the ruling class to serve as reactionary purposes to sustain its
position of privilege. This has been done by examining the backgrounds of various
Umang lais (Umang gods) and the myths associated with them. This paper attempts to
show that Umanglaism survives up to the present day through syncretism, dynamic
translation, absorption and synthesis.