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Purohitism and Maibaism
The system of priesthood (Purohitism) evolved as a functional
aspect and then it established itself as a hereditary right of those born
in priest family. The traditional priests of Manipur are called the 'Maibas'.
After the spread of Hinduism in Manipur the class of Purohits and Pandits
has also emerged. Maibaism is related to the traditional Manipuri faith
and the Purohitism to the Hinduism. But both Maibaism and Purohitism are
considered under the fold of Hinduism. Maibaism is related to the animistic
faith. The Maiba and Maibis (priestesses) are from Manipuri Hindus. There
are two types of Maibas and Maibis.
The first one perform religious rituals and the others are traditional
physicians like Vaids. They must be consulted for advice on various matters.
The Maibis play a vital role in performances of rituals in temples and
in the society. The Maibis dress themselves very distinctively. It is
all white. A phanek (skirt) over which is worn an additional waist wrapper
below the hips, a white blouse mostly with full sleeves, an Inaphi (shawl)
is also worn. The male Maiba is also dressed in all white, a white dhoti,
long jacket, white sash around the waist and a white turban on the head.
Both Maiba and Maibi have got certain restrictions in social life. They
cannot take food which is not clean and prepared in the house where child
birth has taken place or a food prepared by a woman in her menstruation
period. They have to be above the common people as they are the men and
women of Lai. It is believed that a Lai possesses the female Maibi. Maibi
is generally possessed by the goddess. The chance of becoming a Maibi
is by being selected by the Lai at Lai- Haraoba. In that case a woman
becomes hysterical while dancing and performs dance in wild frenzy and
gets into a state of trance. In the state of trance she will utter different
words. The female can be possessed by the Lai directly. In that case the
female at the initial stage will show an abnormal behaviour by singing
songs, pulling her heirs, shouting, trembling and speaking in an unusual
tongue. The choice on the part of the Lai may fall upon a female of any
age. The girl at the age of seven may become a Maibi and a woman of forty
or fifty also can be chosen as Maibi by the Lai. Both married and unmarried
are acceptable.
It is believed that a Maibi from the tender age becomes a successful
Maibi.
If a Maibi is married then she sleeps on the left side of the bed with her
husband. The visits of Lai are during the nights on some fixed dates of the
month. On these particular days she sleeps alone. The Lai may appear in the form
of a human being and the Maibi feel the sensation of copulation. It is said that
it is more satisfying when the Lai appear in the human form. The Lai also visits
the Maibi during her menstruation but no intercourse sensation is felt by the
Maibi during this period. In case of the married Maibi the husband sometimes
feels the presence of the Lai with his wife. Therefore he leaves her alone to be
comfortable with the Lai. the Lai is never happy if Maibi bears a child. The
Maibi herself will not develop natural affection for the child or may maltreat
or ignore the child.
The Maibas and Maibis play a very important role in Meitei temples. In
several social traditions for ritualistic performances the presence of Maiba or
Maibi is considered essential and the ceremony is not considered complete
without his or her presence. Their services are also taken in getting the evil
spirits away from the house. They are also invited to cure the patients. Some
cure their patients by their traditional magic and others do it through nature
cure. It is believed that they speak with the Lais and the dead persons and thus
also convey their messages to the living human beings. In the Hindu society the Purohits are from the Brahmin caste. They have the
monopoly over ritualistic performances in temples and houses of Hindus. The
Brahmins are completely amalgamated with the society of Manipur and the priests
have got a complete hold over the society and the religious institutions. They
are considered as Myang (outsiders). The major factor for this has been the
matrimonial relations. The migrated Brahmins married the local Manipuri girls.
This overcame the local resentment for their continuance as priests. The progeny
of priests, who married the Manipuri girls, inherited the priesthood. The white dhoti, kurta and white turban is the common dress of the Manipuri
Brahmin priest. The Yagyopaveet which is the sacred thread is an essential
garment of a Brahmin priest. It arches from the left shoulder down to the right
waist on each side from back and front. The forehead is distinctively marked
with the sandal paste. He possesses a thorough knowledge of Sanskrit and Hindi.
He utters Sanskrit shlokas from the holy books while carrying out worship
in the temples or performing the religious rituals. Hinduism was a royal
religion, therefore, the Purohits could gain respect and recognition in the
society. Purohits of Manipur are a conscious class. They observe
ritualistic performances in temples and in other places.
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