View source for Koupalu

{{About|a God|the mountain|Mount Koupalu}}
{{Infobox deity
| type         = Meitei
| name         = Koupalu <br /> ({{lang-omp|ꯀꯧꯄꯂꯨ}}) 
| deity_of     = Guardian God of the North West Direction
| member_of    = [[Lainingthou]]s, [[Maikei Ngaakpa Lai]]s and [[Umang Lai]]s
| image        = KOUPALU.jpg
| alt          = <!-- for alternate text of the title image per [[WP:ALT]] -->
| caption      = "Koupalu", the [[Ancient Meitei language|Ancient Meitei]] name of God Koubru, written in archaic Meetei Mayek abugida
| other_names  = Koubaru, Koubru
| hiro         = 
| Old_Norse    = 
| script_name  = 
| script       = 
| affiliation  = [[Meitei mythology]] ([[Manipuri mythology]]) and [[Meitei religion]] ([[Sanamahism]])
| cult_center  = [[Mount Koupalu]] ([[Mount Koubru]]) 
| abode        = [[Mount Koupalu]] ([[Mount Koubru]]) 
| planet       = <!-- or | world = -->
| weapon       = Spear
| battles      = 
| artifacts    = <!-- or | artefacts = -->
| animals      = White elephant
| symbol       = <!-- or | symbols = -->
| adherents    =
| height       = 
| age          = 
| tree         =
| day          = 
| color        = <!-- or | colour = -->
| number       = 
| consorts     = 
* [[Kounu Leima]]
* Likla Leima
* [[Koujeng Leima|Koucheng Leima]] ([[Koujeng Leima]]) 
| parents      = 
| siblings     = 
| children = 
* [[Loyalakpa]] (adopted son/son-in-law) 
* [[Thoudu Nungthel Leima]] (adopted daughter) 
* [[Lainaotabi|Koubru Namoinu]] (an ''adopted daughter'' according to the [[Nongban Pombi Luwaoba]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X31aDwAAQBAJ&q=Nungpan+Ponpi+Luwaopa+narrates+the+romantic+saga+of+Luwang+Prince+Luwaopa+and+Koubru+Namoinee%2C+the+adopted+daughter+of+the+Koubru+King.+Myth+and+legend+fuse+together+with+divine+intervention+playing+an+important+role+in+the+narrative.&pg=PT236|title=Northeast India: A Reader|last1=Oinam|first1=Bhagat|last2=Sadokpam|first2=Dhiren A.|date=2018-05-11|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-429-95320-0|language=en}}</ref>) 
| predecessor  =
| successor    =
| army         =
| mount        = White elephant
| texts        = [[PuYa]]s
| gender       = Male
| Greek_equivalent     = 
| Roman_equivalent     = 
| Etruscan_equivalent  = 
| Christian_equivalent = 
| Slavic_equivalent    = 
| Hinduism_equivalent  = 
| Canaanite_equivalent =
| equivalent1_type = 
| equivalent1 =
| equivalent2_type = 
| equivalent2 =
| region       = [[Ancient Kangleipak]] ([[Antique Manipur]]) 
| ethnic_group = [[Meitei ethnicity]]
| festivals    = [[Lai Haraoba|Koubru Lai Haraoba]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.manipur.org/news/tag/koubru/|title=Koubru – Manipur News}}</ref>
}}
{{Meitei deities}}
'''Koupalu''' ({{lang-omp|ꯀꯧꯄꯂꯨ}}) or '''Koubaru''' ({{lang-mni|ꯀꯧꯕꯔꯨ}}) or '''Koubru''' ({{lang-mni|ꯀꯧꯕ꯭ꯔꯨ}}) is a God in [[Meitei mythology]] and [[Meitei religion|religion]] of [[Ancient Kangleipak]] ([[Antique Manipur]]). He is the Guardian of the North West direction ({{lang-omp|ꯀꯧꯄꯂꯨ ꯃꯥꯢꯀꯩ|Koupalu Maikei|Direction of Koupalu}}).<ref name="Prakash 2007">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wxkC9S2jYCkC&dq=lord+koubru+meitei+laiharaoba+A+wang+Koubru+Assupa+Eeyen+Khunda+Ahanba+north+puppy+lois+sekmai+phayeng+andro+khurkhul+birth+death+marriage+north+west+hill+deities&pg=PA1543|title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India|last=Prakash|first=Col Ved|date=2007|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist|isbn=978-81-269-0706-9|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Manipur: A Study - N. Tombi Singh - Google Books">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lDFy8Q9d0J0C&q=koubru+deity|title=Manipur: A Study|last=Singh|first=N. Tombi|date=1972|publisher=Available with Raj Stores|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NkMwAQAAIAAJ&q=koubru+deity|title=Politics, Society, and Cosmology in India's North East|last=Brara|first=N. Vijaylakshmi|date=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-564331-2|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Devi 2002">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tIBymmBWqgsC&dq=lord+koubru+meitei+laiharaoba+Awang+Koubru+Assupa+Eeyen+Khunda+Ahanba+north+puppy+lois+sekmai+phayeng+andro+khurkhul+birth+death+marriage+north+west+hill+deities&pg=PA12|title=The Lois of Manipur: Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai|last=Devi|first=Lairenlakpam Bino|date=2002|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-7099-849-5|language=en}}</ref> Legend says he is the founder of civilization in [[Ancient Manipur]],<ref name="Manipur: A Study - N. Tombi Singh - Google Books" /> starting from the [[Mount Koubru]], a peak where he abodes, in north-western [[Manipur]].<ref name="Prakash 2007"/><ref name="Devi 2002"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gxqeDwAAQBAJ&q=Manipuri+civilization+began+taking+shape+on+the+Koubru+Peak+which+lies+North-West+of+the+Manipur+valley&pg=PA62|title=Glimpses of Manipuri Culture|last=Devi|first=Dr Yumlembam Gopi|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-0-359-72919-7|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fXDiAAAAMAAJ&q=koubru+deity|title=Manipur|last1=Singh|first1=Kumar Suresh|last2=Horam|first2=M.|last3=Rizvi|first3=S. H. M.|date=1998|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India|isbn=978-81-7046-127-2|language=en}}</ref>

God Koupalu resides in the [[Mount Koupalu]] ([[Mount Koubru]]). The [[Mount Koupalu]] ([[Mount Koubru]]) is the first place of settlement of the [[Meitei ethnicity]], including the [[Loi]]s of [[Andro]], [[Khurkhul]], [[Phayeng]] and [[Sekmai]].<ref name="Prakash 2007"/><ref name="Devi 2002"/>

== Origin ==
The traditional hymns supplement the theory of origin. 
<blockquote>
Awang Koubru Assupa<br />
Leimalai Khunda Ahanba.<br />
Nongthrei Ma-U Lingliba,<br /> 
Irik Mapan Thariba,<br /> 
Lainingthou! 
</blockquote>
English translation of the above passage:
<blockquote>
North Koubru all-inclusive (pervasive)<br />
Leima Lai first habitation,<br />
Heaven-flower all things seen established,<br />
Blood drop (Blood cell) planters,<br />
O! [[Lainingthou]] (King of Gods)!<ref name="Singh 11">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kbu_AwAAQBAJ&dq=koubru&pg=PA11|title=The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India|last=Singh|first=Dr Th Suresh|date=2014-06-02|publisher=Quills Ink Publishing|isbn=978-93-84318-00-0|language=en|pages=11}}</ref>
</blockquote>
This is the hymn of invocation of God Koubru (Koupalu in [[PuYa]]s).<ref name="Singh 11"/>

== Description ==
Lord Koubru is the [[Omniscient]] and the [[Omnipotent]] Guardian God. He lives on the top of [[Mount Koubru]].<ref name="Bareh 2001">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XScmdGvMf7IC&dq=Koubru+omniscient+omnipotent+male+guardian+deity+loi+inhabitants+excluding+andro&pg=PA182|title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India|last=Bareh|first=Hamlet|date=2001|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-7099-790-0|language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kbu_AwAAQBAJ&dq=koubru&pg=PA12|title=The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India|last=Singh|first=Dr Th Suresh|date=2014-06-02|publisher=Quills Ink Publishing|isbn=978-93-84318-00-0|language=en|pages=12}}</ref>

== Worship ==
In the [[Lai Haraoba]] festival, a ritualistic folk song dedicated to God Koubru is sung like this:
<blockquote>
Awang Koubru Assupa<br />
Eeyen Khunda Ahanba
</blockquote>
English translation of the above passage:
<blockquote>
Koubru of the North, 
You are the overlord<br />
You are the first place of settlement.<ref name="Prakash 2007"/><ref name="Devi 2002"/>
</blockquote>
The [[Meitei people|Meiteis]] offer a beautiful [[puppy]] to God Koubru to free themselves from the sufferings.<ref name="Prakash 2007"/><ref name="Devi 2002"/>
The [[Loi]] caste of the [[Meitei ethnicity]] worship God Koubru on every occasion, including [[birth]], [[marriage]] and [[death]].<ref name="Prakash 2007"/><ref name="Devi 2002"/> All the Loi villagers excluding [[Andro]] are the worshipers of God Koubru.<ref name="Bareh 2001"/>

== See also ==
* [[Marjing]] - north east protector
* [[Thangjing]] - south west protector
* [[Wangbren]] - south east protector

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://archive.org/search.php?query=Koubru&sin=TXT Koubru_archive.org]
* [http://e-pao.net/epSearchResults.asp?cx=partner-pub-3342616103029311%3A3788634109&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=Koubru&sa.x=0&sa.y=0 Koubru_e-pao.net]

[[Category:Meitei gods and goddesses]]


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