SonOfZeus at 16:09, 1 April 2022

2022-04-01T16:09:44Z

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{{About|a God|the mountain|Mount Koupalu}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Meitei
| name = Koupalu ({{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 = 
| 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 = 
| weapon = Spear
| battles =
| artifacts = 
| animals = White elephant
| symbol = 
| adherents =
| height =
| age =
| tree =
| day =
| color = 
| 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 
Leimalai Khunda Ahanba. 
Nongthrei Ma-U Lingliba, 
Irik Mapan Thariba, 
Lainingthou!
</blockquote>
English translation of the above passage:
<blockquote>
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)!<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 
Eeyen Khunda Ahanba
</blockquote>
English translation of the above passage:
<blockquote>
Koubru of the North,
You are the overlord 
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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Koupalu - Revision history

SonOfZeus at 16:09, 1 April 2022