SonOfZeus at 12:47, 16 March 2022

2022-03-16T12:47:28Z

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{{Infobox deity
| type = Meitei
| name = Loyalakpa
| deity_of = Guardian God of Western Direction
| member_of = [[Maikei Ngaakpa Lai]]s and [[Lam Lai]]s
| image = LOYALAKPA.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = "Loyalakpa", the name of the God, written in archaic Meetei Mayek abugida
| other_names = Loyarakpa
| hiro =
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| affiliation = [[Meitei mythology]] ([[Manipuri mythology]]) and [[Meitei religion]] ([[Sanamahism]])
| cult_center = Phayeng and Sekmai
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| animals = [[Meitei horse]] ([[Manipuri pony]])
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| consort = Thoudu Nungthel Leima
| father = [[Koubru]]
| mother = [[Kounu]]
| siblings =
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| mount = [[Meitei horse]] ([[Manipuri pony]])
| texts =
| gender = Male
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| region = [[Ancient Kangleipak]] ([[Antique Manipur]])
| ethnic_group = [[Meitei ethnicity]]
| festivals = Chakpa Haraoba (one of the 4 types of [[Lai Haraoba]])
}}
{{Meitei deities}}
'''Loyalakpa''' ({{lang-mni|ꯂꯣꯌꯥꯂꯥꯛꯄ}}), also spelt as '''Loyarakpa''' ({{lang-mni|ꯂꯣꯌꯥꯔꯥꯛꯄ}}), is a God in [[Meitei mythology]] and [[Meitei religion|religion]] of [[Ancient Kangleipak]] ([[Antique Manipur]]). He is best known for [[wrestling]] with [[Khoriphaba]] during the [[Lai Haraoba]] festival.<ref name="books.google.com">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9jtuAAAAMAAJ&q=loyarakpa|title=Traditional Customs and Rituals of Northeast India: Arunachal Pradesh, meghalaya, Manipur, Assam|date=2002|publisher=Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture|language=en}}</ref> He is the [[husband|consort]] of goddess Thoudu Nungthel Leima.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tIBymmBWqgsC&q=loyarakpa+his+wife+Thoudu+Nungthel+Leima&pg=PA54|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> He is one of the ten kingly gods (or ten divine kings) in [[Meitei religion]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/meitheis00hodsgoog/page/n154/mode/2up?q=Loyarakpa+ten+kings+gods|title=The Meitheis by Thomas Callan Hodson|website=archive.org|year=1908|pages=154|publisher=D. Nutt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DJlJAAAAMAAJ&q=loyarakpa|title=The Meitheis|last=Hodson|first=Thomas Callan|date=1908|publisher=D. Nutt|isbn=978-81-7536-149-2|language=en}}</ref>

== Description ==
Among the deities, God Loyalakpa and God [[Khoriphaba]] possess the epithets of being the best wrestlers.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q5eBAAAAMAAJ&q=epithets+best+wrestler+engrafted+Khoriphaba+Loyalakpa|title=Folk Culture of Manipur|last=Singh|first=Moirangthem Kirti|date=1993|publisher=Manas Publications|isbn=978-81-7049-063-0|language=en}}</ref> The two powerful gods wrestled during the [[Lai Haraoba]] festival.<ref name="books.google.com"/>

== Mythology ==
When the divine polo match was played among the gods, Loyalakpa participated in the southern team. His team was led by God [[Thangjing]] while his opponent's team (northern team) was led by God [[Marjing]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XxovEAAAQBAJ&dq=loyalakpa&pg=PT102|title=And That Is Why... Manipuri Myths Retold|last=Roy|first=L. Somi|date=2021-06-21|publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited|isbn=978-93-91149-65-9|language=en}}</ref>

== Cults and shrines ==
The main deities assembled in the [[Lai Haraoba]] of the Phayeng are almost similar to those of the Sekmai. God Loyalakla is one of these deities.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tIBymmBWqgsC&dq=loyalakpa+lai+Haraoba+phayeng+Sekmai&pg=PA54|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>
God Loyalakla and other deities including [[Panam Ningthou]], [[Pureiromba]] and [[Koubru]] hold the special position of the Chakpa Haraoba (one of the 4 types of [[Lai Haraoba]] festival).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f-TzDwAAQBAJ&q=Panam+Ningthou%2C+Pureiromba%2C+Koubru+and+Loyarakpa+for+Chakpa+Haraoba+ritual+observances+four+types+Lai+Haraoba&pg=PT308|title=Himalayan Bridge|last1=Kumar|first1=Niraj|last2=Driem|first2=George van|last3=Stobdan|first3=Phunchok|date=2020-11-18|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-000-21551-9|language=en}}</ref>
== Namesakes ==
=== Mountain peak ===
Loyalakpa is one of the four sacred mountain peaks of the [[Meitei people]]. The others are Koubru, Kounu and Thangjing. These names of the peaks are named after the respective presiding gods.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kbu_AwAAQBAJ&q=From+North+to+South%2C+Koubru%2C+Kounu%2C+Loyalakpa%2C+Thangjing+are+four+peaks.+These+four+peaks+are+places+of+worship+of+the+Meitei+race+and+the+names+of+the+peaks+are+given+by+the+names+of+the+gods+whom+the+Meeteis+worship+at+the+peaks.&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}}</ref>

== Related pages ==
* [[Koubru]] - north west protector
* [[Marjing]] - north east protector
* [[Thangjing]] - south west protector
* [[Wangbren]] - south east protector

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Other websites ==

[[Category:Meitei gods and goddesses]]

{{religion-stub}}
{{simple-Wikipedia}}

Loyalakpa - Revision history

SonOfZeus at 12:47, 16 March 2022