Marjing

Marjing (Malching) is the Meitei god of horses, polo (sagol kangjei), sport and war, and one of the four cardinal Umang Lai of Sanamahism — the guardian of the north-eastern direction (the Maikei Ngakpa Lai). He dwells on the Heingang (Marjing) hill north-east of Imphal with his winged steed Samadon Ayangba, and tradition credits him with introducing polo. With Koubru, Thangjing and Wangbren he forms the four-fold guardianship of the cardinal directions invoked for protection in Meitei ritual.

Domains

• north eastern direction
• horses and war
• sport and games

Powers

• Invent the game of polo (sagol kangjei)
• Enter and reside within the human body as one of its souls

Relations

• companion: KoubruCo-guardian of the directions with Koubru (NW).Meitei tradition: the four Maikei Ngakpa Lai as the guardians of the directions (secondary)
• companion: ThangjingCo-guardian of the directions with Thangjing (SW).Meitei tradition: the four Maikei Ngakpa Lai as the guardians of the directions (secondary)
• companion: WangbrenCo-guardian of the directions with Wangbren (SE).Meitei tradition: the four Maikei Ngakpa Lai as the guardians of the directions (secondary)

Sources

• existence: S. N. Arambam Parratt, The Religion of Manipur (1980) (secondary); Meitei tradition (Sanamahism): the Maikei Ngakpa Lai (secondary)