Philosophy of Meitei script

The philosophy of Meitei script (ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ ꯋꯥꯡꯎꯂꯣꯟ / ꯋꯥꯡꯎꯂꯣꯜ; Meitei Mayek Wangulon / Wangulol¹) is a part of Meitei philosophy and the philosophy of Sanamahism.² It links the letters, alphabets, and numerals of the Meitei script with mythology, folklore, religion, and philosophy. The script is used not only for writing but also to explain the creation of the universe and human beings.³⁴⁵¹

According to Meitei belief, the Universal Lord, also called the God Father Creator, existed in an indeterminate primordial state. He began to think about creating the universe. As a result, space, stars, the sun, earth, fire, water, and air came into existence.³⁴⁵¹

The creation of humans is linked with the seven-day week, with each day associated with the creation of specific parts of the human body and related Meitei alphabets.³⁴⁵¹

Langmaiching is the first day of the week, now called Nongmaijing. It represents the beginning of human creation.³⁴⁵¹

The name Langmaiching comes from:

• Lang – becoming a human body from the immaterial spirit of the God Father.
• Mai – human face or Laipak.
• Ching – attraction toward a centre.³⁴⁵¹

On this day, the God Father Creator incarnates as the number 1 (꯱), attracting fire, water, air, earth, and space to begin the creation of man, particularly the Laipak (forehead), which becomes the permanent seat of the God Father Creator as long as the human lives.³⁴⁵¹

The Loi peoples of Kangleipak still use the original term Langmaiching. The general term changed to Nongmaijing during the 18th century cultural evolution.³⁴⁵¹

Ningthoukapa is the second day of the week, corresponding to Monday.³⁴⁵¹

On this day, the first three Meitei alphabets (ꯀ, ꯁ, ꯂ) appeared, representing the completion of the head.³⁴⁵¹

Meaning of Ningthoukapa:

• Ning – mind.
• Thou – directing the mind.
• Kapa – taking a seat.³⁴⁵¹

The God Father Creator permanently takes His seat in the Laipak (forehead).³⁴⁵¹

The third day of the week is Leipakpokpa, meaning “birth of the human trunk” (Leipak for Earth, Pokpa for giving birth).³⁴⁵¹

The second set of three alphabets (ꯃ, ꯄ, ꯅ) appeared to help the creation of the human trunk.³⁴⁵¹

Legend says that Sanamahi Lainingthou first created animals but failed to create man. The God Father Creator advised him to create man in the image seen in the pupils of His eyes.³⁴⁵¹

Imsakeisa is the fourth day, representing the construction of the human body trunk, which becomes a temple for the God Father Creator.³⁴⁵¹

Three alphabets (ꯆ, ꯇ, ꯈ) symbolize mouth, sperm, and chin, relating to the human body's structure and functions.³⁴⁵¹

Meanings are Im for house, sa for built, kei for barn, sa for storage, showing the human body as a temple.³⁴⁵¹

Sakonsen represents the internal organs and the heart, where the God Father Creator resides.³⁴⁵¹

Alphabets ꯉ, ꯊ, ꯋ correspond to tongue and gullet, chest organs, and the heart.³⁴⁵¹

Meanings are Sa for human body, kon for embracing, sen for keeping under care, showing the Creator's love and protection.³⁴⁵¹

Eelai represents the outward form and shape of the human body.³⁴⁵¹

Alphabets ꯌ, ꯍ, ꯎ relate to the spine, the living body, and the God Father Creator.³⁴⁵¹

Meanings are Ee for blood, Lai for God, showing that the Creator began creation on Earth as a drop of blood.³⁴⁵¹

Thangcha is the last day, completing the creation of the male human being.³⁴⁵¹

Alphabets ꯏ, ꯐ, ꯑ correspond to blood, semen, and unlimited space, representing human procreation.³⁴⁵¹

Meanings are Thang for "to drive down", cha for descendants, showing the continuation of mankind.³⁴⁵¹

The Meitei Mayek script is more than a writing system. The Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Ama-IIon Pukok states:

"Khunung Eeyekki Khonthok

Asipusu khunthoklon Haikatane Lepna

Khangpio"³⁴⁵¹

In English, it is translated as:

"The social sound of the writing alphabets is also to be known as the procreation of mankind."⁴⁵

The letters and numbers of the Meitei script show cosmic creation, human body structure, and spiritual presence, having the deep connection between language, philosophy, and religion in Meitei culture.³⁴⁵¹

Image(s)	Letter(s)	Representation(s)	Name(s)/Pronunciation(s)	Romanization	Meaning(s)a6789	Latin equivalent letters/sounds	IPA10
	ꯀ		ꯀꯣꯛ	kok	head or brain	K	/k/
	ꯁ		ꯁꯝ	sam/sham	hair	S	/s/
	ꯂ		ꯂꯥꯏ	lai	forehead	L	/l/
	ꯃ		ꯃꯤꯠ	mit/meet	eye	M	/m/
	ꯄ		ꯄꯥ	pā/paa	eyelash	P	/p/
	ꯅ		ꯅꯥ	nā/naa	ear	N	/n/
	ꯆ		ꯆꯤꯜ	chil/cheel	lips	Ch	/t͡ʃ/
	ꯇ		ꯇꯤꯜ	til/teel	saliva	T	/t/
	ꯈ		ꯈꯧ	khou	throat, palate, neck	Kh	/kʰ/
	ꯉ		ꯉꯧ	ngou	pharynx, larynx	Ng	/ŋ/
	ꯊ		ꯊꯧ	thou	breast, chest, ribs	Th	/tʰ/
	ꯋ		ꯋꯥꯏ	wai	navel, heart	W	/w/
	ꯌ		ꯌꯥꯡ	yang	backbone, vertebral column, spine	Y	/j/
	ꯍ		ꯍꯨꯛ	huk/hook	joint, articulation	H	/h/
	ꯎ		ꯎꯟ	un/oon	skin, hair follicle	U	/u(ː)/
	ꯏ		ꯏ	ee/i	blood	I or E	/i(ː)/
	ꯐ		ꯐꯝ	pham/fam	"anus" or "buttocks" or "seat" or "uterus" or "womb"	F or Ph	/pʰ/
	ꯑ		ꯑꯇꯤꯡꯉꯥ / ꯑꯇꯤꯌꯥ	atinga/atiya	"sky" or "immortality" or "heaven" or "eternity" or "divinity" or "celestial being" or "birth"	A	/ɐ/