Manipuri Kshatriya

Manipuri Kshatriya, also known as the Meitei Kshatriya is a Hindu Meitei caste in the state of Manipur, India.

Manipuri Kshatriya
Regions with significant populations
Mostly in Manipur, also in Assam.
Languages
Meitei, Bishnupriya Manipuri
Religion
Hinduism

History

In the 18th century CE, Hindu priests came to Manipur, converted the Meitei to Vaishnavism, and admitted most of them into the Kshatriya varna.[1] those Hindu priests then married with local Meiteis and became Manipuri Brahmin[2]

Customs

The Manipuri Kshatriya call themselves Kshatriya and usually wear the sacred thread across the chest. Traditionally meat dishes were avoided, although fish was permitted. However nowadays consumption of meat is very common. Orthodox Meiteis eat food outside only when it is cooked by Brahmins. They usually refuse to have food cooked by other castes.[3] Endogamy is generally followed, but Brahmin-Kshatriya marriages are not that unusual.[4]

References
  1. Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization · Volume 4. Mittal Publications. p. 259.
  2. Sen, Sipra (1992). Tribes and Castes of Manipur: Description and Select Bibliography. A-100, Mohan Garden, New Delhi-110059: K.M. Rai Mittal for Mittal Publications. pp. 68–69. ISBN 81-7099-310-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  3. Sipra Sen (August 1992). Tribes and castes of Manipur: description and select bibliography. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-310-0.
  4. Hamlet Bareh (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Manipur. Mittal Publications. p. 277. ISBN 978-81-7099-790-0.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.