Lainingthou Sanamahi Kiyong


The, officially known as the, is a temple of God Lainingthou Sanamahi of Meitei religion, built on the Nongmaiching mountain in the Imphal East district of. It is a center of the Sanamahism followers in Manipur.
It is the central body of the "Sanamahi Lainingkol" at Chingoi Maru Langmaiching.
The Sanamahi Kiyong is a religious destination and a pilgrimage site for the Meitei people, even for those living outside Manipur in other Northeast Indian states and also for the Kabui people and the Zeliangrong people living in Manipur, Assam and Tripura inside India as well as in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Aim

The construction of the Sanamahi Kiyong temple aims at the establishment of a university of Sanamahi religion on the Nongmaiching mountain.
It was built according to a 2002 resolution adopted at a public meeting having a goal to construct a university for Sanamahism, with the aim to teach the future generations of people about the ancient Meitei culture of the Sanamahi religion, offering its students various subjects about indigenous art forms, dance forms, music, Thang-Ta and etc.

Architecture

The Sanamahi Kiyong is tall. It has 7 stories, that represent the seven clans of the Meitei people. The 7 stories are painted in the colours of the 7 Meitei clans.

Construction

The construction of the Sanamahi Kiyong started in the year 2006. It was done through the donated funds raised from the public.
As of March 2012, the construction cost reached and the then estimation of net cost was around.

Inauguration

The Sanamahi Kiyong was previously planned to be inaugurated on 16 May 2019. But it was postponed to 8 June 2019 because religious leaders advised that it should be done on Meitei month of Enga and not on the month of Kalen and 8 June falls on Enga, the favourable month.
On 8 June 2019, the was organised by the "Foundation For University of Sanamahi Culture" and the "Laiyingthou Sanamahi Thougal Kanglup". The event was attended by N Hiyainu, wife of Nongthombam Biren, the then Chief Minister of Manipur.