MULTIPLE ROLES OF MAIBIS IN MEITEI SOCIETY AND CULTURE 145 Multiple Roles of Maibis in Meitei Society and Culture: Are they Still Important? NAOREM NAOKHOMBA SINGH Department of Anthropology, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong Abstract: Art and culture are the important hallmarks which characterize Manipur, a small North-Eastern state of India to the world. Maibis are little known, often misinterpreted religious functionaries who play crucial roles in the religio-cultural life of the Meitei people. The paper seeks to get a deeper understanding of these little-known personalities who have significant roles and responsibilities in Meitei society. The insights presented in the paper were collected through interview and observation methods. Maibis are multifaceted religious functionaries who have several traits combined together in a single personality. They have characteristic features of a priestess, female shaman, fortune teller, clairvoyant, ritual expert, ritual singer and dancer, ritual healer. The majority of them are chosen individuals for their sacred duty by a particular deity who possesses them. They have been a part of Meitei social life since the early period. They are under the institution of Maibi Loishang which classifies them into three groups and hierarchical positions. The intended individuals or the chosen ones go through a long process of training under the guidance of an experienced Maibi during which they learn about various skills and way of life of Maibi. They have a distinctive way of life, food habit, dress code and social behavior. Maibis have been and still are an indispensable part of the Meitei society, who continue to play crucial roles in the religio-cultural life of the people. The paper makes an attempt to know about these multitalented religious functionaries of Manipur. Key words : Art and culture, Manipur, Maibis, chosen individuals, sacred duty, religious functionaries, religio-cultural life. I Who are the Maibis? Maibis are generally translated as priestesses of Meitei traditional religion called Sanamahism of Manipur, one of the North-Eastern states of Indian union at the easternmost part bordering Myanmar. Meitei or Meetei 1 are the major ethnic group of the state 2 . McCulloch (1859), Hodson (1908), Shakespear (1913) and other early scholars described Maibis as priestesses of Meitei traditional religion. Ray (2004) considered them as female Shamans. However, these translations do not get the complete meaning of the word from the cultural context of the people. No doubt, they have the characteristics of a priestess or female shaman, but they are more than that. Maibis, like priestess belong to Maibi Loishang, an institution of Maibis (except for those few who do not register at Loishang) and there is a hierarchy of positions in the Loishang. However, they also get into a trance and act as an intermediary or medium between the spirits and people as the Shamans do. The term Maibi has no exact equivalent J. Indian Anthrop. Soc. 53:145-160(2018)