A Guide to Meitei Yek Salai
An Interactive Exploration of Meitei/Meetei Clans and Surnames
Understanding the Yek Salai System
The Yek Salai system is the ancient clan structure of the Meitei people, forming a core part of their identity. It's believed to have been consolidated during the reign of Pakhangba, with all Meitei people traditionally considered descendants of one of seven primary clans, or Salais.
This lineage, passed down through the male line, is crucial in Meitei society. It governs social relationships and, most notably, marriage customs. A complex system of prohibitions prevents marriage between individuals from closely related surnames (Sageis) to maintain clan integrity. The most significant of these is Yek Tinnaba, which forbids marriage within the same clan, believed to prevent misfortune and ensure the health of future generations.
This interactive guide is an adaptation of the research and data compiled by multiple research papers and sources. It allows you to easily search for a surname (Sagei) and find its corresponding primary clan (Yek Salai). You can explore more on my other blog my other blog.
Interactive Surname & Salai Finder
Click a Salai to filter the list, or use the search bar to find any surname.
| Surname (Sagei) | Primary Clan (Yek Salai) |
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Our goal is to make this guide as accurate and complete as possible. If you notice any missing surnames or potential corrections, please take a moment to contribute to our research.
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