| Description |
The Sora Sompeng (Matarbənum) temple script was created by Mangai Gomango (aka "The Pure One") in 1936 as a core part of the local Maɽir religion, now practiced by Sarda Sor speakers. In the first oral text, Ketan Sabaro describes the seven rules of this religion, which include the use of the script, vegetariansim, sobriety, and prescriptions related to hygiene, temple worship on Thursdays and other spiritual behavior. In a second oral text, Mr. Sabaro lists the names of Mangai Gomango's first disciples, where they originated from and how they contributed to the advancement of the Sompeng script alongside the Maɽir religion. He estimates that the writing system is now used in 225 Sora villages across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha State. Mr. Sabaro occasionally code-switches from Sora into Oriya, a regionally dominant language. Recorded by Opino Gomango. Glossed and translated by Gregory D. S. Anderson. |
