Irai Leima
| Irai Leima | |
|---|---|
Goddess of water and aquatic life | |
| Member of Salailen (father) | |
| Siblings | |
| Consort | Irai Ningthou |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek equivalent | Amphitrite |
| Roman equivalent | Salacia |
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| Meitei mythology |
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Irai Leima (
Mythology
Irai Leima is the daughter of King Heibok Ningthou and the princess of Heibok Ching. Her father was an expert in witchcraft and black magic. Irai Leima is known for her exceptional beauty. One day, she was fishing in the Liwa river. King Kwakpa (Kokpa) of
One day, King Kwakpa became intoxicated after drinking juice from the roots of a Tera plant (
Irai Leima appeared in the dream of Sarangthem Luwangba and told him that she was merged into his clan and became his daughter. The matter was reported to King Senbi Kiyaamba of Ningthouja dynasty. The king sent maibas and maibis to examine the case. The examiners said that the mysterious lady was a goddess and she should be worshipped. King Kiyaamba also told Luwangba to do so. From that year onwards, Irai Leima was worshipped as a goddess.
The day on which Luwangba first saw Irai Leima was the first Monday of the Meitei lunar month of Lamta (Lamda). And the day on which the maibas and maibis came was the first Tuesday of Lamta (Lamda). Still today, from the time of King Senbi Kiyaamba (1467-1508 AD), the Sarangthem family members annually hold a grand feast (Chaklen Katpa) in honor of the goddess. Later, Irai Leima came to be known as Hiyangthang Lairembi.[6]
Worship
When a person gets ill after bathing in a spring, pool, stream, people believed that the water spirits (Irai Leima and Irai Ningthou) had caught the person. To get well again, people worship the two deities. For this, the maibas perform the rites and rituals. The offerings include 2 eggs and 7 bamboo vessels filled up with rice paste. The Thadou people also highly respect the deities. They offer many wild sacrifices. The sacrifices maybe a white fowl, a pig, a dog or a he-goat.[5]: 247
Identification with other deities
Irai Leima is considered one of the divine manifestations of Leimarel Sidabi, the supreme mother earth goddess.[2] She is also described as a form of goddess Imoinu.[3]
Irai Leima is also known as Hiyangthang Lairembi. During the reign of King Garib Niwaj (alias Pamheiba), goddess Hiyangthang Lairembi was converted to Hindu goddess Kamakhya (a form of Durga). The 3rd day of Durga Puja is observed as the "Bor Numit" (literally, Boon Day).[6][7]
In popular culture
- Phou-oibi, the rice goddess is a 2009 ballad opera performed by the Laihui Ensemble. It is based on the story of the goddess and her sister Phouoibi.[8]
References
- ^ Neelabi, sairem (2006). Laiyingthou Lairemmasinggee Waree Seengbul. p. 99.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-86030-49-3.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-359-72919-7.
- ^ Parratt, Saroj Nalini (1997). The Pleasing of the Gods: Meitei Lai Haraoba. Vikas Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-259-0416-8.
- ^ a b T C Das (1945). The Purums 1945. p. 247.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-7835-864-2.
- ISBN 978-1-317-27066-9.
- ^ "Laihui Ensemble Manipur – Phou-oibi, the Rice Goddess to perform at Esplanade Theatre Studio Singapore". www.manipur.org.
- ^ "Phouoibi Shayon to be shown at Shankar : 01st apr17 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net.
