Yumjao Leima | |
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All time reigning queen mother Goddess of house, household, royalty, rule and power | |
Member of Lairembis | |
Other names |
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Affiliation | Meitei mythology (Manipuri mythology) and Meitei religion (Sanamahism) |
Major cult center | Kangla and Sana Konung |
Abodes | houses |
Texts | Puyas |
Gender | Female |
Region | Manipur |
Ethnic group | Meitei ethnicity |
Festivals | Lai Haraoba |
Personal information | |
Children | All the Meitei Kings (in spiritual sense) |
Equivalents | |
Chinese equivalent | Queen Mother of the West |
Part of a series on |
Meitei mythology |
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Sanamahism |
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Yumjao Leima (Old Manipuri : Yumchao Leima) or Yumjao Lairembi (Old Manipuri : Yumchao Lailempi) or Yumjao Lairemma (Old Manipuri : Yumchao Lailemma) is the mother goddess of house, household, royalty, rule and power in Meitei mythology and religion. [1] [2] [3] [4] She is designated as the all time ruling Queen Mother. [5] Legend says she assumes a human form in white clothes and blesses kings. [6] She is one of the divine incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi. [7]
In Meitei language (Manipuri language), "Yumjao" (Old Manipuri : Yumchao) means "large house" or "big house". [8] [9] [10] "Yumjao" (Old Manipuri : Yumchao) or "Yimjao" (Old Manipuri : Yimchao) may also refer to "Royal House". In Meitei language (Manipuri language), "Leima" means "Queen". [3] [11] In Meitei language (Manipuri language), "Lairembi" (Old Manipuri : Lailempi) means "goddess". [12] The Meitei language (Manipuri language) word "Lairemma" (Old Manipuri : Lailemma) is also another term for "goddess". [13]
Meitei King Naothingkhong (c. 7th century) of Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur) built a temple dedicated to goddess Yumjao Lairembi (Old Manipuri : Yumchao Lailempi). [14]
Goddess Yumjao Leima appears in a human form in white clothes to come to bless her son, the King of the kingdom. [6] Even during the death of a king, she came to the place in the form of a mortal being. She controls the life and the death of the kings. She is the chief of the household and the guidance of the kings. [5]
Yumjao Leima is the divine representation of the Queen Mother of Kangleipak. All former queen mothers are integrated into the goddess. The Meitei kings ruled the in the names of their Queen Mothers. Battles and wars were conducted in the name of the Queen Mothers. In former times of war, the severed heads of enemies were offered to the goddess. [3] [5]
Worshippers pray to Yumjao Leima for the longevity of the King. Her rites and rituals are performed by the Nongmai or middle-ranking class of maibis (priestesses) who lead her cult. [15] [1] Yumjao Lairemma is mainly worshipped by the Thaopicham clan. [16]
The "Temple of Yumjao Lairembi" inside the Kangla is at the left side of the Temple of Pakhangba. Structurally, both the temples are of the same architectural styles. The southern wall of the temple is well decorated. The remaining three walls of the temple are of little decorations. A door with the lancite arch is in the southern wall of the temple. Two false doors surround the two sides of the one real door. All the doors (real and false) are framed with pilasters. The ground plan of the temple is in square shape. Its area covered is 2.43 square meters. [17]
In October 2011, a temple named "Ima Ibemma Yumjao Lairembi Shanglen" was built in honor of goddess Yumjao Lairembi in Thangmeiband town in Imphal. [18]
The "Yumjao Lairembi Dramatic and Cultural Union" is a nonprofit dramatic union. It was established in Khagempali Huidrom Leikai, Imphal in the year 2011. [20] [21] [22]
Sanamahism, also known as Meiteism, or Lainingthouism is an ethnic religion of the Meitei people of Manipur, in Northeast India. It is a polytheistic religion and is named after Lainingthou Sanamahi, one of the most important deities of the Meitei faith. Sanamahi is the eldest son of the supreme god Sidaba Mapu and the supreme goddess Leimarel Sidabi. Traditionally every Meitei household, irrespective of the religion, worships Sanamahi and Leimarel Sidabi. Sanamahism does not have a religious head but has a body, the Maru Loishang, that oversees the main religious activities and governs all affairs of the religion, including the conduct of priest and priestess. The Maru Loishang also acts a court for religious disputes. There are three main departments under the Manu Loishang, namely, the Amaiba Loishang, the Pena Asheiba Loishang, and the Amaibi Loishang. These departments have existed since the reign of King Meidingu Hongnemyoi Khunjao Naothingkhong of Manipur in 662 AD. Sanamahi is the eldest son of the supreme god Sidaba Mapu and the supreme goddess Leimarel Sidabi.
Lamphelpat is the district headquarter of Imphal West district in the state of Manipur, India. It is a suburb of Imphal city.
Pakhangba is a primordial deity, often represented in the form of a dragon, in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is depicted in the heraldry of Manipur kingdom, which originated in paphal, mythical illustrations of the deity. It is believed that the ancestor of one of the Meitei clans manifested himself as the Pakhangba.
Thanga is an island village in the Loktak lake located in the Bishnupur district in the state of Manipur, India. In 2001, the population was 13085. 6514 were male. 6571 were female. The main occupation of this village is fishing. It is 55 km from Imphal, capital of Manipur.
Phoebe hainesiana is a species of tree in the family Lauraceae, native to India. It is the state tree of Manipur.
Nongshaba is a lion god in Sanamahism and Meitei mythology. He is also regarded as a king of the gods. He is credited with producing light in the primordial universe and is regarded as the maker of the sun. He is worshipped by the people of both the Ningthouja clans as well as the Moirang clans. Nongshaba was worshipped by the people of Moirang clan as a lineage deity and regarded as the father of the god Thangching. He is the greatest of the Umang Lais but he made his only son Thangching the chief deity of Moirang.
Nongpok Ningthou, also known as the Sovereign of the East or King of the East, is a deity in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is the ruling guardian deity of the eastern direction. Legend says Nongpok Ningthou and his consort Panthoibi were united in the Nongmaiching Ching mountains. Later, they were worshipped as the civilization giving deities in Meitei religion.
The Konthoujam Lairembi Stone Inscription Meitei: Konthoujam Lairembi Lairik Eeba Nungpaak) or Konthoujam Lairemma Stone Inscription is a Meitei language stone inscription found in a sacred site dedicated to Goddess Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi of Sanamahism in Konthoujam village of Manipur.
Ichum Lairembi is a goddess in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. Her major cult centre of worship is located in Khurkhul.
Meitei Chanu is a Meitei language poem by Lamabam Kamal. It was first published in a magazine, with the same name, called Meitei Chanu (magazine) in the year 1924. It was republished in the author's book of his collection of poems called "Lei Pareng" in the year 1929. Its central theme is the reconfiguration of the identity of the Meitei people. The poem bountifully reflects the poet's love of his motherland and its heritage.
The Kangla Sanathong, also known as the Kangla Gate, is the western entrance gate to the Kangla Fort in Imphal West district of Kangleipak.
The Hijagang is a boathouse inside the Kangla Fort in Imphal, India. It houses four traditional Meitei watercraft, including two hiyang hirens and two tanna his. According to Meitei religious beliefs, the hiyang hirens are used by the male ancestral deity and female ancestral deity and are sacred to the Meiteis, the major ethnic group of Manipur.
The Manung Kangjeibung is an old polo field located to the south west of the citadel inside the Kangla Fort in Imphal West district of Manipur. In ancient times, only royalties and nobilities were allowed to play the game of polo in this royal playground. It is one of the two most ancient pologrounds in the world, the other one being the Mapal Kangjeibung .
Lairembigee Eshei, also known as Song of the Nymphs, is a Meitei language play, written and directed by Ratan Thiyam, performed by the "Chorus Repertoire Theatre" of Imphal. It was shown as a closing play at the 21st Bharat Rang Mahotsav at Kamani Hall in Delhi. It was staged on the concluding day of the 9th National Prayas Natya Mela. It was also staged as the concluding event of the three-day State conference on theatre organised by the Network of Artistic Theatre Activists Kerala (NATAK) in Kochi, Kerala.
Tha Tha Thabungton is a traditional Meitei language lullaby. It is one of the Meitei folk songs traditionally sung by parents, usually mothers. It has reference to the aspects of bringing up their child, besides their biological relationship with their child. It also has reference to the musical harmony with the care of the child, which may also influence on the child's life and health.
Loktak Ima, also known as Loktak Lairembi, is the personification of the Loktak lake, who is revered by the Meitei people as the mother goddess of the sacred waters of the Loktak lake. She is highly respected and venerated by the fishermen communities of the Meitei ethnicity living in and around the periphery of the Loktak lake. She is also considered as the fountainhead of Meitei culture. Her embodiment, the Loktak lake is associated with the epic of Khamba and Thoibi as well as that of Poubi Lai of Meitei mythology and folklore.
Women have significant roles in different elements of Meitei culture, including Meitei dances, Meitei festivals, Meitei folklore, Meitei folktales, Meitei literature, Meitei mythology, Meitei religion, etc.
Kumcha Lempi, also known as Kumja Lembi, is a woman in Meitei mythology and folklore of ancient Kangleipak. She is known for being a victim of an attack by a tiger in Khoirentak. Her tragedy is frequently mentioned, narrated and retold in the Moirang Kangleirol legends, usually by the Pena playing balladeers till present times.
Japanese people and Meitei people have a long history of sharing and interacting with each other's art and cultural heritages, including but not limited to cinema, music, mythology, language, literature and theatre.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)