Yumjao Leima

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Yumjao Leima
All time reigning queen mother
Goddess of house, household, royalty, rule and power
Member of Lairembis
Other names
Affiliation Meitei mythology (Manipuri mythology) and Meitei religion (Sanamahism)
Major cult center Kangla and Sana Konung
Abodes houses
Texts Puyas
GenderFemale
Region Manipur
Ethnic group Meitei ethnicity
Festivals Lai Haraoba
Personal information
ChildrenAll the Meitei Kings (in spiritual sense)
Equivalents
Chinese equivalent Queen Mother of the West

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]

Contents

Etymology

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]

History

An illustration of a temple dedicated to goddess Yumjao Leima (Old Manipuri: Yumchao Leima ) built in Meitei architecture. YUMCHAO LEIMA LAISHANG SHANGLEN.jpg
An illustration of a temple dedicated to goddess Yumjao Leima (Old Manipuri : Yumchao Leima) built in Meitei architecture.

Meitei King Naothingkhong (c. 7th century) of Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur) built a temple dedicated to goddess Yumjao Lairembi (Old Manipuri : Yumchao Lailempi). [14]

Mythology

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]

Relationship with the Queen Mother

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]

Worship

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]

Temples

Temple of Yumjao Lairembi, Kangla

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]

Ima Ibemma Yumjao Lairembi Shanglen

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]

Others

Namesakes

Yumjao Lairembi Dramatic and Cultural Union

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]

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References

  1. 1 2 Muthukumaraswamy, M. D.; Kaushal, Molly (2004). Folklore, Public Sphere, and Civil Society. NFSC www.indianfolklore.org. ISBN   978-81-901481-4-6.
  2. ↑ Chaki-Sircar, Manjusri (1984). Feminism in a Traditional Society: Women of the Manipur Valley. Shakti Books. ISBN   978-0-7069-1967-7.
  3. 1 2 3 Birajit, Soibam (2014-12-01). Meeyamgi Kholao: Sprout of Consciousness. ARECOM ( Advanced Research Consortium, Manipur). p. 135.
  4. ↑ Rao, Nitya; Rürup, Luise (1997). A Just Right: Women's Ownership of Natural Resources and Livelihood Security. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. ISBN   978-81-7440-044-4.
  5. 1 2 3 Birajit, Soibam (2014-12-01). Meeyamgi Kholao: Sprout of Consciousness. ARECOM ( Advanced Research Consortium, Manipur). p. 136.
  6. 1 2 George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Plays and prose. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN   978-81-7201-783-5.
  7. ↑ Folk Culture of Manipur - Page 200 - Moirangthem Kirti Singh · 1993
  8. ↑ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Yumjao". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  9. ↑ Brara, N. Vijaylakshmi (1998). Politics, society, and cosmology in India's North East. Internet Archive. Delhi ; New York : Oxford University Press. p. 74. ISBN   978-0-19-564331-2.
  10. ↑ Dance-rituals of Manipur, India: An Introduction to "Meitei ... - Page 50 - Louise Lightfoot · 1958
  11. ↑ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Leima". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  12. ↑ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Lairembi". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  13. ↑ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Lairemma". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  14. ↑ Delhi, All India Radio (AIR), New (1968-03-17). AKASHVANI: Vol. XXXIII, No.12 ( 17 MARCH, 1968 ). All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ Brara, N. Vijaylakshmi (1998). Politics, society, and cosmology in India's North East. Internet Archive. Delhi ; New York : Oxford University Press. p. 138. ISBN   978-0-19-564331-2.
  16. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1993). Manipur: Treatise & Documents. Mittal Publications. ISBN   978-81-7099-399-5.
  17. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. ISBN   978-81-7099-853-2.
  18. ↑ "Ima Ibemma Yumjao Lairembi Shanglen Inaugurated : 13th oct11 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Yumjao Lairembi, Arambam". templesofindia.org. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Yumjao Lairembi Dramatic And Cultural Union - Saathi Re". www.saathire.com. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  21. ↑ "SocialPrimes". socialprimes.com. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Yumjao Lairembi's play wins best production : 03rd feb22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-02-24.

Bibliography

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