Imoinu or Emoinu () is a goddess associated with household,

hearth A hearth () is the place in a home where a fire is or was traditionally kept for home heating and for cooking, usually constituted by a horizontal hearthstone and often enclosed to varying degrees by any combination of reredos (a low, partial ...

, family,

fireplace A fireplace or hearth is a structure made of brick, stone or metal designed to contain a fire. Fireplaces are used for the relaxing ambiance they create and for heating a room. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficiency, depending on the design. ...

, kitchen, wealth, peace and prosperity in

Meitei mythology Meitei mythology (or Manipuri mythology) () is a collection of myths, belonging to the religious and cultural traditions of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. It is associated with traditional Meitei religion of Sanam ...

and

religion Religion is a range of social system, social-cultural systems, including designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics in religion, ethics, or ...

Ancient Kangleipak Kangleipak was an ancient, lesser known civilisation, consisting of the modern day Manipur, Manipur, India which is still known to some residents as Kangleipak, and other neighbouring regions. The Kangla served as the foremost capital city of th ...

(

Antique Manipur Kangleipak was an ancient, lesser known civilisation, consisting of the modern day Manipur, India which is still known to some residents as Kangleipak, and other neighbouring regions. The Kangla served as the foremost capital city of this realm ...

). She is frequently associated with

Leimarel Sidabi Leimarel Sidabi or Leimalel Sitapi is a goddess in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. She is the highest female divinity in the Meitei pantheon. She is the goddess of earth, of nature and the household. She is revered as the mothe ...

. She is regarded as one of the incarnations or representations of goddess

. In

, Imoinu is known for her sense of

humor Humour ( Commonwealth English) or humor (American English) is the tendency of experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement. The term derives from the humoral medicine of the ancient Greeks, which taught that the balance of fluids i ...

. Generally, she is portrayed as "an old woman", as her name means "

great grandmother Grandparents, individually known as grandmother and grandfather, or Grandma and Grandpa, are the parents of a person's father or mother – paternal or maternal. Every sexually reproducing living organism who is not a genetic chimera has a maxi ...

" in

Meitei language Meitei (; ) also known as Manipuri ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and an additional official language in four districts of Assam. It is one of the scheduled ...

. The personality of Imoinu and other goddesses like

Panthoibi Panthoibi (, ), also known as , is a goddess associated with civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom in the mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). She is a consort of the God Non ...

and

Phouoibi Phouoibi or Phouleima is the goddess and the female personification of the agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, harvest, paddy, rice and wealth in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). She is the lover of A ...

depict as well as influence the

boldness Boldness is the opposite of shyness. To be bold implies a willingness to get things done despite risks. For example, in the context of sociability, a bold person may be willing to risk shame or rejection in social situations, or to bend rules ...

, courage, independence,

righteousness Righteousness is the quality or state of "being morally right or justifiable" rooted in religious or divine law with a broader spectrum of moral correctness, justice, and virtuous living as dictated by a higher authority or set of spiritual beli ...

and social honour of

Meitei women 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. Women as goddesses Besides natural ...

Etymology and nomenclature

The meaning of the name "Emoinu Ahongbi" ("ꯏꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ ꯑꯍꯣꯡꯕꯤ") can be found by splitting it up word by word. Here, "E" ("ꯏ") refers to human being. "Moi" ("ꯃꯣꯢ" or "ꯃꯣꯏ") refers to rearing. "Nu" ("ꯅꯨ") refers to female deity or goddess. So, "Emoinu" means ''goddess who rears the human beings''. "Ahongbi" means ''giver of plentiful household properties''. The name ''Imoinu'' (''Emoinu'') stands for the goddess rearing the human beings. The first-word syllable ''E'' (/ee/) means human beings, ''moi'' (/moy/) meaning rearing and ''nu'' meaning Goddess. ''Ahongbi'' means giver of the household properties plentifully. ''Ibendhou'' (''Ebendhou'') meaning great-grandmother.

Description

Dr. Parratt described Emoinu Ahongbi (alias Emoinu Ahong Achaubi) as another form of Goddess

. Leimarel Sidabi is the supreme mother. Imoinu is regarded as an ever resourceful lady. She always gives wealth and prosperity to the mankind. She was shown as having a human appearance. She resides near the fire hearth. The goddess is believed to be the controller and regulator of good conduct and behavior of the human beings. Imoinu Ahong Achaubi is a deity for good moral behavior, besides wealth and prosperity. As a social code of conduct, a Meitei woman should go out from home only after prayers and worship of the goddess and other household deities. When she returns home, she should pray to the deity. The

Meitei people The Meitei people, also known as Meetei people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." are a Ti ...

believed that goddess Imoinu lives in the houses of those who strictly obey her favorite social and moral behavior norms. Imoinu blesses such people with ''nungai yaifaba'' (well being and prosperity), ''watta padaba'' (having neither shortage nor excess), ''tekta kaidaba'' (unaffected by troubles of life) and ''punshi nungshangba'' (long life). These are the basic needs of life in the human world.

Mythology

According to ancient Meitei text ''"Lairembi Nongumlol"'', the Sky God

Salailen Sidaba Sidaba Mapu or Salailel is the Supreme god, creator of Universe and the Sky God in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. According to Meitei mythology, Sidaba Mapu, being the Creator of the Universe, from a philosophical theory know ...

has seven daughters, whom he sent them down to earth to prosper the human civilization. All the goddesses were given a certain task to serve in their future. In that event, a goddess was given the task to be associated with peace, wealth and prosperity. Later, she came to be known as "Emoinu Ahongbi".

Origin

After the creation of the sky and the planets, Sidaba () (the Supreme Being) ordered His wife,

() (the first woman) to produce another Leimarel. The second Leimarel would be the second woman. Her responsibility was to take care of the mankind on the planet called

earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...

. Goddess Leimarel Sidabi obeyed her divine husband's order. She created another Leimarel. The appearance of the second Leimarel was similar to the first Leimarel. The first Leimarel named the second Leimarel as ''"Emoinu Ahongbi"''.

Lover

Once goddess Imoinu fell in love with a man. The two became lovers. They swore to be husband and wife. One day, she visited his house in his absence. She discovered that he was already married to another woman. After knowing this, she sacrificed her love. She swore on not to see the man again. She never married to anyone. So, she remained as a virgin goddess.

Worship

Ancient worship

Imoinu (Emoinu) is a hearth deity. She is annually worshipped on the 12th of the Meitei month of Wakching (December–January interface month). She is also worshipped daily, as part of a Meitei ritual. It is done in every Meitei household with the offering of a little cooked rice before eating.

Modern worship

Nowadays, there is little or no households with proper phunga lairu (traditional fire hearth). So, a modern fireplace is developed. Here, traditional rites and rituals are performed in honor of the goddess. There are a lot of changes in the way of worshipping Goddess Imoinu. However, the essence and the importance always remain the same as forever.

Abode

There are two major places in a household where the deity could be worshipped:- * One abode is at the fireplace ''"Phunga Lairu"'' of the kitchen of the household. * Another place is at the "''Sanamahi Kachin''", the South western corner of the household.

Ritual

''Ebendhou Emoinu'' is offered from the first serving of every meal prepared in a Meitei household. The serving is made by placing three servings of the cooked

rice Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...

on a plate that is set aside. These offerings should be only vegetarian foods or

fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...

. The household members are asked to maintain discipline, be respectful, and be tidy so as to please Emoinu.

Festival

The ''Imoinu Iratpa'' (''Emoinu Eratpa'') is a religious festival dedicated to goddess Imoinu (Emoinu). It is celebrated on the 12th of Wakching month (December–January interface month) every year. Traditionally, worship and prayers are performed inside every households. Nowadays, Imoinu Iratpa festival is also celebrated in a larger way in public gathering clubs also. Wherever the festival is performed, seasonal fruits, vegetables and fish are offered to goddess Imoinu. '' Imoinu Iratpa'' is observed every 12th day of the Meitei lunar month, Waakching (Dec-Jan in gregorian calendar). On this day, especially at night, Emoinu is offered what each can, particularly fish curries as dinner for Emoinu and a variety of cuisines in odd numbers.

Namesakes

In commerce

Ima Keithel The Ima Market (; literally, Mothers' Market), also known as the Nupi Keithel () or the Khwairamband Keithel (), is a women-only market in the middle of Imphal in the state of Manipur. It is the only market in the world run entirely by women. In ...

() is the world's only women run market. It has three major building complexes. ''Imoinu Ima Keithel'' is the Complex Number 2 of the market. It is preceded by Leimarel Sidabi Ima Keithel (Complex Number 1) and followed by Phouoibi Ima Keithel (Complex Number 3). This 500 years old market is in the center of

Imphal Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (officially known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the former Kingdom of Manipur, surrounded by a ...

Manipur Manipur () is a state in northeastern India with Imphal as its capital. It borders the Indian states of Assam to the west, Mizoram to the south, and Nagaland to the north and shares the international border with Myanmar, specifically t ...

References

Bibliography

Emoinu Ahongbi Tungnapham by Budhichandra, Yumnamcha

Holy Man by Dhiren Meitei, a.k

Laiyingthou Lairemmasinggee Waree Seengbul by Neelabi, Sairem

Leeklam by Apunba Shintha Lup

External links

E-pao, Imoinu

E-pao, Emoinu

Internet Archive, Imoinu

Internet Archive, Emoinu

Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary, Imoinu
{{Authority control Meitei goddesses