Yumjao Leima
| 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 |
| Gender | Female |
| Region | Manipur |
| Ethnic group | Meitei ethnicity |
| Festivals | Lai Haraoba |
| Genealogy | |
| Children | All the Meitei Kings (in spiritual sense) |
| Equivalents | |
| Chinese | Queen Mother of the West |
| Part of a series on |
| Meitei mythology |
|---|
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 Myths portal |
| Part of a series on |
| 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]
Etymology
[edit]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
[edit]
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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Temple of Yumjao Lairembi, Kangla
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- A temple dedicated to Yumjao Lairembi of Arambam region is in Imphal West district in Manipur.[19]
- Yumjao Lairembi Temple is in Meino Leirak, Sagolband, Imphal, Manipur.
- Thaoroijam Yumjao Lairembi Temple is in Thaoroijam Mamang Leikai, Nambol, Manipur.
Namesakes
[edit]Yumjao Lairembi Dramatic and Cultural Union
[edit]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]
Related pages
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Muthukumaraswamy, M. D.; Kaushal, Molly (2004). Folklore, Public Sphere, and Civil Society. NFSC www.indianfolklore.org. ISBN 978-81-901481-4-6.
- ^ Chaki-Sircar, Manjusri (1984). Feminism in a Traditional Society: Women of the Manipur Valley. Shakti Books. ISBN 978-0-7069-1967-7.
- ^ a b c Birajit, Soibam (2014-12-01). Meeyamgi Kholao: Sprout of Consciousness. ARECOM ( Advanced Research Consortium, Manipur). p. 135.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Birajit, Soibam (2014-12-01). Meeyamgi Kholao: Sprout of Consciousness. ARECOM ( Advanced Research Consortium, Manipur). p. 136.
- ^ a b George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Plays and prose. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-7201-783-5.
- ^ Folk Culture of Manipur - Page 200 - Moirangthem Kirti Singh · 1993
- ^ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Yumjao". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Dance-rituals of Manipur, India: An Introduction to "Meitei ... - Page 50 - Louise Lightfoot · 1958
- ^ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Leima". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Lairembi". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Lairemma". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ 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) - ^ 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.
- ^ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1993). Manipur: Treatise & Documents. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-399-5.
- ^ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2.
- ^ "Ima Ibemma Yumjao Lairembi Shanglen Inaugurated : 13th oct11 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ "Yumjao Lairembi, Arambam". templesofindia.org. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ "Yumjao Lairembi Dramatic And Cultural Union - Saathi Re". www.saathire.com. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ "SocialPrimes". socialprimes.com. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ "Yumjao Lairembi's play wins best production : 03rd feb22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
Bibliography
[edit]- Archaeology in Manipur - Page 149 - L. Kunjeswori Devi · 2003
- Proceedings of North East India History Association - North East India History Association. Session · 1988
- Recent Researches in Oriental Indological Studies: Including Meiteilogy - Page 188 - Moirangthem Kirti Singh · 1998
- The History of Manipur: An early period - Page 263 - Wahengbam Ibohal Singh · 1986
- Bhogeshwor, Oinam (1971). Yumjao Leima (in Manipuri) – via archive.org.
External links
[edit]
- Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Yumjao Lairemma". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-24.