Imoinu: Meitei Goddess of wealth and prosperity

She is the goddess of household, hearth, family, fireplace, kitchen, wealth, peace and prosperity. She is frequently associated with Leimarel Sidabi. She is regarded as one of the incarnations or representations of goddess Leimarel Sidabi.

Imoinu
Goddess of household, hearth, family, fireplace, kitchen, wealth, peace and prosperity
Member of Lairembis
A terracotta idol of goddess Imoinu
Other names	Imoinu Ahongbi Emoinu Ahongbi
Affiliation	Meitei mythology (Manipuri mythology) and Meitei religion (Sanamahism)
Abodes	Phunga Lairu (fireplace), Sanamahi Kachin and Kitchen
Artifacts	Coin containers
Symbols	Senphu (Coin container), Chengphu (Rice pot) and Yotsabi (Tripod)
Texts	PuYas
Gender	Female
Region	Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur)
Ethnic group	Meitei ethnicity
Festivals	Imoinu Iratpa (Emoinu Eratpa)
Greek equivalent	Hestia
Roman equivalent	Vesta
Hinduism equivalent	Lakshmi

The personality of Emoinu and other goddesses like Panthoibi and Phouoibi depict as well as influence the boldness, courage, independence, righteousness and social honour of Meitei women.

 

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.

 

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

 

Origin

After the creation of the sky and the planets, Sidaba (Old Manipuri: Sitapa) (the Supreme Being) ordered His wife, Leimarel Sidabi (Old Manipuri: Leimalel Sitapi) (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. 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.

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). Despite this annual event, she is also worshipped everyday. The daily worship is a part of a Meitei ritual. It is done in every Meitei household with the offering of 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.

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.

 

In commerce

Ima Keithel (English: Mothers' Market) 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, Manipur.

• Ireima (Ereima) - Meitei goddess of water
• Leimarel (Leimalel) - Meitei goddess of earth
• Ngaleima - Meitei goddess of fish
• Panthoibi - Meitei goddess of civilization, love and warfare
• Phouoibi - Meitei goddess of agricultural crops
• Thumleima - Meitei goddess of salt