Incarnations Of Leimarel Sidabi

She is known for having many incarnations as divine ladies. Each of her incarnations are for the welfare of the mankind. For this reason, she is known as Langon Yambi Ima (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯡꯉꯣꯟ ꯌꯥꯝꯕꯤ ꯏꯃꯥ, lit. The Divine Mother who incarnates herself in many divine forms).

Among her incarnations, the personalities of Emoinu, Panthoibi and Phouoibi depict as well as influence the boldness, courage, independence, goodness and social honour of Meitei women.

The connection of the highest female form with the basic needs of life shows the importance of women in Meitei society.

Imoinu

Imoinu or Emoinu (Meitei: ꯏꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. Supreme God Sidaba (Old Manipuri: Sitapa) asked His wife, Leimarel Sidabi (Old Manipuri: Leimalel Sitapi) to create another Leimarel. Leimarel Sidabi is the first woman. The second Leimarel will be the second woman. She is to take care of the mankind on the planet earth. Goddess Leimarel Sidabi created the second Leimarel. The appearances of the first and the second Leimarels were similar. The first Leimarel named the second one as Emoinu Ahongbi.

Ireima

Ireima (Meitei: ꯏꯔꯩꯃ, Ereima) alias Irai Leima (Meitei: ꯏꯔꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯃ, Erai Leima) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. She is the goddess of water.

Lān Leima

Lān Leima (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯟ ꯂꯩꯃ, Laan Leima) or Lāl Leima (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯜ ꯂꯩꯃ, Laal Leima) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. Leimalel becomes Lān Leima when she is in the battlefield. Lān Leima is the goddess of war.

Leinaotabi

Leinaotabi (Meitei: ꯂꯩꯅꯥꯎꯇꯥꯕꯤ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. She was the youngest wife of God Thongalel. Later, she was married to Poireiton.

Lul Leima

Lul Leima (Meitei: ꯂꯜ ꯂꯩꯃ) (also pronounced as Lal Leima) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. She is the goddess of wealth.

Ngaleima

Ngaleima (Old Manipuri: ꯉꯥꯂꯩꯃ) alias Ngareima (Meitei: ꯉꯥꯔꯩꯃ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. Leimalel becomes Ngaleima when she is in the fish yard. Ngaleima is the goddess of fish.

Nongthang Leima

Nongthang Leima (Meitei: ꯅꯣꯡꯊꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯃ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. She is the goddess of charm, thunder and lightning.

Panthoibi

Panthoibi (Meitei: ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. She is the goddess of civilization, fertility, love, warfare and wisdom.

Phouleima

Phouleima (Old Manipuri: ꯐꯧꯂꯩꯃ) alias Phouoibi (Meitei: ꯐꯧꯑꯣꯢꯕꯤ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. Leimalel becomes Phouoibi when she is in the granaries or the barns. Phouoibi is the goddess of agricultural crops and harvest.

Shil Leima

Shil Leima (Meitei: ꯁꯤꯜ ꯂꯩꯃ) alias Shin Leima (Meitei: ꯁꯤꯟ ꯂꯩꯃ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. Leimalel becomes Shil Leima when she is in factories. Shil Leima is the goddess of crafts.

Thoibi

Moirang Thoibi (Meitei: ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. She is a princess of Ancient Moirang kingdom. She is also one of the important characters in the Moirang Shayon and the Moirang Kangleirol.

Thumleima

Thumleima (Meitei: ꯊꯨꯝꯂꯩꯃ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. Leimalel becomes Thumleima when she is in the salt mines. Thumleima is the goddess of salt.

7 Divine Ladies

Leimalel also incarnates herself as the seven divine ladies. The seven divine ladies are Heepokpi (Meitei: ꯍꯤꯄꯣꯛꯄꯤ), Yaipokpi (Meitei: ꯌꯥꯢꯄꯣꯛꯄꯤ), Heeleima (Meitei: ꯍꯤꯂꯩꯃ), Yaileima (Meitei: ꯌꯥꯢꯂꯩꯃ), Heekubi (Meitei: ꯍꯤꯀꯨꯕꯤ), Yaikubi (Meitei: ꯌꯥꯢꯀꯨꯕꯤ) and Yaisna (Meitei: ꯌꯥꯢꯁ꯭ꯅꯥ).

Goddesses of the 7 clans

The seven goddesses of the seven clans (Meitei: Yek) are the incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi.

Imoinu Iratpa

Imoinu Iratpa (Emoinu Eratpa) is celebrated in honor of goddess Imoinu (Emoinu) on the 12th of Meitei lunar month of Wakching (December-January interface month) every year. Fruits, vegetables and fish are offered to goddess Imoinu.

Panthoibi Iratpa

Panthoibi Iratpa (Panthoibi Eratpa) is celebrated in honor of goddess Panthoibi every year.

 

Phouoibi Irat Thouni

Phouoibi Irat Thouni or Phouoibi Iratpa or just Phouoibi worship is done during the Meitei lunar month of Wakching (December-January interface month).

Ima Keithel (English: Mothers' Market) is the world's only women run market. The Leimarel Sidabi Ima Keithel (Complex Number 1), the Imoinu Ima Keithel (Complex Number 2) and the Phouoibi Ima Keithel (Complex Number 3) are the three main building complexes of the Ima Keithel. This 500 years old market is in the center of Imphal, Manipur. The three building complexes are named in honor of the three goddesses, Leimarel Sidabi, Imoinu and Phouoibi. The later two are the incarnations of the first.

In popular culture, the incarnations of goddess Leimarel are shown in arts, books, movies, web series and many others. Here are a few:

• Phou-oibi, the rice goddess is a 2009 ballad opera. It was performed by the Laihui Ensemble. It is based on the story of Phouoibi and her sister goddesses.
• Phouoibi Shayon is a 2017 Meitei mythological movie. It is based on the story of Phouoibi and her sister goddesses.