Imoinu

Emoinu ꯏꯃꯣꯏꯅꯨ
Goddess of hearth, home, family, peace, fertility, wisdom, wealth, vitality, resources and prosperity Mother goddess
Emoinu Chaak-hong Ngaa-hongbi
Other names	Thumleima, Phouoibi, Nga Leima, Irai Leima, Leimarel Sidabi, etc.
Affiliation	Sanamahism and Meitei mythology
Abode	Sanamahi Kachin (Household kitchen, near the stove)
Mantra	ꯎꯡ ꯔꯩ ꯔꯦ ꯍꯌꯥ ꯍꯌꯥꯔꯦ! ꯍꯥꯗ ꯏꯃꯥ ꯁꯤꯗꯕꯤ ꯏꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ ꯑꯍꯣꯡ ꯑꯆꯥꯎꯕꯤ ꯫o꯫ Ung Rei Re Haya- Hayare! Hada Ima Sidabi Imoinu Ahong Achaubi ꯫o꯫
Symbol	Phungā Lairu (hearth), Chengphu (rice pot), Senphu (wealth pot), Yotshabi (tripod) and Hidakphu (hookah).
Texts	Malem Chakkhong PuYa, Yumsharol, Konthoujam Nongarol, Emoinu Mingkheirol, Emoinu Tengtharol
Gender	female
Region	Manipur
Festivals	Imoinu Iratpa
Equivalents
Greek equivalent	Hestia
Roman equivalent	Vesta (mythology)
Hindu equivalent	Mahalakshmi

Emoinu (Meitei: ꯏꯃꯣꯏꯅꯨ) is the Meitei Manipuri goddess of hearth, home, family, wealth, peace, fertility, wisdom, prosperity, vitality, resources and the right ordering of domesticity.

In Meitei mythology, Emoinu is known for her sense of humor. Generally, she is portrayed as "an old woman", as her name means "great grandmother" in Meitei language.

Etymology

The name Emoinu stands for the goddess rearing the human beings. The first-word syllable E means human beings, moi meaning rearing and nu meaning Goddess.

Ahongbi means giver of the household properties plentifully. Ebendhou meaning great-grandmother.

Ancient texts

Further information: PuYa

There are many ancient texts which mentioned the description of the deity. A few of them include "Emoinu Tengtharol", "Emoinu Mingkheirol", "Yumsharol", "Malem Chukkhong Puya" and so on.

Legend

Further information: Incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi and Meitei mythology

There are two legends about the origin of the goddess Emoinu.

• The first legend is mentioned in ancient Meitei text "Lairembi Nongumlol".

According to the text, the Sky God Salailen Sidaba 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 the mother of peace, wealth and prosperity. Later, she was named "Emoinu Ahongbi".

• According to the second legend, Creator God Atingkok Maru Sidaba asked his consort, the earth goddess Leimarel Sidabi to produce another goddess in her exact copy. So, she did. The new goddess was named Emoinu Ahongbi and was sent to earth to be the goddess of peace, wealth and prosperity. Besides, she is the Guardian of the mankind.

Divine forms

She has various divine forms. Some of them are:

Goddesses	Description
Leimarel Sidabi	Earth goddess
Ngaleima	Fish goddess
Panthoibi	War goddess
Phouoibi	Food goddess
Thumleima	Salt goddess

Festival

Main articles: Imoinu Iratpa and Meitei calendar

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.

Worship

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

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

In popular culture

• A Meitei feature film Imoinu shows the worship of the deity, alongside the storyline of the film.

See also

• Lainingthou Sanamahi
• Pakhangba
• Atingkok Maru Sidaba
• Lists of deities in Sanamahism
• Lists of Creatures in Meitei Folklore
• Sanamahi creation myth
• Sacred Scriptures of Sanamahism