Irai Leima ( Manipuri : ꯏꯔꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯃ ) is a goddess in Sanamahism , the indigenous religion of Manipur . She is the goddess and the divine female personification of water and aquatic life. She is the consort of Irai Ningthou (literally, king of water ). Both are regarded as the divine spirits of water bodies. She is also considered to be in charge of diseases.
17-497: Itham originally and locally called Nungha is an under-populated Tangkhul village in Kamjong District , Manipur state, India . It was previously under Ukhrul District. The village falls under Kasom subdivision. The village can be connected by National Highway 102A that connects Ramva̱ (Lambui)-Yairipok via Hongbei village. Also, it connects Imphal via Nongdam village. Itham share boundaries with Tangkhul Hundung village in
34-507: A deified person of the Tangkhul origin. She was a daughter of Khelemba , a Tangkhul chief of Chingdai village, and was married to Khamlangba , a Tangkhul chief of Chingshong village. Despite marrying Khamlangba, she had a secret love affair with Meitei king Meidingu Tabungba , also called Tabung Saphaba (1359-1394). Upon discovering the secret relationship between the two, Khamlangba, getting furious, beheaded Tabung Saphaba. Shocked by
51-549: The Hiyang boat into stone and the oar into a tree. Getting angry, Kwakpa ran towards Heibok Ningthou to kill him. Then, Heibok Ningthou turned Khuman Kwakpa into a stone. Irai Leima saw all this and was afraid of her father. She left her father and ran away. She passed the Pakhra Ching, crossed the Liwa river and entered the house of Sarangthem Luwangba. She hid herself inside the granary of
68-774: The Tangkhul , are a Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group living in the Indo–Mayanmar border area, occupying the Ukhrul district and Kamjong district in the Northeast Indian state of Manipur , and in parts of neighbouring Myanmar . Despite this international border, many Tangkhul have continued to regard themselves as "one nation". The name "Tangkhul" is originated from the Meitei language words, "Tang" meaning "scarce" and "Khul" meaning "village" respectively. According to another theory of origin,
85-471: The arrogance of Kwakpa, Heibok Ningthou turned all the gifts into stone. At this, followers of Kwakpa fled the place. Kwakpa returned home disappointed. One day, King Kwakpa became intoxicated after drinking juice from the roots of a Tera plant ( Bombax malabaricum ). He wanted to meet Irai Leima. So, he went to her place riding on a Hiyang boat. Seeing his approach, she fled to Pakhra Ching mountain. Kwakpa chased her. Seeing all these, Heibok Ningthou turned
102-434: The case. The examiners said that the mysterious lady was a goddess and she should be worshipped. King Kiyaamba also told Luwangba to do so. From that year onwards, Irai Leima was worshipped as a goddess. The day on which Luwangba first saw Irai Leima was the first Monday of the Meitei lunar month of Lamta (Lamda) . And the day on which the maibas and maibis came was the first Tuesday of Lamta (Lamda) . Still today, from
119-442: The granary. He looked under the granary but he saw nothing. He was amazed at this. So, he discussed the issue with all his clan members. They searched everywhere but didn't find her anymore. Irai Leima appeared in the dream of Sarangthem Luwangba and told him that she was merged into his clan and became his daughter. The matter was reported to King Senbi Kiyaamba of Ningthouja dynasty . The king sent maibas and maibis to examine
136-456: The house. When Sarangthem Luwangba and his good lady Thoidingjam Chanu Amurei left the house for field, Irai Leima came out from her hiding place. In the meantime, she completed all the household chores. When the couple returned home, she hid herself again. The couple got surprised at this but it happened everyday. So, one day, the man returned home earlier than usual. He found out the truth. But when he came near Irai Leima, she had disappeared below
153-508: The inhabitants speak Itham dialect, yet the younger generation also commonly speak Tangkhul dialect. The village is known in the district for its reserve natural environment, flora and fauna and also for natural streams. It has large densely forested areas with rich population of wild animals and birds. Very commonly sighting are the wild-boars, variety of wild cats, porcupines, squirrels, jungle fowl, wild chickens and variety of birds. Tangkhul people The Tangkhul people , also known as
170-434: The north, Bohoram village in the east and south and Nongdam village in the west. It is situated 16km away from kasom khullen sub-district headquarter and approximately 60 km away from Ukhrul headquarter with the route passing through Lungphu, Shingta, Marou, Shingkap and Tangkhul Hundung village. The village is well known for its fresh organic vegetable shops by the roadside with no shopkeeper. Though small in population,
187-530: The princess of Heibok Ching. Her father was an expert in witchcraft and black magic. Irai Leima is known for her exceptional beauty. One day, she was fishing in the Liwa river. King Kwakpa (Kokpa) of Khuman dynasty saw her and fell in love with her. He proposed her. She replied that her parents' wish will be her wish. So, King Kwakpa consulted his subjects. They presented Heibok Ningthou with many presents. King Kwakpa planned to marry Irai Leima if her father agreed or to bring her by force if her father rejected. Seeing
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#1733084851567204-403: The term "Tangkhul" is derived from "Thankhul", meaning "Than village" in Meitei language . The Tangkhuls are believed to have migrated from China via Myanmar along with Meitei and other Naga tribes like Angami , Chakhesang , Mao , Poumai , Maram , Thangal and Zeliangrong and dispersed together from Makhel . Haoreima , the Meitei goddess of tragic love and separation, was actually
221-460: The time of King Senbi Kiyaamba (1467-1508 AD), the Sarangthem family members annually hold a grand feast ( Chaklen Katpa ) in honor of the goddess. Later, Irai Leima came to be known as Hiyangthang Lairembi. When a person gets ill after bathing in a spring, pool, stream, people believed that the water spirits (Irai Leima and Irai Ningthou ) had caught the person. To get well again, people worship
238-531: The tragic death of her lover, Haoreima took away her lover's head to the Kanglei Pungmayol . Later, she also died, following her lover's path and was eventually venerated as the Meitei goddess of tragic love and separation. She is also identified as goddess Ireima , who's also an incarnation of goddess Panthoibi of the Meitei pantheon . Ireima Irai Leima is the daughter of King Heibok Ningthou and
255-428: The two deities. For this, the maibas perform the rites and rituals. The offerings include 2 eggs and 7 bamboo vessels filled up with rice paste. The Thadou people also highly respect the deities. They offer many wild sacrifices. The sacrifices maybe a white fowl , a pig , a dog or a he- goat . Irai Leima is considered one of the divine manifestations of Leimarel Sidabi , the supreme mother earth goddess. She
272-467: The village has produced notable leaders like Dr. Jolly Rimai who served at the international level leadership as the Chair of Asia Pacific Baptist Federation Mission. The Village also has medical doctors and university professor and a commissioner. Plan to visit this village and enjoy their hospitality. According to 2011 census, Itham comprises 48 households with the total of 240 people. The average sex ratio of
289-470: The village is 1087 female to 1000 male which is higher than Manipur state average of 985. Literacy rate of Itham is 93.85% with male literacy rate at 96.84% and female literacy rate at 91%. Itham is a Christian village. The village is home to people of Tangkhul Naga tribe. The people are friendly. While agriculture is the primary occupation of the inhabitants, the village has produced fairly good number of white-collar job workers and educated youths. Locally,
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