Loktak Ima

Loktak Ima (Meitei: ꯂꯣꯛꯇꯥꯛ ꯏꯃꯥ, romanized: loktaak eemaa, lit. 'Mother Loktak'[3][4]), also known as Loktak Lairembi[lower-alpha 1] (Meitei: ꯂꯣꯛꯇꯥꯛ ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ, romanized: loktaak lairembee, lit. 'Goddess of Loktak'[lower-alpha 2]),[7] is the personification of the Loktak lake, who is revered by the Meitei people as the mother goddess of the sacred waters of the Loktak lake.[8][9][10] She is highly respected and venerated by the fishermen communities of the Meitei ethnicity living in and around the periphery of the Loktak lake.[11][12] She is also considered as the fountainhead of Meitei culture.[12] Her embodiment, the Loktak lake is associated with the epic of Khamba and Thoibi as well as that of Poubi Lai of Meitei mythology and folklore.[7]

This article is about the ancient Meitei goddess of the waters of the Loktak lake. For the general water goddess of the Meitei religion, see Irai Leima.
"Loktak Lairembee" redirects here. For the Meitei film, see Loktak Lairembee (film).
Loktak Ima
Personification of the Loktak lake
Mother goddess of the sacred waters
Member of Meitei goddesses
Other namesLoktak Ema, Loktak Eemaa, Loktak Lairembi, Loktak Lairembee[1]
AffiliationMeitei religion (Sanamahism) and Meitei mythology
Major cult centerManipur
AbodeLoktak lake
GenderFemale
RegionKangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur')
Ethnic groupMeitei ethnicity[2]

Attributes

Loktak goddess is often compared to a lady with heart that is pure and kind. It is said that whenever she passes by, the water birds praise her by singing and the deers bow their heads. She is benevolent to fishes.[13]

The Maibis (Meitei for 'priestesses') of traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism) often sings of the grasslands, food and raw materials derived from the Loktak lake, which is believed to be the body of the Loktak Lairembi (Loktak goddess) herself. Loktak goddess is the symbol of the characters of independence and self-actualization of the women of Manipur.[14]

As a fish goddess

Loktak goddess is believed to be the one who is responsible for the replenishment of the fish population in the Loktak lake. According to traditional beliefs, there is no vanishing of the fish population no matter how much they catch fishes.[15][12] The identity of Loktak goddess is also sometimes believed to be associated with Meitei goddess of water, Ereima.[15]

Guardianship
Meitei language quotation on the Mother Loktak

"Loktak Imma Eikkoigidi Patna Louchani"[16][17]

English translation

"Mother Loktak is our paddy land"[16][17]

The Meiteis acknowledge full reliance on the Loktak lake for their traditional occupations.[16]

The Meitei people (living around the lake) consider the Loktak lake as their guardian. They believe the lake as their mother, as it is possible for them to depend upon the lake for their livelihoods, for their children and their family, only because of the grace bestowed upon them by the Mother Loktak.[18][19]

In literature
The Lore of Loktak

The Lore of Loktak
In the shadows of your footsteps
Many lives exist
On your nature's bounty
Many lives lean
O, beloved mother Loktak
O, beloved mother Loktak....

— from Ranbir Thouna's song, Loktak[20]
Description in Meitei language literary works
Description
(in Meitei script)		 Description
(in Eastern Nagari script)		 Meanings/Translations
ꯏꯃꯥ ꯂꯣꯛꯇꯥꯛ ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ / ꯏꯔꯩꯃꯒꯤ ꯁꯥꯏꯑꯣꯟ ꯂꯧ / ꯏꯪꯅ ꯄꯣꯝꯁꯥꯠꯅꯔꯤꯕꯤ / ꯐꯧꯑꯣꯏꯕꯤꯅ ꯂꯨꯆꯤꯡꯕꯤ / ꯂꯥꯏ ꯆꯅꯨꯔꯥ ꯇꯔꯦꯠꯀꯤ / ꯍꯤ- ꯌꯥꯏ ꯈꯨꯗꯤꯡ ꯅꯥꯎꯄꯨꯕꯤ, / ꯆꯤꯡꯅꯨꯡ ꯂꯩꯃ ꯆꯤꯡꯁꯤꯡꯅꯕꯤ / ꯍꯥꯏꯅꯨ ꯂꯩꯃ ꯍꯥꯏꯁꯤꯡꯅꯕꯤ / ꯂꯦꯝꯂꯩ ꯉꯥꯔꯥꯛ ꯉꯥꯑꯣꯏꯕꯤ / ꯅꯤꯡꯉꯣꯜ ꯅꯨꯔꯥꯕꯤ, ꯀꯣꯂꯥꯡꯅꯨ / ꯇꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯀꯦꯟꯃꯤꯟꯅꯕꯤꯒꯤ / ꯈꯣꯡꯒꯨꯜ ꯂꯤꯃ ꯇꯥꯔꯤꯕꯤ, / ꯆꯤꯡꯉꯨ ꯊꯥꯡꯖꯤꯡ ꯀꯣꯏꯔꯦꯜꯂꯥꯏ / ꯀꯧꯕ꯭ꯔꯨ ꯃꯥꯔꯖꯤꯡ ꯋꯥꯡꯕ꯭ꯔꯦꯟꯅ / ꯃꯦꯏꯒꯩ ꯃꯔꯤ ꯉꯥꯛꯂꯤꯕꯤ / ꯁꯥꯏꯑꯣꯟ ꯂꯥꯡꯑꯣꯟ ꯀꯌꯥꯒꯤ / ꯈꯣꯏꯊꯨꯝꯂꯕ ꯋꯥꯔꯤꯅ / ꯏꯔꯣꯟꯅꯨꯡꯗ ꯊꯨꯞꯂꯤꯕ / ꯏꯃꯥ ꯅꯪꯒꯤ ꯃꯤꯡꯈꯩꯔꯣꯟ / ꯁꯛꯄ ꯉꯝꯂꯣꯏ ꯀꯩꯗꯧꯅꯨꯡ।Loktak Sheitharol, page no. 1 (ꯂꯣꯛꯇꯥꯛ ꯁꯩꯊꯥꯔꯣꯜ , ꯂꯥꯃꯥꯏ :꯱)। ইমা লোক্তাক লাইরেম্বী / ঈরৈমাগী শাইওন লৌ / ঈংনা পোমশাত্নরিবী / ফৌওইবীনা লুচিংবী / লাই চনুরা তরেকী / হী- য়াই খুদিং নাউপুবী, / চীংনুং লৈমা চিংশিংনবী / হাইনু লৈমা হাইশিংনবী / লেমলৈ ঙারাক ঙাওইবী / নিংঙোল নুরাবী, কোলাংনু / তোইবী কেনমিন্নবীগী / খোঙ্গুল লীম তারিবী, / চীংঙু থাংজীং কোয়রেল্লাই / কৌব্রূ মারজীং বাংরেন্না / মায়গৈ মরি ঙাক্লিবী / শাইওন লাংওন কয়াগী / খোয়থুলবা বারীনা / ঈরোন্নুংদা থুপ্লিবা / ইমা নঙগী মিংখৈরোল/ শকপা ঙম্লোই কৈদৌনুং।Loktak Sheitharol, page no. 1 (লোক্তাক শৈথারোল, লা:১)। Mother Loktak Goddess / O the incarnation of Ireima / Peacefully blooming one / Led by Phouoibi / Of the seven divine ladies / The possessor of all the gems, / The lady who pulls inside the mountains / The waving lady who waves / The lady who is fish among the fishes / Virgin lady, Kolangnu / Toibi Kenminnabigi / Tracing the foot paths, / God Thangching Koirellai / Koupalu Marjing Wangpulen're / Guarding you from four directions / Of the many incarnations / Those are sweet stories / Existing inside the underwater / O mother, your many names / Couldn't be sung completely ever.Loktak Sheitharol, page no. 1[21]
ꯊꯥꯡꯖꯤꯡ ꯆꯤꯡꯁꯥꯡ ꯃꯁꯥꯏꯀꯣꯜ
ꯊꯨꯞꯆꯩ ꯃꯔꯨꯝ ꯂꯣꯛꯇꯥꯛ ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ
ꯂꯤꯔꯛꯏ ꯋꯥꯔꯤ ꯂꯩꯁꯦꯝꯉꯩ
ꯊꯣꯛꯈꯤ ꯅꯁꯥꯏꯀꯣꯟꯁꯤꯗ
ꯃꯨꯠꯅꯥꯏꯗ꯭ꯔꯕ ꯋꯥꯔꯤ, ꯁꯥꯌꯣꯜ ꯇꯔꯦꯠ,
ꯈꯣꯏꯌꯨꯝ ꯂꯥꯡꯑꯣꯟ ꯆꯪꯈꯣꯟꯕ
ꯂꯩꯃꯔꯦꯜ ꯂꯥꯡꯑꯣꯟ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ
ꯀꯥꯎꯉꯝꯗ꯭ꯔꯕ ꯋꯥꯔꯤꯅ ꯑꯣꯏꯔꯤ
ꯈꯣꯔꯤꯔꯣꯜ ꯄꯨꯛꯀꯩ ꯑꯊꯣꯏꯕ ... ।		 থাংজিং চীংশাং মশাইকোল
থুপচৈ মরুম লোক্তাক লাইরেম্বী
লীরকি বারী লৈশেমঙৈ
থোকখি নশাইকোনসিদা
মুৎনাইদ্র ৱারী, শায়োল তরেৎ,
খোইয়ুম লাংওন চঙখোনবা
লৈমরেল লাংওন নীংথিবী
কাউঙমদ্রবা ৱারীনা ওইরি
খোরিরোল পুক্কৈ অথোইবা ... ।		 In the region of Thangjing Hill range
Goddess of Loktak seek asylum
Narrating the creation myth
It happened on your lap
Immortal tales, seven Epic cycles of incarnations,
Perfect incarnation of divinity
Incarnation of Leimarel

It is an unforgettable story
Perfection of the granary of literature ...[22]

See also

Notes
  1. also often misspelled as "Leirembi"[5]
  2. In Meitei language (officially called "Manipuri"), Meitei: ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ, romanized: Lairembi) simply means a "goddess".[6]

References
  1. Rajesh, Salam (2022-09-22). "Loktak Lake in Manipur: A Ramsar Site in danger of decline". frontline.thehindu.com. Retrieved 2023-03-20. Being central to Manipur, Loktak features prominently in folklore, oral literature, rituals, and songs. It is called Loktak Lairembee or Goddess Loktak. The people living on the shores believe in isha-mapal, or nine sources of the lake, that must always be kept clean for the continuing health of Loktak. There is wisdom in the old belief as the nine rivers that drain into Loktak are essential to the existence of the lake, its wetlands, and the human lives dependent on them.
  2. Ramachandran, Nalini (2021-09-03). Gods, Giants and the Geography of India. Hachette India. p. 107. ISBN 978-93-91028-27-5. ... the Meitei people's hopes are pinned on Loktak Lairembee now. Will she succeed in protecting the region all by herself?
  3. Bahadur), Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai (1970). Man in India. University of California. A. K. Bose. p. 379.
  4. Anthropology, University of Gauhati Department of (1973). Bulletin of the Department of Anthropology. Department of Anthropology, Gauhati University. p. 77.
  5. Singh, T. S. P. (2018-05-31). Apology. Partridge Publishing. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-5437-0188-3.
  6. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (definition of "lairembi")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). Chicago University. p. 169. Retrieved 2023-03-21. lāirembi ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ /lai.rem.bi/ n. goddess. Morph: lāi‑rem( [God‑excellent‑Feminine].
  7. "Iconic Loktak Lake In Manipur Will Now Be Protected". Retrieved 2023-03-20. Local legend has it that the lake was formed when the gods wooed the people of the valley, and, for Manipuris, it is a goddess, Loktak Lairembi. In the local Meitei belief system, the timeless romance of princess Thoibi and Khamba came to life on the lake's shores, and the mythical creature Poubi Lai resides at its heart. The lake itself is ema (mother) for the thousands of fishermen who earn their livelihood through her.
  8. Ramachandran, Nalini (2021-09-03). Gods, Giants and the Geography of India. Hachette India. p. 105. ISBN 978-93-91028-27-5.
  9. McKechnie, Ben. "The world's only floating national park". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2023-03-20. Just as India's Hindu community views the River Ganges as a living mother goddess, the Meitei see Loktak Lake as their 'mother' – a provider of life for all.
  10. থাঙ্গ করাংগী ফুমশগুদা অহীং অমা (PDF). hueiyenlanpao.com (in Manipuri).
  11. "A Bend in the Road". Notion Press. pp. 85, 90, 91, 93, 95.
  12. Mohanty, Trishna (2020-02-08). "Manipur's Loktak lake chokes from a catastrophic project flagged off 50 years ago". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-03-20. Loktak is not just a lake. For Manipuris she is Loktak Lairembi (Goddess Loktak), and for the several thousands of fishermen who depend on her for their livelihood, she is ema (mother). And although she is the fountainhead of Manipuri culture, her own identity has been in a state of flux for decades.
  13. First Sun Stories: Unusual Folk Tales from the North East. Katha. 2005. p. 14. ISBN 978-81-89020-33-0.
  14. Devi, Nunglekpam Premi (2018-05-25). Short Essays on Women and Society: Manipuri Women through the Century. p. 98. The Maibi is unique because, apart from being a religious functionary of the Meitei religion, she is also considering as a midwife, a healer, an herbalist, a clairvoyant, a spiritual leader and a dancer." The Maibi sings of the grasslands and all the food and raw materials derived from it and it is believed that the famous Loktak Lake in the region was the body of the goddess (Lairembi) herself, the independence and self-actualization characteristic of the women of Manipur. On another level, it brings out the wonderful harmony that co-exists between man and nature. In the attempt at understanding the lives of a group of priestesses. 'Sacred Space' opens by placing the Maibi in context of the Sanamahi religious beliefs or Sanamahism of the Meitei people of Manipur.
  15. Krishna, Sumi (2020-11-29). Agriculture and a Changing Environment in Northeastern India. Taylor & Francis. pp. 78, 79. ISBN 978-1-000-08443-6.
  16. Bareh, Hamlet (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Mittal Publications. p. 246. ISBN 978-81-7099-790-0.
  17. Singh, K. S. (1992). People of India: Manipur. University of Colorado Boulder. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 229. ISBN 978-81-85579-09-2.
  18. Krishna, Sumi (2020-11-29). Agriculture and a Changing Environment in Northeastern India. Taylor & Francis. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-000-08443-6.
  19. Kulkarni, Ranjit (2022-11-07). A Bend in the Road: Stories Inspired by a Road Trip. Notion Press. p. 103.
  20. Krishna, Sumi (2020-11-29). Agriculture and a Changing Environment in Northeastern India. Taylor & Francis. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-000-08443-6.
  21. লোক্তাক ইমাগী মতীকপু শৈখারিবা শৈশকপা কবিনি জাতিশোর তোংব্রম (PDF). hueiyenlanpao.com (in Manipuri).
  22. "ফেষ্টিবেল ওফ লিটরেচর, ডান্স এন্দ ম্যুজিক থৌরমদা থাঙ্গা কারাং পাঙলুবা" (PDF). hueiyenlanpao.com (in Manipuri).
  23. "Tracing the State through two indie films Loktak Lairembee and Soni Part 1 by Rajkumar Panthoiren". e-pao.net.
  24. "Weekend treat: a northeast film festival in the capital". Hindustan Times. 18 August 2017.
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