Akongjamba ( omp, Akongchampa) was a nobleman of a King in

Ancient Moirang Ancient Moirang, also known as Keke Moirang, was an ancient civilization that flourished in the southern plains of the present day Manipur, India. The Keke Kangla served as the capital city of the kingdom since time immemorial. The major body of a ...

Meitei mythology Meitei mythology or Manipuri mythology ( mni, Meitei Mi Lai Tingi Wari) is a collection of myths, belonging to the religious and cultural traditions of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. It is associated with tradi ...

and

folklore Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...

. He was Goddess

Phouoibi Phouoibi (Fouoibi) or Phouoipi (Fouoipi) or Phouleima (Fouleima) or Phoureima (Foureima) is the goddess and the female personification of the agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, harvest, paddy, rice and wealth in Meitei mythology and religi ...

's lover, but fate didn't permit the lovers to unite, so they reincarnated in legends. The lives of the two legendary lovers were believed to be enacted by

Thangjing Thangching or Thangjing is a primordial deity in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur). He is the ruling deity of the Moirang dynasty of Ancient Moirang. He rules supreme on the banks of the landlocked sea, Lo ...

as a part of the Epic cycles of incarnations (Moirang Saiyon of the Moirang Kangleirol legends).

Legends

Once, Goddess Phouoibi (Fouoibi) set out for a journey along with

Ngaleima Lemlei Ngaleima ( omp, ꯂꯦꯝꯂꯩ ꯉꯥꯂꯩꯃ, lem-lei ngaa-lei-ma, fish goddess) or Ngareima ( mni, ꯉꯥꯔꯩꯃ, ngaa-rei-ma) is the goddess and the divine female personification of the fishes and the aquatic life in Meitei mytho ...

and

Thumleima Noinu Thumleima ( Meitei pronunciation: ''nói.nu tʰum.lə́i.mə'') or Thumkhong Lairembi ( omp, Thumkhong Lailempi) is the goddess of salt and salt wells in Meitei mythology and religion of ancient Manipur (Antique Kangleipak). She is a ...

. In

Moirang Moirang is a town in the Indian state of Manipur. It is situated approximately 45 km south of the state capital Imphal. It has an area of 269 km2 with a population of 62,187 in 67 villages. It is best known for the being the place of o ...

, when she was trying to cross a river, Akongjamba came to the place for hunting. He fell in love with Phouoibi at first sight, and they became great lovers. Many days later, Phouoibi went to Akongjamba's house, disguising herself as a tribal woman ( mni, haonupi or haonubi). Akongjamba was not at home, and his mother (Akongjamba's wife in another version) didn't give her good shelter. She was about to hit Phouoibi with a broom. As a divine being could lose their powers at the touch of profane objects like brooms, Phouoibi fled to the coop of the house and transformed into a chicken. Akongjamba's mother chased her, and she counted the number of chickens. She didn't find any new chicken, so she was gone, and Phouoibi spent the night inside the dirty henhouse. The next day, she went back to her true divine maiden form in a glowing dress. She called Akongjamba's mother to come out, and gave her the payment for spending a night at her place. She shook an enormous heap of golden grain off her body. The grains fell in the middle of the courtyard of the house, and she left in the south east direction. Akongjamba's mother was surprised at this. When Akongjamba returned home, he found the pile of golden grain as high as a hill in front of the courtyard. His mother narrated him the entire story, and he realised that the strange lady was Phouoibi, his ladylove. He immediately followed her path. On the way, he found her and he pleaded her to return home together, but she told him that they were not destined to unite to accomplish their work at that birth, and she then left him.

In popular culture

* '' Phou-oibi, the rice goddess'' is a 2009 ballad opera performed by the

Laihui Ensemble The Laihui Ensemble is a centre for research on traditional and indigenous performing arts, based on Imphal, Manipur. It was established in 1985. The association is performing different art shows at different venues across different nations in th ...

. It is based on the love story of Phouoibi and Akongjamba. * Phouoibi Shayon is a 2017

Manipuri mythology Meitei mythology or Manipuri mythology ( mni, Meitei Mi Lai Tingi Wari) is a collection of myths, belonging to the religious and cultural traditions of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. It is associated with tradi ...

movie based on the love story of Phouoibi and Akongjamba.

References

{{Reflist Epic cycles of incarnations Meitei mythology Meitei folklore Meitei literature

Legends

In popular culture

See also

References