) , deity_of = Goddess of charm, magic, sorcery, spell, weaving and witchcraft , member_of = Lairembis , image = LAINAOTAPI.jpg , alt = , caption = "Lainaotapi", the Ancient Meitei ( Old Manipuri) name of the goddess, written in archaic Meetei Mayek abugida , other_names = * Leima Leinaotabi * Leima Lainautabi * Leima Leinautabi , hiro = , Old_Norse = , script_name = , script = , affiliation =

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 ...

(

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 ...

) and

Meitei religion () , native_name_lang = mni , image = The Symbol of Sanamahi.svg , imagewidth = , alt = , caption = The Symbol of Sanamahism (Source: Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya) , ...

(

Sanamahism () , native_name_lang = mni , image = The Symbol of Sanamahi.svg , imagewidth = , alt = , caption = The Symbol of Sanamahism (Source: Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya) , ...

) , cult_center = , abode = , planet = , weapon = , battles = , artifacts = , animals = , symbol = , adherents = , height = , age = , tree = , day = , color = , number = , consorts = *

Thongalel ) , planet = , weapon = , battles = , artifacts = , animals = , symbol = , adherents = , height = , age = , ...

* Poireiton * Nongban Pombi Luwaoba , parents = , siblings = , offspring = , predecessor = , successor = , army = , mount = , texts = * Poireiton Khunthok * Nongban Pombi Luwaoba , gender = Female , Greek_equivalent =

Hecate Hecate or Hekate, , ; grc-dor, Ἑκάτᾱ, Hekátā, ; la, Hecatē or . is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding a pair of torches, a key, snakes, or accompanied by dogs, and in later periods depicte ...

, Roman_equivalent = , Etruscan_equivalent = , Christian_equivalent = , Slavic_equivalent = , Hinduism_equivalent = , Canaanite_equivalent = , equivalent1_type = , equivalent1 = , equivalent2_type = , equivalent2 = , region =

Ancient Kangleipak The Manipur Kingdom was an ancient independent kingdom at the India–Burma frontier that was in subsidiary alliance with British India from 1824, and became a princely state in 1891. It bordered Assam Province in the west and Briti ...

(

Antique Manipur An antique ( la, antiquus; 'old', 'ancient') is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely ...

) , ethnic_group =

Meitei ethnicity The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." is ...

, festivals =

Lai Haraoba Lai Haraoba is a festival associated with the Meitei people celebrated to please the Umang Lai, the traditional deities of Sanamahism. Translated, Lai Haraoba means ''merry making of the Gods'' in Meiteilon. In this festival, the people worship ...

Leima Lainaotabi ( omp, Lainaotapi) or Leinaotabi ( omp, Leinaotapi) is a goddess in ancient

and

religion Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...

. She is the youngest wife of God

Thongalel ) , planet = , weapon = , battles = , artifacts = , animals = , symbol = , adherents = , height = , age = , ...

of the underworld kingdom ( mni, Khamnung). Thongalel sent her to be the wife of Poireiton, her brother-in-law. Lainaotabi gave birth to a son with Poireiton. Her legend says she made the first

clay pot Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other ceramic materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. Major types include earthenware, stoneware and porc ...

. She was worshipped by the people of Ashangbam clan.

Mythology

Journey from Underworld to human world

Lainaotabi was the youngest queen of King

Thongaren ) , planet = , weapon = , battles = , artifacts = , animals = , symbol = , adherents = , height = , age = , ...

( omp,

Thongalen ) , planet = , weapon = , battles = , artifacts = , animals = , symbol = , adherents = , height = , age = , ...

) of the underworld kingdom ( mni, Khamnung). Queen Laikhurembi was the first wife of the King. Poireiton, Thongalel's younger brother, was about to leave on a journey to '' Tai Pang Pan''. The king asked Laikhurembi to go with Poireiton as his wife because Poireiton's own wife had died. However, Laikhurembi did not want to go. Trees had already been planted to honor her as the King's wife. So, instead of Laikhurembi, Lainaotabi was sent to accompany her brother in law Poireiton as a wife.

Love with a mortal prince

Lainaotabi (Leinaotabi) went with Poireiton, her brother-in-law, on a journey to earth. Later, she became separated from him. She was adopted by King

Koubru Koupalu (also, Koubaru or Koubru) is a primordial deity in Meitei mythology and religion. He is the Guardian of the North West direction. Legend says he is the founder of civilization in Ancient Manipur, starting from the Mount Koubru, a pea ...

as his daughter. Afterwards, she came to be known as ''Koubarol Namoinu'' ( omp, Koupalol Namoinu) alias ''Koubru Namoinu'' ( omp, Koupalu Namoinu). She fell in love with prince ''Nongban Pombi Luwaoba'' of

Luwang Luwang is one of the seven clans of the Meitei people. Luwang consists of several Yumnaks which are native peoples of ancient Kangleipak (now Manipur), one of the States of India. Origin Luwang was the son of Iputhou Pakhangba also known as K ...

dynasty. She met the prince for the first time when he visited King

. She and prince Luwaoba married and led a happy life. God Thongalel did not want his own wife spending her days with another man. So, the thread of her life was cut short and her soul recalled. However, the Prince did not give up. He challenged God Thongalel to give back his wife's soul or to fight with him. He guarded the dead body of Koubru Namoinu without performing the funeral ceremony. Thongalel first sent his two younger brothers one by one for the fight. Prince Nongban Pombi Luwaoba defeated his two divine opponents. Finally, Thongalel himself appeared before him. But this time, the prince realised that he was no match for powerful God. So, he begged mercy and kindness to restore Koubru Namoinu's life so that the

dynasty might have further generation. Thongalel felt pity on him. So, he granted the couple to live for another hundred years with marital pleasure. According to legends, Hongnem Luwang Punshiba was the son of Koubru Namoinu (Lainaotabi) and Nongban Pombi Luwaoba.

Pantheon and worship

The pantheon dedicated to goddess Lainaotabi (Leinaotabi) was mainly maintained by the Ashangbam clan of

(

). It was recorded in the Loyumba Shinyen (1100 AD).

References

{{Sanamahi1 Abundance deities Abundance goddesses Arts deities Arts goddesses Beauty deities Beauty goddesses Chthonic beings Crafts deities Crafts goddesses Fertility deities Fertility goddesses Fortune deities Fortune goddesses Leima Love and lust deities Love and lust goddesses Magic deities Magic goddesses Maintenance deities Maintenance goddesses Marriage deities Marriage goddesses Meitei gods and goddesses Names of God in Sanamahism Oracular deities Oracular goddesses Peace deities Peace goddesses Underworld deities Underworld goddesses Witchcraft in folklore and mythology