Loktak Ima ( mni, , loktaak eemaa, Mother Loktak), also known as Loktak Lairembi ( mni, , loktaak lairembee, Goddess of Loktak) simply means a "goddess".), is the personification of the Loktak lake, who is revered by the Meitei people as the

mother goddess A mother goddess is a goddess who represents a personified deification of motherhood, fertility goddess, fertility, creation, destruction, or the earth goddess who embodies the bounty of the earth or nature. When equated with the earth or th ...

of the sacred waters of the Loktak lake. She is highly respected and venerated by the fishermen communities of the Meitei ethnicity living in and around the periphery of the Loktak lake. She is also considered as the fountainhead of Meitei culture. Her embodiment, the Loktak lake is associated with the epic of

Khamba and Thoibi ) , Image_Name = Khamba and Thoibi (The Capture of the Wild Bull).jpg , Image_Caption = Khamba and Thoibi (The Capture of the Wild Bull) , Aarne-Thompson Grouping = no , AKA = Khampa Thoipi , Mythology = Meitei mytholog ...

as well as that of

Poubi Lai Poubi Lai (also, Paubi Loi) was an ancient dragon python, who dwelled in the Loktak Lake of Manipur, in Meitei mythology and folklore. It is also referred to as ''"Loch Ness Monster of Manipur"''. Mythology In the Loktak lake, the spirit of ...

of Meitei mythology and folklore.

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 Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) is a computerized database for United States Service members, military retirees, 100% VA Disabled Veterans, dependents, DoD active Contractors, and others worldwide who are entitled to Public K ...

bow their heads. She is benevolent to fishes. The of

traditional 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) 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.

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. The identity of Loktak goddess is also sometimes believed to be associated with Meitei goddess of water, Ereima.

Guardianship

;Meitei language quotation on the Mother Loktak : ;English translation : The Meiteis acknowledge full reliance on the Loktak lake for their traditional occupations. 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.

In literature

; The Lore of Loktak: ; Description in

Meitei language Meitei (), also known as Manipuri (, ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of north-eastern India. It is spoken by around 1.8 million people, predominantly in the state of Manipur, but also by smaller communities in the rest of the country and in pa ...

literary works :

In popular culture

Loktak Lairembee (film) ''Loktak Lairembee'' (), also known as Lady of the Lake, is a 2016 Indian Meitei language film directed and produced by Haobam Paban Kumar. It stars Ningthoujam Sanatomba and Sagolsem Thambalsang in the lead roles. The film had participated i ...

(English: ''Lady of the Lake'') : a 2016 Indian

film directed and produced by Haobam Paban Kumar.

Notes

References

{{Authority control Abundance goddesses Beauty goddesses Fortune goddesses Health goddesses Maintenance goddesses Meitei goddesses Mother goddesses Nature goddesses Peace goddesses Personifications Virgin goddesses Water goddesses