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
fish
Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of ...
es and the aquatic life in
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
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, ...
(
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)
, ...
) of
Ancient Manipur (
Antique 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 Brit ...
).
She is a sister (or ''friend'') of the goddesses,
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 ...
,
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 ...
and
Ereima
)
, deity_of = Goddess of water and aquatic life
, member_of = Lairembis
, image = IRAI LEIMA.jpg
, alt =
, caption = The name "Irai Leima", written in Meitei Mayek abugida
, other_names =
* Ireima ( omp, I ...
(
Ireima
)
, deity_of = Goddess of water and aquatic life
, member_of = Lairembis
, image = IRAI LEIMA.jpg
, alt =
, caption = The name "Irai Leima", written in Meitei Mayek abugida
, other_names =
* Ireima ( omp, I ...
).
Myths
Menstrual blood
Menstruation (also known as a period, among other colloquial terms) is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. The menstrual cycle is characterized by the rise and fall of ho ...
, charoo (
hay
Hay is grass, legumes, or other herbaceous plants that have been cut and dried to be stored for use as animal fodder, either for large grazing animals raised as livestock, such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep, or for smaller domesticat ...
, dried paddy stalks), hentak (edible fish paste), sumjit (
broom
A broom (also known in some forms as a broomstick) is a cleaning tool consisting of usually stiff fibers (often made of materials such as plastic, hair, or corn husks) attached to, and roughly parallel to, a cylindrical handle, the broomstick. I ...
) are considered
unholy
''Profanum'' is the Latin word for "profane". The state of being profane, or "profanity," refers to a lack of respect for things that are held to be sacred, which implies anything inspiring or deserving of reverence, as well as behaviour show ...
to Goddess Ngaleima.
So, if there is an adverse entry of fish into the fishing nets, the presence of menstruating woman is highly suspected at the spot, especially on the floating dam.
Other suspicious reasons are the dropping down of the charoo (hay, dried paddy stalks) or hentak (edible fish paste) or sumjit (broom) by people out of jealousy into the place.
Association with other goddesses
Goddess Ngaleima (Ngareima) is considered to be one of the divine manifestations of
Leimarel (Leimalel), the supreme mother earth goddess. It is said that Leimalel becomes Ngaleima when she is in the fish yard.
In popular culture
*
Phou-oibi, the rice goddess is a 2009 ballad opera performed by the
Laihui Ensemble. It is based on the story of the goddess and her sister
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 ...
.
*
Phouoibi Shayon is a 2017
Manipuri mythology movie based on the story of the goddess and her sister
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 ...
.
See also
*
Imoinu
Imoinu or Emoinu ( mni, ꯏꯃꯣꯏꯅꯨ) is a goddess associated with household, hearth, family, fireplace, kitchen, wealth, peace and prosperity in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur). She is frequent ...
(
Emoinu
Imoinu or Emoinu ( mni, ꯏꯃꯣꯏꯅꯨ) is a goddess associated with household, hearth, family, fireplace, kitchen, wealth, peace and prosperity in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur). She is frequently ...
) - Meitei goddess of wealth
*
Ireima
)
, deity_of = Goddess of water and aquatic life
, member_of = Lairembis
, image = IRAI LEIMA.jpg
, alt =
, caption = The name "Irai Leima", written in Meitei Mayek abugida
, other_names =
* Ireima ( omp, I ...
(
Ereima
)
, deity_of = Goddess of water and aquatic life
, member_of = Lairembis
, image = IRAI LEIMA.jpg
, alt =
, caption = The name "Irai Leima", written in Meitei Mayek abugida
, other_names =
* Ireima ( omp, I ...
) - Meitei goddess of water
*
Leimarel (Leimalel) - Meitei goddess of earth
*
Panthoibi
)
, deity_of = Goddess of civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom
, member_of = Lairembis and Umang Lais
, image = PANTHOIPI.jpg
, alt =
, caption = Goddess Panthoipi char ...
- Meitei goddess of civilization, love and warfare
*
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 ...
(
Phouleima) - Meitei goddess of agricultural crops
*
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 ...
- Meitei goddess of salt
References
External links
Ngaleima_archive.org{{Sanamahi1
Abundance goddesses
Animal goddesses
Arts goddesses
Beauty goddesses
Fertility goddesses
Fortune goddesses
Leima
Magic goddesses
Maintenance goddesses
Meitei gods and goddesses
Names of God in Sanamahism
Nature goddesses
Pastoral goddesses
Peace goddesses
Savior goddesses
Time and fate goddesses
Virgin goddesses