Loktak Ima

{{Short description|Meitei water goddess}} {{Redirect|Loktak Lairembee|the Meitei film|Loktak Lairembee (film)}} {{Contains special characters|Meitei}} {{Infobox deity | type = Meitei | name = Loktak Ima | deity_of = Personification of the Loktak lake Mother goddess of the sacred waters  | member_of = Meitei goddesses | image = The_Symbol_of_Sanamahi.svg | alt =  | caption = | other_names = Loktak Ema, Loktak Eemaa, Loktak Lairembi, Loktak Lairembee<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajesh |first=Salam |date=2022-09-22 |title=Loktak Lake in Manipur: A Ramsar Site in danger of decline |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/environment/guardians-of-the-lairembee-loktak-lake-in-manipur-is-a-ramsar-site-in-danger-of-decline/article65870424.ece |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=frontline.thehindu.com |language=en |quote=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.}}</ref> | hiero = | Old_Norse = | script_name = | script = | affiliation = Meitei religion (Sanamahism) and Meitei mythology  | cult_center = Manipur  | abode = Loktak lake  | planet =  | weapon =  | battles = | artifacts =  | animals = | symbol =  | adherents = | height = | age = | tree = | day = | color =  | number = | consort =  | parents = | siblings = | offspring =  | predecessor = | successor = | army = | mount = | texts = | gender = Female | Greek_equivalent = | Roman_equivalent = | Etruscan_equivalent = | Christian_equivalent = | Islamic_equivalent = | Slavic_equivalent = | Hinduism_equivalent = | Canaanite_equivalent = | Indo-european_equivalent = | Maya_equivalent = | Aztec_equivalent = | equivalent1_type = | equivalent1 = | equivalent2_type = | equivalent2 = | equivalent3_type = | equivalent3 = | equivalent4_type = | equivalent4 = | equivalent5_type = | equivalent5 = | region = {{langnf|mni|Kangleipak|Manipur}} | ethnic_group = Meitei ethnicity<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=Nalini |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-AtBEAAAQBAJ&dq=loktak+lairembee&pg=PT107 |title=Gods, Giants and the Geography of India |date=2021-09-03 |publisher=Hachette India |isbn=978-93-91028-27-5 |pages=107 |language=en |quote=... the Meitei people's hopes are pinned on Loktak Lairembee now. Will she succeed in protecting the region all by herself?}}</ref> | festivals = }} '''Loktak Ima''' ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯣꯛꯇꯥꯛ ꯏꯃꯥ}}|loktaak eemaa|Mother Loktak}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bahadur) |first=Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vKM4AAAAIAAJ&q=Loktak+Ima |title=Man in India |date=1970 |publisher=A. K. Bose |others=University of California |pages=379 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Anthropology |first=University of Gauhati Department of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oYgrAQAAIAAJ&q=Loktak+Ima |title=Bulletin of the Department of Anthropology |date=1973 |publisher=Department of Anthropology, Gauhati University. |pages=77 |language=en}}</ref>), also known as '''Loktak Lairembi'''{{efn|also often misspelled as "Leirembi"<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=T. S. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kMNiDwAAQBAJ&dq=Loktak+Ima&pg=PT8 |title=Apology |date=2018-05-31 |publisher=Partridge Publishing |isbn=978-1-5437-0188-3 |pages=8 |language=en}}</ref>}} ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯣꯛꯇꯥꯛ ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ}}|loktaak lairembee|Goddess of Loktak}}{{efn|In Meitei language (officially called "Manipuri"), {{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ}}|Lairembi}}) simply means a "goddess".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=H. Surmangol |date=2006 |title=Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (definition of "lairembi") |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/sharma_query.py?qs=%EA%AF%82%EA%AF%A5%EA%AF%8F%EA%AF%94%EA%AF%A6%EA%AF%9D%EA%AF%95%EA%AF%A4&searchhws=yes |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=dsal.uchicago.edu |publisher=Chicago University |page=169 |language=mni, en |quote=lāirembi ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ /lai.rem.bi/ n. goddess. Morph: lāi‑rem( [God‑excellent‑Feminine].}}</ref>}}),<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=Nalini |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-AtBEAAAQBAJ&dq=Loktak+Ima&pg=PT105 |title=Gods, Giants and the Geography of India |date=2021-09-03 |publisher=Hachette India |isbn=978-93-91028-27-5 |pages=105 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McKechnie |first=Ben |title=The world's only floating national park |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20180411-the-worlds-only-floating-national-park |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en |quote=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.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |script-title=bn:থাঙ্গ করাংগী ফুমশগুদা অহীং অমা |url=https://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12.06.2022-B4.pdf |website=hueiyenlanpao.com |language=mni}}</ref> She is highly respected and venerated by the fishermen communities of the Meitei ethnicity living in and around the periphery of the Loktak lake.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Bend in the Road |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0tKYEAAAQBAJ&q=Ema+Loktak&pg=PA90 |website=Notion Press |pages=85, 90, 91, 93, 95 | last1=Kulkarni | first1=Ranjit | date=7 November 2022 }}</ref><ref name=":Mohanty">{{Cite news |last=Mohanty |first=Trishna |date=2020-02-08 |title=Manipur's Loktak lake chokes from a catastrophic project flagged off 50 years ago |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/manipurs-loktak-lake-chokes-from-a-catastrophic-project-flagged-off-50-years-ago/article30759633.ece |access-date=2023-03-20 |issn=0971-751X |quote=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.}}</ref> She is also considered as the fountainhead of Meitei culture.<ref name=":Mohanty" /> 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Iconic Loktak Lake In Manipur Will Now Be Protected |url=https://www.femina.in/travel/domestic/iconic-loktak-lake-in-manipur-will-now-be-protected-217719.html |access-date=2023-03-20 |website= |language=en |quote=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.}}</ref>

== 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.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g_2aUBfVI44C&dq=Loktak+goddess&pg=PA14 |title=First Sun Stories: Unusual Folk Tales from the North East |date=2005 |publisher=Katha |isbn=978-81-89020-33-0 |pages=14 |language=en}}</ref>

The {{langnf|mni|Maibis|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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Devi |first=Nunglekpam Premi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1xBdDwAAQBAJ&dq=Loktak+goddess&pg=PT98 |title=Short Essays on Women and Society: Manipuri Women through the Century |date=2018-05-25 |publisher= |pages=98 |language=en |quote=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.}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name=":Loktak_Goddess">{{Cite book |last=Krishna |first=Sumi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OYJEAAAQBAJ&q=Loktak+Goddess&pg=PT79 |title=Agriculture and a Changing Environment in Northeastern India |date=2020-11-29 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-08443-6 |pages=78, 79 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":Mohanty" /> The identity of Loktak goddess is also sometimes believed to be associated with Meitei goddess of water, Ereima.<ref name=":Loktak_Goddess" />

== Guardianship == ;Meitei language quotation on the Mother Loktak : {{Blockquote|"Loktak Imma Eikkoigidi Patna Louchani"<ref name="Bareh 2001 246">{{Cite book |last=Bareh |first=Hamlet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XScmdGvMf7IC&dq=Loktak+mother&pg=PA246 |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India |date=2001 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-790-0 |pages=246 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Singh 1992 229">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m6K7PZPemAcC&q=Loktak+mother |title=People of India: Manipur |date=1992 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |others=University of Colorado Boulder |isbn=978-81-85579-09-2 |pages=229 |language=en}}</ref>}} ;English translation : {{Blockquote|"Mother Loktak is our paddy land"<ref name="Bareh 2001 246">{{Cite book |last=Bareh |first=Hamlet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XScmdGvMf7IC&dq=Loktak+mother&pg=PA246 |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India |date=2001 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-790-0 |pages=246 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Singh 1992 229">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m6K7PZPemAcC&q=Loktak+mother |title=People of India: Manipur |date=1992 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |others=University of Colorado Boulder |isbn=978-81-85579-09-2 |pages=229 |language=en}}</ref>}} The Meiteis acknowledge full reliance on the Loktak lake for their traditional occupations.<ref name="Bareh 2001 246">{{Cite book |last=Bareh |first=Hamlet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XScmdGvMf7IC&dq=Loktak+mother&pg=PA246 |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India |date=2001 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-790-0 |pages=246 |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krishna |first=Sumi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OYJEAAAQBAJ&q=Loktak+is+our+mother.+We+are+able+to+feed+our+children+and+run+our+family+only+because+of+her+grace.+Where+else+will+we+go%27%2C&pg=PT76 |title=Agriculture and a Changing Environment in Northeastern India |date=2020-11-29 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-08443-6 |pages=76 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kulkarni |first=Ranjit |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0tKYEAAAQBAJ&dq=Loktak+mother&pg=PA103 |title=A Bend in the Road: Stories Inspired by a Road Trip |date=2022-11-07 |publisher=Notion Press |pages=103 |language=en}}</ref>

== In literature == ; The Lore of Loktak: {{Blockquote|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<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krishna |first=Sumi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OYJEAAAQBAJ&dq=Loktak+mother&pg=PT71 |title=Agriculture and a Changing Environment in Northeastern India |date=2020-11-29 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-08443-6 |pages=71 |language=en}}</ref>}}

; Description in Meitei language literary works : {| class="wikitable" ! Description {{small|(in Meitei script)}} ! Description {{small|(in Eastern Nagari script)}} ! Meanings/Translations |- |{{lang|mni|{{Script|Mtei|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)। |{{lang|mni|{{Script|Beng|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)। |{{lang|en|{{Script|Latn|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<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=bn:লোক্তাক ইমাগী মতীকপু শৈখারিবা শৈশকপা কবিনি জাতিশোর তোংব্রম |url=https://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/jun-08-2014-4.pdf |website=hueiyenlanpao.com |language=mni}}</ref> |- |{{lang|mni|{{Script|Mtei|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 ... ।}}}} |{{lang|mni|{{Script|Beng|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 ...<ref>{{Cite web |title=ফেষ্টিবেল ওফ লিটরেচর, ডান্স এন্দ ম্যুজিক থৌরমদা থাঙ্গা কারাং পাঙলুবা |url=https://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/31.10.2019-B7.pdf |website=hueiyenlanpao.com |language=mni}}</ref> |}

== In popular culture == * Loktak Lairembee (film) (English: ''Lady of the Lake'') : a 2016 Indian Meitei language film directed and produced by Haobam Paban Kumar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=reviews.movies.Tracing_the_State_through_two_indie_films_Loktak_Lairembee_and_Soni_Part_1_by_Rajkumar_Panthoiren|title=Tracing the State through two indie films Loktak Lairembee and Soni Part 1 by Rajkumar Panthoiren|website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/weekend-treat-a-northeast-film-festival-in-the-capital/story-Eyv6tjZZLn90lvTMobn5JJ.html|title=Weekend treat: a northeast film festival in the capital|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=18 August 2017 }}</ref>

== Notes == {{Notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Abundance goddesses Category:Beauty goddesses Category:Fortune goddesses Category:Health goddesses Category:Meitei goddesses Category:Mother goddesses Category:Nature goddesses Category:Peace goddesses Category:Personifications Category:Virgin goddesses Category:Water goddesses