Kounu

Kounu (, ) is a goddess in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur). She is a wife of God Koubru. She is the guardian of the northern direction. Kounu has two homes. Her main home is on Mount Kounu. Her other home is in Mount Koubru, which is where her husband Koubru lives. She is worshipped with Koubru as the deities of the Khullakpa (village chief). Kounu and Koubru ruled Ancient Manipur for a very long time after the reign of King Ningthou Puthiba.

Description 
Kounu is one of the deities who change climates and weathers. Her husband Koubru and her son Loyalakpa are also of her type. They also change climates and weathers. Meitei people believe that if the annual rainfall is of bit by bit frequency, then it is caused by goddess Kounu. When goddess Kounu changes the climate, there will be hardly any flood. Crop yields are good in Kounu's activities.

Mythology

Love and marriage proposal 
One early morning, goddess Kounu was searching for cotton plants in the western slopes of the Mount Koubru. On her way, she met God Koubru. The two fell in love at first sight. They ate fruits together. They adore flowers together. They shared their feelings. Kounu asked Koubru to bring her all kinds of fruits for the marriage proposal. She said she would not agree if he failed to do so. So, on a Saturday, God Koubru invited all the gods and goddesses of hills and plains for a meeting. They altogether prepared for all the fruits. They planned to proceed to the marriage proposal on the next day, Sunday.

On the next day's twilight, goddesses brought the fruits and gifts at Kounu's abode. Male gods also came in a possession with God Koubru. When the gods checked out the collection, they found heikru (Indian gooseberry) and Heining fruit missing. Some gods got angry at such missing of the prepared things. Goddess Kounu told God Koubru that she couldn't marry him. God Koubru replied to goddess Kounu that she will soon have a daughter as a result of their union in the past meeting. Hearing that, other gods got angry. They got angry at goddess Kounu because of her excessively reserved marriage proposal conditions while she was already conceived. They cursed that her daughter will be born on a stone slab in her next incarnation. The goddesses were about to curse that her baby will turn into a flower just at the birth. But they did not because of the gods' former curse. At this, Kounu was embarrassed. She also cursed that all the gifts to be turned into stones on the next day. Soon, the sun rose up. So, as she said, all the gifts turned into stones. The gods and goddesses left the place.

Birth of Leisna 
Kounu gave birth to a daughter named "Leisna" (Laisna, Leisana, Laisana). When her daughter grew up, she asked Kounu about her father. Kounu told her the truth. Leisna asked her mother to permit her to go to her father's place to meet him. Kounu agreed. On her way, Leisna met Pakhangba. They became lovers. Later, they married. Since Leisna was a mortal, she died when her time of death came.

Adoption of Thoudu Nungthel Leima 
Goddess Kounu and God Koubru are divine couple. They lived together. Once goddess Leimarel Sidabi decided to incarnate herself as the daughter of the divine couple. So, Leimarel incarnated herself into a baby infant girl. One day, Kounu and Koubru were walking on a hilly region. God Koubru got very thirsty. He found Kounu's pitcher was empty. He was unable to bear his thirst. So, he went down the riverside to drink water. Surprisingly, he found a newly born girl lying on a stone slab of the river bed. Koubru shouted three times if there was anyone for the baby girl. No one responded. So, Koubru and Kounu brought her to their abode. The couple adopted the girl as their daughter. They gave her three names. The baby was named "Ipok Leima" ("Eepok Leima") because she was found in the stream. The baby was also named "Thoudu Nungthel Leima" because she was found lying on the stone slab. The baby was given her final name as "Taipang Nganpi" ("Taibang Nganbi") because she was beautiful as well as bright.

Kounu and Loyalakpa 
One day, Kounu was asked by her son Loyalakpa about the true origin of Thoudu Nungthel Leima. Loyalakpa was suspicious if Thoudu Nungthel Leima was really his sibling or not. Koubru warned Kounu not to reveal the secret of Thoudu Nungthel Leima to their son. So, at first, Kounu did not want to tell him about that. However, at Loyalakpa's grudge, she decided to tell him the truth. Both mother and son were at Koubru's abode. So, Kounu dared not to speak anything about it. It was because she feared Koubru might heard of it. Kounu asked her husband to permit her and Loyalakpa to go to her abode. Koubru permitted. Kounu and Loyalakpa came to the safe place. So, Kounu narrated Loyalakpa how she and Koubru found Thoudu Nungthel Leima lying on a stone slab in the river. She told him that Thoudu Nungthel Leima was actually their adopted daughter and not real by birth. 
Later, Kounu's son Loyalakpa and Kounu's adopted daughter Thoudu Nungthel Leima married.

Cults and shrines 
Goddess Kounu and her husband God Koubru are worshipped in many cults and shrines of Manipur. Some are located in Mayang Langjing, Awang Khunnou, Senjam, Chirang, Loitang Khunnou, Tingri, Koutruk, Awang Potsangbam, Sairem Khul, Kameng, Sarouthel, Lairel Sajik, Lairel Kaabi, Heibongpokpi, Nongchup Sanjenbam, Tauthong, Haorang Keithel, Haorang Saabal, Kwak Siphai, Narelkonjin, Thamnapokpi, Awang Sekmai, Leimram, Phumlou Keiroi, Phumlou Siphai, Potsangbam Thouriphi, Samushang, Keinou Thongthak, Khonghampat, Akham, Morok Ingkhol, Lambaal Khul, Phayeng, Haujongban, Awang Keingam, Khurkhul and Leikinthabi.
According to Meitei culture, Goddess Kounu and God Koubru are the protectress and the protector of the said places.

References

Other websites 

Meitei gods and goddesses