Thumleima

**Noinu Thumleima** () or **Thumkhong Lairembi** () is the goddess of salt and salt wells in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Manipur (Antique Kangleipak). She is a sister (or _friend_) of the goddesses, Phouoibi (Phouleima), Ngaleima and Ereima (Ireima). People pray to her so there will be enough salt. Salt is an important part of the human diet.

According to the "Recent Researches in Oriental Indological Studies: Including Meiteilogy" by Moirangthem Kirti, the goddess is a wife of Pakhangba, the royal deity.

## Name

The Meitei female given name "Thumleima" (tʰum.lə́i.mə, ꯊꯨꯝꯂꯩꯃ) is made of two words. These words are "Thum" (tʰum, ꯊꯨꯝ) and "Leima" (lə́i.mə, ꯂꯩꯃ). In Meitei, "Thum" (tʰum, ꯊꯨꯝ) means salt, usually the common salt. In Meitei, "Leima" (lə́i.mə, ꯂꯩꯃ) means queen, mistress or lady.

Another name of goddess Thumleima is "Thumkhong Lairembi" (ꯊꯨꯝꯈꯣꯡ ꯂꯥꯢꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ). The Meitei word "Thumkhong" (tʰum.kʰoŋ, ꯊꯨꯝꯈꯣꯡ) is made up of two component words, "Thum" (tʰum, ꯊꯨꯝ) and "Khong" (kʰoŋ, ꯈꯣꯡ). "Thum" (ꯊꯨꯝ)  means salt. "Khong" (kʰoŋ, ꯈꯣꯡ) means mine (of salt or metallic ores). So, "Thumkhong" (tʰum.kʰoŋ, ꯊꯨꯝꯈꯣꯡ) means _salt ditch_ or _salt brine_ or _salt mine_ or _salt well_. Another Meitei word "Lairembi" (ꯂꯥꯢꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ) is made up of three component words, "Lai" (ꯂꯥꯢ), "-rem" (-ꯔꯦꯝ) and "bi" (ꯕꯤ). "Lai" (ꯂꯥꯢ) means "God". "-rem" (-ꯔꯦꯝ) or "-lem" (-ꯂꯦꯝ) means "excellent". "bi" (ꯕꯤ) or "pi" (ꯄꯤ) is a suffix to denote feminine gender. So, "Lairembi" (ꯂꯥꯢꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ) means a goddess.

## Association with other gods

The Goddess Thumleima is one of the divine manifestations of Leimarel (Leimalel). Leimalel is the supreme mother earth goddess. It is said that Leimalel becomes Thumleima when she is in the salt mine. Thumleima is also considered as one of the divine incarnations of goddess Imoinu.

## In popular culture

- Phou-oibi, the rice goddess is a 2009 ballad opera. It was performed by the Laihui Ensemble. It is based on the story of the goddess and her sister Phouoibi.
- Phouoibi Shayon is a 2017 Manipuri mythology movie based on the story of the goddess and her sister Phouoibi.

## Related pages

- Imoinu (Emoinu) - Meitei goddess of wealth
- Ireima (Ereima) - Meitei goddess of water
- Leimarel (Leimalel) - Meitei goddess of earth
- Ngaleima - Meitei goddess of fish
- Panthoibi - Meitei goddess of civilization, love and warfare
- Phouoibi (Phouleima) - Meitei goddess of farm crops

## Other websites

- Noinu Thumleima_English Wikisource
- Thumleima_archive.org

## Infobox (deity)

- **type**: Meitei
- **name**: Noinu Thumleima
- **deity of**: Goddess of salt and salt wells
- **member of**: Lairembis
- **image**: Thumleima — Goddess & Personification of salt — Classical Meitei mythology & traditional Meithei ethnic religion (Sanamahism alias Lainingthouism alias Kangleism alias Meiteism alias Meeteism) of ancient Kangleipak civilisation.jpg
- **caption**: Goddess Thumleima, the giver of salt to mankind
- **other names**: Thumkhong Lairembi
- **script name**: Meitei
- **script**:
- **affiliation**: Meitei mythology (Manipuri mythology) and Meitei religion (Sanamahism)
- **abodes**: Brine, Salt brines
- **symbol**: Salts
- **father**: Salailen (Soraren)
- **siblings**: * Phouoibi (Phouleima)
* Ngaleima
* Ereima (Ireima)
- **texts**: Phouoibi Waron
- **gender**: Female
- **greek equivalent**: Amphitrite
- **roman equivalent**: Salacia
- **region**: Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur)
- **ethnic group**: Meitei ethnicity
- **festivals**: Lai Haraoba