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

 References 

 Other websites 

 Noinu Thumleima_English Wikisource
 Thumleima_archive.org

Category:Meitei gods and goddesses
Category:Leima