Princess Thoibi of Ancient Moirang is one of the incarnations of goddess Leimarel.
Leimarel Sidabi (Meitei: ꯂꯩꯃꯔꯦꯜ ꯁꯤꯗꯕꯤ) is the highest ranked mother goddess in Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism). She is known for having many incarnations as divine ladies. Each of her incarnations are for the welfare of the mankind. For this reason, she is known as *Langon Yambi Ima* (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯡꯉꯣꯟ ꯌꯥꯝꯕꯤ ꯏꯃꯥ, lit. *The Divine Mother who incarnates herself in many divine forms*).

Among her incarnations, the personalities of Emoinu, Panthoibi and Phouoibi depict as well as influence the boldness, courage, independence, goodness and social honour of Meitei women.

The connection of the highest female form with the basic needs of life shows the importance of women in Meitei society.

Incarnations
------------

### Imoinu

See the main article: Imoinu
*Imoinu* or *Emoinu* (Meitei: ꯏꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. 
Supreme God Sidaba (Old Manipuri: Sitapa) asked His wife, Leimarel Sidabi (Old Manipuri: Leimalel Sitapi) to create another Leimarel. Leimarel Sidabi is the first woman. The second Leimarel will be the second woman. She is to take care of the mankind on the planet earth. Goddess Leimarel Sidabi created the second Leimarel. The appearances of the first and the second Leimarels were similar. The first Leimarel named the second one as *Emoinu Ahongbi*.

### Ireima

See the main article: Ireima
*Ireima* (Meitei: ꯏꯔꯩꯃ, *Ereima*) alias *Irai Leima* (Meitei: ꯏꯔꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯃ, *Erai Leima*) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. She is the goddess of water.

### Lān Leima

*Lān Leima* (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯟ ꯂꯩꯃ, *Laan Leima*) or *Lāl Leima* (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯜ ꯂꯩꯃ, *Laal Leima*) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. Leimalel becomes Lān Leima when she is in the battlefield. Lān Leima is the goddess of war.

### Leinaotabi

See the main article: Leinaotabi
*Leinaotabi* (Meitei: ꯂꯩꯅꯥꯎꯇꯥꯕꯤ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. She was the youngest wife of God Thongalel. Later, she was married to Poireiton.

### Lul Leima

*Lul Leima* (Meitei: ꯂꯜ ꯂꯩꯃ) (also pronounced as *Lal Leima*) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. She is the goddess of wealth.

### Ngaleima

See the main article: Ngaleima
*Ngaleima* (Old Manipuri: ꯉꯥꯂꯩꯃ) alias *Ngareima* (Meitei: ꯉꯥꯔꯩꯃ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. Leimalel becomes Ngaleima when she is in the fish yard. Ngaleima is the goddess of fish.

### Nongthang Leima

See the main article: Nongthang Leima
*Nongthang Leima* (Meitei: ꯅꯣꯡꯊꯥꯡ ꯂꯩꯃ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. She is the goddess of charm, thunder and lightning.

### Panthoibi

See the main article: Panthoibi
*Panthoibi* (Meitei: ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. She is the goddess of civilization, fertility, love, warfare and wisdom.

### Phouleima

See the main article: Phouleima
*Phouleima* (Old Manipuri: ꯐꯧꯂꯩꯃ) alias *Phouoibi* (Meitei: ꯐꯧꯑꯣꯢꯕꯤ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. Leimalel becomes Phouoibi when she is in the granaries or the barns. Phouoibi is the goddess of agricultural crops and harvest.

### Shil Leima

*Shil Leima* (Meitei: ꯁꯤꯜ ꯂꯩꯃ) alias *Shin Leima* (Meitei: ꯁꯤꯟ ꯂꯩꯃ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. Leimalel becomes Shil Leima when she is in factories. Shil Leima is the goddess of crafts.

### Thoibi

See the main article: Moirang Thoibi
*Moirang Thoibi* (Meitei: ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. She is a princess of Ancient Moirang kingdom. She is also one of the important characters in the Moirang Shayon and the Moirang Kangleirol.

### Thumleima

See the main article: Thumleima
*Thumleima* (Meitei: ꯊꯨꯝꯂꯩꯃ) is an incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi. Leimalel becomes Thumleima when she is in the salt mines. Thumleima is the goddess of salt.

### 7 Divine Ladies

Leimalel also incarnates herself as the seven divine ladies. The seven divine ladies are Heepokpi (Meitei: ꯍꯤꯄꯣꯛꯄꯤ), Yaipokpi (Meitei: ꯌꯥꯢꯄꯣꯛꯄꯤ), Heeleima (Meitei: ꯍꯤꯂꯩꯃ), Yaileima (Meitei: ꯌꯥꯢꯂꯩꯃ), Heekubi (Meitei: ꯍꯤꯀꯨꯕꯤ), Yaikubi (Meitei: ꯌꯥꯢꯀꯨꯕꯤ) and Yaisna (Meitei: ꯌꯥꯢꯁ꯭ꯅꯥ).

### Goddesses of the 7 clans

The seven goddesses of the seven clans (Meitei: Yek) are the incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi.

| Goddesses | Latin transliterations (Romanization) | Associated clans/dynasties | Latin transliterations (Romanization) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ꯂꯩꯀꯛꯕꯤꯌꯥꯔꯦꯜ | Leikakbiyarel | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯖꯥ | Ningthouja |
| ꯂꯥꯢꯕꯤ ꯑꯍꯨꯝꯅꯨ | Laibi Ahumnoo | ꯑꯉꯣꯝ | Angom |
| ꯊꯥꯡꯋꯣꯢꯕꯤ | Thangwoibee | ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ | Luwang |
| ꯃꯥꯟꯋꯣꯢꯕꯤ | Manwoibi | ꯈꯨꯃꯟ | Khuman |
| ꯆꯤꯠꯅꯨ ꯂꯩꯃ | Chitnu Leima | ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ | Moirang |
| ꯊꯦꯔꯩ ꯂꯥꯡꯕꯝ ꯆꯅꯨ | Therei Langbam Chanu | ꯆꯦꯡꯂꯩ/ꯁꯂꯥꯡ-ꯂꯩꯁꯥꯡꯊꯦꯝ | Chenglei/Salang-Leishangthem |
| ꯂꯥꯢ ꯂꯩꯃꯔꯦꯟ | Lai Leimaren | ꯈꯥꯕ-ꯉꯥꯟꯕ | Khaba-Nganba |

Festivals and Worship
---------------------

### Imoinu Iratpa

See the main article: Imoinu Iratpa
*Imoinu Iratpa* (*Emoinu Eratpa*) is celebrated in honor of goddess Imoinu (Emoinu) on the 12th of Meitei lunar month of *Wakching* (December-January interface month) every year. Fruits, vegetables and fish are offered to goddess Imoinu.

### Panthoibi Iratpa

See the main article: Panthoibi Iratpa
*Panthoibi Iratpa* (*Panthoibi Eratpa*) is celebrated in honor of goddess Panthoibi every year.

Statue of Panthoibi during Panthoibi Iratpa festival celebrated at Hojai Natun Bazar, Assam
### Phouoibi Irat Thouni

Further information: Phouoibi
*Phouoibi Irat Thouni* or *Phouoibi Iratpa* or just *Phouoibi worship* is done during the Meitei lunar month of *Wakching* (December-January interface month).

Ima Keithel
-----------

See the main article: Ima Keithel
*Ima Keithel* (English: Mothers' Market) is the world's only women run market. The Leimarel Sidabi Ima Keithel (Complex Number 1), the Imoinu Ima Keithel (Complex Number 2) and the Phouoibi Ima Keithel (Complex Number 3) are the three main building complexes of the Ima Keithel. This 500 years old market is in the center of Imphal, Manipur. The three building complexes are named in honor of the three goddesses, Leimarel Sidabi, Imoinu and Phouoibi. The later two are the incarnations of the first.

In popular culture
------------------

In popular culture, the incarnations of goddess Leimarel are shown in arts, books, movies, web series and many others. Here are a few:

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

Bibliography
------------

* Ariba Meiteigee Seitha by Gourachandra, Mayanglambam
* Emoinu Ahongbi Tungnapham by Budhichandra, Yumnamcha
* Holy Man by Dhiren Meitei,a.k
* Kangleikhol January 1988 by Kangjia, Ng
* Laiyingthou Lairemmasinggee Waree Seengbul by Neelabi, Sairem
* Leeklam by Apunba Shintha Lup
* Leimarel Mingkhei by Bhogeshawr, Oinam
* Yimpallon by Singh, Wakhemcha Tomba