Template:Redirect Template:Contains special characters Template:Infobox deity Loktak Ima (Template:Lang-mni[1][2]), also known as Loktak LairembiTemplate:Efn (Template:Lang-mniTemplate:Efn),[3] 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.[4][5][6] She is highly respected and venerated by the fishermen communities of the Meitei ethnicity living in and around the periphery of the Loktak lake.[7][8] She is also considered as the fountainhead of Meitei culture.[8] 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.[3]
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.[9]
The Template:Langnf 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.[10]
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.[11][8] The identity of Loktak goddess is also sometimes believed to be associated with Meitei goddess of water, Ereima.[11]
Guardianship
- Meitei language quotation on the Mother Loktak
- English translation
Template:Blockquote The Meiteis acknowledge full reliance on the Loktak lake for their traditional occupations.[12]
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.[13][14]
In literature
- The Lore of Loktak
- Description in Meitei language literary works
| Description Template:Small |
Description Template:Small |
Meanings/Translations |
|---|---|---|
| Template:LangLoktak Sheitharol, page no. 1 (ꯂꯣꯛꯇꯥꯛ ꯁꯩꯊꯥꯔꯣꯜ , ꯂꯥꯃꯥꯏ :꯱)। | Template:LangLoktak Sheitharol, page no. 1 (লোক্তাক শৈথারোল, লা:১)। | Template:LangLoktak Sheitharol, page no. 1[15] |
| Template:Lang | Template:Lang | 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 |
In popular culture
- Loktak Lairembee (film) (English: Lady of the Lake) : a 2016 Indian Meitei language film directed and produced by Haobam Paban Kumar.[17][18]
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ Man in India{{#if:Bahadur)|, Bahadur)}. A. K. Bose(1970)
- ↑ Bulletin of the Department of Anthropology{{#if:Anthropology|, Anthropology}. Department of Anthropology, Gauhati University.(1973)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Iconic Loktak Lake In Manipur Will Now Be Protected. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ↑ Gods, Giants and the Geography of India{{#if:Ramachandran|, Ramachandran}. Hachette India(2021-09-03). ISBN 978-93-91028-27-5
- ↑ The world's only floating national park, McKechnie, Ben. www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ↑ {{{title}}}. hueiyenlanpao.com.
- ↑ A Bend in the Road. Notion Press(7 November 2022).
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Manipur's Loktak lake chokes from a catastrophic project flagged off 50 years ago. The Hindu(2020-02-08). Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ↑ First Sun Stories: Unusual Folk Tales from the North East{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Katha(2005). ISBN 978-81-89020-33-0
- ↑ Short Essays on Women and Society: Manipuri Women through the Century{{#if:Devi|, Devi}(2018-05-25)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Agriculture and a Changing Environment in Northeastern India{{#if:Krishna|, Krishna}. Taylor & Francis(2020-11-29). ISBN 978-1-000-08443-6
- ↑ Encyclopaedia of North-East India{{#if:Bareh|, Bareh}. Mittal Publications(2001). ISBN 978-81-7099-790-0
- ↑ Agriculture and a Changing Environment in Northeastern India{{#if:Krishna|, Krishna}. Taylor & Francis(2020-11-29). ISBN 978-1-000-08443-6
- ↑ A Bend in the Road: Stories Inspired by a Road Trip{{#if:Kulkarni|, Kulkarni}. Notion Press(2022-11-07)
- ↑ {{{title}}}. hueiyenlanpao.com.
- ↑ ফেষ্টিবেল ওফ লিটরেচর, ডান্স এন্দ ম্যুজিক থৌরমদা থাঙ্গা কারাং পাঙলুবা. hueiyenlanpao.com.
- ↑ Tracing the State through two indie films Loktak Lairembee and Soni Part 1 by Rajkumar Panthoiren. e-pao.net.
- ↑ Weekend treat: a northeast film festival in the capital(18 August 2017).