Meitei Culture/Mythology/Goddesses/Leimalen



Goddess Leimalen, also known as Leimalel, Leimaren, Leimarel, is the supreme goddess or the divine empress of the entire universe. She is entitled as Sitapi (or Sidabi), meaning she is immortal. She, herself, is the mother earth for which she is called Malem Leima. She is the first and the foremost female ever created during the genesis. She is the wife of Emperor Salailen, the Heavenly Father. She is the mother of Sanamahi (symbolic son) and Pakhangba (biological son). She is symbolically represented in the form of an earthen pot ("Isaiphu" in Classical Meitei language). Inside Meitei households, she is generally worshipped in the form of Isaiphu. All the female beings are considered to be the different manifestations of Leimalen. All the living beings are considered to be her children. Almost most of the ancient Meitei goddesses are associated with her identity, cult and pantheon. Among them, Imoinu and Panthoibi are the most frequently mentioned in relation to her in ancient Meitei textual and oral traditions.