| Type: | Meitei |
| Yumjao Leima | |
| Deity Of: | All time reigning queen mother Goddess of house, household, royalty, rule and power |
| Member Of: | Lairembis |
| Other Names: |
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| Affiliation: | Meitei mythology (Manipuri mythology) and Meitei religion (Sanamahism) |
| Cult Center: | Kangla and Sana Konung |
| Abodes: | houses |
| World: | --> |
| Weapons: | --> |
| Artefacts: | --> |
| Symbols: | --> |
| Colour: | --> |
| Consorts: | --> |
| Children: | All the Meitei Kings (in spiritual sense) |
| Texts: | Puyas |
| Gender: | Female |
| Equivalent1 Type: | Chinese |
| Equivalent1: | Queen Mother of the West |
| Region: | Manipur |
| Ethnic Group: | Meitei ethnicity |
| Festivals: | Lai Haraoba |
Yumjao Leima (Yumchao Leima) or Yumjao Lairembi (Yumchao Lailempi) or Yumjao Lairemma (Yumchao Lailemma) is the mother goddess of house, household, royalty, rule and power in Meitei mythology and religion.[1] [2] [3] [4] She is designated as the all time ruling Queen Mother.[5] Legend says she assumes a human form in white clothes and blesses kings.[6] She is one of the divine incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi.[7]
In Meitei language (Manipuri language), "Yumjao" (Yumchao) means "large house" or "big house".[8] [9] [10] "Yumjao" (Yumchao) or "Yimjao" (Yimchao) may also refer to "Royal House". In Meitei language (Manipuri language), "Leima" means "Queen".[11] In Meitei language (Manipuri language), "Lairembi" (Lailempi) means "goddess".[12] The Meitei language (Manipuri language) word "Lairemma" (Lailemma) is also another term for "goddess".[13]
Meitei King Naothingkhong (c. 7th century) of Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur) built a temple dedicated to goddess Yumjao Lairembi (Yumchao Lailempi).[14]
Goddess Yumjao Leima appears in a human form in white clothes to come to bless her son, the King of the kingdom. Even during the death of a king, she came to the place in the form of a mortal being. She controls the life and the death of the kings. She is the chief of the household and the guidance of the kings.
Yumjao Leima is the divine representation of the Queen Mother of Kangleipak. All former queen mothers are integrated into the goddess. The Meitei kings ruled the in the names of their Queen Mothers. Battles and wars were conducted in the name of the Queen Mothers. In former times of war, the severed heads of enemies were offered to the goddess.
Worshippers pray to Yumjao Leima for the longevity of the King. Her rites and rituals are performed by the Nongmai or middle-ranking class of maibis (priestesses) who lead her cult.[15] Yumjao Lairemma is mainly worshipped by the Thaopicham clan.[16]
The "Temple of Yumjao Lairembi" inside the Kangla is at the left side of the Temple of Pakhangba. Structurally, both the temples are of the same architectural styles. The southern wall of the temple is well decorated. The remaining three walls of the temple are of little decorations. A door with the lancite arch is in the southern wall of the temple. Two false doors surround the two sides of the one real door. All the doors (real and false) are framed with pilasters. The ground plan of the temple is in square shape. Its area covered is 2.43 square meters.[17]
In October 2011, a temple named "Ima Ibemma Yumjao Lairembi Shanglen" was built in honor of goddess Yumjao Lairembi in Thangmeiband town in Imphal.[18]
The "Yumjao Lairembi Dramatic and Cultural Union" is a nonprofit dramatic union. It was established in Khagempali Huidrom Leikai, Imphal in the year 2011.[20] [21] [22]