Panthoibi

This article contains the Meitei alphabet. Without proper rendering support, you may see errors in display.

Panthoibi ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ
Goddess of Power, Wind, Peace, Love, War, Courage, Infinity, Longevity, Oracles, Life, Animals, Pride, Health and Wealth
Member of Umang Lai and Meitei deities
Goddess Panthobi
Other names	Ayang Leima (ꯑꯌꯥꯡꯂꯩꯃ) Phouoibi Nongthang Leima Leimarel Sidabi Irai Leima Emoinu
Affiliation	Umang Lai, Sanamahism and Meitei mythology
Abode	Nongmaiching Hill (ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯏꯖꯤꯡ ꯆꯤꯡ)
Mantra	Ha Ima Panthoibi! Khurumjariye! Thoujaalbiyo! ꯍꯥ ꯏꯃꯥ ꯑꯌꯥꯡꯂꯩꯃ ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ! ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤꯌꯦ! ꯊꯧꯖꯥꯜꯕꯤꯌꯣ!
Weapon	Spear(ꯇꯥ), Sword (ꯊꯥꯡ) and Snake (ꯇꯥꯡꯖ ꯂꯤꯜ).
Symbol	tiger, white horse
Mount	Tiger (ꯇꯝꯕ ꯀꯩꯔꯦꯜ) (ꯋꯥꯉꯝ ꯀꯩꯔꯦꯜ) or White horse
Texts	Panthoibi Khongul (ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯈꯣꯡꯒꯨꯜ),[1] Panthoibi Mingkheilol (ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯃꯤꯡꯈꯩꯂꯣꯜ), Panthoibi Naheirol (ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯅꯥꯍꯩꯔꯣꯜ)
Gender	female
Festivals	Panthoibi Iratpa (ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯏꯔꯥꯠꯄ), Lai Haraoba (ꯂꯥꯢ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕ)
Consort	Lainingthou Nongpok Ningthou (ꯅꯣꯡꯄꯣꯛ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ)
Hinduism equivalent	Durga[2]

Part of a series on
Sanamahism
Category
Primordial deities
Atingkok Leimalel Sanamahi Pakhangpa Koupalu Malching Thangching Wangpulel
Saiyon Langgon
Lan Leima Phouleima
Religious texts
Sanamahi Laihui Panthoipi Khongkul Leisemlon
Religious Symbolism
Holy language Ancient Meitei language Sacred plants U Ningthou Tailen Langthalei
Ancient Sites in Manipur
Kangla Keke Moilang Khuman Leipaak
List of figures in Kanglei mythology
Laiyam Nongshapa Nongthang Leima
Religious roles
Maipa Maipi
Religious buildings & institutions
Thangching Laishang Hiyangthang Lailempi Laipham
Religious festivals
Cheilaopa Emoinu Elaatpa Lai Halaopa Mela Chaolel Houpa Mela Hou Chongpa Panthoipi Elatpa Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingpa
Lai Halaopa and its holy dances
Maipi thoukal Keke Moilang Khampa Thoipi Chatkoi
Sanamahism & other religions
Animism Paganism Shamanism Polytheistic religions
Related topics
Puya Mei Thapa
v t

"Panthoibi" (Meitei: ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ) is the Goddess of power, war, combat, courage, peace, romance and prosperity in Sanamahism (Meitei religion) as well as in Meitei mythology.^[3] She is considered to be one of the divine incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi. She is also identified as a form of Goddess Nongthang Leima.^[4] She is worshipped in a form of female deity riding on a Tiger in her pantheon. She is worshipped mainly by the Meitei people in Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Bangladesh and Myanmar.^[2]

Ancient texts-ꯄꯨꯌꯥ[]

In ancient Meitei religion, Goddess Panthoibi is given one hundred and fifteen divine names, describing her varying attributes. Her description is mentioned in several ancient texts including Panthoibi Khongul as well as Panthoibi Mingkheilol.

Panthoibi Khongul[]

Here's a description from the Panthoibi Khongul, an ancient text:-

“O Tampha, your measure reaches the sky; an everlasting radiance marks your presence; you are the source of all living beings… both birth and death are your handiwork, you are the repository of all wealth; you can unravel the mystery of human souls and keep both the earth and the heaven jointly linked; you give shelter to the souls of living beings, keep them as beads are strung together; you are the highest of all goddesses and the most munificent in bestowing blessings… both the striped tiger and the white horse are your chargers; you can gallop on tall grass tops without even leaving a trace… you are born of the noblest royal family, are unmindful of your brothers and parents as disposed to doing only what pleases you… you are the very embodiment of beauty but still indulge in constant baths at every fount and embellish your tender body, use all the fruits of the Langmāi Hills as unguents, always neatly comb your tresses of hair, skitter lightly with your drapery loosely hung on your full blossomed body; your teeth are like pearls, your lips are as red as the wild tayāl in the bamboo grove; your fingers are soft as those of a neonate; your name is Panthoipi as no parents or brothers can exercise control over you; you appropriated the name by yourself ere anyone confers it on you; you have an unfettered soul, nowhere can you keep yourself confined, you have as many appearances as you please to change your abode… you lord over the vast empty vault, took your birth with the flash of lightning… you are the receptacle of all knowledge… no opponent can confront you in the stricken field, you shine more than the glories of all divine beings put together… you emerged with the flash of summer lightning before dewdrops got condensed in the sky, before sound itself could be audible and before the azure welkin could yet cover its vast expanse… you are effulgent in the open sky like one thousand suns… all the divine beings emanate from you… the wide universe is your creation… you take fancy more to lively frolics that engaging your intelligence… you pervade all the directions…”

- Panthoibi Khongul.^[5][6]

Panthoibi Mingkheilol[]

The following is a quotation from the ancient text Panthoibi Mingkheilol:

He Tamba Mapaal Unaidabi, Narraa Phangna Leechatpee꯫
Tarang Leehoubee, Leichang Lemphoo Oireebee꯫
Huiyen Laangee Laaleima, Laalgee Laanyaam Laalkubi꯫
....
Parei Waashak Chetpee, Sheelam Khangna Seenshoobee꯫
Koochoo Phambaal Phambee, Yaathang Waachoom Shoobee꯫
Khambee Meirel Tomshaatpee, He Ima! Leimarel Panthoibi Khoimom Sana Khuyarel Thambaal Leingaang Leishoombaboo Taangja Loodaa Thong Nadairem.... Na Punemjareeye꯫

Festivals[]

Statue of Panthoibi during Panthoibi Iratpa festival celebrated at Hojai Natun Bazar, Assam

• Panthoibi Iratpa, a sacred festival for the goddess falls on the same day of Hindu festival Durga Puja, for Hindu goddess Durga. So, it is celebrated together in Manipur. The largest celebration takes place at the Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple.^[7]
• Lai Haraoba is also a religious festival celebrated for several Umang Lai affiliated gods and goddesses including goddess Panthoibi.

Parallelism[]

Meitei Goddess Panthoibi is compared to Hindu Goddess Durga and her incarnations for riding on the tiger and having the attributes of courage and fearlessness. The two goddesses are worshipped as the goddess of same attributes right from the reign of emperor Garib Niwaj during the arrival of Hinduism in the kingdom of Manipur.^[8]

References[]