Phouoibi

Phouoibi or Phouleima is the goddess and the female personification of the agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, harvest, paddy, rice and wealth in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur).

[11] The characters of Phouoibi and other goddesses, including Panthoibi and Emoinu, depict, as well as influence, the boldness, courage, independence, righteousness and social honour of Meitei women.

[12] The Meitei people believe that the gleaming black stone is a personification of the goddess, which if kept inside the earthenware pot of the granary, will bring good luck and prosperity, as long as it shines.

[13][14] Phouoibi or Phouleima literally means Lady of the Paddy in Meitei (Manipuri).

[4][7] According to Meitei culture, the anger of Phouoibi was provoked with the neglect of paddy or rice.

[17][18] Once Phouoibi (Fouoibi) set out for a journey along with her sisters (friends in another version), Ngaleima and Thumleima.

Akongjamba's mother was about to hit Phouoibi (disguised as a tribal woman) with a swiping broom.

She shook an enormous heap of golden grain off her body in the middle of the front yard of the house.

[20] In another version of the story, Phouoibi stayed a night at the yenakha (left or right side of the house).

[5] Later, Akongjamba returned home and found the pile of golden grain as high as a hill in front of the courtyard.

She thanked the little creature and granted it a boon that it will shine like a mirror in the gleaming water.

She wished that the ballad singers will always praise the fish for its silvery beauty whenever they retold her story.

She cursed the deer and all its species that if they tried to eat her creation, paddy, then all their teeth will be fallen.

[25][26] Goddess Phouoibi is offered fruits and vegetables in the four corners of a specially prepared place.

[11] The goddess is invoked by the maibas with the sacrifice of black hen and the offering of rice beer.

[27] Rice and flowers on the banana leaves are thrown up on the harvest field by the farmers.

[28] Phoukourol (Phoukouron or Phougourol or Phougouron) is a hymn for summoning the spirit of the paddy.

Farmers prayed to the two deities for a doubling of the previous year's yield, after the harvest.

[18] The Phou Kouba (calling the paddy/rice) ceremony is more frequently performed in case of mis-happenings to the farmers.

[28] In such cases, Sareng fish (Wallago attu, helicopter catfish) with rice is the most important offering to goddess Phouoibi.

[28] The Sharotkhaibam (Sorokhaibam) family members used to invoke goddess Phouoibi in ancient times.

[32] She is also regarded as the incarnation of Leimarel Sidabi, the supreme mother earth goddess.

[37] The Loyumba Shinyen mentions that people of a family named Sharotkhaibam used to invoke the goddess of paddies in ancient times.

[49] This 500 years old market is in the center of Imphal, the main city of the State of Manipur.