Religion:Macha Ibemma Khudithibi
| Macha Ibemma Khudithibi | |
|---|---|
| Member of Umang Lai deities | |
| Other names | Macha Ebemma Khudithibi |
| Meitei | ꯃꯆꯥ ꯏꯕꯦꯝꯃꯥ ꯈꯨꯗꯤꯊꯤꯕꯤ |
| Affiliation | Traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism) |
| Major cult center | Khudithibi, Ningthoukhong |
| Abode | Khudithibi, Ningthoukhong |
| Adherents | Meitei people and Rongmei people (Kabuis) |
| Gender | female |
| Region | Ningthoukhong |
| Ethnic group | Meitei people and Rongmei people (Kabui people) |
| Festivals | Lai Haraoba and Hiyang Tannaba |
| Parents | Oknarel and Khunbuleima (Khuningthou Tompokhanbi) |
Macha Ibemma Khudithibi (ꯃꯆꯥ ꯏꯕꯦꯝꯃ ꯈꯨꯗꯤꯊꯤꯕꯤ), also known as Macha Ebemma Khudithibi (MEK),[1][2] is a goddess in Meitei mythology and traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism) of ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). She is a daughter of Oknarel[lower-alpha 1] and Khunbuleima (Khuningthou Tompokhanbi).[lower-alpha 2] Through her maternal ties, she is a granddaughter of the Khullakpa (Headman) of Sadu village.[3][4][5]
She is traditionally venerated in the region surrounding Ningthoukhong in present-day Manipur, India.[3][4][5]
Mythology
According to Meitei mythology and folklore, Macha Ibemma Khudithibi (ꯃꯆꯥ ꯏꯕꯦꯝꯃ ꯈꯨꯗꯤꯊꯤꯕꯤ) was journeying with her divine parents, Iputhou Oknarel and Ibendhou, in search of dry land suitable for settlement. During their passage through the Ningthoukhong region, the goddess sustained a severe injury to her big toe after stumbling on a hard stone. The wound bled profusely, rendering her unable to continue the journey.[3][4][5]
Her mother, Ibendhou, expressed profound grief at their daughter's condition and implored Iputhou Oknarel to intervene. Using spiritual powers and medicinal herbs, Oknarel was able to stop the bleeding and relieve the pain, though Khudithibi could not be moved from the location. This site of healing came to be known as Napithabi (ꯅꯥꯄꯤꯊꯥꯕꯤ).[3][4][5]
Efforts to relocate the goddess failed, and it was ultimately accepted that she would remain at the site permanently. The surrounding hillock was named Khudithibi (ꯈꯨꯗꯤꯊꯤꯕꯤ), derived from the event, and later prefixed with the deity’s name, becoming Macha Ibemma Khudithibi. Since then, villagers from the Meitei and Rongmei communities have continued to make offerings of leaves, flowers, and grasses at the foot of a prominent oak tree (ꯎꯌꯨꯡ ꯄꯥꯝꯕꯤ) in her honor.[3][4][5]
Another account
According to another legend, when Oknarel arrived in Ningthoukhong with his family, Macha Ibemma Khudithibi accidentally struck a stone with her foot, fell onto the road, and died. The location of her death has since been maintained with natural vegetation, including trees, flowers, and sacred groves. Tombs and places of worship have been established at the site by the local community. The area reflects elements of Manipur's historical and cultural heritage.[1][2]
Cultural significance
The location and associated myth form an important part of local religious practice. The separation of Macha Ibemma Khudithibi from her parents is marked by ritual lamentations, particularly those attributed to Ibendhou. The narrative highlights themes of maternal devotion, divine destiny, and ritual remembrance.[3][4][5]
Her father, Ibudhou Oknarel, is said to have promised annual visits to his daughter. He vowed that no significant occasion, particularly religious festivals, would occur without including her. These visits take place at Kabokthel (ꯀꯕꯣꯛꯊꯦꯜ), a sacred meadow en route to Khudithibi from Ningthoukhong.[3][4][5]
The ritual visitation, known as Lai-Chingkaba (ꯂꯥꯏ ꯆꯤꯡꯀꯥꯕ), is conducted annually prior to major Meitei festivals such as Lai Haraoba (ꯂꯥꯏ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕ) and Hiyang Tannaba (ꯍꯤꯌꯥꯡ ꯇꯥꯟꯅꯕ). The event involves ceremonial processions with offerings, led by priests (Amaiba) and priestesses (Amaibi), with the deities symbolically carried on a palanquin.[3][4][5]
After leaving his daughter at Khudithibi, Ibudhou Oknarel is believed to have resettled in the Ningthoukhong region alongside his consort, Ibendhou Khunbungambi, near the local brooks.[3][4][5]
Worship and legacy
Macha Ibemma Khudithibi continues to be a subject of local devotion, and her legend is preserved in ritual practice and oral tradition. The site remains culturally significant to communities in and around Ningthoukhong, serving as a locus for annual observances and offerings linked to Meitei cosmology and ancestral worship.[3][4][5]
MEK area
In 2015, the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO)/Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Bishnupur, Manipur issued an eviction notice concerning the Macha Ebemma Khudithibi (MEK) area. The notice raised concerns among local inhabitants, particularly the Meetei and Kabui communities, regarding the potential displacement and loss of ancestral land. The proposed development project involves the establishment of a Technology Centre for Fragrance and Flavor by the Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Manipur.[1][2]
The MEK area is located approximately 33 kilometers south of Imphal and 3 kilometers west of Ningthoukhong Municipal Town, situated along National Highway 150. Geographically, it lies at the foothills of the Laimaton and Thangching hill ranges, which were historically significant during World War II due to battles between British and Japanese forces.[1][2]
The region is situated about 4 kilometers from Loktak Lake and is separated from it by extensive agricultural land. Covering an area of around 60 hectares, MEK is surrounded by cultivated paddy fields, agroforestry plots, and native vegetation. Notable tree species in the area include Phoebe hainesiana (Uningthou), Quercus serrata (Uyung), Schima wallichii (Usoi), Tectona grandis (Teak), Magnolia champaca (Leihao), Gmelina arborea (Wang), and Cycas pectinata (Yendang). Some of these trees are estimated to be over a century old, and the area also contains various medicinal plant species.[1][2]
The MEK area has been inhabited by diverse ethnic groups, including Meeteis and tribal communities, who have coexisted in the region for generations.[1][2]
Religious body
The Macha Ibemma Trust, Khudithibi, Ningthoukhong (ꯃꯆꯥ ꯏꯕꯦꯝꯃ ꯇ꯭ꯔꯁ꯭ꯠ, ꯈꯨꯗꯤꯊꯤꯕꯤ, ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯈꯣꯡ/মচা ইবেম্মা ত্রষ্ট, খুদিথিবী, নিংথৌখোং), is a religious organization. It focuses on preserving, protecting, and promoting the holy and sacred places and activities related to the goddess Macha Ibemma Khudithibi. The trust was founded in September 2018.[5]
See also
- Lai Haraoba in Myanmar
- Lai Haraoba in Bangladesh
- Lai Haraoba in Tripura
- Meitei princess
- Meitei royal etiquette
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Preserving Macha Ebemma Khudithibi Area Ningthoukhong By Khwairakpam Gajananda". https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Science_and_Technology.Preserving_Macha_Ebemma_Khudithibi_Area_Ningthoukhong_By_Khwairakpam_Gajananda.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Gajananda, Dr Khwairakpam (2015-09-24). "To preserve or evict “the Macha Ebemma Khudithibi Area” Ningthoukhong – KanglaOnline" (in en-US). https://kanglaonline.in/2015/09/to-preserve-or-evict-the-macha-ebemma-khudithibi-area-ningthoukhong/?amp.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 "Ibudhou Oknarel and Macha Ibemma Khudithibi of Ningthoukhong By R K Birjit". https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Manipur_and_Religion.Ibudhou_Oknarel_and_Macha_Ibemma_Khudithibi_of_Ningthoukhong_By_R_K_Birjit.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 "Ibudhou Oknarel and Macha Ibemma Khudithibi of Ningthoukhong" (in en). https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2019/5/6/RK-Birjit-SinghThe-sound-of-the-drums-of-IputhouOknarelHaraoba-ricochets-since-time-immemorial-re-creating-the-creation-myth-of-the-earth-as-believed-by-the-Meitei-depicting-the-different-aspect.html.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 "মচা ইবেম্মা ত্রষ্ট শেমখে" (in mni). https://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/17.09.2018-B4.pdf. "লাইনীং লাইশোন, কাঙল্প-ফুরুপ খায়দনা মীয়ামগী ওইবা তোঙান তোঙানবা থবক থৌরম কয়ামরুম তৌনবগীদমক লমদম অসিবু নুংশিজবা মীওই খরনা মচা ইবেম্মা ত্রষ্ট শেল্পে হায়না মচা ইবেম্মা ত্রষ্ট খুদিথিবী নিংথৌখোংগী জেনরেল সেক্রেটরি অঙোম দেবচন্দ্রনা ফোঙদোকখে। মণিপুর প্রেস ক্লবতা ঙরাং পাউমীশিংগা উনবদা অঙোম দেবচন্দ্রনা মখা তানা হায়খি, ত্রষ্ট অসিগী হেদ ওফিস নিংথৌখোং ৱাৰ্দ নম্বর থ্রিগী খুদিথিবীদা লৈ। ত্রষ্ট অসিগী মমিং অসি মৈহৌরোলদগী হৌনা চীং তম অনীগী মরক্তা চান্ন-চিন্ননা লৈমিন্নরকপদা চাউনা থৌদাং লৌরিবা উমং লাইশিংগী মরক্তা য়াম্ন । মরু ওইরিবা লাইনিংথৌ ওক্ল রেলগী মমোম মচা ইবেম্মগী মমিং লৌরগা থোঞ্জবনি। চহী খুদিংগী লাইনিংথৌ ওক্লরেলগী লাই হরাউবা হৌদ্রিঙৈদা মচা ইবেম্মদা চৎন-হৌনবীগী মতুং ইন্না হরাউবা য়াওনবা কৌবা থৌরম পাঙথোকই। হৌরকঙৈদগী লাইনিংথৌ ওক্লরেল লাইরেম্বী অমসুং মচা ইবেম্মগা লোয়ননা চীংদগী তম লোমদা খুন দাবা কুমথরকপা মতমদা মচা ইবেম্মনা মফমদুমক্তদা খুদি থিখি অমদি মফম অদুদা মচা ইবেম্মনা খুনদাদুনা লৈহৌরগে হায়না উয়ুং পান্বী অমগী মখোংদা লৈহৌখি হায়বা ৱাফম অদুবু থাজনদুনা লাক্লি। মফম অসিদা মশানা হৌজরকপা উয়ুংগী উমং লৈরি অমসুং মফম অসিদা লৈরিবা হৌরকঙৈদগী লৈজরক্লবা মখল কয়াগী পাম্বীশিং অমসুং মহৌশাগী ওইবা ফীভম্বু য়োকখনব-গীদমক সেক্রেদ গ্রুভ ওইহন্নবগীদমক্তা ত্রষ্ট অমা শেম্বগী পান্দমদি অকোয়বর্গী ফীভম য়োকখৎপা, লাইশঙ শাবা অসিনচিংবা নওনা খুন্নাইগী থবক থৌরম পায়খৎপা অসিনি হায়না মখা তানা ফোঙদোকখি।"
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