Goddess Yumjao Leima appears in a human form in white clothes to come to bless her son, the King of the kingdom.[6] 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.[5]
Relationship with the Queen Mother
According to beliefs, Goddess Yumjao Leima is the divine representation of the Queen Mother (Royal Mother) of the kingdom. All the powerful queen mothers were integrated into goddess Yumjao Leima after their death. Goddess Yumjao Leima herself was the all-time ruling Queen Mother. The most powerful person in a kingdom was always the Queen Mother - representation of Goddess Yumjao Leima. In ancient Kangleipak, cut off heads of the enemies from the war were offered to the goddess. The Meitei kings ruled the kingdom in the name of their Queen Mothers. Battles and wars were conducted in the name of the Queen Mothers.[3][5] One example is that of an event recorded in the Cheitharol Kumbaba:
In 1707 CE, ... 5th Sunday of Hiyangei month, they went to raid Nungkhan in the name of the King's Royal Mother.[5]
Worship
Goddess Yumjao Leima is prayed for the longevity of life of the King. The final rites and rituals dedicated to Her are generally performed by the maibas.[1]
Goddess Yumjao Lairemma (Old Manipuri: Yumchao Lailemma) is mainly worshipped by the Thaopicham family of Meitei ethnicity.[15]
According to Meitei culture, the "Nongmai" class is in the middle position of the society of the maibis (priestesses). They used to take care of the cult of goddess Yumjao Lairembi.[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]
Ima Ibemma Yumjao Lairembi Shanglen
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]
"Yumjao Lairembi Temple" is in Meino Leirak, Sagolband, Imphal, Manipur.
"Thaoroijam Yumjao Lairembi Temple" is in Thaoroijam Mamang Leikai, Nambol, Manipur.
Namesakes
Yumjao Lairembi Dramatic and Cultural Union
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]
Myths portal
