Phouleima

Phouleima
Goddess of agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, harvesting, paddy, rice and wealth
Member of Celestial maidens
Other names	Phouleima, Phoureima, Phouoipi, Phouoibi
Affiliation	Lairembi, Sanamahism (Meitei religion)
Abodes	Farms and Fields
Symbol	paddy
Texts	Phouoibi Warol
Gender	Female
Ethnic group	Meitei ethnicity
Festivals	Lai Haraoba
Personal information
Parents	Atingkok (father)
Siblings	Thumleima, Ngaleima and Ireima
Consort	Phou Ningthou
Equivalents
Greek equivalent	Demeter
Roman equivalent	Ceres
Hinduism equivalent	Annapurna

Phouleima (Old Manipuri: ꯐꯧꯂꯩꯃ) also known as Phouoibi (Meitei: ꯐꯧꯑꯣꯏꯕꯤ), is the goddess and the female personification of the agriculture, crops, grains, paddy, rice and wealth in Meitei mythology and religion. She is the lover of Akongjamba, a hero in ancient legend. But fate doesn't permit the lovers to unite. So, Phouoibi and Akongjamba reincarnated in the legend.

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.

Texts

Phouoibi Waron, an ancient treatise, mentioned goddess Phouoibi as a fickle lady, who has love affairs with multiple partners, whom she always departed.

In popular culture

• "Phouoibi, the rice goddess", a bailad opera, was performed by the Laihui Ensemble in 2009, based on the mythical saga of the goddess.
• "Phouoibi Shayon", a 2017 mythology based Manipuri language feature movie was released, based on the story of goddess Phouoibi.

Related pages

• Haoreima