A Hymn for Goddess Emoinu

Nabakumar Salam *

Emoinu Irat thouram - An offering to Ima Emoinu :: Pix - Jinendra Maibam

Ima Emoinu is worshipped as the Goddess of wealth and prosperity by the meitei people. Every year, the 12th day (or cheichat) of Wakching is believed to be a very auspicious day to worship the goddess of wealth to bring peace, prosperity and well being of the whole family.

An excerpt from the hymns depicting goddess Emoinu goes like this :

Emoinu Lairelbigi Tengtharol

Hayahe Lahannong Korou Longlon taret
Malem Leirol taret houngeida
Amam Leishinarapi Atinga Shidabagi pukning
amamba anganba awangbadagi matam ahum machu ahumdagi louduna
shidabagi Ee tangkhai oithangba shakhaidagi shakhiye haibagi Emoinu kouye .
Atinga ahangbada hongna chaona thoklakle haibagi Ahong Achoubi kouye.
Hayi-ngei taibang yumthong laipham arubada leirure.
Mangangda yahoure ,
Luwangda yahipnare,
khumanda chaktanare;
Iyakham,Inukham,
Leimaloisang karong phabi kouye.

He Ima leishirel leipunbi ,
Leimarel shawon oiribi .
Achi tat-tabi Athong kangdabi;
Emoinu Ahong Achaobi.
Tara chakning khakna chakshoubi,
Wanglei yenning khakna yenshoubi.
Wayel wangam thourangbi ,
Huyel lancheng Shaphabi.
Ingi khutchingli oiribi,
Pegi chahum oiribi .
Heepokpi ,Yaipokpi Heeleima,
Yaileima ,Heekubi Yaikubi
Yaishna kouna mingkheibi;
Leima taret shawonbi.
Naktha leima paotoibi ,
Phurep leima luchaobi.
Phurep changjou oiribi,
Phuron wanlon-nungda yatabi.
Ayuk chara nongdambi.
Numidang chara nongkhaibi .
Taibang naoyok naokonbio!
He Ima haosham tongdamnabi,
Emoinu ahong achaobio!
Areinu leishinbirak-o ,ahumnu humjinbirak-o!
Kangla chira marimaktagi ,
Malem maikei nipalmaktagi.
Ingi khurji ching-bagum chingshinbiyu,
Pegi chahum shup-pagum shupchinbiyu.
Achi tatpiganu akhong kangbiganu.
Tara chakning khakna chakshoubiyu,
Wanglei yen-ning khakna yenshoubiyu.
He Ima! Nganglou thambal manba ,
Khoimom shana nakhongkhada,
Taibang nongshapangi nadairem wakmana,
Manbi khutapnana mukmu leiton kon
Kaobi chira luk malem thourei leika paina.
Changjou leipaknana khoimom nakhongkhada,
Chepna non-na purumjari.
Hung pokpi hung pokpi tu
Takup takup haoku haokup
Leihipun tarengching heeng koubi;
Thup thup koubi layolang tanoubi koubi Ima!
Lengshinbiyu , nanaina katchabashi loubiyu,

Lengdana leibiyu Ima!