Khunu Leima
Goddess of pigeons and doves
Member of Lairembis
Depiction of Khunu Leima
Other names	Khunuleima Khunureima
Affiliation	Meitei mythology ( Manipuri mythology) and Meitei religion ( Sanamahism)
Animals	pigeons and doves
Symbols	pigeons and doves
Gender	Female
Region	Manipur, Northeast India
Ethnic group	Meitei ethnicity
Festivals	Lai Haraoba
Personal information
Parents	Salailen (Soraren)
Siblings	Nganu Leima and Shapi Leima

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Khunu Leima (/khoo-noo lei-ma) or Khunureima (/khoo-noo-rei-ma) is the goddess of pigeons and doves in Meitei mythology and religion. She is a sister of goddesses Nganu Leima and Shapi Leima. Legend says that all three sisters married the same mortal man. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Etymology

The Meitei female given name "Khunu Leima" (ꯈꯨꯅꯨ ꯂꯩꯃ) is made up of two component words, "Khunu" (ꯈꯨꯅꯨ) and "Leima" (ꯂꯩꯃ). In Meitei, "Khunu" (ꯈꯨꯅꯨ) means pigeon. ^[6] The word "Leima" (ꯂꯩꯃ) is further made up of two component words, "Lei" (ꯂꯩ) and "Ma" (ꯃ). "Lei" (ꯂꯩ) means land or earth. "Ma" (ꯃ) means "mother". Literally, "Leima" (ꯂꯩꯃ) can be translated as "Land Mother" or "Mother Earth". But in general context, "Leima" (ꯂꯩꯃ) means a queen or a mistress or a lady. ^[7]

Description

Khunu Leima is described as the ruler of all pigeons. At any time, she could summon all pigeons to any place she wishes. She is one of the daughters of the sky god Salailen (Soraren). ^{[2] [8]}

See also

• Ngaleima, Meitei goddess of fish

References

Bibliography

• Glimpses of Manipuri Culture - Dr. Yumlembam Gopi Devi
• The History of Manipur: An early period - Wahengbam Ibohal Singh · 1986

External links

Look up Khunu Leima in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• "The Widow's Son :: Lukhrabi Macha Fungawari Singbul by B. Jayantakumar Sharma". e-pao.net.