Meitei Culture/Mythology/Goddesses/Imoinu

Imoinu (Emoinu) — Divine Lady of domestic hearth, family, fireplace, home, household, kitchen, wealth

Goddess Imoinu, also known as Emoinu, is a divine motherly personification of the sacred kitchen hearth fire (called "Phunga Lairu" in Classical Meitei language) of ancient Meitei households. She is also the goddess of wealth and prosperity. She is often depicted as either an old woman (grandmotherly figure) or a young or elderly but matured woman (motherly figure) sitting by an indoor fireplace warming herself. Chengphu, the traditional Meitei pot for storing rice, is a symbolic representation of goddess Imoinu. Senphu, a traditional Meitei idol shaped container for storing coins (or any money), is also an iconography of her. She is associated with cleanliness and hygiene. Ancient Meitei people believed that no matter how much one was devoted to her, if the person and his/her house's environment was not clean, goddess Imoinu never set her feet on that place. On the holy day of Imoinu Iratpa (also known as Emoinu Eratpa) ritualistic festival, Meitei people worship her with a greater pomp, than the daily worshipping ceremony. She is often offered different varieties of fish, rice and vegetables. She is often compared to ancient Greek goddess Hestia and ancient Roman goddess Vesta.