Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

Heibok Ningthou was once a remarkable Clan King who was an expert in witchcraft and black magic. He had a beautiful daughter called Irai Leima who was exceptionally beautiful. Stricken by the beauty of Irai Leima, the Khuman King Kokpa approached her for marriage. She replied that she would obey her parent's wishes. So he approached Heibok King who didn't agree. Khuman Kokpa followed Lari Leima who fled towards Pakhra Ching. Heibok Ningthou saw Khuman Kokpa pursuing his daughter and cursed him to turn into a stone. Irai saw all these happenings and ran away and entered the house of Sarangthem Luwangba. When Sarangthem Luwangba went out for working in the paddy field along with his wife Thoidingjam Chanu Amurei, Lari would come out and do all the household chores of the Sarangthem family. When Sarangthem returned home he was surprised. One day, he returned home early and saw one beautiful maiden doing the household chores and when he came nearer, she had disappeared below the granary. When he went there he found nothing. Later Irai Leima appeared in his dream and told him "Oh father, from today onwards, Iam merged to your clan. Iam your daughter and immediately she disappeared". He reported the same to King Seni Kyaamaba who in turn sent Maibas and Maibis to see the spot. After examining the spot, they reported that Sarangthem had seen goddess and appropriate arrangement and rituals should be performed to worship her".

King Kyaamba asked Luwangba to worship the goddess as his clan deity and every year all his clan members should present vegetables, fruits and arrange a grand feast in honour of the deity. The day on which Sarangthem Luwnagba saw Irai Leima entering under the granary was the first Monday of Lamda and the day on which the Maibas and Maibis came, was the first Tuesday of Lamda. Even today since the time of King Kyaaba, the Sarangthen Salais hold Chaklong Katpa (grand feast) every year in the honour of the goddess who is known as Hiyanthang Lairembi.