Kounu

Kounu
Weather Goddess and Guardian Goddess of North
Member of Maikei Ngaakpa Lais
Major cult centerMount Kounu and Mount Koubru
AbodesMount Kounu and Mount Koubru
GenderFemale
RegionManipur
Ethnic groupMeitei ethnicity
FestivalsLai Haraoba
Genealogy
ConsortKoupalu
ChildrenLoyalakpa, Thoudu Nungthel Leima

Kounu is a goddess in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. She is a consort of the god Koupalu.[1][2] She is the guardian of the northern direction.[2]: 46  Kounu has two homes. Her main home is on Mount Kounu. Her other home is in Mount Koubru, which is where her husband Koupalu (Koubru) lives.[1] She is worshipped with Koubru as the deities of the Khullakpa (village chief).[3] Kounu and Koubru ruled ancient Manipur for a very long time after the reign of King Ningthou Puthiba.[4]

She dwells in the snows of the far north and she is also known as Kongthem.[5]

  1. ^ a b Ibemhal, Thounaojam Chanu (2000). Haoreima Shambubi (in Manipuri). p. 222.
  2. ^ a b Neelabi, sairem (2006). Laiyingthou Lairemmasinggee Waree Seengbul (in Manipuri). p. 42.
  3. ^ Devi, Lairenlakpam Bino (2002). The Lois of Manipur: Andro, Khurkhul, Phayeng and Sekmai. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-849-5.
  4. ^ Tensuba, Keerti Chand (1993). Genesis of Indian Tribes: An Approach to the History of Meiteis and Thais. Inter-India Publications. ISBN 978-81-210-0308-7.
  5. ^ Parratt, Saroj Nalini (July 20, 1997). The Pleasing of the Gods: Meitei Lai Haraoba. Vikas Publishing House. ISBN 9788125904168 – via Google Books.