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Catholicism in India

Christianity has a long history in India, dating back to the arrival of the apostle Thomas in the first century AD. He founded early Christian communities known as "St. Thomas Christians." During the colonial era, European powers such as Portugal and Spain introduced Catholic missionaries to India, including figures such as St. Francis Xavier. India now has a sizable Catholic population, primarily of the Latin Rite, as well as Eastern Catholic Churches such as the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara.

 

Mother Mary is very important in India, especially among Indian Catholics. She is revered as the mother of Jesus and is held in high regard. Many Catholic cathedrals and churches in India have revered Mother Mary, and some have even depicted her in forms that bridge the cultural influences of both Hindu and Christian traditions, emphasizing the Mother Goddess's common worship throughout India.

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Adaikala Matha

The supreme earth goddess and universal mother in the Meitei pantheon. She represents the nurturing force of nature and is regarded as the source of all Lairembis (goddesses). As the embodiment of fertility, compassion, and creation, she is the central figure in both household and agrarian worship.

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Koratty Muthy

A multi-faceted goddess representing love, valor, wisdom, and social transformation. She is central to many tales of warfare, divine love (especially with Nongpok Ningthou), and the evolution of Meitei civilization. Considered both fierce and nurturing, she is celebrated in Panthoibi Iratpa and folk operas.

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Our Lady of Good Health

Goddess who guards the entrance to the underworld. She stands between life and death and ensures proper transition. In some narratives, she is seen as a counterpart to the gatekeeper deity Thongalel.

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Our Lady of Mokameh

Heinu Leima is a goddess associated with grace and dignified womanhood. Though less prominent in major myths, she is revered for her quiet strength and often appears in stories related to divine or royal households.

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Our Lady of Snows

Irai Leima, also known as Ereima, is the goddess of water in Meitei tradition. She is the daughter of Salailen (the sky god) and governs rivers, lakes, and all freshwater sources. Her presence is invoked in rituals for purification, fertility, and balance in nature.

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Vallarpadathamma

Goddess of fishes and aquatic life. A close companion of Phouoibi and Thumleima, she governs rivers, ponds, and the livelihood of fisherfolk. She is honored through offerings of fish and water rituals during seasonal festivals.

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Alangara Matha

A beloved household deity and manifestation of Leimarel Sidabi. She is the goddess of wealth, prosperity, order, and nourishment. Every year, Meitei households celebrate Emoinu Iratpa, offering rice, vegetables, fish, and fruits to honor her presence in the home. 

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Korvi Mata

Goddess of royal households, ancestral authority, and feminine power. She protects family legacies and is worshipped in clan shrines (Yumjao Laibungs). She is associated with matriarchs and guardian spirits of noble lineages.

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Our Lady of Happy Voyage

The underworld goddess who carries souls to Khamnung, the realm of the dead. Rather than evoking fear, she is seen as calm, persuasive, and maternal. She guides spirits away from the earthly plane, often with a gentle demeanor that signifies the Meitei understanding of death as a natural transition.

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Our Lady of Mount Carmel (St. Mary's Basilica Shivajinagar)

Goddess of salt and preservation. She ensures the availability and sanctity of salt wells, which are vital to both survival and ritual purity. Often worshipped along with Ngaleima and Phouoibi.

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Periyanayagi Madha

These three sister goddesses are known for marrying the same mortal man. Khunu Leima is the goddess of pigeons and doves, Nganu Leima is the goddess of ducks and waterfowl, and Shapi Leima is associated with rodents. 

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Dhori Mata

Goddess of intelligence, learning, and sacred texts. She is depicted holding Puyas (ancient Meitei manuscripts) and is invoked by scholars and traditional healers seeking clarity and wisdom.

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Our Lady of Delight

Consort of Salailen (Soraren), the supreme sky god. According to the Konthoujam clan lore, she was once a mortal woman chosen by the god to become his divine queen. She is the mother of Khoriphaba and revered in both folk narratives and clan-based rituals.

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Our Lady of Madhu

Goddess of thunder, lightning, charm, and seduction. Her myth narrates how she was born to contain the power of storms and enchantment. Worship of Nongthang Leima reflects reverence for both natural phenomena and emotional magnetism.

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Our Lady of Mylapore

Goddess of rice, fertility, and the agrarian cycle. She is the symbol of food security and divine nourishment. Her myth often depicts her as a wandering deity who endures hardships to bring rice to the people. She is widely revered in agrarian Meitei society.

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Sardhana Mata

Goddess of fishes and aquatic life. A close companion of Phouoibi and Thumleima, she governs rivers, ponds, and the livelihood of fisherfolk. She is honored through offerings of fish and water rituals during seasonal festivals.

Ārōkkiya Annai

In Velankanni, Tamil Nadu, there is a revered Marian apparition and a significant pilgrimage site for Catholics. The shrine is named after the Virgin Mary, also called "Our Lady of Good Health" and "Our Lady of Vailankanni". In the mid-16th century, the Virgin Mary appeared to a young boy carrying milk to a customer, according to legend. People of various faiths come to the shrine to seek blessings and to express their devotion. 

Our Lady of the Mount

Mumbai, Maharashtra is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, popularly referred to as Mount Mary Church. Known for its yearly Bandra Fair, it is an important site of prayer for the Catholic community in Mumbai. Mother Mary's statue is known locally among Koli fishermen as Mot Maoli, which translates to "Pearl Mother" or "Mother of the Mount." The shrine, which represents a location of intercommunal harmony, draws both Catholics and Hindus.

Milagres Saibin

Milagres Saibin, also known as Our Lady of Miracles, is a venerated figure in Mapusa, Goa. "Saibin" is the feminine form of 'Saib,' which means 'Lord' in Konkani. Some believe she is an embodiment of Meerabai and a guardian figure in Goa's Saptamatrika tradition. 

St. Mary's Basilica

St. Mary's Basilica, located in Shivajinagar, Karnataka, India, is one of Bangalore's oldest churches and the state's first minor basilica. The basilica's most important event is St. Mary's Feast, which commemorates the birth of Mother Mary and draws over 500,000 visitors each year.

Our Lady of Ransom

This church in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Our Lady of Ransom.

Our Lady of Snows

This basilica is dedicated to Our Lady of Snows and is located in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. Portuguese for "Our Lady of Snows," Santa Maria Das Nevis is another name for her. This shrine, which takes its name from the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, has prayers and Portuguese architecture. In Tamil Nadu, it is currently a major pilgrimage place. It is well-known for its annual feast, which draws pilgrims from all over India.

Our Lady of Happy Voyage

Our Lady of Good Voyage is a title attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary that originated in nautical communities in Portugal and Spain. The devotion grew worldwide as sailors carried it with them on their journeys. In India, Our Lady of Happy Voyage is enshrined on the rooftop of Bandel Basilica, one of West Bengal's oldest Christian churches. 

Korvi Mata

Korvi Mata Church is located in Narmada, Gujarat. She is a regionalized version of Mother Mary.

Dhori Mata

Coal miners from the Bilaspuri community were employed in the coalfields in 1956. Rupa Satnami, a miner, discovered a statue of a woman and child embedded in the coal wall one day. Rupa Satnami's pickaxe had broken one of the statue's arms. In Jarangdih, Jharkhand, the idol is worshipped as Dhori Mata, a form of Mother Mary.

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