Stories our grandmothers told, drawn by hand.

This scene comes from the Khamba-Thoibi cycle, one of the great romantic epics of ancient Moirang, a historic kingdom in Manipur. According to the legend, a fierce tiger began terrorising the forests and farmland around Moirang, destroying crops and killing cattle, leaving the kingdom in fear. To end the threat and prove his courage, Khamba was sent into the dense forests of the Torbung region to face the animal — with no weapon, relying only on his physical strength, discipline and inner calm.

His victory over the beast became one of the defining tests of his character in the epic. Impressed by his bravery, the king later agreed to his marriage to Princess Thoibi, uniting the story's two most celebrated figures. The tale remains one of the most cherished pieces of Manipuri oral literature, still performed in dance-dramas and retold across generations.

Ima Panthoibi is one of the most revered figures in Meitei mythology and the indigenous Sanamahi tradition, worshipped as the goddess of courage, love, victory and war. Legend holds that she was once an extraordinary princess, known for her beauty, sharp intellect and fearless spirit. Her story centres on her devotion to her true love, Nongpok Ningthou — a bond strong enough that she defied social expectation and an arranged marriage to choose him instead.

From around the 17th century onward, Meitei tradition began venerating her more prominently as a warrior goddess, and it's from this period that the imagery of her seated on a tiger emerges — echoing a visual language found across South Asian goddess traditions, where the tiger represents supreme, untamed power. For Panthoibi, riding the tiger symbolises that she commands even the fiercest forces of nature. The image has since come to represent her fierce, protective form — one that guards her devotees and instils courage in them.

This illustration depicts a well-loved moment from the story of Emoinu, the Meitei goddess associated with household prosperity, and her connection to Ima Panthoibi's son, Loyangamba. According to legend, Emoinu once took the form of a frail, impoverished old woman and lived in the household of a wealthy family, who treated her with neglect and disrespect, denying her food and dignity.

When Ima Panthoibi learned of the old woman's mistreatment, she asked her son Loyangamba to rescue her and bring her home to be cared for properly. This illustration captures that exact moment — Loyangamba carrying the elderly woman on his back with visible care and respect, unaware she is, in truth, a goddess in disguise. The story carries a simple, enduring lesson: those who honour and care for elders — regardless of how humble they appear — invite blessing and prosperity into their homes. It's why Emoinu is affectionately called "Ema" (Mother), and why her grace is said to favour those who recognise dignity in every person they meet.