| Yenakha Paotapi | |
|---|---|
Eavesdropping evil deity | |
| Member of Hingchabis and Lairembis | |
 A book art depicting the Evil Eavesdropper Yenakha Paotapi transfiguring herself into the form of a man's wife, and meeting the very man | |
| Other names | Yenakha Pao Tabi Saijin Polibi, Yenakha Paotabi, Yenakha Paodabi |
| Affiliation | Meitei mythology (Manipuri mythology), Meitei folklore (Manipuri folklore) and Meitei religion (Sanamahism) |
| Abodes | Eaves and graves |
| Gender | Female |
| Region | Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur) |
| Ethnic group | Meitei ethnicity |
| Part of a series on |
| Meitei mythology |
|---|
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 Myths portal |
Yenakha Paotapi or Yenakha Paodabi Saijin Polibi (English: Eavesdropper), also known as the evil eavesdropper, is an old demoness (Meitei: hingchabi). Stories often show her as an evil spirit. She lingers around the eaves of roofs in Meitei mythology and folklore of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur).[1][2][3] She is described as the one who interferes everywhere.[3] Legend says that she could not live with human beings. Instead, she lives like a dog or a jackal, sitting on graves.[3] In some cases, she is depicted as a minor goddess (Meitei: lairembi) in the Meitei religion.[4]
- ^ S Sanatombi (2014). মণিপুরী ফুংগাৱারী (in Manipuri). p. 131 – via archive.org.
- ^ Supriya, Chungkham (2017). "Oral tradition: An anthropological insight on the folktales of Meitei" (PDF). National Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development. 2 (3): 185 (in the journal), 4 (in the pdf).
A folktale does not convey only a single message. Perhaps they carry variety of messages in a single tale and it is depicted in the story of Yenakha Paodabi where a female monster is trying to steal a husband of a woman by impersonating herself as his wife. The female monster eavesdrops the conversation between the conjugal groups. The lesson being communicated is 'do not eavesdrop'. She transforms herself into his wife's person - the message communicated is 'do not indulge in any fraud'.
- ^ a b c Fresh Fictions: Folk Tales, Plays, Novellas from the North East. Katha. 2005. ISBN 978-81-87649-44-1.
- ^ Basanta, Ningombam (2008). Modernisation, Challenge and Response: A Study of the Chakpa Community of Manipur. Akansha Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-8370-152-5.