Intersections of Gender and Devotion: Sija Laiobi and The Role of Women in Manipuri Devotional Arts

Sija Laiobi, also known as Bimbavati Devi, was a Manipuri princess who played a pivotal role in providing women freedom for expression in the devotional arts of Manipur from the 18th century. She is one of Manipur's most renowned Vaiṣṇava bhakti saints and innovators. Drawing from hagiographical accounts, court chronicles, and ethnographic data, I show how Sija Laiobi's rise to prominence was enabled by the prominent role of women in Manipur's indigenous religious traditions, and encouragement of her father, King Bhāgyacandra, and her re-enactment of the devotional theology and narratives of the Vaiṣṇava sacred text, the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. In particular, her mirroring of the devotional position and sentiments of the goddess Rādhā cemented her status as a devotee-exemplar in Manipuri folklore. Her legacy endured and influenced Manipur's prominent bhakti performances such as pilgrimage, worship of mūrti (icons in the temple), and the prominence of women in dance dramas like rāslīlā and saṅkīrtana (devotional singing).