Tonguez
A suffusion of yellow
A Polynesian Cosmogony
CREATION OF THE COSMOS
Although each group within Polynesia has its own elaboration on the process of creation there are common themes across all Polynesian groups such that a generalised cosmogony can be conceived.
As such genesis begins with a Supreme Being, a prime force who existed in the Void and Eternal Darkness of Te Po (The Night). This Creator set the process of creation into being generating two entities known by various names (corresponding to ‘Male’ and ‘Female’) who engaged in a process of growth/evolution as they establish an ordered state, eventually resolve themselves into the Sky-Father ( Watea , Wakea, Atea) and Earth-Mother (Papa)
Watea Sky and Papa Earth cling together and from them is born the atua (dieties), spirits, the elements, the land and all living things. The greatest of the Atua were known throughout all of Polynesia being Tane (Kane), Tangaloa (Kanaloa), Tu (Ku) and Rongo (Lono). However in some of the Western islands (around Samoa and Tonga) Tangaloa is given as the name of the creator, not a son of Earth and Sky.
Also in some groups the earth and sky rise from the sea or is formed from a primal egg or coconut shell, however these are local elaborations that do not detract from the generalised cosmology
Deeds of the Atua
Next the atua are given prominence in the creation cycle. With Sky and Earth still clinging together the world remains dark and cramped, it is the atua who are commissioned to separate them and in particular Tane who becomes the atua Patron of Light and Life.
Tane is atua of Light and Life, as symbolised in Te Waiora o Tane (The-water-of-life-of-Kane). The name Tane means ‘Man’ (or Male) and he is our divine ancestor, a procreator he directly brings life to things. He is lord of the forest and all the creatures who lived in it, as such is invoked by house carvers and boat builders. Tane also spread the stars across the heavens and plants across the earth and eventually, with help of the other atua, gave form to the first mortal (usually a woman named Hina (Sina)) from whom all people descend*.
Tu is the atua of war to whom human sacrifices were made. He is a Patron of mortals and allows them to harvest the children of the other atua (ie hunting), he is also seen as an artisan. His name means "to stand" and "to strike" and he oversees competition and activity. In Hawaii there is a family of atuas classed as ‘Ku’ who are all formidable warriors.
Rongo (Lono) is the atua of agriculture, peace and generosity, he brings warm rains and is associated with the Rainbow. Lono introduced the Matariki harvest festival that was a time on singing, feasting and celebration. He is linked to the kumara and as a peaceful god Rongo whoe name means peace and does not accept human sacrifice
Tangaroa is the atua of the Sea and is a major figure in Polynesian thought. In many groups he is elevated to the status of Creator who brings forth the world (Papa) from the sea. His name means ‘to envelop (wrap)’ just as the Sea envelops all things. Tangaroa causes the tides by his breathing and is the ancestor of fish and reptiles. The Octopus is his emblem. He is known to be a dangerous atua.
Mortals
Hina (Sina, Hine): Hina-ahuone is the universal woman, the first mortal but not a human (thus she remains an atua). Hina is associated with the moon and its cycles, from Hinatea (the bright maiden) to Hinauri (the dark woman/crone), as Hineiwaiwa she is associated with childbirth and weaving. She also takes on the form of the Guardian of the Dead (Hinenuitepo)
Her name re-occurs through history as other female figures invoke her including Pele (aka Hina-ai-malama).
Maui: The Trickster. Maui is descended from the first woman Hina-ahuone, and the youngest born of his family. Maui dwelt in the time when spirits and mortals still dwelt together and the paths between the Spirit world and the mortal world were still open, as such he interacts freely with mortals and atua. Maui is a great hero (even demigod) he is shapechanger who was taught all manner of magics. He is known to have fished islands up from the sea, to have beaten and slowed down the Sun, and to have brought the secret of fire to mortals. He had many other exploits that vary fom one island to another but all involve his mischievous yet clever schemes. Maui is a figure that brings disruption to the social order, he challenges the ‘gods’, causes harm but in doing so brings great benefit to mortals. However in his final act Maui attempted to reenter the womb of Hinenuitepo in order to cease all dying. However he failed in this and was crushed between Hina’s thighs. It is because of this that death is now permanent and the spirits of mortals can no longer freely move between this world and the next.
Tafaki: The Perfect Chief and great grandson of Maui (viz Maui- Kaitangata-Hema-Tafaki). Tafaki is described as the most handsome of chiefs, strong, brave and upstanding. He engages in a number of adventures his two most important being first the quest to recover the bones of his father (who was killed by the undersea dwelling Ponaturi whilst Tafaki was still a child) and second the quest to reunite with his divine wife Hapai who left because he inadvertently insulted their child. Tafaki climbs to the sixth heaven and humbles himself before her brothers, he is accepted and is taught all the prayer-chants known in the heavens, and therein becomes an atua associated with Lightning. All the Ariki of Polynesia claim descent from Tafaki (and thus Maui) and thence back to their divine heritage
NEXT: The Structure of the Cosmos, the Nature of Atua and the Purpose of Prayer-Chants
Tihei Mauriora!
Ki te Feiao, ki te Ao-maarama.
Ka tu kei runga, ko wai koe?
Ko Tuu, ko Rongo koe, ko Taane koe.
Ko te manuhiri i ahu mai i Hawaiki, nau mai.
Sneeze of Life!
To the Light-seeking World, to the World of Light
Standing above, who are you?
it is Tu, it is Rongo, it is Tane
The visitor who comes from from Hawaiki, welcome...
Ki te Feiao, ki te Ao-maarama.
Ka tu kei runga, ko wai koe?
Ko Tuu, ko Rongo koe, ko Taane koe.
Ko te manuhiri i ahu mai i Hawaiki, nau mai.
Sneeze of Life!
To the Light-seeking World, to the World of Light
Standing above, who are you?
it is Tu, it is Rongo, it is Tane
The visitor who comes from from Hawaiki, welcome...
- Chant of Dedication at the Birth of Maui
CREATION OF THE COSMOS
Although each group within Polynesia has its own elaboration on the process of creation there are common themes across all Polynesian groups such that a generalised cosmogony can be conceived.
As such genesis begins with a Supreme Being, a prime force who existed in the Void and Eternal Darkness of Te Po (The Night). This Creator set the process of creation into being generating two entities known by various names (corresponding to ‘Male’ and ‘Female’) who engaged in a process of growth/evolution as they establish an ordered state, eventually resolve themselves into the Sky-Father ( Watea , Wakea, Atea) and Earth-Mother (Papa)
Watea Sky and Papa Earth cling together and from them is born the atua (dieties), spirits, the elements, the land and all living things. The greatest of the Atua were known throughout all of Polynesia being Tane (Kane), Tangaloa (Kanaloa), Tu (Ku) and Rongo (Lono). However in some of the Western islands (around Samoa and Tonga) Tangaloa is given as the name of the creator, not a son of Earth and Sky.
Also in some groups the earth and sky rise from the sea or is formed from a primal egg or coconut shell, however these are local elaborations that do not detract from the generalised cosmology
Deeds of the Atua
Next the atua are given prominence in the creation cycle. With Sky and Earth still clinging together the world remains dark and cramped, it is the atua who are commissioned to separate them and in particular Tane who becomes the atua Patron of Light and Life.
Tane is atua of Light and Life, as symbolised in Te Waiora o Tane (The-water-of-life-of-Kane). The name Tane means ‘Man’ (or Male) and he is our divine ancestor, a procreator he directly brings life to things. He is lord of the forest and all the creatures who lived in it, as such is invoked by house carvers and boat builders. Tane also spread the stars across the heavens and plants across the earth and eventually, with help of the other atua, gave form to the first mortal (usually a woman named Hina (Sina)) from whom all people descend*.
Tu is the atua of war to whom human sacrifices were made. He is a Patron of mortals and allows them to harvest the children of the other atua (ie hunting), he is also seen as an artisan. His name means "to stand" and "to strike" and he oversees competition and activity. In Hawaii there is a family of atuas classed as ‘Ku’ who are all formidable warriors.
Rongo (Lono) is the atua of agriculture, peace and generosity, he brings warm rains and is associated with the Rainbow. Lono introduced the Matariki harvest festival that was a time on singing, feasting and celebration. He is linked to the kumara and as a peaceful god Rongo whoe name means peace and does not accept human sacrifice
Tangaroa is the atua of the Sea and is a major figure in Polynesian thought. In many groups he is elevated to the status of Creator who brings forth the world (Papa) from the sea. His name means ‘to envelop (wrap)’ just as the Sea envelops all things. Tangaroa causes the tides by his breathing and is the ancestor of fish and reptiles. The Octopus is his emblem. He is known to be a dangerous atua.
Mortals
Hina (Sina, Hine): Hina-ahuone is the universal woman, the first mortal but not a human (thus she remains an atua). Hina is associated with the moon and its cycles, from Hinatea (the bright maiden) to Hinauri (the dark woman/crone), as Hineiwaiwa she is associated with childbirth and weaving. She also takes on the form of the Guardian of the Dead (Hinenuitepo)
Her name re-occurs through history as other female figures invoke her including Pele (aka Hina-ai-malama).
Maui: The Trickster. Maui is descended from the first woman Hina-ahuone, and the youngest born of his family. Maui dwelt in the time when spirits and mortals still dwelt together and the paths between the Spirit world and the mortal world were still open, as such he interacts freely with mortals and atua. Maui is a great hero (even demigod) he is shapechanger who was taught all manner of magics. He is known to have fished islands up from the sea, to have beaten and slowed down the Sun, and to have brought the secret of fire to mortals. He had many other exploits that vary fom one island to another but all involve his mischievous yet clever schemes. Maui is a figure that brings disruption to the social order, he challenges the ‘gods’, causes harm but in doing so brings great benefit to mortals. However in his final act Maui attempted to reenter the womb of Hinenuitepo in order to cease all dying. However he failed in this and was crushed between Hina’s thighs. It is because of this that death is now permanent and the spirits of mortals can no longer freely move between this world and the next.
Tafaki: The Perfect Chief and great grandson of Maui (viz Maui- Kaitangata-Hema-Tafaki). Tafaki is described as the most handsome of chiefs, strong, brave and upstanding. He engages in a number of adventures his two most important being first the quest to recover the bones of his father (who was killed by the undersea dwelling Ponaturi whilst Tafaki was still a child) and second the quest to reunite with his divine wife Hapai who left because he inadvertently insulted their child. Tafaki climbs to the sixth heaven and humbles himself before her brothers, he is accepted and is taught all the prayer-chants known in the heavens, and therein becomes an atua associated with Lightning. All the Ariki of Polynesia claim descent from Tafaki (and thus Maui) and thence back to their divine heritage
NEXT: The Structure of the Cosmos, the Nature of Atua and the Purpose of Prayer-Chants
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