Hahgwehdiyu

Last updated

Hahgwehdiyu (also called Ha-Wen-Neyu, Rawenniyo, Hawenniyo or Sapling) [1] is the Iroquois god of goodness and light, as well as a creator god. He and his twin brother Hahgwehdaetgah, the god of evil, were children of Atahensic the Sky Woman (or Tekawerahkwa the Earth Woman in some versions), whom Hahgwehdaetgah killed in childbirth.

Contents

Hahgwehdiyu created the world from his own body and that of his mother's. His outstretched palm became the sky, his mother's head the sun, and her breasts became the moon and stars. He made her body the earth, into which he planted a seed, which grew into the maize plant. [2]

Creation of The Earth

This version of the creation story is taken from (Converse 1908). [3]

The Oeh-dah (Earth) was a thought in the mind of the ruler on a great island floating above the clouds. This ruler was called by various names, among them Ha-wen-ni-yu, meaning He who governs or The Ruler. [4] The island is a place of calm where all needs are provided and there is no pain or death. On this island grew a great apple [note 1] tree where the inhabitants held council. The Ruler said "let us make a new place where another people can grow. Under our council tree is a great sea of clouds which calls out for light." He ordered the council tree to be uprooted and he looked down into the depths. He had Atahensic , [note 2] Sky Woman, look down. He heard the voice of the sea calling; he told Atahensic, who was pregnant, to bring it life. He wrapped her in light and dropped her down through the hole.

She was carried down to the waters by a flock of birds and placed on the back of a turtle. The water animals worked to bring some soil to the surface, the soil was placed on the back of the turtle and grew to become the island, Oeh-dah. Atahensic heard two voices under her heart and knew her time had come. One voice was calm and quiet, but the other was loud and angry. These were the Do-yo-da-no, The Twins . The good twin, Hahgwehdiyu or Teharonhiakwako (transl. Sapling), [5] was born normally; the evil twin, Hahgwehdaetgah or Sawiskera (transl. Flint), [5] forced his way out from under his mother's arm, killing her during childbirth.

After the death of Sky Woman, the island was shrouded in gloom. Hahgwehdiyu shaped the sky and created the sun from his mother's face saying "you shall rule here where your face will shine forever." Hahgwehdaetgah, however, set the great darkness in the west to drive down the sun. Hahgwehdiyu then took the Moon and Stars from his mother's breast, and placed them, his sisters, to guard the night sky. He gave his mother's body to the earth, the Great Mother from whom all life came.

There is another version of the myth of Hahgwehdiyu in which he and Hahgwehdaetgah are Atahensic's grandsons instead. According to this variant, Atahensic had a daughter named Tekawerahkwa (transl. Earth Woman), [6] whom the west wind impregnated with Hahgwehdiyu and Hahgwehdaetgah. As Tekawerahkwa died by childbirth, either she wished for her body to sustain the people [7] or Atahensic sowed on her grave the seeds she had brought when she fell to Earth, but never planted before. [8] Out of Tekawerahkwa's remains grew various plants: the sister spirits of the corn, beans, and squash came from her breasts, hands, and navel respectively; sunflowers from her legs; strawberries from her heart; tobacco from her head; and purple potatoes or sunchokes from her feet.

Hahgwehdiyu, corresponding to the Huron spirit Iosheka, created the first people. He healed disease, defeated demons, and gave many of the Iroquois magical and ceremonial rituals. Another of his gifts was tobacco, which has been used as a central part of the Iroquois religion.

Hahgwehdiyu is aided by a number of assistant or subordinate spirits.

Notes

  1. ↑ Parker says "The central tree in the heaven world was the apple." The apple tree was introduced by European settlers. Elsewhere he suggests that the crab apple ("wild-apple") is meant.
  2. ↑ Parker says: "Ata'-en'sic ... is the Huron name for the first mother, and not that of the (confederated) Iroquois, The Senecas usually give this character no name other than Ea-gen’-tci, literally old woman or ancient bodied. This name is not a personal one, however. Mrs Converse has therefore substituted the Huronian personal name for the Iroquoian common name."

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creation myth</span> Symbolic narrative of how the world began

A creation myth or cosmogonic myth is a type of cosmogony, a symbolic narrative of how the world began and how people first came to inhabit it. While in popular usage the term myth often refers to false or fanciful stories, members of cultures often ascribe varying degrees of truth to their creation myths. In the society in which it is told, a creation myth is usually regarded as conveying profound truths – metaphorically, symbolically, historically, or literally. They are commonly, although not always, considered cosmogonical myths – that is, they describe the ordering of the cosmos from a state of chaos or amorphousness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hera</span> Goddess from Greek mythology, wife and sister of Zeus

In ancient Greek religion, Hera is the goddess of marriage, women, and family, and the protector of women during childbirth. In Greek mythology, she is queen of the twelve Olympians and Mount Olympus, sister and wife of Zeus, and daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. One of her defining characteristics in myth is her jealous and vengeful nature in dealing with any who offended her, especially Zeus's numerous adulterous lovers and illegitimate offspring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iroquois mythology</span> Legendary beliefs of the Haudenosaunee

Mythology of the Haudenosaunee includes the creation stories and folktales of the Native Americans who formed the confederacy of the Five Nations Iroquois, later the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy. Historically, these stories were recorded in wampum and recited, only being written down later. In the written versions, the spellings of names differ due to transliteration and spelling variations in European languages that were not yet standardized. Variants of the stories exist, reflecting different localities and times.

Diné Bahaneʼ, is a Navajo creation story that describes the prehistoric emergence of the Navajo as a part of the Navajo religious beliefs. It centers on the area known as the Dinétah, the traditional homeland of the Navajo, and forms the basis of the traditional Navajo way of life and ceremony. Throughout the stories the importance of cardinal points and the number four are emphasized in multiple aspects.

Seneca mythology refers to the mythology of the Onödowáʼga:, one of the six nations of the Haudenosaunee from the northeastern United States and Canada.

In Tongan mythology, or oral history, ʻAhoʻeitu is a son of the god ʻEitumātupuʻa and a mortal woman, ʻIlaheva Vaʻepopua. He became the first king of the Tuʻi Tonga dynasty in the early 10th century, dethroning the previous one with the same name but originating from the uanga (maggots) instead of divine; see Kohai, Koau, mo Momo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nut (goddess)</span> Egyptian goddess of the sky

Nut, also known by various other transcriptions, is the goddess of the sky, stars, cosmos, mothers, astronomy, and the universe in the ancient Egyptian religion. She was seen as a star-covered nude woman arching over the Earth, or as a cow. She was depicted wearing the water-pot sign (nw) that identifies her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twins in mythology</span>

Twins appear in the mythologies of many cultures around the world. In some cultures they are seen as ominous, and in others they are seen as auspicious. Twins in mythology are often cast as two halves of the same whole, sharing a bond deeper than that of ordinary siblings, or seen as fierce rivals. They can be seen as representations of a dualistic worldview. They can represent another aspect of the self, a doppelgänger, or a shadow. However, twins can also reflect a complete opposition of the other, such as the "civilized" Gilgamesh, and the "wild" Enkidu; or in the commonly known instance of good and evil twin identities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sosondowah</span>

The Iroquois mythic hero Sosondowah was a great hunter known for stalking a supernatural elk, Oh-je-a-neh-doh. Sosondowah was captured by Dawn, a goddess who needed him as a watchman. He fell in love with Gendenwitha, a human woman. He tried to woo her by singing to her in spring as a bluebird, in summer as a blackbird and in autumn as a hawk, who then tried to take Gendenwitha with him to the sky. Dawn tied him to her doorpost and then changed Gendenwitha into the Morning Star, so he could watch her all night but never be with her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Sisters (agriculture)</span> Agricultural technique of Indigenous people in the Americas

The Three Sisters are the three main agricultural crops of various indigenous peoples of Central and North America: squash, maize ("corn"), and climbing beans. In a technique known as companion planting, the maize and beans are often planted together in mounds formed by hilling soil around the base of the plants each year; squash is typically planted between the mounds. The cornstalk serves as a trellis for climbing beans, the beans fix nitrogen in their root nodules and stabilize the maize in high winds, and the wide leaves of the squash plant shade the ground, keeping the soil moist and helping prevent the establishment of weeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine mythology</span> Body of myths, tales, and superstitions held by Filipinos

Philippine mythology is rooted in the many indigenous Philippine folk religions. Philippine mythology exhibits influence from Indonesian, Hindu, Muslim, Shinto, Buddhist, and Christian traditions.

Estonian mythology is a complex of myths belonging to the Estonian folk heritage and literary mythology. Information about the pre-Christian and medieval Estonian mythology is scattered in historical chronicles, travellers' accounts and in ecclesiastical registers. Systematic recordings of Estonian folklore started in the 19th century. Pre-Christian Estonian deities may have included a god known as Jumal or Taevataat in Estonian, corresponding to Jumala in Finnish, and Jumo in Mari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauma</span> Deity of Eastern Baltic mythology

Latvian Lauma or Lithuanian Laumė, or Yotvingian Łauma is a fairy-like woodland spirit, and guardian spirit of orphans in Eastern Baltic mythology or Yotvingian mythology. Originally a sky spirit, her compassion for human suffering brought her to earth to share our fate.

Atahensic, also known as Sky Woman, is an Iroquois sky goddess. Atahensic is associated with marriage, childbirth, and feminine affairs in general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turtle Island (Indigenous North American folklore)</span> Name for Earth or North America used by Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States

Turtle Island is a name for Earth or North America, used by some Indigenous peoples, as well as by some Indigenous rights activists. The name is based on a creation story common to several Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands of North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mythology of Indonesia</span>

The mythology of Indonesia is very diverse, the Indonesian people consisting of hundreds of ethnic groups, each with their own myths and legends that explain the origin of their people, the tales of their ancestors and the demons or deities in their belief systems. The tendency to syncretize by overlying older traditions with newer foreign ideas has occurred. For example, the older ancestral mythology might be merged with foreign mythology, such as Hindu, Islam, or Christian biblical mythology.

<i>Sketches of the Ancient History of the Six Nations</i>

Sketches of the Ancient History of the Six Nations, by the Tuscarora David Cusick, is a mytho-historical narrative about the Iroquois Confederacy of six tribes: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and, later, the Tuscarora. First published between 1826 and 1827, the work has three parts: "A Tale of the Foundation of the Great Island ;" "A Real Account of the Settlement of North America and their Dissentions", and "Origin of the Kingdom of the Five Nations." It was among the earliest English-language attempts to record Native American history from a Native American perspective.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hé-no</span>

Hé-no is a thunder spirit of the Iroquois and Seneca people. He is also known as Heno, Hino, Hinu or Hinun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hero Twins in Native American culture</span>

The Hero Twins are recurring characters from the mythologies of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The specifics of each myth vary from tribe to tribe, but each story has a pair of twins who were born when their pregnant mother was killed by the tale's antagonist. Twins were considered unnatural in many cultures of this region, with beliefs about them having supernatural abilities.

References

  1. ↑ "Raweno (Ha-Wen-Neyu), the Iroquois Creator". www.native-languages.org. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  2. ↑ Cotterell, Arthur. (1989). The illustrated encyclopedia of myths & legends. Sydney: Collins Australia. p. 204. ISBN   0-7322-0099-7. OCLC   27581076.
  3. ↑ Converse, Harriet Maxwell (Ya-ie-wa-no); Parker, Arthur Caswell (Ga-wa-so-wa-neh) (December 15, 1908). "Myths and Legends of the New York State Iroquois". Education Department Bulletin. University of the State of New York: 31–41. Retrieved Nov 9, 2014.
  4. ↑ Morgan, Lewis Henry (1995). The League of the Iroquois. J G Press. pp. 141–174. ISBN   1-57215-124-2.
  5. 1 2 Louellyn White (2015). Free to Be Mohawk: Indigenous Education at the Akwesasne Freedom School. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 29. ISBN   9780806153254.
  6. ↑ Lloyd, Ellen (September 23, 2019). "Birth Of Good And Evil In Iroquois Beliefs". AncientPages.com.
  7. ↑ Us, Kimberly (November 14, 2021). "Thanksgiving: Native American Stories, Recipes and Crafts". KimberlyUs.com.
  8. ↑ Day, Ashley (November 20, 2023). "3 Sisters to Invite to Thanksgiving". Food & Wine.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.