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The following is a list of gods, goddesses, deities, and many other divine, semi-divine, and important figures from classical Philippine mythology and indigenous Philippine folk religions collectively referred to as Diwatas whose expansive stories span from a hundred years ago to presumably thousands of years from modern times. The term Bathala eventually replaced "Diwata" as the primary word for "gods" and came to mean any supernatural being worshipped for controlling aspects of life or nature. Over time, Bathala (or Bathalà/Maykapál) became associated with the Christian God and became synonymous with Diyós. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Diwatas In Philippine mythology refers to fairies, nature spirits, celestial beings, and mythological gods. In folk religion, it specifically refers to celestial beings and nature spirits that were never human. These spirits can range from guardians of objects, plants, or animals to deities representing natural forces, abstract concepts, or even gods in a pantheon. [5] [6] [7] [8] Pag-Diwata is a ritual giving praise, veneration and worship to the gods and nature spirits. [9] The modern Filipino understanding of diwata encompasses meanings such as fairy, muse, nymph, dryad, or even deity (god or goddess). [10] [11] The word is thought to originate from the Sanskrit word devata (deity). [12] Diwatas in folklore and mythology are often associated and or synchronized with fairies called lambana. [13] [14] [15] In modern Tagalog, diwata means fairy or nymph. It refers particularly to nature spirits of extraordinary beauty, like Maria Makiling. [16] [17]
Anito, or anitu In Philippine mythology, refers to ancestor spirits, spirits of the dead, evil spirits and the wooden idols that represent or house them. [9] [18] [19] [20] [21] Pag-anito is when the shamans communicate to with the spirits of the dead and ancestral spirits, [9] and even evil spirits [22] [23] Anito in modern Filipino context can also mean idolatry or an idol of heathen deity [24] [25] [26]
The list does not include creatures; for these, see list of Philippine mythological creatures.
The mythological figures, including deities (diwatas), heroes, and other important figures. Each ethnic group has their own distinct pantheon of deities. Some deities of ethnic groups have similar names or associations, but remain distinct from one another. [27] The diversity in these important figures is exhibited in many cases, of which a prime example is the Ifugao pantheon, where in a single pantheon, deities alone are calculated to number at least 1,500. There are over a hundred distinct pantheons in the Philippines. [28]
Philippine mythology and folk religion overlap, [29] while interconnected, are fundamentally different. Mythology is a collection of stories that explain the origins of the world, natural phenomena, and the actions of gods, spirits, and heroes. It serves as a cultural narrative, often tied to the beliefs of a community. Folk religion, on the other hand, encompasses the spiritual practices, rituals, moral systems, and theology rooted in those beliefs. [30] Mythology is a component of religion, while religion is a broader system that includes worship, ritual, and ethical codes. Each ethnic group has their own general term used to refer to all deities or a sub-set of deities, of which the most widespread term among the ethnic group. In the Philippines, pre-colonial mythology was deeply tied to folk religion, where each ethnic group had its own pantheon of deities, ancestor spirits, and nature spirits. For example, "diwata" referred to gods, goddesses, and celestial beings, while "anito" often described ancestor spirits or minor deities. These terms and their meanings varied across different regions and ethnic groups. [31] [21] [32]
While mythology focused on narratives about these beings, folk religion involved rituals to honor or appease them. Some groups worshipped a supreme deity, while others revered a range of spirits connected to nature and daily life. Over time, myths evolved into legends or folktales, especially as they became detached from their religious roots. [33] The introduction of Islam and Christianity altered the practice of native religions, but many aspects of Philippine mythology and folk religion survived, blending with the new faiths. Despite centuries of colonization, the stories of deities, spirits, and heroes remain integral to Filipino culture, showcasing the distinction between the mythological narratives and the spiritual practices tied to them. [34] [35]
Some ethnic groups have pantheons ruled by a supreme deity (or deities), while others revere ancestor spirits and/or the spirits of the natural world, where there is a chief deity but consider no deity supreme among their divinities. [31] in the country is anito. The term itself can be further divided into ninuno or anito (ancestral spirits) [32] and diwata (gods, goddesses, and deities), although in many cases, the meaning of the terms differ depending on their ethnic association. [36] [35] [37]Source: [221]
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