Navajo mythology

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Navajo Mythology is a system of beliefs that is enormously rich and expressive as well as complex with many tales. Navajo mythology is based on the recognition that all of the stories find a place within several major eras of sacred history, a history which took place "in the beginning." Stories are passed down generation to generation orally and provide the foundation of Navajo life and thought.[1]

Contents

[edit] Creation story

The Navajo creation story centers on the area known as the Dinetah, the traditional homeland of the Navajo people. This creation myth forms the basis for the traditional Navajo way of life. The basic outline of the Navajo creation myth begins with the Holy Supreme Wind being created the mists of lights which arose through the darkness to animate and bring purpose to the myriad Holy People, supernatural and sacred in the different three lower worlds. All these things were spiritually created in the time before the earth existed and the physical aspect of man did not exist yet, but the spiritual did.

In the first world the insect people started fighting with one another and were instructed by the Holy People to depart. They journeyed to the second world and lived for a time in peace, but eventually they fought with each other and were instructed to depart. In the third world the same thing happened again and they were forced to journey to the fourth world. In the fourth world, they found the Hopi living there and succeeded in not fighting with one another or their neighbors, and their bodies were transformed from insect forms to human forms. Eventually, however, they fought with each other again, and again were instructed to depart.

First man and First woman physically appear here formed from ears of white and yellow corn, but they were also created back in the beginning. There is a separation of male and female humans because each did not appreciate the contributions of the other, and this laid the groundwork for the appearance of the Monsters that would start to kill off the people in the next world.

Coyote also appears and steals the baby of water monster, who brings a great flood in the third world which primarily forces the humans as well as Holy People to journey to the surface of the fifth world through a hollow reed. Some things are left behind and some things are brought to help the people re-create the world each time they enter a new one. Death and the Monsters are born into this world, as is Changing Woman, who gives birth to the Hero Twins called "Monster Slayer" and "Child of the Waters" who had many adventures in which they helped to rid the world of much evil. Earth Surface People, mortals, were created in the fourth world, and the gods gave them ceremonies which are still practiced today.

[edit] Aspects of creation

Below are a few of the many aspects (representations) of creation that formulate the traditional Navajo way of life.

  • Haashch’ééłti’í "Speechless Talking One, Talking God"
  • Haashch’éoghan "House God, Calling God, Growling God"
  • Ahsonnutli
  • Hasteoltoi
  • Bikeh Hozho "His/their beautiful voice?"
  • To' nenili ("water sprinkler")

[edit] Practices

[edit] Hogans

Navajo dwellings, called hogans, are sacred and constructed to symbolize their land: the four posts represent the sacred mountains, the floor is mother earth, and the dome-like roof is father sky.

[edit] Four Sacred Mountains

The Navajo religion is distinct in that it must be practiced in a particular geographical area, known as the Dinetah (the traditional Navajo homeland). Navajo people believe that the Holy People instructed them never to leave the land between four sacred mountains located in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

To the south is Mount Taylor; to the west are the San Francisco Peaks; to the east is Blanca Peak, and to the north is Hesperus Peak. There is a sacred object and a color representing each of the four cardinal directions. To the east is the white morning sky; its precious stone is white shell. To the south is blue and turquoise. To the west is yellow, and the corresponding stone is yellow abalone. To the north is black and jet.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gill, Sam D. (1979). Songs of Life: An Introduction to Navajo Religious Culture. Brill Publishers. ISBN 9004060243. 
  2. ^ Robert S. McPherson, Sacred Land, Sacred View: Navajo Perceptions of the Four Corners Region, Brigham Young University, ISBN 1-56085-008-6.
  • Salmonson, Jessica Amanda. The Encyclopedia of Amazons. Paragon House, 1991, p. 255. ISBN 1-55778-420-5
  • Zolbrod, Paul G. Diné bahané: The Navajo Creation Story. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1984.

[edit] External links

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Navajo Nation