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| DIVERSITY OF MALAY CREATION MYTHS: SOME MORE CASES
Erle Frayne D. Argonza
Good day from Filipinas, the Pearl of the Orient!
The previous articles demonstrated samples of cosmogonic myths from across the ASEAN region and our sibling Polynesians. Below is a cross-cultural summary of myths coming from the region.
As an observer, please feel free to browse the diverse archetypes and seemingly shifting meanings. As already articulated earlier, the myths and legend of the region are the repositories of ‘ancient wisdom’ or ‘divine wisdom’, also known as Theos Sophia.
[Philippines, 29 June 2011]
Source: www.oldandsold.com/articles29/mythology-12.shtml In Minahassa the deity makes two images of earth, one male and one female, whom he vivifies by blowing powdered ginger into their heads and ears. The Bagobo of Mindanao say 98 that after the creation of the sea and land, and the planting of trees of many kinds, the creator took two lumps of earth, and shaping them like two human figures, he spat on them, where-upon they became "man and woman." In Sumatra the Dairi Battak say 99 that after the deity, Batara Guru, had finished the earth, he desired to people it and accordingly first sent down a swallow, which returned, however, saying that it did not like the dwelling assigned to it. Batara Guru then wished one of his children to descend, but none of them were willing to exchange their heavenly for an earthly home. Determined to succeed, the deity himself came down to earth, bidding the swallow return to the sky to bring thence some earth from which he might shape man. With the material so provided, Batara Guru made two images, one male and one female, and set them in the sun to dry. After they had become hard, he muttered a magic formula over them seven times, and when they then began to breathe, he repeated another formula with which one may force another to speak. Then the two images spoke and said, "What do you wish of us, Grandfather, that you cry thus loudly in our ears?" and he replied : " I have called to you so loudly because I have created you in order that you might speak. Never forget that I am your grandfather. Obey my commands and never refuse to follow them." This the newly created pair promised to do. An interesting variant of ordinary creation-myths occurs in southeastern Borneo. Here the two wonder-trees on the new-formed earth mated and produced an egg, from which a phantom maiden came. A divine being descended to earth, and seeing the lifeless and intangible character of the maiden, went to get what was necessary to give her life and substance; but while he was away another deity became active, and gathering earth for her body, rain for h...Read the whole post...
- Tags:
- ascension,
- Asia,
- cosmic,
- esoteric,
- folklore,
- myths,
- spiritual,
- wisdom
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