When the World Began…According to Māori creation story, the beginning, a vast emptiness called Te Kore existed.
From this emptiness, two beings appeared: Ranginui, the Sky Father, and Papatuanuku, (Papa for short) the Earth Mother.
Their arrival changed the void into great night, which the Māori call Te Pō.
Ranginui and Papa, in a deep embrace, conceived 77 children who all lived cramped together in a dark and damp space between their parents.
The children wanted freedom
Many of Ranginui and Papa’s children became tired of their cramped, cold, and wet living conditions. They wanted to be free from their parents’ embrace.
After discussing the problem, they decided to separate their parents to let light into the world. They tried separating them one by one, but they could not succeed.
All the children were disapointed but Tāne, one the many offspring of Ranginui and Papa said it will do it. He is the god of forests. He positioned himself on his back against his mother, with his feet directed towards his father. Drawing on all his strength, he pushed steadily until he successfully separated heaven from earth, ultimately bringing the new world into existence.
As a new era began, but Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother, was not happy, she cried because she was separated from her husband Ranginui.
The separation of Papatuanuku, the earth mother, from her husband Ranginui, began a significant cultural era.
This event is said to have elicited a powerful mourning from Papa, which has since contributed to the tradition of the hotu, a form of expressive lamentation performed by Māori women. The echoes of this mourning continue to be a poignant aspect of tangihanga, the Māori funeral ceremonies, emphasizing the deep cultural significance of grief and connection to ancestors within Māori tradition.
The parents were kept separate
To keep the parents separated, Tū Tāne and Rongo built three posts to hold them apart.
Tāne then placed stars, the moon, and the sun on his father’s chest so he wouldn’t feel alone.
For his mother, Papa, Tāne covered her with trees and shrubs.
He and his siblings made sure their parents were healthy and well, as they are the life force of everything.
Each siblings took charge
The heavens are described as having 10 or 12 layers. In this narrative, Tāne ascended to the highest level to acquire three baskets of knowledge, which he generously shared with humanity.
Each child was transformed into a deity symbolizing a unique aspect of nature, such as the forest or the wind. For example, Tangaroa was appointed as the god of the sea, tasked with the creation of all fish.
Tūmatauenga took on the role of the god of war, as well as overseeing hunting, fishing, and food cultivation.
Each deity embraced their responsibilities, contributing positively to the balance of the world.
😪But not everyone was happy
Most of the children favored the separation of their parents; however, two disagreed. Tāwhiri Mātea, the god of winds, rain, thunder, and lightning, along with Rūaimoko, the god of earthquakes and volcanoes, voiced their concerns about this decision.
After their parents’ separation, Tāwhiri Mātea chose to soar into the skies to be with his father.
At the same time, Rūaimoko decided to return to the protective embrace of Papatuanuku, the earth mother.
In this way, both Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatuanuku received the love and care of their devoted children.
These two brothers sought revenge on their siblings for their parents’ separation by causing floods, storms, and destruction.
Tāwhiri Mātea was so hurt by his parents’ separation that he ripped out his own eyes, crushed them in his hands, and cast them into the sky as a sign of love to his father.
His eyes became known as Ngā mata o te Ariki Tāwhiri Mātea, or Matariki, the Pleiades Constellation.
So, the gods dwelled there in their new world, and many more stories followed.
My thought🤔
This story illustrates the profound connection between divinity and the natural world, emphasizing the importance of knowledge and stewardship in our relationship with nature.
Thank you for reading!🧐