The Myths Of Hawaii And Other South Pacific Islands by Sebastian Marders
The Tiki culture originated in Polynesia, a group of islands found in the South Pacific. According to Polynesian myth, Tiki is the first man that walked the earth. He was created by the God Tumataenga. Woman was believed to have been created from Tiki's reflection on the water when he covered his image with dirt. Later, the woman seduced Tiki and in due course, they married.
This Polynesian myth is their version of the story of Creation. The Polynesion religion is centered around their environment and ocean life. The Polynesians are known for their supreme abilities to navigate the waters.
With their home surrounded by the ocean, they learned the importance of the sea and their natural environment. They believed in the power of "Mana," the power present in all things found in nature and also in humans.
Mana is said to be the power of good and evil. Each object and living things possess amounts of Mana in varying degrees. The sacred nature of Mana is made clear by the various rules surrounding it and the corresponding punishment for those who disobeyed them.
For instance, in ancient Polynesia, an ordinary member of the village could not step in the chieftain's shadow or set foot on sacred grounds and temples. Anyone found disobeying these rules was punished by death.
In terms of worshipping their gods, Polynesians performed elaborate rituals, including human sacrifices performed by their high priests. They were also known to perform magic through incantations to invoke the power and help of their gods.
The Polynesians have thousands of gods, deities and demigods. They regarded their local heroes and tricksters with respect and awe.
The most famous of them is a young boy named "Maui" whose adventures are well-known through the islands. He was a god with human limitations and a restless mind who will never stop to seek out the answers to his questions. He was regarded as a boy who was clever and witty and walked in the lands of gods and mortals alike. In fact, the place where he was believed to have gone fishing was named after him.
Aside from Maui, there's also Pele, the goddess of volcanoes, who Hawaiians revered and were afraid of. The natives believed that the goddess of the volcano is alive and anyone who eats berries found at the foot of her mountain will be killed by spewing lava and fire.
In ancient times, Pele was believed to be a capricious and tempestuous goddess, causing earthquakes when she stomped her feet and volcanic eruptions followed by a rain of fire. Polynesians believed that Pele could change her form into an old woman, a white dog or beautiful young maiden.
When Christianity was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, the natives were told that they should abandon their belief in these non-existent gods. Christian missionaries showed them that there are really no gods and goddesses but only one, supreme God, the creator of all things and people.
To this date, there are whispered rumors about Pele encounters at the Kilauea National Park by the drivers who tell that they pick up a young, beautiful woman dressed in all white, accompanied by a white dog. Only to find out later that they have no passenger at all.
Sebastian Marders loves to write, and enjoys sharing the website that inspires each piece with his readers. If you are interested in Polynesian Tiki bar accessories, including cheap Tiki table top torches, and wooden Tiki bar signs then please visit.
Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory
The Tiki culture originated in Polynesia, a group of islands found in the South Pacific. According to Polynesian myth, Tiki is the first man that walked the earth. He was created by the God Tumataenga. Woman was believed to have been created from Tiki's reflection on the water when he covered his image with dirt. Later, the woman seduced Tiki and in due course, they married.
This Polynesian myth is their version of the story of Creation. The Polynesion religion is centered around their environment and ocean life. The Polynesians are known for their supreme abilities to navigate the waters.
With their home surrounded by the ocean, they learned the importance of the sea and their natural environment. They believed in the power of "Mana," the power present in all things found in nature and also in humans.
Mana is said to be the power of good and evil. Each object and living things possess amounts of Mana in varying degrees. The sacred nature of Mana is made clear by the various rules surrounding it and the corresponding punishment for those who disobeyed them.
For instance, in ancient Polynesia, an ordinary member of the village could not step in the chieftain's shadow or set foot on sacred grounds and temples. Anyone found disobeying these rules was punished by death.
In terms of worshipping their gods, Polynesians performed elaborate rituals, including human sacrifices performed by their high priests. They were also known to perform magic through incantations to invoke the power and help of their gods.
The Polynesians have thousands of gods, deities and demigods. They regarded their local heroes and tricksters with respect and awe.
The most famous of them is a young boy named "Maui" whose adventures are well-known through the islands. He was a god with human limitations and a restless mind who will never stop to seek out the answers to his questions. He was regarded as a boy who was clever and witty and walked in the lands of gods and mortals alike. In fact, the place where he was believed to have gone fishing was named after him.
Aside from Maui, there's also Pele, the goddess of volcanoes, who Hawaiians revered and were afraid of. The natives believed that the goddess of the volcano is alive and anyone who eats berries found at the foot of her mountain will be killed by spewing lava and fire.
In ancient times, Pele was believed to be a capricious and tempestuous goddess, causing earthquakes when she stomped her feet and volcanic eruptions followed by a rain of fire. Polynesians believed that Pele could change her form into an old woman, a white dog or beautiful young maiden.
When Christianity was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, the natives were told that they should abandon their belief in these non-existent gods. Christian missionaries showed them that there are really no gods and goddesses but only one, supreme God, the creator of all things and people.
To this date, there are whispered rumors about Pele encounters at the Kilauea National Park by the drivers who tell that they pick up a young, beautiful woman dressed in all white, accompanied by a white dog. Only to find out later that they have no passenger at all.
Sebastian Marders loves to write, and enjoys sharing the website that inspires each piece with his readers. If you are interested in Polynesian Tiki bar accessories, including cheap Tiki table top torches, and wooden Tiki bar signs then please visit.
Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory