Papatuanuku : The Earth Mother

Papatuanuku

Introduction

In Maori mythology, the land is referred to as Papatuanuku or the Earth Mother, and she is regarded as the source of all things. According to some stories, she came from the water, and after the land rose from the water, it gave birth to all life. In the Maori world view, land provides the basis for life and is a powerful mother figure who gives her blessings to her children.

In Maori creation traditions, Papatuanuku emerged from the ocean. This concept is related to the experiences of people who live on the vast Pacific Ocean. In Maori folklore, the legendary trickster Maui would frequently fish on remote islands in the Pacific.

Physical Traits

As the earth mother, the whole earth is said to be a manifestation of her lying on her back.

Family

Together with her husband, Ranginui, Papatuanuku became the Earth Mother and Ranginui, the primordial sky father, and they have over 70 children, which include Tawhirimatea, Tangaroa, and Tane. Both of them were locked in a tight embrace, and their sons have to live in darkness between them.

Tumatauenga, the eldest son, proposes that their parents should be killed so that they may experience light. However, his brother, Tane, believes that it is better to let Ranginui be alone in the sky while Papatuanuku nurtures them. The other gods tried to force their parents apart and one of these is the god of cultivated food, Rongo. Then, Tangaroa and his brother, Haumia-tiketike, joined him. Despite the efforts of all their children, the two lovers still remained in a tight embrace.

After many attempts at pushing and standing upright, Tane, the god of birds and forests, forces his parents apart. He does this by lying on his back and using his strong legs to push his father upwards. Surprised and grief-stricken, Ranginui and Papatuanuku were finally split apart.

Other Names

Papatuanuku is also called Papa or Papatnuku in some parts of Polynesia.

Powers and Abilities

In Maori history and tradition, the importance of Papatuanuku is widely acknowledged. She is regarded as the mother of all things, and she gives her blessings to her children. She is also regarded as the foundation for human action. This is the first platform in the traditional world view that is dedicated to the concept of kaupapa.

Modern Day Influence

Many forests in New Zealand are protected both legally and by the various tribes that inhabit them. According to the Maori tribes, any acts of deforestation or destruction of the earth amounts to an attack on the Earth Goddess and is said to invoke the wrath of her husband and her sons which could be catastrophic.