Ranginui

Introduction

The sky father Ranginui was taken away from Papatnuku, the earth mother. When the Maori looked up at the sky, they saw Te Ra, the sun god, who was slowed down by the legend of Maui. They also saw Rona, who was taken by the Moon. These are all part of the vast constellation known as Ranginui.

The relationship between the sky father and Papa shows the Maori people’s understanding of the process of reproduction. The closeness between the two entities makes it feel like they are in love. When the sky father and Papa are separated, all living things on Earth will become one.

The Maori believe that the creation process is a metaphor for the mythical process that created the world. The separation of the sky father and the mother also shows how important their nurturing care is. When the gods separated the pair, they sent the sky father to the sky, but they kept their mother beneath their feet.

Physical Traits

Ranginui is often depicted as a wise old man who has a sad look on his face when presented alone and with a much more happier expression when with his wife Papatuanuku. Another common element is that he is often shown as having the traditional Maori face tattoos as well.

Family

The union of Papatanuku and the sky father led to Te Po, which literally means darkness. According to Te Arawa’s Wiremu Maihi Te Rangikheke, the parents created several anthropomorphic gods, such as Tawhirimatea, the god of the winds, Tane, the forest god, Tangaroa, the sea god, and Rongo, the peace and cultivated food goddess.

Until Tane and other people separated them, the gods were still between their parents. Some of the other gods, such as Tangaroa, Rongo, and Tu, tried to drive the sky father and Papatnuku apart, but they failed. Tane then laid on his back and pushed his arms and legs, causing the others to sever their parents’ limbs.

Other names

The sky father was regarded as a mythological figure in the Maori mythology. He was named variously as Rangi (heavens), Ranginui (great heavens), Rangiroa (expansive heavens, as well as Te Ranginui-e-tū-nei, Te Rangiitiketike, and Te Rangiipamamao. The names Te Rangiitiketike and Te Rangiipamamao refer to the remoteness and loftiness of the heavens. The names Te Rangihakataka and Te Rangiitakataka describe how the sky reaches down to meet the earth’s mother, Papatuanuku.

Powers and Abilities

The Maori legend states that the sky father was responsible for the creation of the moon, sun, planets, and stars, which are collectively known as Te Whanau Marama. The basket for the moon was named Te Kauhanga, while the one for the sun was called Rauru-rangi. The other basket was for the stars, which was called Te Ikaroa. Some of these include Atutahi, which was placed in one of the baskets.

Similar to other myths around the world, the story of Papa and Rangi focuses on the two halves of nature, the earth and the sky. Both are necessary for life, and the themes of separation, grief, and unity are prevalent in the mythology of these two individuals. When the couple finally gets married, they create all of the elements and gods of the earth.

The elements trapped between the sky father and Papa have no light or space. When the two entities are not together, both good and bad things can happen. Although all living things on Earth fare well when the two entities are separated, great floods and storms can still affect the land. The Maori regard these as symbols of the gods’ anger and tears. The gods of storms disagreed with the actions of their siblings, and instead of letting them go, the sky father sent his brother to the sky. He joined his father and battled against the elements, causing clouds, rain, and hurricanes to fall on his brothers.

Modern Day Influence

According to the legend, in the deep of nights, when the sky father’s tears are falling as dew, Papa’s expressions are floated upward as mist. According to some accounts, human beings were able to thrive after being lost in the dark. All of the Maori were descended from these individuals. Like other Maori myths, the story of Papa and the sky father can be orally passed down from one generation to another. Although many of these stories have already been written down, the oral tradition of Maori still continues. In addition to wood carvings, the stories are also exhibited in art.