Tama-nui-te-rā
The Great Son of the Sun, Sun God Ra
Deity
Place of Origin: New Zealand
Origin Date: Tama-nui-te-rā has been an integral part of Māori mythology since ancient times, though specific historical dating is challenging due to the oral nature of Māori traditions.
Domain: Tama-nui-te-rā governs the sun, light, warmth, growth, and time.
Symbols: Symbols associated with Tama-nui-te-rā include the sun itself and its rays.
Attributes: Tama-nui-te-rā is attributed with the powers of providing light, warmth, and life. His movement across the sky governs the passage of time and the changing seasons.
Epithets: Tama-nui-te-rā is often referred to as "the Great Son of the Sun."
Equivalents: In other mythologies, the sun god equivalent includes Ra in Egyptian mythology and Helios in Greek mythology.
Religion: Tama-nui-te-rā is part of Māori mythology and spiritual beliefs.
Sacred Texts: As Māori mythology is primarily conveyed through oral traditions, sacred chants, songs (waiata), and storytelling (whakapapa) are used to pass down the stories and significance of Tama-nui-te-rā.
Iconography: Depictions of Tama-nui-te-rā often emphasize the sun and its radiant beams. Artistic representations might include symbols of the sun or scenes from the legend of Māui and the sun.
Relations: Tama-nui-te-rā is closely connected with other deities and figures in Māori mythology, particularly Māui, who is known for his interactions with the sun.
Description
Tama-nui-te-rā is the personification of the sun in Māori mythology. He is revered as a powerful and life-giving deity whose presence ensures warmth, growth, and sustenance. The sun's journey across the sky symbolizes the passage of time and is crucial for agricultural cycles and daily activities.
Narratives
Māui and the Sun
In the days of old, the sun, Tama-nui-te-rā, raced across the sky so quickly that there was barely enough daylight for people to complete their daily tasks. The days were short, and the nights were long, making it difficult for the Maori people to fish, hunt, and gather food.
Māui, a clever and resourceful demigod, noticed the struggles of his people and decided to take action. He gathered his brothers and shared his plan to slow down the sun. Although his brothers were initially skeptical, they eventually agreed to help Māui with his daring plan.
Māui and his brothers set out on their journey, traveling to the place where the sun rose from the underworld. Along the way, they gathered flax and crafted strong ropes, which they intended to use to catch the sun. They also collected water and food to sustain themselves during their arduous journey.
When they reached the edge of the world, Māui and his brothers found the sun's resting place. They hid behind large rocks and waited for the sun to rise. As the first rays of light appeared, Māui and his brothers sprang into action. They threw their ropes over the sun, ensnaring Tama-nui-te-rā in a web of flax.
The sun struggled and fought against the ropes, but Māui and his brothers held on tightly. Māui, wielding a magical jawbone given to him by his ancestor, struck the sun repeatedly. He demanded that Tama-nui-te-rā slow down his journey across the sky to give the people more daylight.
Tama-nui-te-rā, weakened by the struggle and the blows from Māui's jawbone, eventually agreed to Māui's demands. He promised to move more slowly across the sky, lengthening the days and providing the people with more time to complete their tasks.
With their mission accomplished, Māui and his brothers released the sun from the ropes. Tama-nui-te-rā continued his journey across the sky, but this time at a much slower pace. The days became longer, and the people rejoiced, grateful for the extra daylight that allowed them to work and play.
This legendary tale of Māui and the Sun highlights Māui's cleverness, bravery, and determination to help his people. It also explains the origin of the longer days and the slower movement of the sun across the sky in Maori mythology.
Tama-nui-te-rā and His Two Wives:
In some legends, Tama-nui-te-rā had two wives: the Summer Maid, Hineraumati, and the Winter Maid, Hinetakurua. During the year, he would divide his time between his two wives, marking the changing of the seasons and the changing position of the sun in the sky. In winter, the sun rising in the north-eastern sky marked Tama-nui-te-rā's residence with Hinetakurua. After the winter solstice, the sun's changing position to the south-eastern sky was described as Tama-nui-te-rā returning to Hineraumati.
Tama-nui-te-rā and Tane-rore:
The child of Tama-nui-te-rā and Hineraumati, Tane-rore, is credited with the origin of dance. Tane-rore's dance is said to be the shimmering appearance of the air on hot days, representing the joy and energy of the sun.
Tama-nui-te-rā and Auahitūroa:
Another son of Tama-nui-te-rā is Auahitūroa, the god of comets and fires. Auahitūroa's descendants, Ngā Mānawa, are associated with the creation and control of fire.
Worship Beliefs and Practices of Tama-nui-te-rā
Tama-nui-te-rā, also known as Tamanuiterā, is the personification of the Sun in Māori mythology. He is revered for his role in the natural world and his influence on the changing seasons.
Core Beliefs
Personification of the Sun: Tama-nui-te-rā is the Māori Sun god, representing the life-giving and sustaining power of the Sun. His name means "Great Son of the Sun" in the Māori language.
Seasonal Changes: According to Māori mythology, Tama-nui-te-rā has two wives: Hine-raumati, the Summer Maid, and Hine-takurua, the Winter Maid. His time is divided between these two wives, marking the changing seasons. When he is with Hine-raumati, it is summer, and when he is with Hine-takurua, it is winter.
Myth of Māui: The demigod Māui, along with his brothers, captured Tama-nui-te-rā to slow his journey across the sky. This myth explains why the Sun moves more slowly and provides longer daylight hours.
Attributes and Significance
Depictions: Tama-nui-te-rā is often symbolized through representations of the Sun and its rays. He is associated with warmth, light, and the life-sustaining energy of the Sun.
Symbols: Common symbols associated with Tama-nui-te-rā include the Sun, rays of light, and the changing position of the Sun in the sky. These symbols are used in rituals and ceremonies to invoke his presence and blessings.
Cultural Hero: The stories and depictions of Tama-nui-te-rā are passed down through generations, maintaining their significance in Māori culture and mythology. He embodies the natural cycles and the importance of the Sun in daily life.
Practices of Worship
Rituals and Ceremonies: Devotees perform various rituals and ceremonies to honor Tama-nui-te-rā. These include offerings of food, chants, and other goods to seek his favor and protection. Rituals often take place in marae (sacred communal places) dedicated to Tama-nui-te-rā.
Sacred Sites: Temples and shrines dedicated to Tama-nui-te-rā can be found throughout regions with Māori populations. These sites are often located in places that receive significant sunlight and are considered sacred.
Offerings: Offerings to Tama-nui-te-rā typically include food, particularly those crops that rely on sunlight for growth. These offerings symbolize gratitude and the desire for protection and blessings.
Festivals and Traditions
Summer and Winter Solstices: The summer and winter solstices are significant times for honoring Tama-nui-te-rā. These events mark the longest and shortest days of the year and are celebrated with rituals and ceremonies.
Cultural Celebrations: Tama-nui-te-rā's story may be included in cultural celebrations and festivals that honor Māori heritage and traditions. These gatherings often include music, dance, and storytelling.
Prayers: Devotees pray to Tama-nui-te-rā for protection, prosperity, and the successful cultivation of their crops. Traditional prayers often invoke his role as the Sun god and a symbol of life and energy.
Tama-nui-te-rā's role as the personification of the Sun embodies the core values and beliefs of Māori mythology, emphasizing the importance of the Sun, seasonal changes, and the natural world.