The Religion
"Speak I must with the gods; and the feathers I put on my arrows, the cotton, and the paint, express all of my thoughts. We fabricate precious arrows to make our living."
The wixárika religion, shares, along with the other pre hispanic cultures, the separation of gods and goddesses, each one of them personalized with the natural disasters and elements related to livelihood and fertility. Each god represents one or more symbols according to their qualities or cosmogonic circumstances.
In their religion, the origin of life is justified by a duality; water and land in one side, fire and wind on the other side; the struggle between the fundamental principles: the feminine underworld and the masculine dominance.
The wixárika life is a constant struggle through mystic thoughts, in which the try to dominate the natural and supernatural powers through the power of will.
The wixárika religion, shares, along with the other pre hispanic cultures, the separation of gods and goddesses, each one of them personalized with the natural disasters and elements related to livelihood and fertility. Each god represents one or more symbols according to their qualities or cosmogonic circumstances.
In their religion, the origin of life is justified by a duality; water and land in one side, fire and wind on the other side; the struggle between the fundamental principles: the feminine underworld and the masculine dominance.
The wixárika life is a constant struggle through mystic thoughts, in which the try to dominate the natural and supernatural powers through the power of will.
Mikiyari (Death)
In the days of old, when someone died, they buried the corpse in their house. In current day, they bury their dead in cemeteries or caves, where the corpses are tied up in cloth and buried in the surface of the ground. Before they are buried, the body is laid out next to personal objects of the defunct: for example; a bow, arrows and a quiver, a hat, shoes, a fishing net, a “bule” (a bowl used to carry water), food, and money to pay the soul’s necessities in the next life.
The corpse is laid with its head pointing West. The Mara’akame executes signals with the Muwieri pointing East, signaling the way in which the soul must travel. Five days later, a bull is killed while the singer invokes the soul of the dead. The soul of the dead, “Itaukari”, becomes materialized in the body of a fly. During the funeral, a party is made in the honor of the person who died, where the favorite foods and beverages of the person are served for its relatives to enjoy..
The corpse is laid with its head pointing West. The Mara’akame executes signals with the Muwieri pointing East, signaling the way in which the soul must travel. Five days later, a bull is killed while the singer invokes the soul of the dead. The soul of the dead, “Itaukari”, becomes materialized in the body of a fly. During the funeral, a party is made in the honor of the person who died, where the favorite foods and beverages of the person are served for its relatives to enjoy..
Tsikiri (The eye of God)
“The gods made their Tsirikiri and placed them on the four cardinal points. The fifth one was placed in the centre in order to calm the wrath of Nariwame (the corn), in order for the deity to come live with them. After this, there was an abundance of rain and the field were ready for planting. This is why the children need five small Tsirikiris, as this is how Nariwame was born. The new corn was born in red, blue, yellow, white, and purples colors. The people gathered to create the Tatei Neixa or “the fest of our mother.”
For the wixaritari, the soul “kipuri” resides in the centre of the head. When a child is born, the slight depression that is present in the forehead in the top part of the skull represents the fifth white bone that comes together to form the skull. The Wixaritari believe that babies and children can lose their souls during the first five years as this depression in the skull is present, which leaved their soul exposed before the skull is fully formed. This depression is protected by the Tsirikiri.
For the wixaritari, the soul “kipuri” resides in the centre of the head. When a child is born, the slight depression that is present in the forehead in the top part of the skull represents the fifth white bone that comes together to form the skull. The Wixaritari believe that babies and children can lose their souls during the first five years as this depression in the skull is present, which leaved their soul exposed before the skull is fully formed. This depression is protected by the Tsirikiri.
Symbolism of the Tsirikiri
- Tawawikame Nierikaya: God of the skies.
- Paristsika Nierikaya: God of the hunt.
- Yurianaika Nierikaya: God of the Earth.
- Xapawiyeme Nierikaya: God of the waters of Chapalagana.
- Tsakaimuka Nierikaya: God of the waters of Los Coras.
Offering to Nakawé
"The holiest of the caves, is the one of the mother of the gods and the vegetation, which waters shall be used by men once a year. Nakawé needs a scepter for support, as she represents the snake in the wixárika mythology.
The first two arrows are the meridional and the septentrional sides, and the other two are western and eastern; the tunic shows the most antique sampler of the wixaritari; the guts of the deer woven, and the hair covered in white hair, elaborated with pitaya.
To her feet, the cup "xukuri" to drink, with symbols that express the pleas made. Inside there are cotton flakes: clouds that bring rain, health and life, so necessary for subsistence. The armadillo "Xiyé" is the husband of the goddess, since it is an animal capable of opening burrows underground.
The first two arrows are the meridional and the septentrional sides, and the other two are western and eastern; the tunic shows the most antique sampler of the wixaritari; the guts of the deer woven, and the hair covered in white hair, elaborated with pitaya.
To her feet, the cup "xukuri" to drink, with symbols that express the pleas made. Inside there are cotton flakes: clouds that bring rain, health and life, so necessary for subsistence. The armadillo "Xiyé" is the husband of the goddess, since it is an animal capable of opening burrows underground.