Name ▲▼ | Origin ▲▼ | Description ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
God name "Hastseyalti" | Navaho | Talking God, God of the dawn and the eastern sky. Navaho |
God name "Hastseyalti (talking elder)" | Navaho / USA | Chief of gods. Not regarded as a creator deity, but god of the dawn and the eastern sky. Also guardian of animals in the hunt and, possibly, of corn. Regarded as a benevolent deity who aids mankind and cures disease. He also has a malevolent aspect in which he can cast evil spells. His priest invokes him in a ceremonial dance wearing a white mask with a symbol consisting of a corn stalk with two ears. At the bottom is a horizontal yellow band representing evening light, with eight vertical black strokes representing Rain. Also Yebitsai.... |
Spirit name "Hastsezini" | Navaho | Male spirit of fire Navaho |
Deities name "Hastsezini" | Navaho / USA | God of fire. A black god who is reclusive and generally apart from other deities. He is the inventor of fire and of the fire drill and board. His priest dresses in black and wears a black mask with white-bordered eye and mouth holes. The ceremonial fire drill is made from cedarwood.... |
Spirit name "Hatdastsisi" | Navaho | Benevolent male spirit who helps cure disease Navaho |
God name "Hatdastsisi" | Navaho / USA | God. A benevolent deity, he cures disease through the medium of his priest, who flagellates the affected parts. His home is believed to be near Tsegihi in New Mexico. Sacrifices to Hatdastsisi are made up from reeds decorated with a design representing the blue yucca plant, which is buried in the earth to the east of the tribal lodge. His priest wears a buckskin mask decorated with owl feathers, and a spruce collar, but otherwise ordinary Navaho dress with white buckskin leggings.... |
"Iyatiku" | Pueblo / Navaho | The mother of maize and humans. Pueblo / Navaho |
God name "Klehanoai (night-bearer)" | Navaho / USA | moon god. According to tradition, he was created at the same primordial time as the dawn, from a crystal bordered with white shells. His face is said to be covered with sheet lightning and the sacred primeval waters. The moon disc is actually a shield behind which the god moves invisibly across the night sky. He is never impersonated or depicted. Also Tlehanoai.... |
Spirit name "Koyote" | North American Indian | Tutelary god. Recognized by several tribes, including the Navaho and Apache. He acts as a cult hero who intercedes with more remote creator spirits and teaches the Indian.... |
God name "Koyote or Coyote" | Navaho | At the time Coyote danced to make the corn grow, the story of the Great God Coyote commences. This is where Coyote first used his power given to him by the gods. At a Yeibache, ye'i·bicai, the people will dress up a poor man to look and act like Coyote. First Man told him to do many things. The other gods had the power, but they did not have the knowledge. First Man and First Woman were jealous of the others trying to grow corn and did not give them the knowledge to grow corn. They sent Coyote to go and make the corn grow. First Man and First Woman are themselves not to do such things, but they will have a hand in such things and send Coyote as their representative. Towards the end of the life of Coyote, he became almost mad with his power and it was taken from him because of this. Navaho |
Goddess name "Naeeeegaaei (slayer of alien gods)" | Navaho / USA | God of war. The most powerful of the Navaho war gods. The son of the Sun god TSOHANOAI and the fertility goddess ESTSANATLEHI. According to tradition, he vanquished a race of giants who had nearly destroyed the human race. He is a benevolent god, ready to help mankind in times of trouble. He also cures diseases brought about through witchcraft. Said to live at the junction of two rivers in the San Juan valley, he is invoked by warriors preparing for battle. His priest wears a buckskin bag mask, painted black and adorned with five zigzag lightning streaks, the eye and mouth holes covered with white sea shells. He also wears a fox skin collar, a crimson cloth around the hips and a leather belt with silver ornamentation, but is otherwise naked. No depictions are made of this deity.... |
God name "Nayenezgani" | Navaho | The most powerful war god |
God name "Tienoltsodi" | Navaho | He is the god of oceans & fresh water to, he controls all waters that fall on the earth but none of those in the heavens |
God name "Tienoltsodi" | Navaho / USA | God of oceans and fresh water. He controls the waters which have fallen on earth, as distinct from those in the heavens, which are ruled by the Rain god TONENILI.... |
God name "To'nenile" | Navaho | God of Rain. Navaho |
God name "Tobadzistsini" | Navaho | A Minor war god |
God name "Tobadzistsini" | Navaho | God of war. Navaho |
God name "Tobadzistsini" | Navaho | Child of water and son of Tsohanoai, the Sun god. Minor war god. Navaho |