Māui (mitologi Polinesia) Māui

Ringkasan

Māui adalah pahlawan budaya dan tokoh penipu cerdik dalam mitologi Polinesia, yang dikenal lewat perbuatan seperti memancing pulau, mencuri api, dan memperlambat Matahari.

Māui is the great culture hero and trickster of Polynesian mythology, known for exploits such as fishing up islands, stealing fire and slowing the Sun.

Kisah dan tradisi

Māui adalah pahlawan budaya sekaligus tokoh penipu dalam mitologi Polinesia. Ia sangat jarang disembah; ia lebih dipandang sebagai pahlawan rakyat daripada dewa. Westervelt menyebutnya salah satu demigod Polinesia yang orang tuanya termasuk makhluk gaib, dengan kekuatan supernatural dan mantra. Kisah petualangan Māui diceritakan di sebagian besar Polinesia dan dapat dilacak sampai ke pulau-pulau di dekat New Guinea. Perbuatan yang umum di kebanyakan tradisi adalah mencuri api dari dunia bawah, memancing pulau dengan kail sakti, dan menangkap Matahari untuk memperpanjang hari. Meski dikatakan sangat nakal, banyak perbuatannya bertujuan memperbaiki hidup sesamanya. Asal-usul Māui berbeda dari satu budaya ke budaya lain, termasuk orang tuanya, status ilahinya, dan bentuk beberapa mitos utama. Menurut Westervelt, ia kadang disebut Maui-Tiki-Tiki atau Maui-po-tiki. Dalam tradisi Hawaii ia dikreditkan dengan menarik gugusan pulau dari dasar samudra, sedangkan kisah Māori menjadikan ikan raksasa tangkapannya Pulau Utara Selandia Baru. Dalam salah satu versi, tipu daya terakhir Māui berujung pada kematiannya dan melibatkan Hine-nui-te-pō, dewi kematian dan dunia bawah.

Māui is the culture hero and trickster of Polynesian mythology. He was very rarely worshipped and is regarded more as a folk hero than a deity. Westervelt calls him one of the Polynesian demi-gods, whose parents belonged to the family of supernatural beings and who had supernatural powers and enchantments. Tales of Māui's adventures are told throughout most of Polynesia and can be traced as far west as islands off New Guinea. Exploits common to most traditions are stealing fire from the underworld, fishing up islands with a magic hook and capturing the Sun to lengthen the days. Though said to be very rascally, many of his deeds improved the lives of others. Māui's origins vary from culture to culture, including his parentage, divine status and the form of several major myths. According to Westervelt he is sometimes called Maui-Tiki-Tiki or Maui-po-tiki. In Hawaiian tradition he is credited with pulling island groups up from the ocean depths, while the Māori account makes the giant fish he caught the North Island of New Zealand. In one version his final trick ended in his death and brought him into contact with Hine-nui-te-pō, goddess of death and the underworld.

Konteks budaya

Meski dikenal nakal, banyak perbuatan Māui bertujuan memperbaiki kehidupan sesama manusia.

Although known as rascally, many of Māui's deeds were to better the lives of his fellow people.

Fakta utama

Budaya / Culture: Tradisi Polinesia
Kawasan / Region: Oseania
Negara / Country: New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa
Klasifikasi / Classification: Legendary Figure
Kemampuan / Abilities: Mantra dan sihir

Nama lain / Alternate names

Maui, Maui-Tiki-Tiki, Maui-po-tiki

Tahukah kamu? / Did you know?

Westervelt mencatat bahwa orang Samoa menceritakan kisah menjerat matahari tanpa menyebut nama Maui; mereka mengatakan jerat itu dilemparkan oleh anak matahari sendiri.

Westervelt records that the Samoans tell the story of snaring the sun without mentioning Maui; they say the snare was cast by a child of the sun itself.