Tawhaki and his Exploding Armpits
Sunday, 8. July 2007, 20:24:13
Kiaora folks and friends, I hope this post finds you all in the very best of health...
This is an excerpt from; TAWHAKI The deeds of a demigod. by Dr Hirini Moko Mead. It is the final chapter, chapter 11. Dr Hirini Moko Mead is a favourite of mine as he is an accomplished academic and a very fine carver 'taboot'....
This first photo is a lovely example of part of Dr Hirini Moko Mead's Turangawaewae or his tribal home. 'Mataatua', respect, Henry.
The Mataatua
This canopy protects a replica of the Mataatua canoe, one of the ancestral vessels that voyaged from Hawaiki. It rests on the Whakatāne waterfront close to the Wairaka marae, with its magnificent wharenui (meeting house), also called Mataatua. This is the accepted site of the canoe’s landfall, around 700 years ago.
11 The final deeds of Tawhaki.
Tawhaki rested for quite a long time but after a while he became bored doing nothing. Each day he did the same things. He began thinking about what else he could be doing. But the one thought that always came to him was the very one his grandmother had condemned as bad. His grandmother told him that under no circumstances should he covet the dogs ot Tama-i-waho. But no matter how hard he tried to suppress the thought, it kept coming back to him.
One day when he was sitting in the sunshine he decided that because the desire to own dogs would not go away, it was better to go and visit Tama-i-waho. That old man had hundreds of dogs. Tawhaki thought that if he were to take two or three or even four of them, the old man would never notice that some of his animals had gone. The longer he thought in this vein the more he tended to forget the cautions of his grandmother.
After a while he thought he should satisfy the urgings of his heart. He was a marvellous god. It could be that his mana was no less than that of the old priest. What, then, was wrong with him getting what he wanted ? At that, he set off for Tama-i-waho's place.
When he got near the old man's boundary he heard the pack of dogs barking. So in order not to be detected by the dogs he crept along. He was quite close to the dogs when he began calling softly, hoping that a few of them would come over to him. He used the same words as the old man to call them:'Moi, moi,moi! Come here to me dogs! Moi, moi, moi! Your'e deaf, all right,'he called, but the dogs did not hear him.
After a while he called out to them again:'Moi, moi, moi! Come towards me dogs! Moi, moi, moi! Are you dogs deaf?'
But the dogs took no notice whatever of him. They lay about basking in the sun. There was no sign of their master, Tama-i-waho. He was probably sleeping in his house.
Tawhaki called again but this time much louder:'Moi, moi, moi! Come here to me, dogs!'But not one dog heard.
Because of this he thought he should use a bigger voice and he called.'Moi, moi, moi! I am calling you, dogs! Your ears are deaf! Moi, moi, moi!'
This time the dogs heard. The whole pack came charging towards Tawhaki, barking as they came. At this Tawhaki became concerned that the old man would wake up and hear them. Sure enough, the old fellow came out of his house and began whistling his dogs. Immediately the dogs stopped. They stood still and then sat waiting.
Then the old man shouted,'Who is the dung-eater who is annoying my dogs? Come out so I can see you. If you don't come out, I will tell my dogs to rip you to pieces!'
At this Tawhaki knew he was in trouble. But he kept quiet, not revealing that he was the dung-eater referred to by Tama-i-waho. This enraged the oldman,and he called to his dogs,'Moi, moi, moi! Eat that dung-eater! Eat him. Eat him. Eat him until there is nothing left!'
At that instruction the pack of dogs charged. They came running at full speed, barking all the while. Tawhaki heard the anger in the dogs' barking. So he stretched out his arms and lightning flashed from his armpits. The dogs howled with pain. Some died instantly, incinerated by the lightning. Some began to screech and others began to wobble on their feet. And now the old man realised it was Tawhaki who had come to steal his dogs.
He called out to him, Tawhaki! Tawhaki! You have done wrong, my son. Why did you covet my dogs, instead of coming to ask for some? It is not good to covet the possessions of others. You come like a thief of the earth, who steals in the night. I gave you many precious gifts to benefit the people of the earth. And now you turn around and steal my dogs.'
Indeed the old man was angry with Tawhaki and thought of killing him there and then. Athought that came to him was to throw Tawhaki down to earth as a lesson to the people of earth as to what happens to a god who does not take heed of the instructions of the elders. But he allowed that thought to pass by.
He found a better solution. Then he voiced his alternative:'My son, do not make the mistake of thinking that your powers are as great as mine. Even though you can make lightning flash from your armpits, you are not able to do the things that I can.
Now see if you can kill me.
At this challenge Tawhaki stretched forth his arms and great bolts of lightning flashed from his armpits. The old man staggered a bit but he did not die. And he began to laugh.
He said,'Do your damndest, my son! Nothing will happen to me. It is you who would die if I had a mind to kill you. Now listen. Because of what you have done I shal banish you to the sixth heaven. I shall never agree to you staying here at Naherangi. You do not belong here; you belong to that other place. You and your wife are banished forever to the sixth heaven, The Gods. As for your daughter, I shall banish her for a short time to the earth. But after a while, when she has finished her work there, I will bring her back here.'
The old man pointed his finger at Tawhaki and immediately a huge white cloud came and swept Tawhaki away, carrying him to where Tangotango was sitting, and she, too, was swept up and the two of them were flung towards The Gods.
They were prevented by Tama-i-waho from ever going back to the tenth heaven. And so Tawhaki remains in his own domain in space.
So Tawhaki's permanent home is The Gods, the sixth heaven. Below are the Learned Ones, the fifth heaven, for students persuing knowledge and learning karakia. Below that is The Essence of Health, the fourth heaven for the children, the sick, the poor, the orphans, the widows and widowers - for all those people who are seeking good health and well-being. These three heavens comprise the domain of Tawhaki. He looks after them and stands between the humans and Tama-i-waho, who lives at Naherangi.
Tawhaki and Tangotango stayed at The Gods and made their home there. This ended the marvellous adventures of Tawhaki. The prophecies had been fulfilled. From that time to this, Tawhaki and Tangotango are still together. Even though many centuries have elapsed they have not become bent with age. Because they are gods and stay at The Gods they will never age. Tangotango remains a beautiful woman and her body stays youthful. Her sign is that of The Fish of the Sky {The Milky Way} which is a family of stars that can be seen twinkling every night.
Likewise Tawhaki: his body remains youthful as well - strong, muscular, beautifully shaped - and he will be like that for ever. When the lightning flashes, that is Tawhaki letting us know that he is still there. His sign is The Lightning. When the flashing of lightning is followed by crashing thunder that is Tawhaki's grandmother, Whaitiri, who wants to be remembered.
Tawhaki has great regard for priests and for scholars and students who are involved in education and prayers. When the priests of great renown die their spirits are towards The Gods. These spirits are not permitted to go to Te Reinga; instead they must journey up to the heavens. Their special task is to continue learning incantations, to discuss the principles of incantations and to watch the priests on earth. Sometimes they laugh at the efforts of the earthly priests.
As for the prayers which Tawhaki obtained from Tama-i-waho, he has them still. Those really desiring them must use prayer to get them; that is to say, they must ask Tawhaki the great, son of Hema, for them. This is because he obtained them on behalf of humans and for all priests. If the request is genuine, is right and is founded upon humility and single-mindedness he would probably agree that the person who made the request become a novice of Tawhaki the great, son of Hema.
One particular karakia was called Te Mata-taketake. This incantation would put people permanently to sleep - that is, it would kill them! This was a very difficult incantation to get from Tawhaki and very few tribes were able to aquire it. The few fortunate tribes attached the mate taketake to a very sacred altar and left it there. When it was needed the priest in charge of it would go to the altar and activate the incantation. This was one of the most sacred incantations because it had within it the potential for both good and evil.
Arahuta was whisked away to earth by a white cloud. She brought with her the custom of dedication. Arahuta joined the human race for a time and took part in some of their activities. She found a husband and brought up some children, all of noble birth. And it is from them that the chiefly lines of the canoes are descended. In the case of Mataatua the genealogy begins with Hema and comes down to Tawhaki, then Arawhita-i-te-rangi and eventually down to Toroa, captain of the 'Mataatua' canoe. The name Te Arawhita is still used amoung the Mataatua people.
It was when Arahuta returned to the heavens that her name was changed to Arawhita-i-te-rangi, or Sacred Pathway from Heaven. The name means that she is the pathway from heaven to establish the custom of dedication to the gods. So she is guardian of the children, one who loves them, and the person who ensures that the dedication ritual is maintained in accordance with the model she brought to earth.
Hine-piripiri, Tawhaki's first wife, became the mother and protector or those who look after people who are sick or hurt. Tawhaki's first family descended from Hine-piripiri. Tawhaki and Hine-piripiri begat Wahieroa who married Kura. In the name of their child, Wahieroa, is remembered the incident of the log cut down to give life to Tawhaki. The log was used as firewood, hence the name Wahie {firewood} roa [long}. Wahieroa was murdered by Matuku-tangotango and so Rata, son of Wahieroa, waged a big battle with Matuku-tangtango. Rata married Tonga-rau-tawhiri and begat Tuwhakararo who in turn begat Whakatau. There is a long story to tell about this family and many chiefly families among the canoes can trace descent from them.
These, then, are the stories of Tawhaki the great, son of Hema. His marvellous deeds are still celebrated in songs such as laments, and spoken about in legends, proverbs and prayers of this world. His name is given to the oceans of Aotearoa, New Zealand - to the Tasman Sea, to the seas on the western side of the North Island, and to the seas off the eastern and southern coasts of the South Island. They are called The Rough Seas of Tawhaki. One of his signs on earth is the rata tree. In the region of Mataatua this tree is regarded as sacred because its flowers are described as The Eyes of Tawhaki. At the appropriate time his eyes are seen on earth and at other times they cannot be seen.
The pathway towards him cannot be climbed by human beings. It is only by recourse to prayers that the wishes of people can be granted. Tawhaki will not be forgotten.
This is an excerpt from; TAWHAKI The deeds of a demigod. by Dr Hirini Moko Mead. It is the final chapter, chapter 11. Dr Hirini Moko Mead is a favourite of mine as he is an accomplished academic and a very fine carver 'taboot'....
This first photo is a lovely example of part of Dr Hirini Moko Mead's Turangawaewae or his tribal home. 'Mataatua', respect, Henry.
The Mataatua
This canopy protects a replica of the Mataatua canoe, one of the ancestral vessels that voyaged from Hawaiki. It rests on the Whakatāne waterfront close to the Wairaka marae, with its magnificent wharenui (meeting house), also called Mataatua. This is the accepted site of the canoe’s landfall, around 700 years ago.
11 The final deeds of Tawhaki.
Tawhaki rested for quite a long time but after a while he became bored doing nothing. Each day he did the same things. He began thinking about what else he could be doing. But the one thought that always came to him was the very one his grandmother had condemned as bad. His grandmother told him that under no circumstances should he covet the dogs ot Tama-i-waho. But no matter how hard he tried to suppress the thought, it kept coming back to him.
One day when he was sitting in the sunshine he decided that because the desire to own dogs would not go away, it was better to go and visit Tama-i-waho. That old man had hundreds of dogs. Tawhaki thought that if he were to take two or three or even four of them, the old man would never notice that some of his animals had gone. The longer he thought in this vein the more he tended to forget the cautions of his grandmother.
After a while he thought he should satisfy the urgings of his heart. He was a marvellous god. It could be that his mana was no less than that of the old priest. What, then, was wrong with him getting what he wanted ? At that, he set off for Tama-i-waho's place.
When he got near the old man's boundary he heard the pack of dogs barking. So in order not to be detected by the dogs he crept along. He was quite close to the dogs when he began calling softly, hoping that a few of them would come over to him. He used the same words as the old man to call them:'Moi, moi,moi! Come here to me dogs! Moi, moi, moi! Your'e deaf, all right,'he called, but the dogs did not hear him.
After a while he called out to them again:'Moi, moi, moi! Come towards me dogs! Moi, moi, moi! Are you dogs deaf?'
But the dogs took no notice whatever of him. They lay about basking in the sun. There was no sign of their master, Tama-i-waho. He was probably sleeping in his house.
Tawhaki called again but this time much louder:'Moi, moi, moi! Come here to me, dogs!'But not one dog heard.
Because of this he thought he should use a bigger voice and he called.'Moi, moi, moi! I am calling you, dogs! Your ears are deaf! Moi, moi, moi!'
This time the dogs heard. The whole pack came charging towards Tawhaki, barking as they came. At this Tawhaki became concerned that the old man would wake up and hear them. Sure enough, the old fellow came out of his house and began whistling his dogs. Immediately the dogs stopped. They stood still and then sat waiting.
Then the old man shouted,'Who is the dung-eater who is annoying my dogs? Come out so I can see you. If you don't come out, I will tell my dogs to rip you to pieces!'
At this Tawhaki knew he was in trouble. But he kept quiet, not revealing that he was the dung-eater referred to by Tama-i-waho. This enraged the oldman,and he called to his dogs,'Moi, moi, moi! Eat that dung-eater! Eat him. Eat him. Eat him until there is nothing left!'
At that instruction the pack of dogs charged. They came running at full speed, barking all the while. Tawhaki heard the anger in the dogs' barking. So he stretched out his arms and lightning flashed from his armpits. The dogs howled with pain. Some died instantly, incinerated by the lightning. Some began to screech and others began to wobble on their feet. And now the old man realised it was Tawhaki who had come to steal his dogs.
He called out to him, Tawhaki! Tawhaki! You have done wrong, my son. Why did you covet my dogs, instead of coming to ask for some? It is not good to covet the possessions of others. You come like a thief of the earth, who steals in the night. I gave you many precious gifts to benefit the people of the earth. And now you turn around and steal my dogs.'
Indeed the old man was angry with Tawhaki and thought of killing him there and then. Athought that came to him was to throw Tawhaki down to earth as a lesson to the people of earth as to what happens to a god who does not take heed of the instructions of the elders. But he allowed that thought to pass by.
He found a better solution. Then he voiced his alternative:'My son, do not make the mistake of thinking that your powers are as great as mine. Even though you can make lightning flash from your armpits, you are not able to do the things that I can.
Now see if you can kill me.
At this challenge Tawhaki stretched forth his arms and great bolts of lightning flashed from his armpits. The old man staggered a bit but he did not die. And he began to laugh.
He said,'Do your damndest, my son! Nothing will happen to me. It is you who would die if I had a mind to kill you. Now listen. Because of what you have done I shal banish you to the sixth heaven. I shall never agree to you staying here at Naherangi. You do not belong here; you belong to that other place. You and your wife are banished forever to the sixth heaven, The Gods. As for your daughter, I shall banish her for a short time to the earth. But after a while, when she has finished her work there, I will bring her back here.'
The old man pointed his finger at Tawhaki and immediately a huge white cloud came and swept Tawhaki away, carrying him to where Tangotango was sitting, and she, too, was swept up and the two of them were flung towards The Gods.
They were prevented by Tama-i-waho from ever going back to the tenth heaven. And so Tawhaki remains in his own domain in space.
So Tawhaki's permanent home is The Gods, the sixth heaven. Below are the Learned Ones, the fifth heaven, for students persuing knowledge and learning karakia. Below that is The Essence of Health, the fourth heaven for the children, the sick, the poor, the orphans, the widows and widowers - for all those people who are seeking good health and well-being. These three heavens comprise the domain of Tawhaki. He looks after them and stands between the humans and Tama-i-waho, who lives at Naherangi.
Tawhaki and Tangotango stayed at The Gods and made their home there. This ended the marvellous adventures of Tawhaki. The prophecies had been fulfilled. From that time to this, Tawhaki and Tangotango are still together. Even though many centuries have elapsed they have not become bent with age. Because they are gods and stay at The Gods they will never age. Tangotango remains a beautiful woman and her body stays youthful. Her sign is that of The Fish of the Sky {The Milky Way} which is a family of stars that can be seen twinkling every night.
Likewise Tawhaki: his body remains youthful as well - strong, muscular, beautifully shaped - and he will be like that for ever. When the lightning flashes, that is Tawhaki letting us know that he is still there. His sign is The Lightning. When the flashing of lightning is followed by crashing thunder that is Tawhaki's grandmother, Whaitiri, who wants to be remembered.
Tawhaki has great regard for priests and for scholars and students who are involved in education and prayers. When the priests of great renown die their spirits are towards The Gods. These spirits are not permitted to go to Te Reinga; instead they must journey up to the heavens. Their special task is to continue learning incantations, to discuss the principles of incantations and to watch the priests on earth. Sometimes they laugh at the efforts of the earthly priests.
As for the prayers which Tawhaki obtained from Tama-i-waho, he has them still. Those really desiring them must use prayer to get them; that is to say, they must ask Tawhaki the great, son of Hema, for them. This is because he obtained them on behalf of humans and for all priests. If the request is genuine, is right and is founded upon humility and single-mindedness he would probably agree that the person who made the request become a novice of Tawhaki the great, son of Hema.
One particular karakia was called Te Mata-taketake. This incantation would put people permanently to sleep - that is, it would kill them! This was a very difficult incantation to get from Tawhaki and very few tribes were able to aquire it. The few fortunate tribes attached the mate taketake to a very sacred altar and left it there. When it was needed the priest in charge of it would go to the altar and activate the incantation. This was one of the most sacred incantations because it had within it the potential for both good and evil.
Arahuta was whisked away to earth by a white cloud. She brought with her the custom of dedication. Arahuta joined the human race for a time and took part in some of their activities. She found a husband and brought up some children, all of noble birth. And it is from them that the chiefly lines of the canoes are descended. In the case of Mataatua the genealogy begins with Hema and comes down to Tawhaki, then Arawhita-i-te-rangi and eventually down to Toroa, captain of the 'Mataatua' canoe. The name Te Arawhita is still used amoung the Mataatua people.
It was when Arahuta returned to the heavens that her name was changed to Arawhita-i-te-rangi, or Sacred Pathway from Heaven. The name means that she is the pathway from heaven to establish the custom of dedication to the gods. So she is guardian of the children, one who loves them, and the person who ensures that the dedication ritual is maintained in accordance with the model she brought to earth.
Hine-piripiri, Tawhaki's first wife, became the mother and protector or those who look after people who are sick or hurt. Tawhaki's first family descended from Hine-piripiri. Tawhaki and Hine-piripiri begat Wahieroa who married Kura. In the name of their child, Wahieroa, is remembered the incident of the log cut down to give life to Tawhaki. The log was used as firewood, hence the name Wahie {firewood} roa [long}. Wahieroa was murdered by Matuku-tangotango and so Rata, son of Wahieroa, waged a big battle with Matuku-tangtango. Rata married Tonga-rau-tawhiri and begat Tuwhakararo who in turn begat Whakatau. There is a long story to tell about this family and many chiefly families among the canoes can trace descent from them.
These, then, are the stories of Tawhaki the great, son of Hema. His marvellous deeds are still celebrated in songs such as laments, and spoken about in legends, proverbs and prayers of this world. His name is given to the oceans of Aotearoa, New Zealand - to the Tasman Sea, to the seas on the western side of the North Island, and to the seas off the eastern and southern coasts of the South Island. They are called The Rough Seas of Tawhaki. One of his signs on earth is the rata tree. In the region of Mataatua this tree is regarded as sacred because its flowers are described as The Eyes of Tawhaki. At the appropriate time his eyes are seen on earth and at other times they cannot be seen.
The pathway towards him cannot be climbed by human beings. It is only by recourse to prayers that the wishes of people can be granted. Tawhaki will not be forgotten.
