Tau (mythology)
Encyclopedia
Tau is the name of an evil spirit in Guaraní mythology
. Although Tau is not quite synonymous with the Devil
in Christian
beliefs, for example, he was sometimes referred to as The Evil Spirit and as such may have been a personification of evil itself. Tau was created along with his opposite, Angatupyry, by the supreme god of the Guaraní creation myth, Tupa
, and left with humanity on Earth
.
Tau found himself enamored by a woman named Kerana
, the daughter of Marangatu, who lived among the Guaraní tribe. Tau disguised himself as a handsome young man and wooed her for seven days before deciding to kidnap her, but his plot was foiled by Angatupyry, the Guaraní spirit of goodness, essentially Tau's opposite. Tau and Angatupry fought each other for seven days and seven nights in a fairly stereotypical "Good vs Evil" fight until he was at last defeated. Following his defeat, he was exiled from the land by Pytajovái, the god of war and valour.
Tau would not be so easily defeated. In spite of his expulsion he was able to return and kidnap the beautiful Kerana. It is generally assumed that he raped her while keeping her in captivity, although the tale is often told differently because the Guaraní did not have a written language, and some accounts tell of Tau and Kerana being married. Whichever the case, the product of Tau and Kerana's intercourse was seven children who were cursed by the goddess Arasy and born as monsters. Each of the seven were revered or feared, each possessing different abilities and traits, central to Guaraní lore.
The seven children were, in order of birth:
Guaraní mythology
The Guaraní people live in south-central part of South America, especially in Paraguay and parts of the surrounding areas of Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia.-Overview:There exist no written records of the ancient myths and legends associated with the Guaraní people...
. Although Tau is not quite synonymous with the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
in Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
beliefs, for example, he was sometimes referred to as The Evil Spirit and as such may have been a personification of evil itself. Tau was created along with his opposite, Angatupyry, by the supreme god of the Guaraní creation myth, Tupa
Tupá
Tupá is a village and municipality in the Levice District in the Nitra Region of Slovakia.-Geography:The village lies at an altitude of 130 metres and covers an area of 11.97km². It has a population of about 620 people.-External links:...
, and left with humanity on Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
.
Tau found himself enamored by a woman named Kerana
Kerana
Kerana is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.-References:*...
, the daughter of Marangatu, who lived among the Guaraní tribe. Tau disguised himself as a handsome young man and wooed her for seven days before deciding to kidnap her, but his plot was foiled by Angatupyry, the Guaraní spirit of goodness, essentially Tau's opposite. Tau and Angatupry fought each other for seven days and seven nights in a fairly stereotypical "Good vs Evil" fight until he was at last defeated. Following his defeat, he was exiled from the land by Pytajovái, the god of war and valour.
Tau would not be so easily defeated. In spite of his expulsion he was able to return and kidnap the beautiful Kerana. It is generally assumed that he raped her while keeping her in captivity, although the tale is often told differently because the Guaraní did not have a written language, and some accounts tell of Tau and Kerana being married. Whichever the case, the product of Tau and Kerana's intercourse was seven children who were cursed by the goddess Arasy and born as monsters. Each of the seven were revered or feared, each possessing different abilities and traits, central to Guaraní lore.
The seven children were, in order of birth:
- Teju JaguaTeju JaguaTeju Jagua is the first son of Tau and Kerana and one of the seven legendary monsters of Guaraní mythology.Because of the curse placed upon Tau by Arasy for raping Kerana, Tau's descendents were forever cursed to a derformed and monstrous appearance....
, a half-lizard, half-dog creature considered lord of caverns and protector of fruits - Mbói Tu'ĩMbói Tu'iMbói Tu'i is one of the seven legendary monsters of Guaraní mythology. He is the second son of Tau and Kerana.Mbói Tu'i literally translates to "snake-parrot" which describes this creatures appearance....
, a giant snake with the head of a parrot, lord of rivers and protector of aquatic life - MoñáiMoñáiMoñái is the third son of Tau and Kerana and one of the seven legendary monsters of Guaraní mythology.This creature has an enormous serpent-like body was two straight, colorful horns which serve as antennas....
, a giant horned snake said to be the lord and protector of the fields - Jasy Jaterei, said to appear as a fair child, lord of the siestaSiestaA siesta is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after the midday meal. Such a period of sleep is a common tradition in some countries, particularly those where the weather is warm....
- KurupiKurupiKurupira is the name of one of the important figures in Guaraní mythology. He is one of the seven monstrous children of Tau and Kerana, and as such is one of the central legendary figures in the region of Guaraní speaking cultures...
, a small and ugly man with a large penis, god of sexuality (or fertility) - Ao AoAo AoAo Ao is the name of a monstrous creature from Guaraní mythology. As one of the cursed sons of Tau and Kerana, it is one of the central mythological creatures among Guaraní-speaking cultures....
, appeared as perhaps a monstrous sheep or peccaryPeccaryA peccary is a medium-sized mammal of the family Tayassuidae, or New World Pigs. Peccaries are members of the artiodactyl suborder Suina, as are the pig family and possibly the hippopotamus family...
, lord of hills and mountains - LuisonLuisonLuison, Luisõ or Lobison is the name of a monstrous creature from Guaraní mythology. Being one of the seven cursed children of Tau and Kerana, the Luison is one of the primary figures of legend in Guaraní-speaking cultures today, such as Paraguay...
, a dog-like human, lord of death and protector of cemeteries