THE PLAINS INDIANS CONSIDERED THE BUFFALO AS AN INTERMEDIARY WITH THE CREATOR. ACCORDING TO THE SIOUX, A BUFFALO IN HUMAN FORM BROUGHT THEM MANY IMPORTANT RITES. THEIR WAKAN TANKA OR SUPREME SPIRIT SENT A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN DRESSED IN A WHITE BUCKSIN OUTFIT. SHE HAD A TWO-PIECE PIPE WHICH SHE GAVE TO THE SIOUX AS A SACRED OBJECT. SHE EXPLAINED THAT IT REPRESENTED THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE. THE SMOKE FROM THE PEACE PIPE REPRESENTED A DUAL FUNCTION - IT CARRIED PRAYERS TO THE SPIRIT ANCESTORS. AND IMPARTED STRENGTH TO THE SMOKERS. AFTER SHE GAVE THEM THE PIPER SHE TRANSFORMED HERSELF INTO A WHITE BUFFALO CALF.
SHE ALSO GAVE THE SIOUX THE 7 RITES CENTRAL TO THEIR RELIGION: VISION QUEST, PURIFICATION IN THE SWEAT LODGE, FUNERAL RITES TO ENSURE THE SOUL OF THE DEAD ARE RETURNED TO THE GREAT SPIRIT, AND PUBERTY RITES FOR GIRLS.
A MAN CALLED KABLAYA RECEIVED A VISION REFERRING TO A NEW FORM OF PRAYER TO RESTORE THE FAITH OF THE PEOPLE. IT WAS CALLED THE SUN DANCE.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment