Karakia
Encyclopedia
Karakia are Māori incantations and prayers
.
Karakia are generally used to ensure a favourable outcome of important undertakings. They are also considered a formal greeting when beginning a ceremony
. According to legend
, in the village of Ruatoria
, there was a curse on the Waiapu River
which was lifted when Hori Keeti performed karakia.
In the Māori religion
, karakia are used to ritually cleanse
the homes of the deceased after a burial.
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
.
Karakia are generally used to ensure a favourable outcome of important undertakings. They are also considered a formal greeting when beginning a ceremony
Ceremony
A ceremony is an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan origin.-Ceremonial occasions:A ceremony may mark a rite of passage in a human life, marking the significance of, for example:* birth...
. According to legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
, in the village of Ruatoria
Ruatoria
The town of Ruatoria is located in the East Coast region of New Zealand's North Island. It is the second largest centre of population in the sparsely populated region, yet has a population of only 900 .- Geography :...
, there was a curse on the Waiapu River
Waiapu River
The Waiapu River is a 90-kilometre long river of the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Flowing from the Raukumara Range, it passes through Ruatoria before reaching the Pacific Ocean at Rangitukia...
which was lifted when Hori Keeti performed karakia.
In the Māori religion
Maori religion
Māori religion is the religious beliefs and practice of the Māori, the Polynesian indigenous people of New Zealand.-Traditional Māori religion:...
, karakia are used to ritually cleanse
Ritual
A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers....
the homes of the deceased after a burial.