Muyingwa
Encyclopedia
In Hopi mythology
, Muyingwa is one of the kachina
s (alternately spelled Katsinam) responsible for the germination
of seeds. Alosaka is another katchina responsible for growth of crops, and possibly an alternate name or alternate aspect of Muyingwa. As with other Katchinas Muyingwa and Alosaka are spirits represented by doll
s and performed with masks at ceremonies (also called kachinas). They are said to live in the San Francisco Peaks to the west of the Hopi Reservation
.
Alosaka is a two-horned sun deity. There is a priesthood (historically called a "cult", or society) around Alosaka.
Hopi mythology
The Hopi maintain a complex religious and mythological tradition stretching back over centuries. However, it is difficult to definitively state what all Hopis as a group believe. Like the oral traditions of many other societies, Hopi mythology is not always told consistently and each Hopi mesa, or...
, Muyingwa is one of the kachina
Kachina
A kachina is a spirit being in western Pueblo cosmology and religious practices. The western Pueblo, Native American cultures located in the southwestern United States, include Hopi, Zuni, Tewa Village , Acoma Pueblo, and Laguna Pueblo. The kachina cult has spread to more eastern Pueblos, e.g....
s (alternately spelled Katsinam) responsible for the germination
Germination
Germination is the process in which a plant or fungus emerges from a seed or spore, respectively, and begins growth. The most common example of germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm. However the growth of a sporeling from a spore, for example the...
of seeds. Alosaka is another katchina responsible for growth of crops, and possibly an alternate name or alternate aspect of Muyingwa. As with other Katchinas Muyingwa and Alosaka are spirits represented by doll
Doll
A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls...
s and performed with masks at ceremonies (also called kachinas). They are said to live in the San Francisco Peaks to the west of the Hopi Reservation
Hopi Reservation
The Hopi Reservation, or simply Hopi, is a Native American reservation for the Hopi and Arizona Tewa people, surrounded entirely by the Navajo Nation, in Navajo and Coconino counties of Arizona, USA. The site in north-eastern Arizona has a land area of 2,531.773 sq mi and as of the 2000 census had...
.
Alosaka is a two-horned sun deity. There is a priesthood (historically called a "cult", or society) around Alosaka.