Pulotu
Encyclopedia
In the mythology of parts of western Polynesia
(specifically Tonga
and Samoa
), Pulotu is the underworld
, the world of darkness (as opposed to the human world of light).
Pulotu may be represented as the paradise from which the gods came and to which the souls of deceased chiefs go. (Commoners were not supposed to have souls). In some accounts, according to Craig, Pulotu is a jumping-off place of spirits on their way to the underworld.
This word pulotu may or may not be related with the word purotu (and variants) found in many eastern Polynesian languages, meaning beautiful (person).
, Pulotu is presided over by Havea Hikuleo
. In Tongan cosmology the sky, the sea, and Pulotu existed from the beginning, and the gods lived there. The first land they made for the people was Touiaifutuna (trapped in Futuna), which was only a rock. There are suggestions that for Tonga and Samoa, Pulotu refers to a real country, in fact Matuku in the Lau Islands
. Tonga and Samoa would have been vassals or tributary confederates of the Tui Pulotu
network in Fiji, which was in turn overshadowed by the Tui Manu'a confederacy of Samoa (which was overturned by the Tu'i Tonga dynasty of Tonga).
After the independence struggle by Hikuleo and his cousins Maui Motua
and Tangaloa Eiki
, they renamed Touiaifutuna into Tongamamao. Only after that the other islands were made (the volcanic islands by Hikuleo and the coral islands by Maui). Finally Tongamamao was renamed, for the last time, as Tonga.
Hikuleo is supposed to have married a daughter of Tangaloa Eiki.
, Pulotu is presided over by the god Saveasi'uleo
(also referred to as Elo), whose name reveals a similarity to the Tongan god Havea Hikuleo
. Saveasi'uleo is the father of Nafanua
the Goddess of War in Samoa, from the village of Falealupo
, the site of the entryway into Pulotu.
Spirits enter Pulotu at Le Fafa at Falealupo village.
Polynesian mythology
Polynesian mythology is the oral traditions of the people of Polynesia, a grouping of Central and South Pacific Ocean island archipelagos in the Polynesian triangle together with the scattered cultures known as the Polynesian outliers...
(specifically Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
and Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
), Pulotu is the underworld
Underworld
The Underworld is a region which is thought to be under the surface of the earth in some religions and in mythologies. It could be a place where the souls of the recently departed go, and in some traditions it is identified with Hell or the realm of death...
, the world of darkness (as opposed to the human world of light).
Pulotu may be represented as the paradise from which the gods came and to which the souls of deceased chiefs go. (Commoners were not supposed to have souls). In some accounts, according to Craig, Pulotu is a jumping-off place of spirits on their way to the underworld.
This word pulotu may or may not be related with the word purotu (and variants) found in many eastern Polynesian languages, meaning beautiful (person).
Tonga
In Tongan mythologyTongan mythology
Tongan mythology is a variant of a more general Polynesian mythology in Tonga.-Creation myth:In the beginning there was just the sea, and the spirit world, Pulotu; and between them was a rock called Touiao Futuna...
, Pulotu is presided over by Havea Hikuleo
Hikule'o
In the mythology of Tonga, Havea Hikuleo is the god of the world, Pulotu. The islands of Kao, Tofua, Hunga Haapai, Hunga Tonga, Late and Fonualei came from stones thrown down from the skies by Hikuleo. They are all volcanic islands...
. In Tongan cosmology the sky, the sea, and Pulotu existed from the beginning, and the gods lived there. The first land they made for the people was Touiaifutuna (trapped in Futuna), which was only a rock. There are suggestions that for Tonga and Samoa, Pulotu refers to a real country, in fact Matuku in the Lau Islands
Lau Islands
The Lau Islands of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about one hundred islands and islets, about thirty are inhabited...
. Tonga and Samoa would have been vassals or tributary confederates of the Tui Pulotu
Tu'i Pulotu
The Tu'i Pulotu is believed to be the head of an ancient group of people that settled in Pulotu during the Lapita period...
network in Fiji, which was in turn overshadowed by the Tui Manu'a confederacy of Samoa (which was overturned by the Tu'i Tonga dynasty of Tonga).
After the independence struggle by Hikuleo and his cousins Maui Motua
Maui (Tongan mythology)
In Tonga, Maui drew up the Tongan Islands from the deep: first appeared Lofaga and the other Haapai Islands, and finally Vavau. Maui then dwelt in Tonga. Maui had two sons: the eldest, Maui Atalaga, and the younger Kisikisi. The latter discovered the secret of fire, and taught people the art of...
and Tangaloa Eiki
Tangaloa (Tongan mythology)
Tangaloa was an important family of gods in Tongan mythology. The first Tangaloa was the cousin of Havea Hikuleo and Maui, or in some sources the brother or son or father of them. He was Tangaloa Eiki Tangaloa was an important family of gods in Tongan mythology. The first Tangaloa was the cousin of...
, they renamed Touiaifutuna into Tongamamao. Only after that the other islands were made (the volcanic islands by Hikuleo and the coral islands by Maui). Finally Tongamamao was renamed, for the last time, as Tonga.
Hikuleo is supposed to have married a daughter of Tangaloa Eiki.
Samoa
In the mythology of SāmoaSamoan mythology
Samoan mythology tell stories of many different gods. There were gods of the forest, the seas, rain, harvest, villages and war. There were two types of gods, atua who had non-human origins and aitu who were of human origin. Tagaloa was a supreme god who made the islands and the people. Mafui'e was...
, Pulotu is presided over by the god Saveasi'uleo
Saveasi'uleo
Saveasi'uleo is the God of Pulotu, the underworld of spirits or Hades in Samoan mythology.He is the father of Nafanua the Goddess of War in Samoa...
(also referred to as Elo), whose name reveals a similarity to the Tongan god Havea Hikuleo
Hikule'o
In the mythology of Tonga, Havea Hikuleo is the god of the world, Pulotu. The islands of Kao, Tofua, Hunga Haapai, Hunga Tonga, Late and Fonualei came from stones thrown down from the skies by Hikuleo. They are all volcanic islands...
. Saveasi'uleo is the father of Nafanua
Nafanua
Nafanua is the name of the revered Goddess of War in Samoa and a deity in Polynesian Mythology.According to Samoan mythology, Nafanua was the daughter of Saveasi'uleo, the God of Pulotu, Samoa's spirit world. In one legend, Nafanua's mother was Tilafaiga the sister of Taema.-Background:Nafanua is a...
the Goddess of War in Samoa, from the village of Falealupo
Falealupo
Falealupo is a village in Samoa situated at the west end of Savai'i island from the dateline. The village has two main settlements, Falealupo-Uta, situated inland by the main island highway and Falealupo-Tai, situated by the sea...
, the site of the entryway into Pulotu.
Spirits enter Pulotu at Le Fafa at Falealupo village.
See also
- In MelanesiaMelanesiaMelanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
, a similar concept is part of Fijian mythology – see BurotuBurotuIn the Melanesian mythology of Fiji, Burotu is the paradise-underworld. Newly dead souls are judged by Degei, and a few go to Burotu. The rest go to Murimuria.-See also:*Bulu, said to be the name for the Fijian 'land of death'....
. - The MāoriMaori mythologyMāori mythology and Māori traditions are the two major categories into which the legends of the Māori of New Zealand may usefully be divided...
goddess of death Hine-nui-te-pōHine-nui-te-poHine-nui-te-pō is a goddess of night and death and the ruler of the underworld in Māori mythology. She is a daughter of Tāne. She fled to the underworld because she discovered that Tāne, whom she had married, was also her father. The red colour of sunset comes from her.All of the children of Rangi...
who guards the entrance to the underworld te reinga wairuaCape ReingaCape Reinga is the northwesternmost tip of the Aupouri Peninsula, at the northern end of the North Island of New Zealand. Cape Reinga is located over 100 km north of the nearest small town of Kaitaia. State Highway 1 extends all the way to the Cape, but until 2010 was unsealed gravel road for the...
.