7 Brazilian Indigenous Gods That Will Impress You

Nhanderuvuçu has no form. He is the energy that has always existed, even before the world became a world. To create the universe, Nhanderuvuçu destroyed everything to start from scratch, with the creation of the soul and, later, the matter. Nature came soon after. To take care of rivers and lakes, he created Iara, the goddess of water. To take care of the climate and the weather, the almighty Nhanderuvuçu created Tupã, the supreme god of thunder.

Did you know this version of the origin of the world and creation of beings and elements? Nhanderuvuçu, Tupã and Iara are not in the history books or in the holy bible, but they are important names of Brazilian indigenous mythology and it was through them that the Indians explained the movement of the tides, the storms and even fertility.

Discover 7 Brazilian indigenous gods that explain a lot about the relationship between nature and religion for the Indians:

1. Tupa God

The most powerful of the Brazilian indigenous gods, Tupã was known as the Thunder God. However, he was not seen in the image and likeness of man as the gods normally are. His form was rain, thunder, lightning. In fact, Tupã sent Nhanderuvuçu’s messages to Earth through the storms. The Indians believed they heard his powerful voice in every thunderclap.

When we think of thunder, the image that comes to mind is a beam of light ripping through the sky. Tupã had the same effect for the Indians and was related to light and illumination. Therefore, this Brazilian indigenous god was also called the God of Light.

Different titles were given by the Indians to name the great Tupã:

• Thunder god
• rain spirit
• God of light
• breath of life
• God of creation

The Indians associated natural climatic phenomena with the superior entity Tupã – characterizing a common trait in world mythologies. It is good to mention that the myth is not just a fanciful story or a lie, as many claim, but a truth for those who live it. Check out this article to understand what mythology is and how we can learn from it.

2. Goddess Jaci

Speaking of Brazilian indigenous gods, the Daughter of Tupã was considered the guardian of the night, the Moon Goddess. According to mythology, Tupã created Jací so that the sun god (Guaraci) could rest and the world would not fall into darkness.

However, upon waking up from her well-deserved rest, Guaraci was faced with such beauty that she fell in love with Jací, but as her role of lighting the night was over, it was her turn to go to sleep. In order to find her in the morning, the sun god decided to sleep every night. And that’s how the love story between night and day was born.

Jací was also seen as the protector of lovers and reproduction by the Indians. In fact, her name comes from Iacy, which in Tupi means “mother of fruits”. The moon goddess had the mission of awakening the longing in the hearts of hunters to hasten their return to their wives – for being the light that illuminated the night and brought couples together. Jaci was celebrated with parties and music always on new and full moons.

We know that this great star influences not only the tides, but our behavior as well. You can find out 2019 lunar calendar and moon phase characteristics in this article.

3. God Guaraci

Guaraci’s role was to protect the tribes and beings of nature with heat and light, as he was also known as one of the most important Brazilian indigenous gods: the Sun God. The importance of the sun in biological processes was already valued by the Indians who saw Guaraci as:

• giver of life
• protector of living beings
• Guardian of Light

While the moon goddess was responsible for reproduction and love, Guaraci was responsible for protecting the Indians during the day. When the Indians went out to hunt very early, at dawn, the women prayed that the love of Jaci and Guaraci would bless them.

But the importance of this god is also due to the fact that he helped Tupã in the creation of living beings. Therefore, the sun god was much loved and respected by the Tupi-Guarani tribes.

4. God Anhangá

Among the Brazilian indigenous gods, also one of the underworld and darkness, Anhangá was associated with evil by Christian religions. However, he was, in fact, the protector of animals and persecutor of hunters – but only of those who hunted without scruples.

Anhangá was a wandering spirit that could take different forms, including animals, to confuse people. When an animal fled with cunning, the hunter Indians said that it was the cunning Anhangá who helped it to escape.

To punish those who killed cubs, he made the hunters see their family members as prey, leading them to kill their loved ones. But the balance of nature was also Anhangá’s responsibility. For this reason, the Indians made tobacco offerings in the forest when they went hunting in order to feed the tribe.

As their spirit is always running free through the forest, the Indians who crossed with Anhangá believed that they had been cursed or that bad things were about to happen.

A curiosity: Anhangabaú comes from the Tupi language which means “river of the bad spirit” and this is the name given to the channeled stream that runs through the city of São Paulo. For the Indians, whoever drank from its waters was tormented by evil spirits.

5. God Sumé

Called by the Indians as Pai Sumé, the God of Laws and Rules was also known as the god of agriculture and knowledge. It was he who taught them how to grow manioc as their primary food.

Some say that there was a moment of perdition in the tribes, in which the already forgotten tradition was replaced by intrigues and fights between the Indians. Until one day, Pai Sumé came down to Earth and arrived across the seas bringing order and sharing ancestry as wisdom.

This great Brazilian indigenous god taught the Indians the secret of plants and agriculture, as well as the power of the spirits and gods of nature. Thanks to him, the Indians learned the language of the stars and the manufacture of canoes.

Whenever disorder reigned, the Indians invoked Pai Sumé, because for everything there is a law that balances nature. All elements are connected: earth, nature and men. And it is this god who is responsible for maintaining this peace among all of us.

Learn the prayer to Sumé (Pajé Avarumã) for when you feel disconnected:

“Guardian of our homeland, protector of these lands, purify where we live from all miasma and protect our homes from evil beings.

Watch over our forests, rivers, waterfalls and mountains, Sumé!

Guard our people from enemies and explorers, Great Pajé!

May your blessing, which comes from Toryba and Coaracyguaçu, spread wherever I walk, Tonapa, our Father!”

6. God Anhum

If our lives have melody and harmony, it’s thanks to the God of Music, Anhum. Of the Brazilian indigenous gods, he was the one who warned that the sacred entities were arriving through the Sacro Taré, an instrument created by the gods and which emitted a sound never heard before in the world.

The myth says that in the beginning of time, the parties were not celebrated with drums and people did not sing, because there were no instruments or the magical combination of musical notes.

Until one day, Tupã’s grandson, Anhum, came down and came for a walk on the banks of the Araguaia River with his bride and noticed a deathly silence at dusk. This made him very sad. To bring more joy to the indigenous people, Anhum summoned gods, demigods and men to create the music.

The god of melody gave the name to the seven musical notes and it was the demigod Saci-Pererê who painted them black on a piece of wood, according to Tupi-Guarani mythology. Tupã was so pleased with the result that he blessed the music and made it divine.

The joy of the world gained a soundtrack thanks to the god Anhum. Whether in the car, at home or at work, there’s a song for every moment. We have prepared a selection of songs to ward off negative energies.

7. Goddess Ceuci

The brightest star in the Pleiades constellation, Ceuci is the Goddess of Farming and Dwellings. She was seen by Catholic settlers as the Virgin Mary of the Indians due to the similarity of the story of the birth of her son, Jurupari – guiding spirit and guardian.

Ceuci became pregnant by eating the fruit of the cucura-purumã, the tree that symbolizes the duality between good and evil. When biting the fruit, its juice ran down her breasts, impregnating the goddess of farming.

They say that at a given moment, on Earth, the sun god Guaraci forced the indigenous peoples to follow the patriarchal order of the tribes. Therefore, women were not allowed to participate in the rituals, otherwise they would be killed by the Brazilian indigenous gods.

However, one day Ceuci was missing his son and decided to approach a ceremonial at Jurupari. Annoyed, Tupã sent a lightning bolt that hit Ceuci and Jurupari refused to save her so as not to disobey the powerful Brazilian indigenous god.

On the other hand, the son calmed Ceuci by saying that she would meet the god Guaraci and also shine in the sky. At that moment, Jurupari cried. When it rains on a sunny day, the Indians say it is the spirit of Jurupari. Ceuci was transformed into the constellation of Pleiades and when it appears in the sky, the Indians know the right time to harvest, hunt and fish.

Now that you’ve discovered seven Brazilian indigenous gods, let us know in the comments if you know others. Take the opportunity to know everything about the meaning of the word myth and about Greek mythology: