Traditional Māori religion – ngā karakia a te Māori
The natural and supernatural worlds were one in Mu0101ori belief, and there was no word for religion until missionaries introduced the term ‘whakapono’ for religion.
Te Kore
Te Kore (chaos), Te Pu014d (the night), and Te Ao Mu0101rama (the world of light) all have multiple stages.
Rangi, Papa and their children
Rangi and Papa’s children, the departmental gods, decided to try to separate their parents, and Tu0101whirimu0101tea used his legs to push the sky apart from the earth. Other significant gods were Maru, Uenuku, and Kahukura, the war gods.
Gods and whakapapa
All living things were linked through whakapapa in Mu0101ori tradition; Tu0101ne, the god of the forest, shaped the first woman, Hineahuone, from soil; in another tradition, Tiki is the god from whom humans descend.
Io – supreme god
There has been debate about whether or not there was a supreme god in Mu0101ori tradition, centered around a god known as Io, who was accepted as part of Ngu0101ti Kahungunu and Ngu0101puhi traditions in the twentieth century. Those who believe Io was derived from the Christian concept of God argue that there is no concrete evidence of such a being.
Other supernatural beings
Lesser gods were appeased by small offerings of branches or twigs when passing by places they inhabited, known as tipua. Taniwha are tipua who dwell in the environment, sometimes described as monsters or dragons, and they take many different forms.
Rākau and kōhatu tipua
In ancient Maori culture, ru0101kau (supernatural) trees and rocks would frequently have offerings such as twigs or branches left near them by passing travellers, which were sometimes seen as embodying supernatural entities and were referred to as tipua, which means rock or tree.
Mediums
A tohunga, who served as a medium for atua and spirits, was known as a waka atua (god’s vessel) or kauwaka (medium) in Maori.
Matakite
A tohunga was a person who could divine information about the future or current events in other places. For example, a group was marching to battle when the god Maru appeared to their matakite and told them where the battleground should be, and they easily defeated their opponent.
What did tohunga do?
Mana is a supernatural power, essence, or presence that has to do with authority, power, and prestige. It comes from the atua (gods) and is most powerful among the rangatira (chiefs), especially ariki (firstborn) and tohunga (experts).
Tapu and noa
When a person, living thing, or object was tapu, it meant that their behavior was restricted. Tapu means ordinary, common, or unrestricted, and ceremonies were performed to remove tapu from objects or people so that they could act freely.
Mauri
People placed physical objects in forests as talismans to embody the mauri, which is the life principle or vital spark. If people’s mauri becomes too weak, they die.
Hau
A talisman protects a person’s or a place’s hau, or power; a forest with a mauri talisman was thought to have more birds or fish because of the talisman.
What is a Māori blessing?
Karakia are Mori incantations and prayers used to invoke spiritual guidance and protection, and are also used as a formal greeting when beginning a ceremony.
What is a karakia Kai?
A karakia kai is a traditional Maori blessing or prayer said or sung before eating our kai (food). We understand that not everyone is religious, and that whanau may have their own God or whoever they pray to, which is perfectly fine.
Why do we say karakia before eating?
Mori would traditionally say a karakia to the gods of the food they were about to eat, as well as offer some food to the deities or atua. There were also strict rules about not eating different foods at the same time, as this would cause the deities and gods to clash.
Is a karakia a prayer?
The traditional karakia used to open and close ceremonies is a ritual chant, a set of words used to state or make effective a ritual activity. Karakia are recited quickly using traditional language, symbols, and structures.
Does Greenstone need to be blessed?
Pounamu carvings are considered a special and significant family heirloom because greenstone is held in high regard as a taonga (treasure) within Maori culture.
Why do Māori take their shoes off?
Shoes should be removed before entering a wharenui (meeting house), according to traditional Mori customs. “It’s a filthy habit, wearing shoes indoors,” one person told Newshub. “You go outside and walk through all this mud and stuff, then track this through your home.”
How do you end a karakia?
Tturu ka whakamaua kia tina, tina, haumi e, hui e, tiki e! and Whano, whano, hara mai te toki, haumi e, hui e, tiki e! are common endings for traditional karakia.
What is in a Pepeha?
Pepeha is a Mori word with a formal basis, but the concept is universal: everyone has a pepeha that connects them to their ancestors. It’s like a story that connects you to your waka, hapa, and iwi, as well as important places like your maunga, awa, and marae.
What is the meaning of tikanga Māori?
In general, tikanga are Mori customary practices or behaviors; the concept is derived from the Mori word ‘tika,’ which means ‘right,’ or ‘correct,’ so to act in accordance with tikanga is to behave in a culturally proper or appropriate manner in Mori terms.
How do you bless food in Māori?
What are some well-known Mori blessings and proverbs? A Karakia Kai is a traditional Mori blessing or prayer said before eating food, similar to saying grace. Kai is the Mori word for food, and Karakia means prayer.
What is the purpose of a Karanga?
The karanga is a conversation between tangata whenua and manuhiri (visitors) to determine the nature of the visit and the visitors, laying the groundwork for the whaikrero, as well as a chance for women skilled in the art of karanga to express their own views on current issues.
How do you pray non religious?
For your eulogy or condolence letter, here are a few non-religious funeral prayers to consider.
- U201cLet Me Gou201d
- u201cFarewell, Sweet Dustu201d
- u201cDo Not Weep at My Graveu201d
- u201cTo Those I Love and Those Who Love Meu201d
- u201cA Song of Livingu201d
How do you end a hui?
End the hui with karakia, which, like the opening karakia, settles the wairua (soul) after the mahi (work) is done. It is a way to express gratitude, wish people well, and ensure that everyone travels safely on their next journey.
What is the meaning of a hongi?
The ‘Hongi’ is a traditional Maori greeting in New Zealand, where you press your nose and forehead together with the nose and forehead of the person you’re greeting. Many Maori people prefer to hongi rather than shake hands.