BULAN
god of the moon
Bulan is the primordial god of the moon in Pre-Hispanic Bicolano mythology, and brother of Haliya the goddess of the moonlight, Known for his androgynous beauty and is said to have been so fair and radiant that even the vicious mermaids and beast temporay became tame upon seeing his face. Believed to be comely with skin so fair and hair and eyes darker than midnight that even the god Asuang was dumbfounded upon gazing at him.
Bulan |
while in Visayan myths he is one of the seven aspects of the moon. The childlike or rather young adolescent aspect of the god of the moon Libulan. Bulan (Bisaya mythology): the moon deity who gives light to sinners and guides them in the night. The comely moon god lives in "Kamurayan(heavens) the god associated with the lotus and water hyacinth. The seven Moons of mythology in reality were decoded by Scientist which tells that of lunar phases,Waxing,First Quarter,Waxxing Gibbous,Full Moon,Wanning Gibbous,Third Quarter, and Wanning Crescent
In Bicolano mythology he is depicted as having a body made from coper but whenever he descends to earth from the heavens he takes on human form He is depicted as an extremely lovely adolescent boy with fair skin, lithe body, comely features and eyes as black as night and exceedingly long hair as black as midnight. According to legends he was worshiped alongside Asuang by the baylan or Asog (priest and shamans in pre-Hispanic Bicol who dressed and acted as female).
Also, some believe that the First class municipality in the south of Luzon island, Sorsogon Province was named after him. He had a younger sister who literally came from his body named Haliya. In some stories, Haliya was Bulan's daughter and defender (the gods could not age Bulan forever remained pubescent) enticed by the invisible wind spirits or taong lipod to descend into the earth to bathe in its waters, she, in turn, convinced her brother Bulan do go down with her. Bulan and Haliya descended and all creatures were in awe of their luminous and white beauty. In other stories Haliya was Bulan's daughter.
Bulan was said to be so fair, that his comeliness could disarm any creature |
Legend tells that Bulan and Haliya were so beautiful that the vicious Magindara(mermaids) became docile. Their beauty also reached the underworld which was the domain of the Bakunawa.
The moon was so focused on playing with the mermaids that they did not notice the god Bakunawa, offended he wanted revenge. (very similar to the Visayan version of the story)
The next night Bakunawa, a huge fish-like-dragon leap to the sky to consume the moon. Haliya became the arch-enemy of Bakunawa ever since
Flowers of the divine
Bulan is strongly associated with the Takay flowers and lotus flowers
The takay flower was the gift of the lunar god to the people of Bikol. While the lotus is the divine providence reminding the people of Ibalong to be good and kindhearted to one another. The lotus which is associated with Bulan symbolizes spiritual enlightenment and rebirth Bikolano people were stunned with its ability to dip into the grime and revive itself unscathed (like the way Bulan took a dip in the monster infested waters of Ibalong)—an incredible daily cycle of life, death, and a sudden immaculate rebirth ( the rebirth from primordial moon to the pubescent god) that can only be described as spiritual. the lotus is symbolic of purity of the body, speech, and mind as while rooted in the mud, its flowers blossom on long stalks as if floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire. It is also symbolic of detachment as drops of water easily slide off its petals.
Variant myth
Bulan the god of the moon in Bicolano mythology plays an role in some stories. Abundant in the fresh waters of Bicol lakes is the lotus-like flower Tacay. Pre-Hispanic Bicolano's and even the Spaniards appreciated the beauty of the Tacay flower.
The god Bulan and his sister Haliya followed by an entourage of wind people had frequent swims in the waters of the earth. One night they landed on the fresh waters of a Lake (Lake Bato - Freshwater lake in Camarinez sur), the plants were shy because of the beauty of the moons and said that they did not deserve to be in the same water as the gods. The gods Bulan and Haliya was touched by the sentiments of the water plants and he rewarded them. The next night the plants saw that they were now beautiful too, having beautiful flowers, the Tacay flowers were gifts from the gods.
Bulan and Asuang
and of giant flying fishes which had slimy, scaly, and hardy flesh and saw-like teeth that could crush rocks (which they will later call Tiburom)
The waters of Bicol were feared because it was monster-infested. The forest and other plains too were filled with monsters and beasts like the Sarimao, most of these monstrosities answer to their sovereign Asuang. Asuang is feared and blamed for all the misfortunes of people, all the blame and hate.
Bulan |
After being defeated by his brother Gugurang, he seeks refuge in his abode along with his beast and other monsters. From his mountain he saw the god Bulan descending from the heavens to the waters, he remembered that Bulan was Gugurang favorite that the supreme deity personally placed him in the heavens. Bulan descending with an entourage of wind nymphs (Tawong lipod) in the waters of Bicol, and Asuang and his minion of night beast came to the waters, He had plans of taking the boy moon to have revenge on Gugurang. Then he stood in awe at the luminosity and radiance of the moon. He sent his vicious Magindara or mermaids to capture Bulan, instead of capturing the moon deity upon seeing his comeliness they became tame and played together like children. Asuang angered by what had happened personally went to the waters to where Bulan and the mermaids and wind nymphs(taong lipod) played. He walked into the water as if it were solid ground followed by his flying beast. Bulan saw Asuang, Asuang expected the boy to be afraid and scream in terror, to Asuang surprise Bulan smiled and asked him to play and swim in the waters with him. Asuang moved by the kindness and warmth welcome of the lunar deity vowed that they will be friends. And that no harm shall come to him whenever he descends to the waters and lands of his domain, that also his beast and monsters shall treat the moon with veneration.
Bulan depicted as an adolescent boy with a lithe body and comely features; fair skin, dark eyes and long black hair as black midnight |
The god Bulan and his sister Haliya followed by an entourage of wind people had frequent swims in the waters of the earth. One night they landed on the fresh waters of a Lake (Lake Bato - Freshwater lake in Camarinez sur), the plants were shy because of the beauty of the moons and said that they did not deserve to be in the same water as the gods. The god Bulan was touched by the sentiments of the water plants and he rewarded them. The next night the plants saw that they were now beautiful too, having beautiful flowers, the lotus flowers were gifts from the gods. Both Haliya and Bulan are strongly associated with the Takay flowers and lotus flowers
Haliya, Bulan, and Bakunawa
Bicolano myth tells that the great Bakunawa was not always a titanic fish-dragon that tries to devour the moon. She was a Naga and a goddess who like the other gods and monsters have adored the celestial deity. Bulan with all of his comeliness and radiance would bathe with his entourage of wind nymphs in Ibalong where the goddess Bakunawa had loved him from afar. after many nights Bakunawa got the courage to come close to Bulan only to be unnoticed because Bulan was childlike and playful and was busy playing and swimming with the mermaids. Angered by this misunderstanding Bakunawa swore she would claim Bulan from the sky. The next night she gathered her magic and transformed into a huge fish-dragon and tried to devour the moon. Haliya being the more dominant twin battled Bakunawa. Haliya and Bakunawa became arch enemies since then.
Haliya - The Masked goddess of the Moon
Haliya, Bulan, and Bakunawa come together in a tale that explores love, jealousy, and an enduring conflict in the night sky.
According to Bicolano myth, the formidable Bakunawa did not always manifest as the colossal fish-dragon that seeks to devour the moon. Originally, she was a Naga, a serpent deity, and a goddess who, like other divine entities, held admiration for the celestial deity, Bulan. The moon, personified as Bulan, was known for its beauty and radiance, captivating the hearts of both mortal and divine beings alike.
The enchanting story unfolds in the mythical realm of Ibalong, where Bulan would indulge in nightly baths accompanied by his entourage of wind nymphs. Among those who admired him from afar was Bakunawa, the goddess with a heart filled with love for the luminous Bulan. However, her attempts to approach him were in vain, as Bulan, being childlike and playful, was often immersed in joyous activities, playing and swimming with the mermaids.
Frustrated and angered by this misunderstanding, Bakunawa vowed to make Bulan hers. Fueled by a mixture of unrequited love and jealousy, she harnessed her magical powers to undergo a profound transformation. The once elegant goddess morphed into a colossal fish-dragon, ready to challenge the celestial harmony.
The ensuing night witnessed Bakunawa's dramatic attempt to devour Bulan, eclipsing the moon with her massive form. It was then that Haliya, a significant figure in Bicolano mythology and the more dominant twin, stepped forward to confront Bakunawa. A fierce battle ensued between the two powerful entities, marking the beginning of a timeless conflict that would echo through the celestial realms.
From that moment onwards, Haliya and Bakunawa became arch-enemies, locked in a cosmic struggle that played out in the night sky. The lunar eclipses and celestial phenomena were seen as manifestations of their ongoing battle, with Haliya tirelessly defending Bulan from Bakunawa's relentless pursuit.
This mythical tale not only captures the imagination of those who hear it but also imparts profound lessons about the complexities of love, jealousy, and the enduring struggle between light and darkness. In Bicolano folklore, the celestial ballet between Haliya, Bulan, and Bakunawa continues to be a timeless reminder of the intricate interplay between the forces that govern the heavens.
other stories
Bakunawa and the seven moons
Oldest and most complex version in Visayan mythology mentioning Bulan which overlaps with the stories of the nearby colonies of Ibalong (modern-day Bicol) is the story of Bakunawa and the seven moons. According to the Visayans ( of Sugbu) that in the olden days the moon was the celestial god Bulan who had been struck by the great Kaptan (lord of the skies). One night the moon sunk to the sea and the next night not only one but seven moons were seen in the night sky, each brilliant and beautiful. Each of the moons had their own deities (residing) representing them. Each of the seven celestial deities was ''dayaw'' meaning superior in comeliness. Each was beautiful with fair and radiant skin, and having long black hair and eyes darker than midnight. Many creatures, gods and monsters coveted the moons. The goddess of the tides Luyong Baybay was one of them, also the demon of the seas Maklium sa Tubig( in the Bicolano version this was Magindang the god of the seas of Bicol), the god of war and plunder Malandok and the god of death and patron of Mt. Madjaas Sidapa. According to myth, the seven moon's beauty radiance reached as far as under the seas, where the goddess Bakunawa guards the passage to the underworld. Bakunawa saw their beauty and wanted to claim the moons as her own. So she transformed herself into giant-fish-dragon with the mouth as big as the lake.
The goddess of the tides was infatuated with the celestial deities and she would sing love songs and endearments to them, also the reason why the tides seemingly always rise up to reach the moon. The deity Sidapa outwitted the goddess by ordering mermaids and birds to sing for him his endearments to the moon. The mermaids song drowned the songs of Luyong baybay, the angry goddess sent a gigantic tidal wave to where Sidapa, the birds and the mermaids were. The god of death Simply sliced the tidal wave in half. The god of death also asked the flowers to bloom and make sweet nectar to fully entice the moon gods to descend, and lastly, he captured starlight and gave flight and light to the insects making them fireflies. The fireflies guided one of the moons down. It was Bulan, who was said to be so comely and radiant that the birds and flying beasts dropped from flying stupefied by his beauty. He was androgynous and so lovely with his long black hair and eyes darker than midnight that the mermaids and water monsters for a time being forgot how to swim upon seeing his radiance. The demon-god Maklium sa Tubig ( Magindang) came to where Bulan had descended, Sidapa battled the demon of the sea and defeated him, next it was the god of war and plunder Malandok who came to claim Bulan. Sidapa and Malandok had a sudden clash of steel, their battle was so intense it shook the islands of Visayas. After their extreme battle, Sidapa emerges victorious. The god of death was said to be monstrous with ten golden horns and huge black wings the complete opposite of the comely Bulan, but as soon as moonlight hit his skin it was revealed that he was a handsome and muscular god with a golden crown that resembled horns. The next night the great dragon-like Bakunawa rose from the depths of the underworld, from the sea the Bakunawa one by one swallowed the moons and the celestial deities whole. When it was Bulan's turn to be devoured Sidapa outflew Bakunawa and snatched Bulan from the sky. Bulan being grateful to Sidapa became his consort and childbride (boy-bride) and as locals believe to this day that the two still reside and are sleeping in each other's arm in the tallest mountain in the Visayas.
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