Bakunawa was a beautiful diwata a goddess in the sea, some say she was a naga (water spirit or eel-snake mermaid) or Irago in Bicol and was the most powerful of them all. Popularly known in Bicol as the enemy of Haliya. Bakunawa was a god worshipped by the Bicolanos and a demon feared by the Visayans and by the Tagalog people. The Bakunawa is one of the most prominent mythological creatures in the whole archipelago.
In Bicolano mythology Bakunawa was a naga born in the depths of the sea, she was born with a turtle as her twin (Daruwanak) as time passed Bakunawa became more beautiful and powerful. She and the other Naga guarded the rift in the ocean floor that leads to the underworld. They keep beings from going in or out of the passage. Bakunawa ascended and transformed into a goddess, while her twin Daruwanak became big as an island.
The Bakunawa, a giant sea serpent eel-like creature from Philippine folklore, is thought to be responsible for natural phenomena like eclipses, earthquakes, rain, and wind. Ancient Filipinos used its movements as a calendar and incorporated it into the rituals of their priestesses, the babaylans. Usually depicted with a coiled tail and a horn on its nose, the Bakunawa was believed to dwell in the sea but also had associations with the sky or the underworld. Over time, through increased trade and cultural exchange with South Asia, it became intertwined with Hindu-Buddhist figures like the Nāga, Rahu, and Ketu.
Bakunawa and the seven moons (northern Bicol )
Bakunawa and the Seven Moons (southern Bicol)
Long ago god created the seven moons to give light and beauty to the night sky, each moon had a deity as an embodiment. (Libulan,Haliya,Subang,Banolor,Banilig,Bulan,Mayari)
One night she saw the seven moon and was captivated by their beauty and longed to possess them. One of the embodiments of the moon descended to the sea to swim with the mermaids, it was Bulan - the adolescent aspect of the moon. Bulan was so comely with his long dark hair and his eyes darker than midnight, and his luminous fair skin that the vicious magindara became tame upon seeing his radiant beauty. the boy moon did not notice Bakunawa, thinking the boy had ignored her beauty to play with the mermaids enraged her. The following night she transformed herself into a dragon so she could devour the moons. Her dragon form was sea serpent with a mouth the size of a lake, a red tongue, whiskers, gills, small wires at its sides, and two sets of wings, one is large and ash-gray while the other is small and is found further down its body.
"Halia" was a ritual performed during the full moon. Tribespeople would exit their homes, gather in the streets, and create a cacophony of noise to deter the serpent Bakunawa from devouring the moon. The ceremony also aimed to dispel malevolent spirits.
Halya to Haliya the arc nemesis of Bacunawa
The ancient ritual of Halya, once a simple celebration of the full moon, gradually transformed over time into a mythical summoning of the goddess of the Moon, known as Haliya. As stories and myths evolve through generations, the Halya ritual took on deeper spiritual significance, incorporating elements of divine intervention and protection. As the ritual evolved, so too did the mythology surrounding it. Over time, the people began to personify the protective forces of the moon, giving rise to the concept of Haliya, the goddess of the Moon. Haliya became a symbol of strength and defense, defending the male lunar deity Bulan from the threat of the Bacunawa
Laho is a mythical serpent, similar to the Bakunawa in the Bisayas and in Bikol, known as a Naga God that is believed to cause solar and lunar eclipses by devouring the sun and moon. To ward off Laho and free the celestial bodies, people would create loud sounds by playing music, banging pots, and using gongs.
An account from 1731 by Tomas Ortiz mentions an eclipse in Pagsanjan, Laguna province, where the locals played the kulingtang, a musical instrument, to scare away the serpent deity. The belief in Laho is thought to have been introduced to the Tagalog through the Hindu god Rahu, who, like Laho, is a serpent deity causing eclipses by consuming the sun or moon as revenge towards Vishnu.
Bakunawa in Tagalog Myths
Similar to all stories in the archipelago the Tagalog people believed in the seven moons created by Bathala (Supreme deity) and the Bakunawa captivated by the moons tried to devour them, when the gigantic fish-serpent was about to devour the last moon Bathala intervened and punished the Bakunawa banishing it back to the depths of the ocean
Once upon a time, in a world with seven enchanting moons, each ruled by a celestial deity, there lived a colossal sea serpent named Bakunawa. This serpent resided in the depths of the ocean, hidden away from the wonders of the night sky.
One fateful night, Bakunawa gazed upon the moons, captivated by their celestial beauty. Overwhelmed by desire, he yearned to possess these radiant orbs. Rising from his watery abode, Bakunawa soared into the sky, determined to devour the moons and make them his own. With great pride, he returned to the ocean depths, believing he had accomplished a mighty feat.
To his dismay, Bakunawa soon discovered that the moons within him were fading away like melting candle wax. Undeterred, he yearned for a moon that would endure. Night after night, he ascended to the heavens, swallowing one moon after another. However, each time, the moon melted away inside him, leaving him with empty longing.
Bathala, the supreme creator of all, witnessed Bakunawa's reckless actions and was filled with fury. Instead of ending the serpent's life, Bathala decreed a punishment that would last for eternity. Bakunawa was condemned to remain a beast and forbidden from devouring the last remaining moon.
Legend has it that Bakunawa, bound by Bathala's command, occasionally succumbs to the temptation of swallowing the final moon. This forbidden act turns the moon a fiery red. In response, the people on Earth unite in a cacophony of clanging metal, screams, and wails to startle the serpent into spitting out the moon. Others opt for a gentler approach, lulling Bakunawa into a deep sleep with soothing music, hoping the moon will roll out of his mouth peacefully. And so, the celestial dance between the heavens and the earth continues, a timeless tale of moons, serpents, and the harmonious efforts of humanity.
Bakunawa in Visayan Myths
In Visayan myths, the bacunawa is a monstrous eel dragon-like serpent from the sea that causes eclipse and misfortune. Bakunawa who coveted the moons is also a symbol of fortitude and strength and of strong will. For Bakunawa defied everything to posses the moons.
Here's the moon's phases in Old Waray/Bisaya from 1617, according to Padre Matheo Sanchez and summarized by historian William Henry Scott:
Day after new moon: The moon is just starting to appear. They called this "subang" or "kilat-kilat," which means it looks like a little lightning flash.
1-2 nights after subang: The moon is getting bigger. They used words like "gimata" or "ungut," comparing it to a baby opening its eyes or closing its mouth.
3 nights after subang: The moon is higher in the sky. They called this "hitaas na ang subang."
4-5 nights after subang: The moon looks like a crab shell. They used the term ''banilig'' or"balirig" to describe this phase.
1st quarter half-moon: The moon is directly overhead. They called it "udtu na ang bulan."
Waxing: The moon is getting bigger. They used the word "lakad" to describe this phase.
Between half and full: The moon looks lopsided, like a crab shell. They might say it's "na" or "maalimangu na."
Full moon: The moon is completely round and bright. They used terms like "takdul," "paghipunu," "ugsar/ugsad," or "dayaw" to describe it.
Waning, 1-2 nights after full moon: The moon starts to get smaller again. They called this phase "banolor/banulur/banulud."
5-6 nights after full moon: The moon continues to shrink. This phase is called "parik."
3rd quarter half moon: The moon has passed another milestone. They called it "katin."
Day 24-25 of the month: The moon is preparing for a new cycle. They called this "lakad na ang magsag-uli."
Day 29 of the month: The moon disappears completely. They called this "malasumbang," or the dark of the moon.
Cebuano mythology features the Bakunawa, a eel-dragon-like creature responsible for eclipses. The supreme god, Kaptan, created seven moons, but the Bakunawa, fascinated by their beauty, would rise from the ocean to swallow them whole. This angered Bathala, leading to a rivalry between the two.
To prevent the Bakunawa from consuming the moons completely, ancient Filipinos engaged in practices such as banging pots and pans or playing music to disturb or hypnotize the dragon. Some stories involve attempts by courageous villagers to slay the Bakunawa while it was entranced. Despite its reputation as a "moon eater," the Bakunawa was also feared as a "man eater."
Bakunawa in Western Visayas
In the Western Visayas region of the Philippines the fundamental principles of naga, or bakunawa, rotation is almost exactly the same as those found in Upper Burma, Thailand, and Cambodia. The term bakunawa was first defined in Fr. Alonso de Mentrida's monumental 1637 dictionary, Bocabulario de la Lengua Bisaia-Hilig
veyna, as: "Bacunaua. y understand that there was a serpent which swallowed
the moon; the darkness in which the earth is covered during eclipses: and thus . . .
binacunauahan ang bulan, there is an eclipse" (de Mentrida & Martin 1841-1842: 38).
In 1885 dictionary of the Cebuano language, spoken in the central Visayas,
defined the bakunawa as simply "an eclipse of the sun and moon. " Significantly, Fr.
John Kaufmann's 1935 Visayan-English Dictionary gave it as "a fabulous large snake
or dragon believed to devour the moon at the time of an eclipse; eclipse of the sun or
moon" (de la Encarnacion 1885: 25; Kaufmann 1935: 81). nearly verbatim
similarity of definitions by Kaufmann and de Mentrida, with 300 years separating their
service as Catholic missionaries in the same mountain areas of southern Panay Island, is
but one indication of continuity in such beliefs. While the words for naga in Cambodia
(nak) and Thailand (naag) are closely derived from the original Sanskrit term, the
Visayan bakunawa is based on the word sawa meaning python (bakun-sawa, "bent
snake") found in Tagalog, Cebuano, and Malay languages and probably derived from
Sanskrit (Francisco 1964: 12-13)
The existence of multiple versions of the Bakunawa story in the Philippines can be attributed to several factors:
Linguistic Diversity: The Philippines is home to a vast array of languages and dialects, with over 170 languages spoken across the archipelago. Different regions may have their own languages, and as stories are transmitted orally, they adapt to the linguistic nuances of each community. This linguistic diversity contributes to the creation of various versions of the Bakunawa story.
Oral Tradition: Many traditional Filipino myths and legends have been passed down through generations orally. With each retelling, details may be altered or emphasized differently based on the storyteller's interpretation or the audience's preferences. This oral tradition allows for flexibility and variation in the narrative.
Regional Diversity: The Philippines is an archipelago with diverse cultures and languages. Different regions and ethnic groups may have their own variations of the Bakunawa story, influenced by local beliefs, customs, and perspectives. As stories are transmitted across communities, they adapt to the cultural context of each region.
Cultural Influences: Over the centuries, the Philippines has been influenced by various cultures, including Malay, Chinese, Spanish, and indigenous cultures. These diverse influences may have led to the incorporation of different elements into the Bakunawa myth, resulting in variations depending on the cultural context.
Individual Storytellers: Storytellers often play a crucial role in shaping and retelling myths. Each storyteller may add their own flair, interpretation, or personal experiences to the narrative, leading to variations in the story's details, themes, or messages.
Adaptations and Reworkings: Scholars, writers, and researchers may adapt or rework traditional myths for different purposes, such as academic studies, literature, or cultural preservation. This can lead to the creation of new versions or interpretations of the Bakunawa story.
Evolution Over Time: Myths are dynamic and can evolve over time as societies change. The Bakunawa story may have undergone modifications to reflect contemporary concerns, values, or understandings of the world.
Overall, the richness and diversity of the Bakunawa story in the Philippines are a testament to the country's cultural diversity, oral storytelling traditions, and the dynamic nature of folklore as it is transmitted through generations.
REMINDER
The orally transmitted mythology of the Philippines is intended for sharing and understanding, It is a dynamic narrative tradition that evolves over time, distinct from the standardized mythologies found in Western and European cultures. Unlike these established mythologies, the Philippine government has not mandated standardized versions of stories and legends.
Orally transmitted stories undergo variations and evolve over time, resulting in numerous different versions. There are many different version told by Filipinos,and retold by Filipinos.
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