Let’s see in this article the Bolivian Mythology. Learn about its most important traditions, myths, legends and origins.
Bolivian Mythology and Culture
In terms of culture, Bolivia has a great influence of the indigenous people as well as being very striking according to its geographical position. Therefore, the mixture of ancestral traditions together with the European elements, formed part of what is known today as the Bolivian culture, being one of the most particular and complex in the world.
The Plurinational State of Bolivia is a sovereign country located in the central-western part of South America. This Latin American country is made up of 40 ethnic groups, which generates a great cultural enrichment making this territory very interesting in terms of all the factors that make up the Bolivian mythology.
Bolivian Mythology Gods
It is worth mentioning that Bolivian mythology is intrinsically connected to the Catholic religion, and it also presents in a marked way the cultural syncretism that the Bolivian culture currently possesses.
El Tio: God of the Underworld
It is a deity of Bolivian mythology considered as the god of the underworld in the area of Cerro Rico, Potosi. In spite of having innumerable statuses of this demonic spirit, the being governs the underworld becoming, in a way, the protector of the mines and the destroyer of those who do not make offerings.
The offerings normally made to this deity are cigarettes, alcohol and sometimes coca leaves. The inhabitants of Potosí perform a ritual where they sacrifice a llama and spread its blood at the entrance of the mines. Legend has it that when El Tío is not fed properly, he will take revenge.
Although Catholicism and belief in God predominate among the mining population, they also believe in El Tío.
The God of the Underworld in some way or another presents certain similarities with other deities of the Catholic folkloric beliefs derived from voodoo, such as the Loa that protects Legba, Haiti or in other beliefs such as those of New Orleans.
Tunupa: God of the Volcano and the Thunderbolt
Also known as Tuapaca or Taguapaca, is one of the oldest and most controversial deities of the central Andean zone located in the Bolivian/Peruvian altiplano.
Its origin derives from a cult to Tunupa in the times of the pre-Tiahuanaco and pre-puquina period, reaching a greater impact during the time of the Aymara kingdoms, in addition to remaining in force during the Inca period. It is one of the most controversial since human sacrifices were made to this mythological god and numerous festivals were held in his honor.
It is said that the function of this god was the ordering of the world, being confused with Ticsi Wiracocha. His powers and attributes were to control volcanoes and lightning as well as having power over the waters controlling the huaycos – landslides in Peru. He also had the presence of Tarapacá and Taguapacá, who helped him in his task of ordering the world.
Due to the existence of different names, it is believed that it was a pair of gods in one, so there was the Tunupa in charge of the world above -the lightning and rain- while another Tunupa was responsible for the world below -lava of volcanoes, rivers and springs-.
According to Bolivian mythology, this god of lightning and volcano died in Lake Titicaca while sailing on a raft, which was pushed by the wind until it collided with the Chacamarca shores. This impact generated a large river located south of Lake Titicaca known as Aullagas and today as the Desaguadero. It is also believed that he died sinking in the Aullagas River or left sailing the sea.
Huiracocha: God of the staffs or rods.
It is a deity that is considered in Bolivian mythology as the Creator God and intercedes for his faithful followers in times of crisis. Considered as one of the most emblematic in the Andean region, a culture hero.
It is represented through the Sun Gate of Tiwanaku and can be derived in an entity of the sky and the storm. Some consider that the creation of this god comes from the Catholics who looked for some concept to explain to the natives the concept of the almighty.
Representations in the Bolivian Mythology
Depending on the area and beliefs, there are several representations of this Creator God, such as:
- Wiraqocha: for the Tawantinsuyan mythology, this is the supreme god represented by a being of white race and long beard.
- Wiracocha: in the indigenous culture, this God was venerated. Wiraqucha: considered as the creator and civilizing god of the Andean world.
- Huiracocha: this is a term designated by the Spaniards. This southern deity was adopted by the Incas and Spaniards.
Ekeko: The God of prosperity and good fortune
Ekeko represents a traditional and popular god of luck in Bolivia and neighboring regions, bringing monetary wealth to his faithful followers.
Origins of Bolivian Mythology
In the Bolivian mythology there are several characters that are part of the cultural manifestations of a country or region, these mythological beings have some interesting stories as well as those legends that instill terror to the youngest.
The Guajojó
Legend has it that after sunset in the jungle, the song of the guajojó is heard, a heartbreaking sound that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. It is said that its ominous song can be heard in areas of the Amazon.
This creature of Bolivian mythology, before being a bird, was a beautiful woman who was the daughter of a cacique who fell in love with a man of the tribe to which she belonged and her father, not considering him worthy, used his powers as a sorcerer to kill her suitor.
When she did not find the man, she went to look for him, but when she found his remains, she threatened her father with accusing him before the tribe and out of fear he decided to turn her into a bird. The guajojó is a creature that wanders through the jungle mourning the loss of her beloved.
Abchanchu in the Bolivian Mythology
It is a race of vampires from Bolivia, it is said that they can shape-shift into a helpless old man taking advantage of people approaching him taking the opportunity to attack them and drink their blood.
His appearance is that of an elderly person with a kindly aura, bald, obese and with a big smile, wearing old clothes. Also, some mention that he has a pig’s nose and calf’s horns. He is characterized mainly by employing the art of deception to lure his victims.
It is usually located in the caves and caves of the altiplano, rivers and other isolated locations; this causes many Bolivians to avoid these locations for fear of being attacked by this being considered as “owner of the mines”, if you want to enter these places you must ask permission.
The Anchanchun uñkata
Those people who survive the attack of this mythological being are called Anchanchun Uñkata, who mysteriously contract diseases that lead to death.
The Jichi in the
Known as a mythological being in various cultures of the lowlands of Bolivia. It is a guardian genie that changes shape, sometimes it can be a toad or a tiger; it usually looks like a snake that is found in the depths of the various natural waters of the planet such as rivers, waterfalls or lakes.
This being belongs to the mythology of Bolivia when man does not know how to manage water, it withdraws leaving a bad omen with drought, bad fishing and hunting making life unsustainable. Other natives of the areas of San Jose and San Miguel chiquito associate it with the stone, stars and female fertility.
It is important to point out that tributes should be offered to the Jichi so that he does not bother and threaten the prosperity of agricultural work.
Cosmovision of the Tucano Culture
The cosmovision is the representation of the vision of the world depending on the culture or people, interpreting reality through beliefs, perspectives, notions, images and concepts.
The Arawak descendants settled in some areas such as Bolivia have the following worldview:
“The ancients said that at the mouth of the Amazon River there was a lake of milk. There our history is born, there begins the life of us, who were fish….
From that lake of milk departed the mother of the water – the anaconda – who began to climb up the Amazon River and carried us with her, on her back, upstream against the current. Searching for the high land, which is the one that serves for men, to form culture, so that they can be formed of flesh and blood and can live. In the anaconda they brought tobacco, smoked and prayed to choose the way.
In all those places they passed and so on, making history because people prayed to choose the way. In all those places they stopped and, thus, making history because people prayed, healed, sang and transmitted the story of the journey through words. That place is very important for us because that is where the anaconda brought us, which turned into stone and stayed there. That was our origin.
From there came the people formed in flesh and blood. They left their footprints in a stone. A big, very big slab that keeps the footprints of the first men, women and children”.
Chiru Chiru
This particular character was a thief who lived in the mines and had a certain Robin Hood vibe because he stole from the rich and distributed it among the poor. His mythological story begins when a miner found him stealing and wounded him, he took refuge in his cave and when they went to look for him they found his corpse next to an image of the virgin. Since then, the cave of Chiru Chiru became a sacred place.
The Goblins and the Bolivian Mythology
These small creatures that generate terror are the most common in the stories of Bolivia. It is said that they have an appearance of humanoid shape of the size of a small child wearing white clothes and hats, perhaps with other particularities, but what these creepy beings have in common are their eyes, being a window of the evil that possesses them.
This being arises when a child dies before being baptized, becoming a perverse soul that commits mischief everywhere. There are several stories that involve them, some say they have an iron hand hitting their victims with it, others say they are related to murders.
The Wagon of the Afterlife
The wagon of the afterlife from the town of Santa Cruz of yesteryear, goes out to look for those lost souls on blizzard nights to drag them with him to hell.
It is said that he is the Devil himself with a cart built with wooden bones and a load of dirty skulls; dragged by oxen pulling it, who instead of having eyes only get two large crimson orbs. Its terrifying scream can be heard in some areas on the outskirts of town.
Legends on Bolivian Mythology
Mythologies are intrinsically related to various characters, but there are also several stories and beliefs regarding various topics of the origin of certain things.
Chiriguana Legend
According to Chiriguano stories, the legend centers on two brothers: Tupaete and Aguara-tumpa, each representing light and darkness, good and evil, creation and destruction; two sides of the same coin.
In those times Aguara-tumpa was jealous of his brother’s creation and blinded by anger and envy decided to set fire to all the vegetation where the Chiriguanos were.
Seeing the actions of his brother, Tupaete recommended to the inhabitants to move to the rivers, but his brother refused to give in and made the rain fall with such force that it flooded Chiriguania.
Tupaete spoke to them all and told them with great sorrow that they would die but that they could save the race by selecting the two strongest who remained locked in a giant weed until the chaos that ended with the rest ceased.
At the end of the misfortune, they came out and met Cururu, a giant toad who gave them the ability to control fire, which allowed them to survive and be big enough to reproduce.
Origin of corn
The Ñandú God Tampa one day found some mischievous twins playing alone in the bush, these were Guaray (Sun) and Yasi (Moon). When he found them he thought it would be a good idea to take them with him and give them to the god father Ñanderu Tampa as a good company, so he took them and left.
His mother on hearing them ran away and in her desperation she could only take the thumbs of her feet and stay with them while she watched as they went farther and farther away.
As time passed, the mother in her dreams had a message from the father god who ordered her to sow the thumbs of her children, and she took his word and proceeded to do so. After long periods of sun and rain began to bloom large plants with a spear shape, and from them began to come out with large fruits of different colors such as yellow, white and purple.
Rain and drought
Once upon a time Pachamam (the earth) and Huayra Tata (the wind) were beings that transmitted their love to each other in a consolidated couple. Huayra Tata lived at the top of hills and abysses but every so often he would come down to see his beloved Pachamama as she emptied Lake Titicaca and showed her affection and respect by letting the water fall as rain.
Oboish
In the Plurinational State of Bolivia there are beliefs of the disease known colloquially as “evil eye”, for them it is called “oboish” or “malpuesto” being so deadly that it can cause death.
It can only be cured by practitioners of dark magic who sold their mistress to Satan and their cures can be as painful as the disease itself, such as holy water baths and whippings with ribbons of animal skin.
