Australijskie ceremonie ognia – Gadjari i Buluwandi u Warlpiri

Andrzej Szyjewski

Titles

Australijskie ceremonie ognia – Gadjari i Buluwandi u Warlpiri

Abstract

Australian Fire Ceremonies – Gadjari and Buluwandi among the Warlpiri

This article examines the symbolism of fire in the Gadjari higher initiation ceremonies and Jardiwanpa ceremonies among the Warlpiri. Fire is used in these ceremonies in three forms: high flame torches called witi/wanbanbirri, wandabi projectiles made out of bark, and djindjimirimba sticks. The analysis of the myths connected to fire reveals that the Warlpiri associate it with the motif of cosmic catastrophe in which their ancestors, manipulating high, sacred paraphernalia, cut through the Milky Way. The result of the separation of the stars is a huge bush fire. According to the myth, the sight of a flame falling from the sky forced the ancestors to conduct initiation ceremonies. The patron of these ceremonies is associated with the Coalsack Dark Nebula in the Milky Way, and the wanigi paraphernalia used with the Southern Cross. Fire is of ambivalent significance for the Warlpiri – on the one hand it brings death and destruction, and on the other it provides cleansing and brings to life that which is dead.

This article examines the symbolism of fire in the Gadjari higher initiation ceremonies and Jardiwanpa ceremonies among the Warlpiri. Fire is used in these ceremonies in three forms: high flame torches called witi/wanbanbirri, wandabi projectiles made out of bark, and djindjimirimbasticks. The analysis of the myths connected to fire reveals that the Warlpiri associate it with the motif of cosmic catastrophe in which their ancestors, manipulating high, sacred paraphernalia, cut through the Milky Way. The result of the separation of the stars is a huge bush fire. According to the myth, the sight of a flame falling from the sky forced the ancestors to conduct initiation ceremonies. The patron of these ceremonies is associated with the Coalsack Dark Nebula in the Milky Way, and the wanigi paraphernalia used with the Southern Cross. Fire is of ambivalent significance for the Warlpiri – on the one hand it brings death and destruction, and on the other it provides cleansing and brings to life that which is dead.

Keywords

Aborygeni australijscy, ceremonia ognia, mit, rytuał, Droga Mleczna, symbolika ognia, Tęczowy Wąż, inicjacja, Warlpiri ; Australian Aborigines, fire ceremony, myth, ritual, Milky Way, fire symbolism, Rainbow Serpent, initiation, Warlpiri

Australian Aborigines, fire ceremony, myth, ritual, Milky Way, fire symbolism, Rainbow Serpent, initiation, Warlpiri

References

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Information

Information: Studia Religiologica, 2014, Volume 47, Issue 3, pp. 197 - 210

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4467/20844077SR.14.014.2908

Article type: Original article

Titles:

Polish:

Australijskie ceremonie ognia – Gadjari i Buluwandi u Warlpiri

English:

Australian Fire Ceremonies – Gadjari and Buluwandi among the Warlpiri

Authors

Andrzej Szyjewski

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1190-4035

Institute for the Study of Religions, Jagiellonian University, Grodzka 52 31-044 Kraków

Published at: 01.12.2014

Article status: Open

Licence: None

Percentage share of authors:

Andrzej Szyjewski (Author) - 100%

Article corrections:

-

Publication languages:

Polish

View count: 2142

Number of downloads: 1460

<div id="cke_pastebin"> Australian Fire Ceremonies – <em>Gadjari </em>and <em>Buluwandi </em>among the Warlpiri</div>

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