A study of Navajo symbolism - Free History Ebooks

NOTES ON CORRESPONDING SYMBOLS: WHEELWRIGHT 9'Fig. 5. Squash blossoms and fertility symbol ofNavajo necklaces.Perhaps the Yoni and the Mediterraneancharm had a common origin at some time inthe distant past (fig. 5).The divining by arrow and shaking handin the Navajo Coyote Chant is similar to adivining rite in India.Many examples of the baleful effects oftying knots are cited by Sir James Frazer, andof cures from disease achieved simply by findingand untying the knots in question. Therite of Wohltrahd in Navajo ceremonial,which includes the untying of slip-knots inwoolen cords which are pressed to the bodyof the patient while praying, is reputed to beefficacious in relieving tensions.The fox all over Europe, and particularlyin Japan, stands in much the same relation toman as the coyote does to the Navajo — as avery clever, mischievous magic creature. Elsewherehe is not usually as powerful, however,as the Navajo coyote, who (like Prometheus)is the bringer of fire to man, and is able toimpede the path of the hero, whom he oftenturns from human into coyote shape. Coyoteknows more about the process of creationthan the other animals, but as he is a thief whooverreaches himself by arrogance, he inevitablyfails in his efforts to upset the pattern oflife. But all the world over the fox type isallied to sinister forces.The Navajo Thunderbird is quite similarto the Garuda of India, who is a god, andvery combative, particularly with snakes. Inthe Navajo Creation Myth a great white birdfound flying over this present earth when thepeople reached it from below is nearer to theGaruda: this great bird, the connection betweenearth and sky, is also found in Mexicanmyth.NOTES ON PARALLEL SYMBOLS AND RITES IN INDIA,TIBET AND ANCIENT PERSIAIn 1940 I went to India, partly to see if Icould find any connections there with theNavajo religion. I took with me several smallcolored drawings of sand paintings; one ofthe Thunderbirds, another of Earth and Sky,one of the Whirling Rainbows, one of theFire Gods in. the stars with the sun in thecenter and one of the Hozhonji or BlessingChant. This last painting showed the creationof man with the path of life ascending thecornstalk between the Ethkay-nah-ashi. I alsotook some Navajo sketches of Indian scenes,and some ceremonial stones such as are usedin prayer. I was on the lookout for paralleluses of symbols and rites, and have embodiedin the following notes the results of conversationsand personal observation during this trip.On the steamer out to India I had variousconversations with Commanding GeneralKaisar Shumshu of Nepal, the nephew of theformer Maharaja of Nepal. General Kaisar,who had represented his uncle at the coronationof King George VI, had been travelingin the United States. He was much interestedin the American Indian religion, and expressedthe conviction that it came from the samesource as the ancient religion of India.I had letters to the Vedanta Priests at Belur,near Calcutta, and found them not only mostinterested in my problem but very helpfulwith suggestions and information. They introducedme to the philologist Dr. Suniti KumarChatter jee, Professor of Indian Linguistics atthe University of Calcutta, who was convinced,as were the others whom I consulted,that the Ethkay-nah-ashi and the Asvins, themystical twins of the Vedas, have the samemeaning, both being healers or transmitters oflife. Professor Chatter jee, after examining theNavajo material, expressed the opinion that itwas of a very ancient ritual, and thought thatit might go back to the cradle of the Aryanrace northwest of India.Mrs. Choudhuri, a niece of the poet Tagore,