HOME | DD

Description

The First Australian/Indonesian Connection - The Great Earth Mother
Waramurungundji- Great Earth Mother
One of the major themes in Aboriginal beliefs about the supernatural pantheon of ancestor beings of Northern Australia concerns the Great Earth Mother - the symbol of fertility and creator of life. Sacred ceremonies associated with the mother ensure reproduction of all the species, her power animates and increases both human and animal life, it is responsible for the fluctuation of the seasons from plenty to scarcity and from wet to dry, and the continuation of the well being of the world of the Aboriginal people.
Among the Kakadu, the now vanished people of the Alligator Rivers Region after whom the beautiful Kakadu National Park is named, the Great Earth Mother was called Imberombera. She was the original great ancestress from whom all things emanated.
Imberombera came from across the sea and arrived at Malay Bay on the coast of Arnhem Land. Her stomach was filled with children and from her head were suspended woven dilly bags in which she carried yams, bulbs and tubers. She held a digging stick in her hand. She traveled far and wide over Western Arnhem Land and everywhere she went she planted yams, bamboo, Cyprus palms and water lilies. She formed the hills, creeks, animals and plants and left behind her many spirit children, giving each group a different language.
Another great fertility mother, Ungalla, made her journey after Imberombera and as she crossed the country she met the children of Imberombera. She carried some of the children on her shoulders, others on her hips and some of them walked. Ungalla herself wore sheets of paper bark and showed the Kakadu women how to make bark aprons. Finally, after having borne many children, she tore out her vagina and uterus and threw them to the women saying, "From now on this will be yours. You can have children from now on." And then she took her breasts and fighting stick and gave these to the women also. To the men she gave a flat spear-thrower and a reed spear.
Among the Gunwinggu people a similar story is told of the origins of mankind. This story is of Waramurungundji, who also traveled across the sea from northwest Indonesia to land on the northern coast, at the beginning of the creation times.
Waramurungundji, the 'mother', came from the northwest, in the direction of Indonesia, at the beginning of the world. When she landed on Australian coast she made many children, telling them where to live and what language they were to speak. She also created much of the countryside and left various creatures and natural features, bees and wild honey in one place and a banyan tree in another . . .
Isaacs, Jennifer. Australia Dreaming: 40, 000 Years of Aboriginal History. Lansdowne Press, Sydney, 1984.

Description

The First Australian/Indonesian Connection - The Great Earth Mother
Waramurungundji- Great Earth Mother
One of the major themes in Aboriginal beliefs about the supernatural pantheon of ancestor beings of Northern Australia concerns the Great Earth Mother - the symbol of fertility and creator of life. Sacred ceremonies associated with the mother ensure reproduction of all the species, her power animates and increases both human and animal life, it is responsible for the fluctuation of the seasons from plenty to scarcity and from wet to dry, and the continuation of the well being of the world of the Aboriginal people.
Among the Kakadu, the now vanished people of the Alligator Rivers Region after whom the beautiful Kakadu National Park is named, the Great Earth Mother was called Imberombera. She was the original great ancestress from whom all things emanated.
Imberombera came from across the sea and arrived at Malay Bay on the coast of Arnhem Land. Her stomach was filled with children and from her head were suspended woven dilly bags in which she carried yams, bulbs and tubers. She held a digging stick in her hand. She traveled far and wide over Western Arnhem Land and everywhere she went she planted yams, bamboo, Cyprus palms and water lilies. She formed the hills, creeks, animals and plants and left behind her many spirit children, giving each group a different language.
Another great fertility mother, Ungalla, made her journey after Imberombera and as she crossed the country she met the children of Imberombera. She carried some of the children on her shoulders, others on her hips and some of them walked. Ungalla herself wore sheets of paper bark and showed the Kakadu women how to make bark aprons. Finally, after having borne many children, she tore out her vagina and uterus and threw them to the women saying, "From now on this will be yours. You can have children from now on." And then she took her breasts and fighting stick and gave these to the women also. To the men she gave a flat spear-thrower and a reed spear.
Among the Gunwinggu people a similar story is told of the origins of mankind. This story is of Waramurungundji, who also traveled across the sea from northwest Indonesia to land on the northern coast, at the beginning of the creation times.
Waramurungundji, the 'mother', came from the northwest, in the direction of Indonesia, at the beginning of the world. When she landed on Australian coast she made many children, telling them where to live and what language they were to speak. She also created much of the countryside and left various creatures and natural features, bees and wild honey in one place and a banyan tree in another . . .
Isaacs, Jennifer. Australia Dreaming: 40, 000 Years of Aboriginal History. Lansdowne Press, Sydney, 1984.