First of the Three High Gods
Batak · deity · primordial age of the gods · Recorded classification
The Batak Batara Guru differs from the Javano-Balinese Shiva-Guru: here he is one of three brothers (with Soripada and Mangalabulan), associated with wisdom/origination. Kept distinct from balinese_batara_guru.
Parentage
- parent: Great Origin of Becoming
Children
Names and tradition associations
- Batara Guru (Dairi) Roland B. Dixon, Oceanic Mythology (1916), pp.160–163, 173: Toba, Dairi and Karo accounts (secondary)
- Batara Guru (Karo) Roland B. Dixon, Oceanic Mythology (1916), pp.160–163, 173: Toba, Dairi and Karo accounts (secondary)
Variant accounts
- Toba, Dairi and Karo sourcesThe Toba trinity, Dairi creator with a pregnant wife, and Karo father of six children are distinct narrated contexts. No unnamed spouse or child is assigned a guessed name.Roland B. Dixon, Oceanic Mythology (1916), pp.160–163, 173: Toba, Dairi and Karo accounts (secondary)
Domains
- wisdom and cosmic order
Powers
- fathers the goddess who will fashion the earth
- Teaches gods and humans wisdom and cosmic order
- Fathers Si Boru Deak Parujar who fashions the earth
Epithets
- Debata Batara Guru 'God the divine teacher'Warneck, Johannes (1909). Die Religion der Batak. (secondary)
Relations
- sibling: Third of the Three High Gods
- sibling: Second of the Three High Gods
- regional cult form: Batara Guru (Dairi)Separate regional narrative; names and parentages are not automatically transferred.Roland B. Dixon, Oceanic Mythology (1916), pp.160–163, 173: Toba, Dairi and Karo accounts (secondary)
- regional cult form: Batara Guru (Karo)Separate regional narrative; names and parentages are not automatically transferred.Roland B. Dixon, Oceanic Mythology (1916), pp.160–163, 173: Toba, Dairi and Karo accounts (secondary)
Sources
- Batara Guru is the eldest of the Batak high-god trinity (Debata na Tolu), son of Mula Jadi na Bolon, and father of Si Boru Deak Parujar who creates the earth.: Warneck, Johannes (1909). Die Religion der Batak. Leipzig: Dieterich. (secondary); Angerler, Johann (2016). 'Images of God in Toba Batak storytelling,' Wacana 17(2): 303-335. (secondary)