Karai
Guaraní · deity · primordial · Recorded classification
Lord of the sacred fire and flame-sound (Cadogan 1959, Cap. II). Second of the four divine fathers; spouse of Karai Chy Ete. Note: in everyday Guaraní 'karai' also means 'lord / Mr.' and 'non-Indigenous person', and karaí denotes the shaman-prophet — the sacrality of the word underlies the divine name.
Domains
- sacred fire
- the sound and crackling of the flames
- sacred word and prophetic speech
Powers
- command the sacred fire and its flames
- make the sacred sound of the crackling flames
Relations
- spouse: Karai Chy EteHis paired divine consort, the true mother of the Karai.Cadogan, Ayvu Rapyta (1959), Cap. I–II (Karai Ru Ete causes the future Karai Chy Ete to stand facing his heart) (primary)
Sources
- Karai (Karai Ru Ete), the second of the four divine fathers, is the lord of the sacred fire and of the sound of the crackling flames (Tataendy Ryapu Ja), caused to know of divinity by Ñamandú and co-father of the word-souls of humanity.: León Cadogan, Ayvu Rapyta (1959), Caps. I–II (primary)
- In the Mbya pantheon Karai is the god of fire (alongside Ñamandú the sun, Jakaira the mist, Tupã the thunder/water).: 'Guarani mythology', reference compilation of the Mbya four-god pantheon (tertiary)