Wakíŋyaŋ
Sioux/Lakota · deity · second world · Recorded classification
Wakíŋyaŋ, the Winged One or Thunderbird, is an Associate God, the active companion of Íŋyaŋ. Dwelling in the West, his wing-beats are thunder and his glance is lightning; he brings the storms that purify the world and is the patron of the contrary heyókȟa. He is the perpetual enemy of Uŋktéhi and the water monsters, striking them with his bolts — a primary axis of opposition (sky against water) in Lakota cosmology.
Domains
- thunder and lightning
- storm and the west
Powers
- make thunder with his wing-beats and lightning with his glance
- hunt and strike the water monsters with his bolts
- empower the contrary heyókȟa through visions
Epithets
- Wakíŋyaŋ Tȟáŋka the Great ThunderbirdJames R. Walker, Lakota Belief and Ritual (primary)
Relations
- created by: ÍŋyaŋReckoned the associate of Íŋyaŋ, the Rock.Walker, Lakota Belief and Ritual (1980); Lakota Myth (1983) (secondary)
- enemy: UŋktéhiEternal adversary of Uŋktéhi the water monster; the Thunder of the sky against the serpent of the waters.Walker, Lakota Belief and Ritual (1980); Powers, Oglala Religion (1977) (secondary)
Sources
- existence: Walker, The Sun Dance and Other Ceremonies of the Oglala (AMNH 16, 1917) (secondary); Walker, Lakota Belief and Ritual (DeMallie & Jahner eds., 1980) (secondary); Powers, Oglala Religion (1977) (secondary)