Wurake
Pamona · numen · Pamona traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
The wurake are the female spirits of the Upperworld who preside over Bare'e shamanism. They dwell in the sky-realm of Lai and are the patrons and guides of the mowurake, the shamanic rite in which a priestess, entranced, sends her soul on a journey along a spirit-ladder to the heavens to recover a patient's lost tanoana or to escort the newly dead. The wurake taught this art to the first human practitioners and accompany the shaman on each ascent; the ceremony and its officiants take their name from them.
Domains
- shamanism
- upperworld
Powers
- guides the shaman's soul on its ascent to the heavens
- taught the shamanic art to the first human practitioners
Relations
- ally: i LaiDwell in the sky-realm of the Upperworld god.Alb. C. Kruyt, 'Measa,' Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 74–80 (1918–1924) (primary)
Sources
- The wurake are female Upperworld spirits who patronise and guide the mowurake shamanic rite, lending it their name: Alb. C. Kruyt, 'Measa, eene bijdrage tot het animisme der Bare'e-sprekende Toradja's,' Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 74–80 (1918–1924) (primary); R. E. Downs, The Religion of the Bare'e-speaking Toradja of Central Celebes (1956) (secondary)