Atua i Raropuka, the Deity of Raropuka
Tikopian · deity · Tikopian traditional religion; continuing · deity
Atua i Raropuka, 'the Deity of Raropuka', is the male half of the primordial pair, frequently spoken of in tandem with his wife the Female Deity and sometimes titled Atua Lasi, 'the Great God'. Invoked after the world had taken shape within the sky, he was charged with giving humankind its knowledge: he ordained which foods were edible, which animals were to be the clans' totems and which were taboo, and he is named as the originator of the medicinal plants and of all fruit-bearing vegetation. As one of the two original occupants of the island he introduced the male craft of preparing sennit cord, complementing the Female Deity's mat-plaiting. From this couple descend the four divine brothers who became the gods of the clans.
Children
- Atua i Fangarere, the Deity of Fangarere
- Atua i Kafika, the Deity of Kafika
- Atua i Tafua, the Deity of Tafua
- Atua i Taumako, the Deity of Taumako
Domains
- knowledge and instruction
- plants and medicine
- cordage and sennit
Powers
- to give humankind all its knowledge
- to decree which foods may be eaten and which creatures are totems or forbidden
- to bring forth the medicinal and fruit-bearing plants
Epithets
- Atua Lasi
Relations
- spouse: Atua Fafine, the Female Deity