Estanatlehi Changing woman, Asdzaa Aádleehé, Ahsonnutli, or Etsanatlehi is the triple goddess of the Navajo people. |
Goddesses of the World
In the southwestern United States, the most important deity that
the Navajo people honor is Estsanatlehi, a kind-hearted earth
goddess. Estsanatlehi symbolizes the ever-changing earth on
which plants grow, die, and are born again each year. Because the
goddess appears as a young maiden for the spring and summer
and an old woman for fall and winter, her names means " woman
who changes."
According to Navajo myth, Estantlehi was first discovered by
human beings. A gray rain cloud led the first man and woman to
the summit of a mountain, where they found Estanatlehi. She was
fed pollen by the sun and grew to woman in only eighteen days.
Later, she became the wife of the sun. The Navajo believe that the
sun visits her every evening at her sacred home in the west upon
the great water.
Estsanatlehi's home is surrounded by four mountains. Each
mountain is a replica of the north, south, east, and west
boundaries of the Navajo nation. by dancing upon each one in
turn, Estanathli creates clouds from the eastern mountain and
beautiful fabrics and jewels from the southern. Her dance upon the
western mountain provides plants of all kinds, while her northern
dance creates corn and animals.
Estsanatlehi is also believed to be the creator of the blessingway
(Hózhó jí) , a group of special Navajo rituals. The blessings way is
preformed to create hope and good fortune for the participants.
The songs and ceremonies which make up the blessingway are
used for weddings, childbirth rites, and many other happy
occasions in the life of the Navajo. Each blessingway takes place
over several days and includes songs, prayers, and ceremonial
baths in yucca, or cactus suds, pulverized flower blossoms,
cornmeal, and pollen are spread upon the earth to bless it and
bring good fortune to the Navajo nation. Estsnatlehi is said to be
the author of all the songs and rituals used in the blessingsway.
the Navajo people honor is Estsanatlehi, a kind-hearted earth
goddess. Estsanatlehi symbolizes the ever-changing earth on
which plants grow, die, and are born again each year. Because the
goddess appears as a young maiden for the spring and summer
and an old woman for fall and winter, her names means " woman
who changes."
According to Navajo myth, Estantlehi was first discovered by
human beings. A gray rain cloud led the first man and woman to
the summit of a mountain, where they found Estanatlehi. She was
fed pollen by the sun and grew to woman in only eighteen days.
Later, she became the wife of the sun. The Navajo believe that the
sun visits her every evening at her sacred home in the west upon
the great water.
Estsanatlehi's home is surrounded by four mountains. Each
mountain is a replica of the north, south, east, and west
boundaries of the Navajo nation. by dancing upon each one in
turn, Estanathli creates clouds from the eastern mountain and
beautiful fabrics and jewels from the southern. Her dance upon the
western mountain provides plants of all kinds, while her northern
dance creates corn and animals.
Estsanatlehi is also believed to be the creator of the blessingway
(Hózhó jí) , a group of special Navajo rituals. The blessings way is
preformed to create hope and good fortune for the participants.
The songs and ceremonies which make up the blessingway are
used for weddings, childbirth rites, and many other happy
occasions in the life of the Navajo. Each blessingway takes place
over several days and includes songs, prayers, and ceremonial
baths in yucca, or cactus suds, pulverized flower blossoms,
cornmeal, and pollen are spread upon the earth to bless it and
bring good fortune to the Navajo nation. Estsnatlehi is said to be
the author of all the songs and rituals used in the blessingsway.
