For what purpose were the Mayna and the crow there
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Answer:
The Popol Vuh tells the creation myth of the Mayan people who lived in the present day Yucatan Peninsula. The myth was originally written in hieroglyphics, but was translated into the alphabet in the 16th century. The story follows nicely the geography and agricultural aspects of the Yucatan region. Throughout the myth creation is written in terms of farming, which is reflective of the importance Mayans place on raising crops, particularly the growing of maize.
Like many other creation myths from around the globe, the Popol Vuh reads that in the beginning there was the void – the nothingness. The world consisted of the sky and the sea. The gods resided in either the sky or the sea and realized the great potential for the emptiness. One god from each region, Plumed Serpent from the sky and Hurricane from the sea, came together to create the world. The two “great thinkers” filled the emptiness through dialogue. Whatever they said was created. This places an interesting twist on the importance of language. To the Mayans, objects arise from what they’re called. Normally when one thinks of this relationship it is the object that first exists and then it is named; however, in the Popol Vuh this relationship is flipped.
The ancient text describes the creation of the landscape and life of the Earth in agricultural terms. The two gods theorize on how the Earth will be “sewn” and who will be its “provider.” This reflects the importance of agriculture in Mayan culture. From the very beginning of this ancient text this aspect of Mayan life is stressed.
First the mountains and plant life were created; however, the lack of sound on the planet bothered the gods, so they created animals to live in the forests. After the animals were constructed, the gods ordered them to pronounce themselves. Naturally, the animals could only bark or grunt or howl. Because the animals could not speak, they could not properly worship the gods, which proved unsatisfactory to the deities. The two gods deemed that the animals were to never leave the forests and were to be subservient to the greater humans who would soon be created (“Just accept your service, just let your flesh be eaten”).
Next Plumed Serpent and Hurricane began experimenting with humans. The first invention was mud people, but they quickly proved unsatisfactory as they kept falling apart. Their heads wouldn’t turn and their faces were lopsided. Because they mud was their basis of existence they were quickly dissolved when exposed to water. The gods quickly did away with these mud people and started afresh.
The second experiment created wooden people. This batch of mankind proved somewhat more successful as they could talk. Their bodies were sturdy; however, their skin was dry and crusty, which made it difficult for them to move in a coordinated manner. Worst of all, they had no memory and no emotions. Because of this they were unable to properly respect their creators.
Furiously Hurricane sent a flood to do away with the failed wooden people. This flood is similar to that present in The Old Testament; however, the Mayan flood is the result of the gods failure to create a sufficient human race, whereas, in The Old Testament God floods the Earth because He is unsatisfied with the evil that has developed in the human race.
Those who survived the flood suffered vehemently as Hurricane sent monsters to the Earth to destroy them. The first monster, Bloodletter, ripped off their heads. Gouger of Faces plucked out their eyeballs and Crunching Jaguar and Tearing Jaguar ripped off the people’s limbs and then ate them. Those who survived the monsters’ onslaught then suffered as molten pitch rained down on them, pulverizing their bodies to mere dust. The Earth then blackened and a continuous rainstorm came. Wild animals broke into the remaining people’s homes where their griddles and pots had already come alive. Terrified, the remaining wood people attempted to run away, but everywhere they went they were halted. When they went on their roofs, their houses collapsed. When they climbed trees, they were shaken off the trees. When they ran to caves, the entrances shut in their faces. The Popol Vuh claims that monkeys are all that remain of the wooden people as monkeys somewhat resemble humans, but are “mere manikins.”