ZANAHARY
allyGod
Zanahary is the supreme, creator deity of the Malagasy pantheon, a personification of the sky in the mythology and folklore of Madagascar. His name means literally "the Creator", "the one who creates". Often described as masculine, he is sometimes held to be without gender, and tradition recognises in him several aspects, celestial as well as earthly. A widespread myth tells of the creation of humanity through the collaboration of Zanahary, master of the sky, and Ratovantany, deity of the earth: at death, the soul joins the firmament with Zanahary while the body returns to the soil. This duality closely attaches Zanahary to the cult of the ancestors, the razana, who serve as intermediaries between the living and a god judged too distant to be approached directly. He is also named Andriananahary or Andriamanitra, "the fragrant Noble", a term designating the supreme deity in several regions of the island. The national god of the Merina, Zanahary was invoked even in Malagasy political life, and queen Ranavalona I encouraged his cult in the face of Christianity. The figure of a diffuse, ancestral monotheism, he embodies the origin of all things and the link between the world of the living, that of the dead and the sky.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Founding presence. ZANAHARY stands at the root of the world and sustains the weave since before the beginning. Bound to the Malagasy pantheon.
Sacred Mask
An ancient ritual mask of sacred wood, old metal and black stone, engraved with symbols of supreme, embodiment of the power of Zanahary
Era
Ancient cycle
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Zanahary mean?
Zanahary means literally "the Creator" or "the one who created". In Malagasy mythology, it designates the supreme deity, a personification of the sky and the origin of all things. He is also called Andriananahary or Andriamanitra, "the fragrant Noble", another name of the single, creator god in Madagascar.
How did Zanahary create humans?
According to a widespread Malagasy tradition, Zanahary, master of the sky, and Ratovantany, deity of the earth, shaped the first humans together. At death, the soul rises towards the sky to Zanahary while the body returns to the earth. This division grounds the link between the creator deity and the cult of the ancestors.
What is the link between Zanahary and the ancestors?
Judged too distant to be approached directly, Zanahary remains withdrawn from the world of the living. It is the razana, the ancestors who have accomplished their passage, who serve as intermediaries between humans and the supreme god. The Malagasy cult of the ancestors is thus inseparable from the figure of Zanahary.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Charles Renel, Ancêtres et dieux : anciennes religions de Madagascar (1920)
- Jørgen Ruud, Taboo: A Study of Malagasy Customs and Beliefs (1960)