Is ‘Mwari’ the same as Abrahamic God?

18 Sep, 2016 - 00:09 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

 

IN Shona, the impersonal force of life beyond one’s progenitors or ancestors is called “Mwari.” In Venda it’s “Nwali.”In Malawi, the impersonal force of life is “Mulungu”, sometimes spelt “Mlungu.” It is ridiculous that the indigenous word for the Caucasian is “Mzungu,” a term closely related to “Mlungu” for the impersonal force of life. This is related to Shona’s “Murungu” for the Caucasian.

In Tanzania where Swahili is the major language, the impersonal force of life is “Mungu,” while the Caucasian is called “Mzungu.”

As a side note, “God” is a term that came only into existence in the fifth century when the Germanic Teutons conquered the Christian Western Roman Empire.

For the conquering Teutons, “God” is the English derivative of their mythical human ancestor, “Gaud/Gawd.”- Craig Bluemel, “The Origin of the English Word for God” (2007) – www.bibleanswerstand.org/God.htm

On the basis of language, “God” is a fiction to anyone who is not Teutonic or Germanic. Christian-wise, it is a term for a personal humanoid being assumed or believed to have power over the universe and people.

Back to “Mwari,” we need to trace this word.

In Swahili, a girl is “msichana” (“musikana” in Shona). Once she becomes a young woman of marriable age or is engaged, she is called “mwali/mwari.”

On her marriage day, she is called “bibi harusi.” “Mwari” is also a first name in areas where Swahili is a predominant language like Tanzania and Kenya and it means a “young woman.”

In Chewa, “mwali” is a young woman reaching childbearing age. This may be the life bearing ability and fertility that should be connected with Mwari in Shona.

In Malawi and Zambia, there is an initiation rite called “Chinamwali.”This is the ritual for the coming of age for girls. It is an initiation ceremony held in secret places. This is where girls are helped to get through their transition to womanhood and the sexual and maternal roles that come with it.

From this narrative, it can be deduced that “Mwari” is the sexual creative power (life bearing ability and fertility). In Shona, it is “Mwari ndiMusiki” or “Mwari Musiki.””Kusika” is a Shona term for the procreative role and the organs of creation are “nhengo dzesika rudzi.”

We are all creatures of our parentage procreative role. Without this parental relationship, we wouldn’t be in existence.

This shows “Mwari” has to be defined in the context of the sexual creative power (life bearing ability and fertility) in nature, plants, animals and human beings.That creative power is the conjunction of the masculine and feminine energies.

So when one then says “Musikavanhu,” we are not acknowledging the creative power in plants and animals. It should be “Musiki.”

At plant level, fertilization of mango seed won’t produce a guava plant. At animal level, the conception of a donkey will not produce a lion.

What link is there with Elohim and Yahovah?

Elohim

“Elohim” is the earliest Hebrew word for the life force in Genesis 1:1.The word “el” has been considered to be both the Canaanite word for the life force and a name for the humanoid deity.

The Hebrew adopted the Canaanite religion after their contact with them. Read “The name El in the Bible” www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/El.html#.V1bNWlc9bFI

Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, Elohim created heaven and earth.” From a deep study of Hebrew, “Elohim” is a plural word to mean “divinities/deities.”

This means “Elohim” is a composite word consisting of “El” (masculine) and “Eloah” (feminine). The prefix or suffix, “El” is found in Hebrew names.

Examples are Yisra-El, Ab-El, Emmanu-El, Micha-El, Rapha-El, Samu-El, Gabri-El, Ezeki-El, Jo-El, Phanu-El, Adri-El, Am-El, Ans-El, Beth-El, Dani-El, Rach-El, Nathani-El, Migdal-El, Gamali-El, Haza-El, El-isha, El-ijah.

From the above, what is the signification of Elohim? It is a plural and the harmonious conjunction of opposites as exemplified in connection of “El” (masculine) and “Eloah” (feminine).

This means we are all creations of the fusion of the masculine and feminine sexual energies of our parents.

Yahovah

The other Hebrew name for the life force is “Yahovah/Jehovah.” Yahovah is combination of the Tetragrammaton, YHVH, and the vowels of Adonai, meaning “the Lord.” This would render it as “YaHoVaH.”

As a Tetragrammaton, YHVH is meant to be unpronounceable. YHVH was an abbreviation of four related words “Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey.”

The composite of YHVH is psychologically “Masculine-Feminine” combined to the biological “Male-Female.” This means the harmonious conjunction or combination of masculine and feminine sexual energies creates and sustains life.

A further study of the Hebrew alphabetic pictographs of the four words, “Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey” will further show some profound cryptic truths.

The Feminine Principle is made of Passion (“Yod”) +Air (“Hey,” Breath). The Masculine Principle is Water (“Vav”) + Earth (second “Hey,” Physical Body). These are the elements of impersonal nature – Fire, Air, Water and Earth.

Every human being is a microcosm and reflection of nature.

In conclusion, it can be noticed that Mwari, Elohim and YHVH are all symbolic and figurative terms for the sexual energy in the creation of a new life. Without a balanced relationship of masculine and feminine metaphysically, psychologically and biologically, there is no harmony, creation and innovation.

Mwari is not God but similar to Elohim and YaHoVaH as the harmonious union of three powers – metaphysical (sub-conscious and conscious), psychological (masculine and feminine energies) and physiological (male and female).

The terms Mwari, Elohim and YaHoVaH refer to an impersonal life force, itself a composite actuality made up of the breath (“mweya” that is life bearer), intellect (“njere”) and physical power (“simba”).

These are all aspects found within every human being in different measures.

Feedback: [email protected] or Twitter,@shingaiRndoro. A gallery of previous articles is found at www.sundaymail.co.zw/author/shingairukwata

 

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