Chumash - Blog Posts
Bowynn Gods: Chumash
"Akua Naedarren" 2000 - left to right: Chumash, Tane and Anhur.
Chumash (Chu-mosh) Chumash is the Bowynn guardian of passed Spirits and the Lord King of the next world, Daunnat. He is the son of Brea and Unthar and the brother of Sumon and Anhur.
Unlike other mythologies and sacred stories of gods of the dead from around the world, Chumash is not a god to be fear. And depicting his as such is sacrilegious. He has no hatred, vengeance nor ill thoughts about him. He is a very kind soul for one that bears a crown on his head. In Daunnat he is the guardian of the souls and spirits that have passed, as well as Lord King of the other gods that dwell in Daunnat. Next to him sits his wife and most beloved queen, the goddess Kalma. Being the king of Daunnat is not just a status position but a lot of work. During the day, Chumash makes sure that souls and spirits are rightfully separated from their mortal husk; He makes sure that souls and spirits do not leave Duannat and living mortals do not enter Daunnat. In some cases, he is the judge of the dead, in that he may return souls and spirit back to the mortal world to be born again if they did not attain the lessons given to them at birth. In some cases, Chumash reunites family members that may not be able to find their past loved ones. At night Chumash leads the great feasts with the souls, making sure all have plenty of food to eat and drink and that music lasts throughout the night. Daunnat is very much the Architect of Daunnat and the creator of rites of the dead.
Chumash should never be considered as a god of the cause nor effect of death itself. He does not bring death to mortals, nor does he send out agents of death to slay mortals on a whim. He has no dark side at all to him. Nor do any of the gods of Daunnat, in fact. Prior to Chumash taking the throne of Daunnat, there was no keeper or watcher of souls, and they would wander in and out freely, sometimes haunting mortals. Then one day Chumash and his brothers held contest as to who would be king of what realm: Earth, Sea and Daunnat. Each man drew an arrow and shot it. Wherever their arrow landed was the realm they would rule over. Chumash's flew the furthest and into an endless chasm; Thus, winning the kingdom of Daunnat. His other brothers laughed at Chumash, judging him as the winner of the worst prize. But he swore that he would make the kingdom of Daunnat more beautiful than any other kingdom of the living. And through hard work and the help of other gods, this became so. After this task was complete, Chumash asked the goddess Kalma to be his wife. However, she turned up the request several times. He bathed her with gifts of gold and jewelry, but she still turned his marriage proposal down. Finally, she accepted his hand when he offered her a single flower, an iris. It is now that flower that grows in abundance in Daunnat and by laying iris flowers on a grave, we honor the Chumash
Chumash may be a light-hearted god, but he has a dark physical profile. His hair is said to be black and curly, as is his beard and moustache. His skin is tanned dark, and his eyes are chocolate brown and deep. Still, he is hardly a divinity to be feared. Sacred to Chumash are the gifts of votive dogs, Iris and Poppy flowers as well as all 7 sacred offerings of the Bowynn Tradition.
Chumash and Anhur Anhur, Tane and Chumash
Felt & Embroidery ribbon trim of Chumash and the gods of Daunnat