#native tropical

Among the Mbyá-Guaraní, Xariã is seen as an opposing shadow to the creator father, Nhanderu, one of three primordial deities alongside Peru Rimã. One myth tells that, as the second world came into creation, Nhanderu made a basket to be produced by the Mbyá, perfect in shape and color. His worse half, Xariã, imitated him, but produced an organic snake-skin shaped basket, causing Nhanderu to smite him with a bolt and produce insects from his headdress. Xariã represents all things negative; insects that sting, overindulgence, incestuous relationships, loss of indigenous identity, colonization, and gaudy exuberance. For every good thing Nhanderu does, Xariã is there to do the opposite in crude mockery. He may be equivalent or very similar to another figure, Nhanderu Mbaecuaá, also said to be the brother of Nhanderu, and may also be similar to, father to, or have control over spirits known as Anhangá and Ãnhãs.

Pantheon: Tupi-Guarani

Domain or Function: Opposite to the creator god Nhanderu, his shadow, seen as negative and perverse.

Alternate Names: Anhã, Tchariã, Xãriã, Txãriã, Tchãriã, Xãrian, Txãrian, Tchãrian, or Xanhiã.

Character Traits: Seen as the direct opposite to Nhanderu, bringing destruction and evil where he walks. By some he is said to be a loner who keeps to himself.

Visual Traits: Not depicted in art much.

Symbolism: Snake

Among the Tupi-Guarani Nhanderu is typically seen as the supreme creator deity, a primordial force from which all things came. From nothing he creates the first paradise, Yva rypy Tonde, dividing it among four primeval entities: Karai (fire), Jakaira (mist), Ñandu (sun), and Tupã (thunder). In another version of the myth, he creates Tupã to protect the skies, Iara to protect the waters, and Caipora to protect the forests. He is credited with creating anhang or añã, the soul, and from the first two souls arose anhandeci, matter. Yet another variation of his myth attributes a 'shadow' to Nhanderu, a figure known as Nhanderu Mbaecuaá, who may also be the same as another figure known as Xariã, representing his darker half. The two become co-husbands to a wife named Nhandecy. When indigenous Guarani were forced to accept Christianity it was Tupã who assumed the role of their 'god', despite Nhanderu being a closer comparison to the Christian God.

Pantheon: Tupi-Guarani

Domain or Function: Creator of the universe and supreme being, creates human souls.

Alternate Names: Nhãnderu Tenondé, Ñamandu Ru Ete, Namandu, Nhamandu, Nhanderuvuçú, Nhamandú, Yamandú, Nhandejara, Ñanderuvusu.

Character Traits: He is seen as the benevolent father of all humans and the universe.

Visual Traits: Not depicted much in art, however in some stories he is said to have appeared as a hummingbird.

Symbolism: Hummingbird, feathered headdress, ritual scepter.

Seventh beastly child of Tau and Kerana, and therefor the most vile. It smells of rotten flesh and is sometimes said to eat it as well, and combined with its gaunt hairy appearance it resembles a werewolf, which in function is the same creature in the modern day. He stalks cemeteries in the night where he will chase you. Unlike other werewolves his lycanthropy can be afflicted onto others if he passes through your legs. He only stalks on specific days, usually Monday, Wednesday, and/or Friday. In a similar fashion and, likely from European influence, in the 1900's the seventh son in a string of sons was feared to be destined to turn into a werewolf. In some folklore you can cure one by naming him "Benito" and baptising him in seven different churches of seven different provinces in the changing of a "gurí" (kid) into a "mozo" (teenager/lad).

Pantheon: Guarani (debated), Modern Paraguayan

Domain or Function: Stalks cemeteries at night and turns others into werewolves like him.

Alternate Names: Luisón, Lobizon, Lobizón, Lobisomem, Huicho.

Character Traits: Beastly and gruesome, eats the bodies of the dead, preys on the living as well.

Visual Traits: Said to be lanky, emaciated, and hairy, sometimes depicted with pale skin or blackened skin, and sometimes with traits like a dog.

Symbolism: Dogs, cemeteries.

Not much of this being is known as the indigenous people of Brazil are not well recorded. A blog titled Mbo'esara Esãîa Tremembé provides a good bit of information on the myths and beings of the Tremembé indigenous group. Awasai is said to be giant in stature and evil in nature. He is capable of shapeshifting into many creatures as well as encosto, which is a type of spiritual possession.

Pantheon: Tremembé

Domain or Function: Evil giant who possesses others and shapeshifts.

Alternate Names: None

Character Traits: An evil giant.

Visual Traits: None specifically aside from being giant.

Symbolism: None

A monstrous blue jaguar that chases the sun and moon, Guaraci and Jaci, through the sky. He is said to be so expansive that one eye is the red star Antares while the other is Aldebaran, stretching across the sky. In one story the two gods play tricks on Charía and as a result the moon goddess Jaci is eaten. Whenever he catches up to them he causes eclipses, the blood red ring around the moon or sun representing the blood spilled by killing them. Some believe by yelling and scaring the monster off they will end the eclipse and save Jaci from its wrath. Some also believe the supreme god Nhanderuvuçu has Charía under his control until the day he has to be released to destroy the world.

Pantheon: Tupi-Guarani

Domain or Function: Causes eclipses by attacking or killing the moon goddess Jaci.

Alternate Names: Blue Jaguar, Jaguar Azul, Jaguarový, Onça Celeste.

Character Traits: Ferocious and deadly.

Visual Traits: Described as a great blue jaguar dotted with stars, and its eyes are two red stars.

Symbolism: Eclipses

An elf-like god who lives in the woods. While children sleep for siesta he is said to roam the towns looking for the disobedient ones who refuse to sleep, whisking them away into the wilderness. What he does with them varies, some say he simply plays until its time to wake up and sends them off with magic, while others say he plucks their eyes from their head or turns them feral. He is a mischeivous little thing armed with a magical golden scepter which, if stolen, he will cry until it is returned, some saying you can bargain with him for his treasure in return for it. He is the child of the evil spirit Tau and the woman Kerana, along with six other brothers who are all monstrous in opposition to his humanlike appearance.

Pantheon: Guarani

Domain or Function: Lures disobedient children into the wilderness, a trickster spirit.

Alternate Names: Yasyyatere

Character Traits: A trickster god who preys on children who don't sleep. His scepter making him cry if taken lends itself to a childlike personality himself.

Visual Traits: Described as a nude pale-skinned child with light eyes and blond hair.

Symbolism: Always wielding his golden staff, sometimes said to protect the yerba mate plant.

The animals of the Amazon and surrounding areas are varied, and to the indigenous people each one is special and often seen as an important spirit. To the Maxakali people they are called Yãmĩyxop , worshiped and reenacted by songs to invoke them and draw them from nature. There are numerous ones, some not recorded as well as others, a notable one being Amaxuy. He is the lord of waters and rivers. In one myth about him it is said that the bat spirit god, Xunin, searched for water after removing an earthworm from the ground and helping a tadpole. He went to Amaxuy for aid, asking where the waters were, but Amaxuy did not provide help. Instead Xunin had to search for water alone with the use of his immense knowledge and power. The capybara is one of many important species to the Maxakali people though in some areas hunting has reduced their populations.

Pantheon: Maxakali

Domain or Function: Lord of all rivers and waters.

Alternate Names: Kuxakuk

Character Traits: From the known stories he doesn't have a defined one to point out.

Visual Traits: None

Symbolism: None

The yerba maté plant is incredibly important to many regions in South America, and depending on the area you may hear several tales for its origins. In one of these tales popular to Argentina there lived a man named Yar or Yara and his daughter Yari. The man was too old and frail to continue moving with his tribe so the two of them settled down and continued life as they were. One night they are visited by an ominous being, a god in disguise, but nevertheless they treat him with hospitality and kindness. This god reveals himself to be Tupã, supreme god of creation, and upon them he bestows a plant that will heal the man's ailments and provide for his people from then on. This plant is the yerba maté plant and, at the same time, his daughter is made immortal so that she may always guard over the plant as Caá Yari. In other versions of the tale the plant is instead given by the moon goddess Jaci after the man protects her and the cloud goddess Arai from a jaguar.

Pantheon: Guarani

Domain or Function: Protector of the yerba maté plant and all vegetation.

Alternate Names: Ka'a Jarýi

Character Traits: In her short tale(s) she is kind and hospitable despite not knowing who she has invited into her home.

Visual Traits: No definitive visual traits are given.

Symbolism: Yerba maté plant.