Bunjil

Bunjil, also spelt Bundjil, is a creator deity, culture hero and ancestral being, often depicted as a wedge-tailed eagle in Australian Aboriginal mythology of some of the Aboriginal peoples of Victoria.

For the town in Australia, see Bunjil, Western Australia.

Bunjil's Shelter
The wedge-tailed eagle is the largest bird of prey in Australia
Eagle is a 23-metre tall sculpture by Bruce Armstrong, inspired by Bunjil.

Creation stories

In the Kulin nation in central Victoria he was regarded as one of two moiety ancestors, the other being Waang the crow. Bunjil (or Bundjil[1]) has two wives and a son, Binbeal the rainbow. His brother is Palian the bat. He is assisted by six wirmums or shamans who represent the clans of the Eaglehawk moiety: Djart-djart the nankeen kestrel, Thara the quail hawk, Yukope the parakeet, Lar-guk the parrot, Walert the brushtail possum and Yurran the gliding possum.

A Boonwurrung story tells of a time of conflict among the Kulin nations, when people argued and fought with one another, neglecting their families and the land. The mounting chaos and disunity angered the sea, which began to rise until it had covered the plains and threatened to flood the entire country. The people went to Bunjil and asked him to help them stop the sea from rising; Bunjil agreed to do so, but only if the people would change their ways and respect the laws and each other. He then walked out to the sea, raised his spear and ordered the water to stop rising.[2]

According to one legend, after creating the mountains, rivers, flora, fauna, and laws for humans to live by, Bunjil gathered his wives and sons then asked Waang, who had charge of the winds, to open his bags and let out some wind. Waang opened a bag in which he kept his whirlwinds, creating a cyclone which uprooted trees. Bunjil asked for a stronger wind. Waang complied, and Bunjil and his people were blown upwards into the sky. Bunjil himself became the star Altair and his two wives, the black swans, became stars on either side.[3] Bunjil was said to have left this world via the island of Deen Maar.[4]

Bunjil's Shelter
Further information: Bunjil's Shelter

It is believed by the Kulin and other Aboriginal peoples that, in the Dreamtime, Bunjil took shelter in a cave located in the part of Gariwerd that is now known as the Black Range Scenic Reserve, not far from Stawell. Bunjil's Shelter is today a popular tourist attraction and one of the most important Aboriginal rock art sites in the region.[5][6][7]

Alternative spellings

Early European colonists such as Daniel Bunce recorded the name as "Winjeel" or "Wingeel",[8] possibly from dialectal differences between the closely related Woiwurrung, Boonwurrung and Wathaurong languages. These spellings have persisted in the name of the farming area of Wingeel near Geelong,[9] and in that of the CAC Winjeel aircraft.[10]

In other sources, the name may be recorded as Pundjel, Bunjel, Pundjil, Punjel, Pun-Gel, Bun-Gil, or Pundgel.[11]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bunjil (deity).
  1. Law, Benjamin (24 January 2020). "Benjamin Law's Dicey Topics with Uncle Jack Charles". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  2. Briggs, Carolyn (31 May 2000). "Boon Wurrung Story". Yarra Healing. Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  3. Mudrooroo (1994). Aboriginal mythology: An A-Z spanning the history of the Australian Aboriginal people from the earliest legends to the present day. London: Thorsons. pp. 23–24. ISBN 978-1-85538-306-7.
  4. "Deen Maar IPA". National Indigenous Australians Agency. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  5. Richard Everist (2009). Traveller's Guide to the Goldfields: history and natural heritage trails through Central and Western Victoria. Australia: Best Shot. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-9756023-3-1.
  6. Parks Victoria (2009). "'Bunjil Shelter' - Black Range Scenic Reserve, Stawell - Visitor Guide" (PDF). Park Notes. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  7. "Bunjil Shelter - Stawell, Attraction, Grampians, Victoria, Australia". Visit Victoria. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  8. [Language of the Aborigines of the Colony of Victoria and other Australian Districts, Daniel Bunce 1856]
  9. National Library of Australia. "Geelong Advertiser 14 Dec 1918 VICTORIAN TOWN NAMES". Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  10. "Historic flypast for Ballarat on Anzac Day". ABC Central Victoria. Archived from the original on 27 May 2005. Retrieved 12 March 2007.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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