A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Depending on the vagaries of the weather and limited rainfall, some areas usually experience periodic droughts, while others receive some more moisture. Farmers, especially, are generally very dependent on rainfall.
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One legend says that Yuku, the god of the rain and thunder, once left the eight main villages in the region without water.
The rulers of the eight Yaqui cities gathered to try to come up with a solution to solve their water crisis. Finally, they decided to ask Yuku for help. They depended on him and his powers.
They believed he could stop the rain or send it when needed. This deity played a crucial role in the tribe's survival as the rains were indispensable for the crops and maintaining a balance in nature.
At first, the Yaquis hoped a little sparrow could help convince Yuku to give them water, but this bird was unsuccessful. When a swallow also failed to intervene, the toad Bobok acquired bat wings to trick the god into dropping rain on the earth.
So, the eight Yaqui rulers decided to make a third attempt to ask Yuku for urgent help.
The chiefs visited Bobok the toad, who lived in Bahkwam, a swampy shallow lake that was dry at the time. They entrusted Bobok with the mission; he indeed wanted to help, but the entire mission was not easy. Before meeting the Yuku, Bobok needed some help, which he found when he visited an old sorcerer who lived outside of town.
The old Yaqui magician gave the toad a pair of bat wings so he could fly up to the cloudy kingdom of Yuku to beg for help.
"Sir, please don't mistreat the Yaquis. You know that the people down there, don't you? They want rain," Bobok said.
"I know," said the god of rain. "You go ahead of me, and I'll come behind and catch up."
Unfortunately, Yuku had no intention of helping. Instead, he only wanted to get rid of Bobok as he had done with the birds that had visited him before.
Bobok, however, was a clever toad. He pretended to leave the Yuku's cloudy realm and hid instead. Immediately, the sky darkened, lightning flashed, and thunder was heard. The wind picked up, and it began to rain.
The water reached the ground, but Bobok rose much higher in the sky and was safe. The rain could not reach him. He began to croak, and Yuku heard ít.
Angry Yuku wanted to kill the toad by sending a deluge, but he could not find the brave toad.
In the meantime, the rainwater had already irrigated the entire Yaqui land, and the wells were not empty anymore.
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The Yaquis people and their animals could quench their thirst. With so much water, the Yaqui River was born and became home to many frogs.
Bobok returned the borrowed wings to the old magician and went back to live peacefully in the swamps at Bahkwam.
In Basque mythology, there is a legend about a Basque farmer who stole secrets of agriculture from Basajaun ("Lord of the Woods").
This wise being inspired respect and fear but was unwilling to share useful knowledge with humans.
Myths and legends of many cultures mention gods and other divinities with extraordinary powers at their disposal and knowledge that could help mankind if shared equitably out of goodwill.
Not all who possessed knowledge wanted to distribute it to humans.
Some myths and legends describe the need to disobey the rulers of heaven and earth. The legend of the Jade Emperor reminds us of the desperate situation people left without water face. The legendary Chinese Emperor was unwilling to share water with humans. He promised to help people, animals, and plants to survive, but nothing happened. When ten days had passed without rain, four courageous dragons disobeyed the Jade Emperor. Their massive tails captured great masses of water from the sea and brought rain to all living beings on the surface.
Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer
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Expand for referencesDawn E. Bastian, Judy K. Mitchell, Handbook of Native American Mythology
Ruth W. Giddings, Yaqui Indian Myths and Legends
