In the Inuit religion, Pinga ("the one who is [up on] high"[1]) is a goddess of the hunt[2] and medicine.[3] She is heavily associated with the sky.

Caribou Inuit tradition

In Caribou Inuit communities, Pinga had some authority over caribou herds.[3][4] She became angry if people killed more caribou than they could eat, so Caribou communities were careful not to over-hunt.[5] Pinga is also a psychopomp, receiving the souls of the newly deceased and preparing them for reincarnation.[6] Angakkuit (shamans) might see or communicate with Pinga or sometimes she'd send a spirit to speak with them.[7]

Some Caribou Inuit viewed Sila and Pinga as the same or similar while other communities differentiated between the two.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ Merkur 1983, p. 28.
  2. ^ Oosten & Laugrand 2009, p. 486.
  3. ^ a b Auger 2005, p. 50.
  4. ^ Bastmeijer & Rasing 2014, p. 766.
  5. ^ a b Kleivan 1985, p. 31.
  6. ^ Auger 2005, p. 44.
  7. ^ Merkur 1983, p. 31.

References

Categories