AMAN SINAYA, the Fisherman’s Deity | TAGALOG MYTHOLOGY

Aman Sinaya was the fisherman’s deity of the early Tagalogs. When first wetting a net or fishhook, Aman Sinaya (the father of Sinaya) was named.[1] Sinaya meant the first catch of a fishnet, fishtrap, and even from a hunting dog.[2]

“Fishermen would not make use of the first cast of the net or a new fish-corral, for they thought that they would get no more fish if they did the opposite. Neither must one talk in the fishermen’s house of his new nets, or in that of the hunter of dogs recently purchased, until they had made a capture or had some good luck; for if they did not observe that, the virtue was taken from the nets and the cunning from the dogs.”[3]

It is unknown if the first catch was offered to Aman Sinaya, but it is a possibility given the above statement and Buenaventura’s documentation showing that a prayer was recited in support of the above.

“A prayer was recited to Amansináyà by fishermen. Before they cast their net or their line, they whistle and say: “Kasumpâ akó; nawáỳ diriyán. = I am your sworn friend; let it be there.”[4]

According to Isabelo de los Reyes “Sináyà or Amansináyà was the wandering soul of a naiad (a water nymph or a female water deity) who originally was a girl who drowned while trying to retrieve a needle in crystal-clear water, being under a spell from the male water deity named Lítaw by Ilocanos.”

Furthering speculation that Aman Sinaya could have been a female, Demetrio writes in The Soul Book, “Amansinaya – anito of fishermen of the ancient Tagalogs to whom they offer their first catch, hence the term pa-sinaya (“for Sinaya”) still used today. Following the theory of god-making Amansinaya could be the soul of a maiden who was drowned and became an anito of the water.”[5]

Potet counters, “This is doubtful because the name of Amansináyà can only be that of a male deity. It is obvious Sináyà was eventually perceived as feminine because its final -à was wrongly interpreted as the Spanish feminine ending -a.”[6]

Modern beliefs seem to have latched on to the idea of Aman Sinaya being a goddess.  In the last few years, a new version of the Tagalog creation myth has gained popularity online. Instead of the previous versions, this one features a ‘trinity’ of three primordial deities that inhabit the universe: Bathala the supreme god of creation, Aman Sinaya the goddess of the sea, and Amihan the North Wind. The rest of the myth follows as previously established [see; Creation].

I believe this misunderstanding may stem from Marvel’s 2009 Encyclopaedia Mythologica where it states:

“According to ancient myths, the Earth Mother Gaea gave birth to the three primary Diwata: Bathala (Bathalang Maykapal), the supreme Sky Father and Diwatas’ king; Aman Sinaya (known as “Maguayen” to the Visayans), goddess of the sea; and Amihan (known as “Kaptan” to the Visayans), god of the wind. Together, these three gods fashioned the first mortals from a bamboo shoot and instilled them with a soul (“kaluluwa”). Later, Bathala fell in love with a mortal woman while visiting Earth and sired three additional Diwatas: Apo Laki, god of war and the sun; the beautiful Mayari, goddess of the moon; and Tala, goddess of the stars. Subsequent generations of Diwatas soon followed, and they devoted much of their time and energies to serving as guardians of nature.”[7]

This entry seems to contain multiple inaccuracies and cursory research shows the latest creation myth with the goddess Aman Sinaya seems to have gained traction shortly after its release.

 

[1] Barangay: Sixteenth Century Philippine Culture and Society. W.H. Scott, Ateneo de Manila University Press. 1994

[2] Ancient Beliefs and Customs of the Tagalogs. POTET, Jean-Paul G. Lulu.com, 2018. p. 523

[3] Blair & Robertson, Vol. XL, Native Races and Their Customs of the Origin of the Nations and Peoples Who Inhabit These Islands, Francisco Colin pp. 37—48.

[4] Vocabulario de la lengua tagala, De San Buenaventura, Pedro, O.F.M. (1613)

[5] The Soul Book, Demetrio, Francisco R, S.J. GCF Books, 1990, p. 32

[6] Ancient Beliefs and Customs of the Tagalogs. POTET, Jean-Paul G. Lulu.com, 2018. p. 524

[7] Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1; Diwatas’ entry, Marvel Publishing, Inc. 2009, p.23

 

ART BY: Ark O. Parojinog