Is the Hopi Deity Kokopelli an Ancient Hindu God?

[Guest guest]

Is the Hopi Deity Kokopelli an Ancient Hindu God?

 

By Gene D. Matlock, B.A., M.A.

 

Compared with the rest of our galaxy, the world we inhabit is no

larger than a pea. Therefore, if at sometime in the past, one tribe

of humans decided to move from point A to point B, it seems to me

that it would be easy to trace the migration of such a group on this

microscopic orb. For example, suppose that I should decide to trace

the migration of the Hopis from "wherever" they originated. First, I

would learn about the ancient places they mentioned in their origin

myth. The fact that they are Hopis and snake cultists would cause me

to wonder whether or not they were any way related to the ancient

snake-worshiping Khopis, Hopis, Opis, or L'Hopitai tribe in what are

now Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, which were then part of Greater India.

 

The Hopi origin myth mentioned their nuclear home, called Kiva. This

word appears similar to the name of the ancient city-state of Khiva

in today's Uzbekistan. Khiva, Uzbekistan is one of the most ancient

cities on earth, having been inhabited since about 8,000 B.C. It

received its name from the type of round, sun-baked mud pit-houses of

the inhabitants, with the doorway in the center of the roof. The

inhabitants of ancient Khiva entered their homes by a ladder. Khiva's

name is derived from two Sanskrit words: Ki (ant hill) plus Va

(dwelling).

 

The Hopis say that their ancestors, the Khivites, were subject to a

small kingdom named Muski. In the same area where Khiva, Uzbekistan

is today, there was a small kingdom of non-Hindu tribals, called

Musika or Muski. They bitterly opposed attempts by the Brahmins and

Kshatriyas to force them to hand over their lands and become part of

the caste system. However, the Afghan Hopis did ally themselves with

the Brahmins long enough to force Alexander the Great to return to

Greece.

 

The Hopi Kiva and Muski lay in a larger, "mythical" region known as

Sivapuni or Sivapu. Is it a coincidence that the ancient region of

Northern India where God Shiva was the only religion, Uzbekistan,

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Kashmir, was called Sivapuri?

 

According to the Hopis, the priests and leaders of Muski began to

persecute their forefathers, even ravishing their wives and

daughters. They then asked their chief, called Yai-owa, to ask even a

greater leader, Maasawa, to help them leave Sivapuni. By some strange

coincidence, it just so happened in ancient Northern India, the

compound word Ja-ovaha meant "chief; overseer; caretaker." Maha-

Ishvara meant "Great Lord; King; God Shiva."

 

Maasawa agreed to aid and finance the departure of the Hopis. To lead

them out of Muski, he contracted the services of what the Hopis

call "white men," known as Bahanna. Then, their Wind God, Yaponche,

blew them across a great lake to the Promised Land. In Sanskrit,

Vahana means "mover; transporter; ship; vessel; boat." Panch was a

Sanskrit name for Pani or Phoenician.

 

 

The Able Panch setting out to invade the earth, brought the whole

world under their sway. (From the Mahabharata.) Indra hath raised the

Sun on high in heaven. Indra leads us with single sway - the Panch

leaders of the Earth. (Taken from the Rg Veda.)

To guard and protect the Hopis on their journey to the Fourth World,

Masaawa sent the "War Twins" with them, collectively called

Pokangkhya. By pure chance, an ancient North Indian word for "War

God" was Gangyus. Po-Gang-Haya meant "Chief Gangyus' warriors."

Evidently, they were elite warriors.

Before emerging to the fourth world, the Hopis decided to sacrifice

two Mahus, a type of insect, to keep them warm and safe on the

journey. Now, in Sanskrit, Maha does not mean "insect," but it does

mean "great; sacrifice; cow; bull." Anyone acquainted with Hindus

knows that not even in ancient times would they have sacrificed cows,

an animal they worship. They would have killed anyone who even

thought of such an evil act. Were the Hopis driven out of Sivapuri

for killing cows for food and disrespecting Vedic Brahm-Aryan culture?

 

Here's another possible scenario of what really happened: The Greeks

have a legend about the Cyclopes, a one-eyed race of monsters whom

everyone feared. A Cyclopes could be conquered only by having its eye

punched out. Edward Pococke, the 18th century Greek scholar and

Orientalist, wrote that this word "Cyclopes" is a Greek corruption of

the name of a pastoral people in India "Šwho lived in round buildings

with the doorways in the center, like the Southwestern Indians'

Kivas." 'India in Greece; p. 43.)

 

The Greek word "Cyclopes" (pronounced "Keeklopehs") evolved from Ki

(ant) + Ku (hill; hump); Lu (division; separation); Pes (chiefs) =

Kikulupes. As the Hopis themselves said, they left Khiva in two

groups, each going their separate ways.

 

Before leaving Khiva forever, the Hopis could have killed and

butchered all the cows in the city. Then, they dried the meat to be

used as food for the trip abroad. After that, they shot flaming

arrows in all the doorways of the homes of Khiva, burning the city to

the ground. Separating themselves into two groups, one went to

Greece; the other to the Americas. Did the Greeks and the Hopis

descend from the same stock? The Hopi emergence myth seems to hint

that they did! Does the name Kokopelli really mean "The Khiva (ant

hill) Prince," the chief who led the Hopis to the Americas? The Hopi

origin myth is loaded with hidden meaning.

 

 

 

Image of Kokopelli (right) as depicted on Hopi petroglyph at Second

Mesa. Note that this panel also portrays a migration of many

generations from a distant land.

 

Of course, I realize that all I have said is probably just some crazy

kind of coincidence. However, I do wonder at times why I can

translate most of the names of nearly all Hopi Kachinas into Sanskrit

names that make sense. For instance, let's ruminate on the favorite

Kachinas of both puebloans and Whites: Kokopelli and his "devil-may-

care" spouse, Kokopellimana.

 

The pre-Vedic Hindu "God of Good Fortune" was named Kubera or Kuha,

among other names.

 

I have long suspected that the American Southwest's most ancient and

popular deity, Kokopelli, is none other than Kubera or Kuha.

Petroglyphs and drawings of Kokopelli have even been found in the

ruins of the Hohokam and Anazasi cultures. These are thought to be

the original Puebloan cultures.

 

I will now compare the physical features, names, and cultural

anomalies between Kubera and Kokopelli, so that you can reach your

own conclusions. I'll first start with a chart comparing the physical

features of both deities.

 

 

 

Kokopelli traced from ancient Hopi rock wall.

Kubera Kokopelli

A dwarf A dwarf

A humpback A humpback

Pot-bellied Pot-bellied

Six toes on each foot Six toes on each foot

Eight teeth Very few or the same number of teeth

Clubfooted Clubfooted

Has three legs Has a penis as long as his legs

Often wears a headdress Often wears a feather headdress

Wears a kilt Wears a kilt

Is a god of good fortune and luck Is a god of good fortune and luck

 

 

More About the Names of the Two Deities

 

As I have previously stated, Kubera has more than one name. In

ancient times, his most common name after Kubera was Kuha, also

meaning "rogue; cheat." Ku means "humpback; deformed." Another

Sanskrit word, Ka, means "Sun; King." Pala or Pali means "protector;

ruler; king; prince. If I turn these words into a compound word, I

come up with Kakuhapali. Since Kokopelli is always associated with

the sun and fertility, the drawings and petroglyphs of this deity are

often accompanied by a shield depicting the sun (Ka).

 

Naturally, I would not expect any thinking human being to accept all

the preceding evidence as sufficient. In Sanskrit, Kaka means "lame

man; a cripple; an impudent and insolent fellow." Does Kakapali =

Kokopelli? Another Sanskrit word, Kuhaka, means "a cheat; rogue;

juggler; trickster." The Puebloan Kokopelli, probably an itinerant

traveling salesman, was also a lovable, popular, cheat, rogue,

juggler, and trickster.

 

The puebloans have another name for Kokopelli, which I believe

deserves some consideration. It is Kokopetiyot. In Sanskrit, Kaka

= "hunchback; deformed." Pati = "husband; male;" Yat = "travelling."

Yatu = "traveller; spirit; sorcerer." Is there any similarity in

pronunciation and definition between Kokopetiyot and Kakapatiyat?

 

Kubera or Kuha was the ruler of some fun-loving fairies, a few of

whom were Gandaras or Kandahars, sexually promiscuous celestial

musicians and dancers whose sole purpose on earth was to bring joy to

mankind; Apsaras, also heavenly dancers specializing in fanning the

fires of human passions - and the Kinnera, known among gods and men

as celestial musicians and dancers. Some authorities have wondered

whether these "pleasure fairies" were at one time temple prostitutes

before becoming mythological creatures.

 

Kokopelli was famous for his sexual promiscuity. Whenever he entered

a village, barren wives always tried to lure him into cornfields or

some other secret place. After sporting with him, they knew for sure

that they would bear children. Without a doubt, many a husband

probably wondered why his children looked more like East Indians than

Amerindians. The ancient Amerindians did not have harps, such as

those of the Kinnera, but they did have flutes. Kokopelli was an

excellent flutist. Before entering a village, he would start playing

his flute and dancing. Everyone in the village turned out to welcome

him and join in the merriment, especially those women whose husbands

never lived up to expectations.

 

About Their Consorts

 

Kokopelli's wife was named Kokopellimana. In the Hopi language, Mana

is "woman; wife." In Sanskrit, Mena means "woman; wife; Mother

Goddess." Is Kokopellimana similar in pronunciation and definition to

Kakapalimena?

 

Kubera or Kuha's consort was Yaksini (pictured right on stelle) or a

female Yaksha, maintaining sexual intercourse with mortals attached

to the service of Durga. In Indian mythology, Mauneya, served Lord

Kubera as the matron (Madam?) of a class of Ghandaras and Apsaras.

 

Kokopellimana also performed the same service to mortal man, for

which many unmarried Amerindians were eternally grateful. She was

always on the prowl at night, looking for someone to please sexually.

 

I believe that the Kachinas (pictured left) are the Hopis' "history

book" way of remembering their ancient ties with India. They give a

number of celebrations each year in which these Kachinas entertain

the public. One of their favorite Kachina acts is that of

Kokopellimana and her aggressive search for a man with whom to

copulate. A certain man will dress up like Kokopellimana. Then,

lifting up "her" skirts enticingly, "she" throws herself on an

unwary, luckless "victim", pretending to ravish him. Meanwhile, the

audience is in danger of laughing itself to death! None of the men

chosen as "victim" enjoys the part he must play in this celebration.

Embarrassed beyond measure, he often frees himself from

Kokopellimana, fleeing to his home and hiding there until the

celebration is over.

 

Are all the things I have written about just a bunch of

contradictions? Who knows? But I do ask myself this question: If I

come upon a bird with unusually greasy feathers, with webbed feet, a

long flat bill, swimming in a lake, and screaming "quack, quack,

quack," how am I to identify it? Should I call it a duck? Or is it a

humming bird?

 

If any of my readers are interested in pursuing this and other

similar anomalies in depth, I recommend my book The Last Atlantis

Book You'll Ever Have to Read - The Atlantis - Mexico - India

Connection and the one now in preparation: From Khyber (Kheeber) Pass

to Gran Quivira (Kheevira), NM and Baboquivari, AZ - When India Ruled

the World?

 

[Guest guest]

I read your post with interest. I found your post while looking for references to my daughters name, Kinnera. Thank you for the information. If you have sources for Kinnera, please let me know.