Nesaru

Role: god · First appears: Tale 3 · The Origin of the Arikara · Part 1

Long ago, Nesaru decided to destroy the large people for mocking the gods, saying, “I made them too strong. I will not keep them.” In another account, he made giants who displeased him and were turned to stone by the heat he sent upon them; “Again,” he made a second, smaller people, who were later taken underground by animals.

When the heavenly corn matured, Nesaru turned an ear into Mother-Corn and sent her to bring his people from the earth. Afterward, he gave the people Mother-Corn, the office of chief, and the medicine-men. In Tale 4, after Prairie-chicken carried the pipe to the gods and they smoked, Nesaru consented to Mother-Corn having people on earth and directed the gods to give them power and protection.

In Tale 5, Nesaru saw Mother-Corn from the heavens, taught her how to live, and gave her power for times of need.

Relationship record

Life events

• Nesaru decided to destroy the large people for mocking the gods.(Tale 3 · The Origin of the Arikara · Part 1)
  • With: the large people (Tale 3)
  • “Nesaru said: “I made them too strong. I will not keep them. They think that they are like myself. I shall destroy them”
• Nesaru turned an ear of heavenly corn into a woman and sent her to bring his people from underground.(Tale 3 · The Origin of the Arikara · Part 1 · 📍 the heavens)
  • With: Mother-Corn
  • “As soon as the corn in the heavens had matured, Nesaru took from the field an ear of corn. This corn he turned into a woman and Nesaru said, ‘You must go down to the earth and bring my people from the earth.’”
• Nesaru gave the people Mother-Corn, the office of chief, and the medicine-men.(Tale 3 · The Origin of the Arikara · Part 3)
  • With: the people Mother-Corn the medicine-men
  • “After this was done, Nesaru had gathered in from his garden the crop of corn he had planted. Nesaru then gave three things to the people—Mother-Corn, the office of chief, and the medicine-men.”
• Prairie-chicken carried the pipe to the gods, who received it and smoked.(Tale 4 · The Origin of the Arikara · Part 2)
  • With: Prairie-chicken Mother-Corn God in the Southeast God in the Southwest God in the Northwest God in the Northeast
  • “The Prairie-chicken came back, and said, ‘Mother-Corn, the God in the Northeast has received the pipe and smoked.’”
• Nesaru consented to Mother-Corn having people on earth and directed the gods to empower and protect them.(Tale 4 · The Origin of the Arikara · Part 2)
  • With: Mother-Corn
  • “In the smoking Nesaru let the gods know that he had given his consent to Mother-Corn to have people upon the earth; and that the gods were also to give their power to the people and protect them.”
• Nesaru taught Mother-Corn how to live and gave her power for times of need.(Tale 5 · The Origin of the Arikara · Part 1)
  • With: Mother-Corn
  • “Nesaru from the heavens saw the Mother-Corn and talked to her. He had his mercy on her and he taught her how she should live. He gave her power to use in the times of need.”
• Nesaru made giants, who turned to stone after displeasing him.(Tale 6 · The Origin of the Arikara · Part 1)
  • “They displeased Nesaru, and he sent mighty heat upon these people, so that they turned into stones”
• Nesaru made a second people, who were later taken underground by animals.(Tale 6 · The Origin of the Arikara · Part 1)
  • “Again, Nesaru made people. This time they were small, but were wonderful.”

Tale 3 · The Origin of the Arikara · Part 1

• with Mother-Corn (Nesaru created Mother-Corn by transforming an ear of corn into a woman.) “As soon as the corn in the heavens had matured, Nesaru took from the field an ear of corn. This corn he turned into a woman and Nesaru said, ‘You must go down to the earth and bring my people from the earth.’”

Tale 5 · The Origin of the Arikara · Part 1

• pupil: Mother-Corn “Nesaru from the heavens saw the Mother-Corn and talked to her. He had his mercy on her and he taught her how she should live.”

Also listed in Other Figures — Minor Figures

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Extracted from the original text of Traditions of the Arikara. Made with Rho MD.