Pallian- Aboriginal Australian GodDeity
Also known as: Pallyan
Description
Bunjil's brother and opposite. Where the Eaglehawk made the land, mountains, and people under open sky, the Bat made the rivers, seas, and underground waters. Pallian governs what flows beneath, the hidden realm from which springs rise and caves open into darkness.
Mythology & Lore
The Brother Below
In Kulin tradition, Bunjil the Eaglehawk and Pallian the Bat are brothers whose combined work made the world complete. Bunjil created the land: mountains, plains, trees, and the people who walk upon them. Pallian created the waters: the rivers that flow through Kulin country and the underground sources from which springs rise to the surface. Pallian belongs to the Waa (Crow) moiety, complementing Bunjil who heads the Eaglehawk side.
The Bat in the Cave
Pallian's totem is the bat, a creature that dwells in caves, emerges at twilight, and flies like a bird though it is none. Where Bunjil ascended to the sky after completing his creative work, Pallian remained below. The rivers he made still flow from sources hidden underground. The caves where bats roost still open into his domain. The springs that emerge from rock and the dark pools in cave systems are Pallian's country, and the water they carry is his gift.
Relationships
- Family
- Created