Tjurunga: Encyclopedia II - Tjurunga - Ownership

Tjurunga - Ownership

Generally speaking, tjurunga denote sacred stone or wooden objects possessed by private or group owners together with the legends, chants, and ceremonies associated with them. They are amongst the very few forms of property which may be owned legitimately by individual persons in Central Australia.

The ownership of sacred tjurunga amongst the Arrernte groups was determined largely by 'the conception site' of every individual member of a patrilineal totemic clan.

In many myths the ancestors themselves are said to have used them and stored them away as their most treasured possessions. Such myths emphasise the life-holding magical properties of these tjurunga. The ancestor regarded his tjurunga as portions of his own being; and is always anxious that strangers might come and rob him of the very essence of his life. Accordingly, the legends abound with stories of theft and robbery, and the very fierce vengeance exacted.

The acquisition of sufficient knowledge leading to possession of personal tjurunga was long, difficult and sometimes extremely painful. Practices differed amongst the various groups. Ted Strehlow describes how the men from the Northern, Southern and Western Arrernte groups were put on probation for several years after their last initiations.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Ownership", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki