Najara

Najara In Australian mythology, a spirit who lures young boys away from their tribes and makes them forget their language. Najara was a tribesman of the Djauan country. One day he went off to spear an emu. He sat down at the base of a palm tree and saw some dingoes—wild dogs—come along smelling the ground. They killed Najara and ripped his body to pieces. The moon god, Deert, found Najara’s body and buried it. At the end of three days Najara returned to life and rose from his grave. Deert asked him how he was able to accomplish this. Najara answered that the moon god did not need his “cleverness.” Najara knew that Deert too had the secret of returning from the dead. Najara went off into the desert. When he came upon a boy from his tribe, he whistled to him. The boy came over, and the two camped together for several months. When they were at last sighted by other members of the tribe, the boy fled. Eventually he was caught and brought back to the tribal camp. Najara, on the other hand, showed no fear. He suddenly disappeared and was never seen again. It was a long time before the boy would eat the food of his tribe or speak their language. To this day it is believed that when the spirit of Najara whistles in the grass, boys will be lured away and forget their tribe’s language.

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow
Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante