A Navajo Legend
Before the Spaniards introduced horses to the Dine’, they recounted the story of the Sun-God walking across the heavens while carrying the sun on his back. Upon reaching the west, he would hang the sun on a peg to allow it to cool off. After spending the evening with his family to rest from his long journey, he would remove the sun from its peg and, hidden in some way, retrace his steps back into the darkness. The next morning, he would start his westward journey again.
As time went on, the legend evolved into a new tale about the Sun-God, Johano-ai, who begins each morning from his home in the east and rides across the skies to his home in the west, carrying with him a shining gold disk—the sun. He is accompanied by five horses: one of turquoise, one of white shell, one of pearly shell, one of red shell, and one of coal.
On clear blue days, the Sun-God rides his horses of turquoise, white shell, or pearly shell. However, when dark storms fill the heavens, he mounts either the red horse or the coal horse. Beneath the hooves of these majestic horses are spread precious hides of all kinds, along with beautifully woven and richly decorated blankets. In days of old, the Dine wove intricate blankets said to have originally come from the home of the Sun-God.
The Sun-God allows his horses to graze on flower blossoms and drink from mingled waters—holy waters from springs, melted snow, hail, and water from the four corners of the world. The Dine use these sacred waters in their ceremonies. Whenever a horse of the Sun-God trots or runs, it does not raise dust, but instead, it releases glittering grains of mineral known as pitistchi, which are used in religious practices. When a horse rolls and shakes itself, shining grains of sand scatter from its body. As the horses run, sacred pollen offered to the Sun-God surrounds them, creating a mist. The Dine believe that the mist on the horizon is the pollen presented to the gods.
A Navajo man sings of the horses of the Sun-God to seek the blessing of beautiful horses for himself. Standing among his herd, he scatters holy pollen and sings this heartfelt song for the blessing and protection of his animals:
“How joyous his neigh!
Lo, the Turquoise Horse of Johano-ai,
How joyous his neigh,
There on precious hides outspread, standeth he;
How joyous his neigh,
There of mingled waters holy, drinketh he;
How joyous his neigh,
There in mist of sacred pollen hidden, all hidden he;
How joyous his neigh,
These his offspring may grow and thrive forevermore;
How joyous his neigh!”
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