THE GUARANI ALTAR


Na Silvia gathers her grandchildren underneath the ancient rock to share the stories passed down by generations.


Making the Altar


The altar was carved by the spiritual lead- ers Don Leonido Benitez Romero and his wife Na Silvia Arce. Don Leonido is a wood craftsman, inspired by wild animals from the jungles of Amambay, such as owls, armadil- los, fish and birds. He also creates ceremonial objects, many of them with designs inspired by the ancient rock art in the hills. Don Leonido is one of the last Pai Tavytera Indi- ans to make altars. The altar itself is composed of two verti- cal lines (made of wood) crossing the hori- zontal line from which objects can be hung. These lines connect the altar with the sacred hill of Yasukarenda where creation began. Yasukarenda, also known as Guazu Hill, is the largest hill in the region. The Pai Tavytera consider it the navel, meaning the center of the world. The altar is considered not only to represent this sacred hill, but actually to be part of it, where the beginning of the cosmos is located, and where their main god, Name Ramoi Papa, resides. In an interview in Guarani, Don Leonido


explains, “It was there that the Pai Tavytera was born, and then the law of day-by-day living on the earth emerged and we still follow it today. Then we see how people are not using the cus- toms and teachings, because they abandoned the prayers; they are punished by nature.”


24 AMERICAN INDIAN SPRING 2017


Don Leonido, besides being a master craftsman is the keeper of traditions of the Pai Tavytera.


PHOTOS COURTESY SOLAR MAP PROJECT, CREATIVE COMMONS


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