Australia: The Land Where Time Began

A biography of the Australian continent 

Reference to mythology is essential to understand ritual in traditional Aboriginal culture. All ritual and most of the symbolism of Aboriginal Australia are based on mythology, but not all myths are acted out in ritual. Varying between different groups, mythology is part of a complex belief system. The component actions of rituals are explained by reference to the relevant mythology. As with other cultures that refer to scriptures from the distant past to base their beliefs systems and values on, Aboriginal society based their beliefs and actions, including the rituals performed, their laws,  etc. on their mythology. And supernatural beings from the Dreamtime were said to have created the people, different spirit beings creating the various tribes, and their environment, and to have given the laws

Radcliffe-Brown (1952: 155) suggested that "in attempting to understand a religion it is on the rites rather than on the beliefs that we should first concentrate our attention". According to the Berndt's the 2 are complementary. Among the Aboriginal People of Australia, ritual is not the only way a belief is transformed into action. First (1951: 222) points out that "a distinction is usually drawn between ritual, the mode of action and belief, the mode of conception, in religion". In this context the beliefs expressed through mythology are the essence of a religion. Among it adherents they are constantly present, though at varying levels of awareness. On the other hand ritual occurs in discrete episodes that take place at intervals. The Berndts believe they should both be studied in conjunction as facets of a wider problem area.

There are 2 kinds of totemic or religious rituals, according to Elkin (1654: 148), one type are commemorative or instructive, the other is found in increase rites. In increase rites the goal may have a narrow aim, connected with the increase of a single species, though it can have a wider aim concerned with the more general fertility of the environment or the season. This is more a matter of emphasis in many instances. Either of the 2 aspects may be the predominate one, Though they can be integrated so closely that it becomes difficult to separate them, even conceptually. Rituals are substantiated through spoken statement and material representation, regardless of whether the relevant mythology is cited or spelled out.

Sources & Further reading

1. R. M & C. H. Berndt, The World of the First Australians, Ure Smith Pty Ltd, 1964
2. Radcliff-Brown, A.R., 1952, Structure and Function in Primitive Society, Cohen and West. London
3. Firth, R., 1951, Elements of Social Organisation, Watts, London
4. Elkin, A.P., 1954, (1st ed. 1938), The Australian Aboriginal People: How to Understand Them, Angus & Robertson, Sydney