Charlette Alessi F. Inao Prof.

Odal-Devora
2019-46186 PhilArts 1 TFG
II - BA Organizational Communication Mutya ng Pasig Reflection

The Message of the Water Goddess

Water is life. Life on earth is intimately and inseparably connected to water. There is a seamless
connection.There is an intimate and inseparable connection between life on earth and its waters. Back
in the days of early civilizations, when mankind did not have means or the technology to explain
scientific processes and the way things worked, water being the primary reason for humanity’s survival
was the one thing every culture around the world commonly believed in. The rivers quenched their
thirst and grew their crops. The seas provided them the scrumptious meals and cleansed their bodies
from dirt and illness. For people of the past, this was more than enough reason to worship and glorify
the miraculous liquid that sustained their lives and allowed them to live on for more years than they can
expect. As these early civilizations bred cultures that treated water as sacred, beliefs, superstitions,
stories, and narratives that attempted to make sense of the incomprehensible nature of water began to
be established and passed down to future generations. This is why in many cultures of today, we could
find stories and art expressions that worship the Water Goddess.
In China, Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea, is their version of the Water Goddess. She is the
Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. She takes the form of a woman in an imperial gown and is believed
to be the guide of travelers and seamen who may find themselves lost at sea. In Indonesia, their version
of the Water Goddess is Nai Roro Kidul. She is referred to the queen of the southern seas who resides
underwater. In the Philippines, our water goddess is the Mutya ng Pasig, depicted as a siren who
protects and cleanses the city from dirt and ills. These are just a few of the many versions of the Water
Goddesses in Asia, but the most popular and common image of the Water Goddess among these
different cultures is the portrayal of the power of the water as feminine. The power of water to sustain
life is associated with women, and most likely, mothers, who equally give life to their children. They are
beautiful, kind, merciful, protective. They guide children when they’ve become lost.
The Goddess is seen in various art forms, such as stories, paintings, music, and a lot more. In
these depictions, we come to understand that Asia as a region puts a premium to the water goddess
because its countries are heavily surrounded by bodies of water. Furthermore, the Water Goddess
allows us to understand that Goddesses, just like mothers, and just like nature, may be harsh as well, if
we infuriate them. With that kind of message being reinforced in various art expressions, we send
society a message that we must not disrespect our mothers who give their all for us, nor must we
disrespect and neglect the oceans and the rivers that provide for us. This way, art doesn’t just exist to
depict reality and showcase cultures. It also becomes critical of societal behavior. The message of the
Water Goddess is clear. The power of goddesses and the power of nature remain superior to human
beings. The power of mothers cannot compare to the power of mere children. What we can do as
children of our mothers and children of the earth is accept the help from the waters, but this help is
something we must be grateful for, something that is never ours to abuse.