The Legend of the Rainbow Serpent

Introduction

Long ago, in the Dreamtime, before the land of Australia took its current form, the world was dark and lifeless. The ancestors, who were spirits of the earth, water, and sky, had not yet given shape to the mountains, rivers, and valleys. All was still, and the people had not yet come into being. It was during this sacred time that one of the greatest beings emerged—the Rainbow Serpent. Its body shimmered with the colors of the rainbow, and it moved with grace and power across the land, transforming the earth beneath its massive coils.

The Rainbow Serpent, known by many names across the different Aboriginal nations of Australia, was revered as the creator of life and the guardian of water. It slithered through the land, shaping mountains, digging valleys, and carving out the rivers that would nourish the earth. Its movements brought fertility, enabling plants to grow and life to flourish in the barren land.

This is the story of the Rainbow Serpent, a tale of creation, struggle, and balance in the ancient world of the Dreamtime. Through its actions, the Serpent not only created the land but also set in place the laws and customs that would guide the people who came after.

The Awakening of the Rainbow Serpent

In the beginning, when the earth was flat and without features, the Rainbow Serpent lay sleeping beneath the surface. Its body coiled tightly, conserving energy, waiting for the right moment to rise. The earth above was desolate, and the creatures of the Dreamtime slept alongside it, buried in the soil, unaware of the world that would soon come to be.

One day, as the sun crept over the horizon, its rays penetrated deep into the earth, stirring the Rainbow Serpent from its slumber. The warmth of the sun awoke the Serpent, and it began to uncoil, its body stretching and writhing beneath the ground. As it moved, the earth shifted, and the land began to form. Mountains rose where its body pressed upward, and valleys sank where it burrowed deep.

The Rainbow Serpent emerged from the ground, its scales glistening in the sunlight, reflecting all the colors of the rainbow. With a powerful sweep of its tail, it created the rivers and streams, filling them with water as it moved across the land. The plants began to grow, and the animals awoke from their deep slumber, emerging from the earth to inhabit the newly formed world.

The Serpent, seeing the land it had created, was pleased, but it knew its work was not yet done. For the earth, though fertile, lacked the balance needed to sustain life. There was no order, no structure, and the creatures of the land were left without guidance.

The Gift of Water and Life

As the Rainbow Serpent slithered across the land, it carried water in its wake, bringing life to the barren landscape. The rivers it created flowed freely, and wherever the Serpent traveled, plants grew lush and green. Trees sprouted tall, and grasses spread across the plains. The animals, awoken by the Serpent’s presence, began to drink from the rivers and graze on the plants.

But the Serpent knew that water, the source of life, was also a precious resource. Without control, the rivers could flood the land, destroying the very life they nurtured. The Serpent, being wise and protective, decided to guard the water, ensuring that it was used wisely and sparingly. It appointed itself as the keeper of the waterholes, sacred places where animals and humans alike would come to drink.

To ensure balance, the Serpent established laws. It decreed that the waterholes were to be respected and cared for by all creatures. No one was to pollute or waste the water, for without it, life could not flourish. The Serpent’s law was absolute, and those who disobeyed would face its wrath.

The Serpent’s journey across the land was not just one of creation, but also of teaching. It spoke to the animals, teaching them how to live in harmony with the earth and with each other. It taught them how to find food, how to care for the young, and how to respect the balance of nature. The Serpent was the guardian of the earth, and its wisdom was the foundation upon which the world would be built.

The Serpent’s Rivalry with the Frog

Despite the balance and harmony the Rainbow Serpent sought to bring, not all creatures were content with its rule. One such creature was Tiddalik the Frog. Tiddalik was a mischievous and greedy creature, always seeking to disrupt the balance of the world for his own gain.

One day, Tiddalik decided that he would drink all the water in the land, leaving nothing for the other animals or plants. He made his way to one of the sacred waterholes guarded by the Serpent and began to drink. He drank and drank until there was no water left, and the rivers ran dry. The land, which had been so full of life, began to wither under the scorching sun.

The animals, realizing what had happened, went to the Rainbow Serpent for help. They told the Serpent of Tiddalik’s greed and begged for its intervention. The Serpent, furious at the frog’s actions, slithered across the land, searching for Tiddalik.

When the Serpent found Tiddalik, his belly was swollen with all the water in the land. The Serpent knew that it could not simply strike Tiddalik down, for that would cause the water to spill uncontrollably, flooding the land. Instead, the Serpent devised a plan. It would make Tiddalik laugh, causing him to release the water willingly.

The Serpent called upon the animals of the land to help. One by one, they tried to make Tiddalik laugh, but the frog remained stubborn, holding the water inside him. Finally, it was the echidna, with its clumsy movements and silly antics, that succeeded. Tiddalik burst into laughter, and as he did, the water flowed from his mouth, filling the rivers and waterholes once more.

The Serpent, satisfied that balance had been restored, returned to its place as the guardian of the water. But it warned the animals that such greed and selfishness would not be tolerated. The laws of the land were sacred, and those who broke them would face the consequences.

The Creation of the People

With the land now thriving and the balance restored, the Rainbow Serpent turned its attention to the final task of creation: the creation of the people. The Serpent knew that the land needed caretakers, beings who would live in harmony with the earth and respect the laws it had established.

The Serpent journeyed across the land, gathering clay from the riverbanks and shaping it into the form of men and women. It breathed life into the figures, and they awoke, blinking in the sunlight, their hearts beating in time with the rhythm of the earth.

The Serpent taught the people the ways of the land, just as it had taught the animals. It showed them how to hunt and gather food, how to find water, and how to live in harmony with the earth. It also taught them the sacred laws, the rules that governed the use of the land and the water. The people were to be the stewards of the earth, protecting it and ensuring that its resources were used wisely.

The people flourished under the guidance of the Rainbow Serpent, and they spread across the land, establishing communities and passing down the knowledge they had learned from their creator. The Serpent watched over them, always present in the land, a silent guardian ensuring that the balance was maintained.

The Serpent’s Conflict with the Crocodile

For many years, the people lived in peace, and the land remained fertile and bountiful. But as time passed, some of the people began to forget the laws of the Rainbow Serpent. They grew careless with the water, polluting the sacred waterholes and wasting the resources the Serpent had so carefully guarded.

The Serpent, seeing this, was angered. It reminded the people of the importance of the water and the balance of nature, but some refused to listen. Among those who disregarded the Serpent’s teachings was a powerful and arrogant man named Ginga, who had the spirit of the crocodile within him.

Ginga was strong and fearless, and he believed that the Serpent’s laws were outdated. He sought to take control of the waterholes for himself, claiming that the Serpent had no right to rule over the land. He gathered followers, and together they defied the Rainbow Serpent, polluting the water and hoarding it for their own use.

The Serpent, seeing the destruction Ginga and his followers were causing, confronted them. A great battle ensued, with Ginga taking the form of a massive crocodile, his jaws snapping and his tail thrashing as he fought the Serpent. The battle raged across the land, shaking the earth and stirring the rivers. Mountains crumbled, and valleys were formed as the two titans clashed.

In the end, the Rainbow Serpent prevailed, using its wisdom and agility to outmaneuver the brute strength of the crocodile. Ginga was defeated, and the Serpent cast him into the depths of the rivers, where he would remain for all eternity, a reminder to the people of the consequences of defying the laws of nature.

The Serpent’s Legacy

Though the battle was over, the scars left on the land by the conflict were visible for generations. The rivers and valleys created during the battle became sacred places, reminders of the struggle between the Serpent and the crocodile. The people, having witnessed

the power of the Rainbow Serpent, renewed their commitment to the laws of the land, vowing to live in harmony with nature and protect the sacred waterholes.

The Rainbow Serpent, having restored balance to the land once again, withdrew into the earth, returning to its place of rest beneath the surface. But the people knew that the Serpent was always present, watching over them, ensuring that the balance was maintained.

The stories of the Rainbow Serpent were passed down through the generations, told by the elders to the children, who would one day become the caretakers of the land. The Serpent’s legacy lived on in the customs and laws of the people, shaping their relationship with the earth and with each other.

The Return of the Rainbow Serpent

As the generations passed, the people never forgot the teachings of the Rainbow Serpent. They continued to honor the sacred waterholes, caring for the land and living in harmony with the earth. But there were times when droughts would come, and the rivers would run dry. During these times, the people would gather at the waterholes and pray to the Rainbow Serpent, asking for its guidance and protection.

It is said that during these times of great need, the Serpent would stir once more, rising from its resting place beneath the earth. Its body would shimmer with the colors of the rainbow, and it would move across the land, bringing rain to the parched earth and filling the rivers once more.

The people, seeing the Serpent’s return, would rejoice, knowing that the balance had been restored. The Rainbow Serpent, though hidden from sight, was always present, a guardian of the earth and a symbol of the eternal connection between the land, the people, and the spirit of the Dreamtime.

Conclusion

The legend of the Rainbow Serpent is a story of creation, balance, and respect for the natural world. It teaches the importance of living in harmony with the earth, respecting the resources that sustain life, and honoring the sacred laws that ensure the survival of all beings. The Serpent’s legacy lives on in the hearts of the people, a reminder of the wisdom and power of the Dreamtime and the eternal connection between the land and its creatures.