72: RAINBOW CONNECTION | Legends of the Bahag-Hari in Philippine Mythology

There’s a rainbow always after the rain–but is it always a good thing?

This episode, to cap off pride month, we cover the various myths and legends about  the heavenly phenomenon: THE RAINBOW, also known as Bahag-hari.

In this episode we meet Bighari, the flower-loving daughter of Bathala who got grounded for tardiness, and a star maiden who lost her wings and learned to be happy in her mortal husband’s earthly home. We also learn why the Ibaloi think the rainbow isn’t straight, why you shouldn’t point at rainbows and how early Visayan saw it as an omen of war.

Lastly, we cover the various rainbow myths around the world, involving half-demons, godly weapons and spontaneous gender transformations.

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes.  You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at godsmustbecrazy.pod@gmail.com

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

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Sources:

https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/news/68806/alamat-ang-pag-iibigang-pinagtibay-ng-bahaghari/story 

https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/ang-alamat-ng-bahagharidocx/252181196#2 

https://www.aswangproject.com/rainbows-in-philippine-mythology-folklore/ 

https://www.aswangproject.com/biraddali/ 

https://www.aswangproject.com/bathalas-seven-children/ 

https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/nonpwdpubs/young_naturalist/earth_sciences/rainbows/index.phtml#:~:text=An%20old%20Romanian%20folktale%20claimed,changed%20into%20the%20opposite%20sex.