Sumatra
Taikaleleu
Nature / Ancestral Spirit Danger 2 of 5 · Unsettling
- Form
- Forest ruler-spirit
- Origin
- Ruler-spirit of the forest in the Mentawai Arat Sabulungan cosmology, counterpart to Taikamanua of the sky, Taikabaga of the earth and Saikabagakoat of the sea. Documented in a Delfi/Andalas University paper and by anthropologists Sihombing, Delfi and Tulius.
- Behavior
- Governs forest fortune; the kerei (shamans) mediate all dealings with it.
- Deterrents and vulnerabilities
- Shamanic rite and forest etiquette; not an enemy to be fought.
- Diet
- Spiritual energy / offerings
- Culture
- Mentawai
- Region
- Sumatra
- Sampling
- Added in dataset v3–v5; first placed on a tree here.
Coded characters
◆ New entry coded by folklore synthesis. Sex: Unspecified.
| Human-like | Humanoid, witch, or human spirit |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male, unspecified, or variable |
| Death or birth origin | Not death or birth related |
| Incorporeal | Embodied creature or witch |
| Flight | Grounded |
| Burial | None or weak |
| Children | None |
| Blood and organs | None |
| Theft and mischief | None |
| Hair or fur | None |
| Animal form | None |
| Detached head | None |
| Fire or light | None |
| Water | None |
| Forest | Forest, jungle, or mountain |
| Settlement | Wild or liminal |
| Black magic | Black magic or witchcraft central |
| Widespread | Localized |
| Body plan | Humanoid spirit |
| Diet | Life force or offerings |
