The Guaraní believed that seven cursed monsters roamed their land. Discover these Guaraní monsters, the myths that shape Paraguayan folklore, and where to explore this culture today.
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The Guaraní creation story and the birth of Paraguayan myths
Our story begins with the Guaraní creation story.
The Guaraní people believed the creation of the world began with their god-like figure, Tupã. Tupã is associated with the sun and light, and created the world in partnership with the moon goddess, Arasy.
Tupã created the first two humans (Rupave and Sypave), who gave birth to many daughters and three sons.
The tale of how the seven Guaraní monsters came to exist starts with Marangatu, the second son, and his daughter Keraná.
The Guaraní legend of Tau and Keraná
Keraná was an incredibly beautiful woman and spent most of her days laying in the grass and enjoying her slumbers. Her beauty began to draw the interest of Tau, the evil spirit. He showed interest in her and transformed into a man to woo her. When she didn’t reciprocate his interest he decided he would kidnap her.
Noticing Tau’s plan, the spirit of good, Anagatupyry managed to intervene. The two spirits fought for seven days and nights. Finally Anagatupyry was able to ward Tau away from Keraná and have him exiled.
However, despite being exiled from the land, Tau snuck back in and successfully kidnapped Keraná.
Arasy was enraged by the actions of Tau, and was determined to ensure that Tau would never reap the benefits of Keraná’s immense beauty. She set a curse upon the two of them, which turned each of their children into hideous beings.
Cursed children: the seven Guaraní monsters
Teju Jagua
Teju = lizard | Jagua = dog
Their first son was born with the body of a lizard and seven dog heads. He became the master of caves and would take his victims to the caves under Cerro Yaguarón to consume them. There are variations to the fable of Teju Jagua, with some versions claiming he only had one dog head, or that he was harmless to humans and only consumed honey and the native fruits.
Teju Jagua’s cave was at the base of Cerro Yaguarón, and is an important part of the story (which you’ll find out as you read on.) This is why Yaguarón is marked as the birthplace of Guarani mythology and lore.
Mboi tu’i
Mbói = snake | Tu’i = parrot
Their second born son had the body of a snake and the head of a parrot. Instead of living in caves like his older brother, Mbói Tu’i would roam the swamps. For this, he is seen as the god and protector of Paraguayan flora and amphibians (such as snakes, lizards and caiman).
Moñai
Moñai was also born with the body of a snake, however one with the girth of a tree trunk. He had an enormous head with two large horns which function as antennae. Although he also lives in the swamps, he is not a protector of any wildlife. Instead he is the protector of wrongdoers and thieves.
It is said that he was the most evil of the monsters. He wrecked havoc in the surrounding villages by continuously robbing the townsfolk. They decided to fight back with the help of Porâsý, which I share in the next section.
Jasy Jatere
Jasy = moon | little piece/fragment of the moon
Jasy Jatere was the only son born in the form of a human. He was a white child with golden locks who used to roam the fields during the siesta. Jasy Jatere is considered to be the protector of yerba mate (an important part of Paraguayan culture).
He would use his golden cane to hypnotise and lure his victims, which were often children. What happens to these children afterwards varies. Sometimes they would be returned to their parents after the siesta with no memory. In other tales they would be imprisoned, or they’d become a meal for Ao Ao. Parents use the story of Jasy Jatere to convince their kids to sleep during the siesta.
Kurupi
Be prepared for a weird monster here.
Tau and Keraná’s fifth child, Kurupi, was born with an enormously long penis that he wrapped around his body multiple times. He would use it to lasso and capture women and girls, and is considered to be the Guaraní god of sexuality.
Kurupi is often blamed for unpredicted pregnancies as his penis could supposedly sneak its way through ajar windows and impregnate unsuspecting women. Because of this, he was often used as a scapegoat. He is described as having dark skin, a hairy body, and feet that face backwards to trick any pursuers.
Ao Ao
Their sixth son was born in the form of a sheep with a terrifying wolf-like face, sharp teeth and the desire to kill and eat humans. Ao Ao had many children in his same form, and due to this, is sometimes known as the god of fertility. He and his children are called Ao Ao for the sounds they make as they call and howl to each other.
He would chase down his human prey until he was successful. Apparently, the only way to escape Ao Ao is to climb a palm tree, as these are the only trees that he is unable to knock down with his stocky body.
Luison
Tau and Keraná’s final son, Luisón is similar to what nowadays we would know as a werewolf. Every Tuesday and Friday he transformed into a large, terrifying dog and would roam the graveyards, feasting on corpses. He is considered the Guaraní god of death and is one of the most feared of the monsters.
It is said that if a family has seven sons, their seventh son will be Luison.
There are apparently still sightings of Luisons to this day across the country.
Porâsý and how the Guaraní monsters were defeated
The townsfolk decided to unite to bring down Moñai as they were fed up with his stealing and scavenging. Porâsý was a young woman who decided to take the destruction of Moñai and the other Guaraní monsters upon herself. She convinced Moñai that she was falling in love with him and they soon were planning their wedding. She insisted that she would like to meet all his brothers and so the night before their wedding they all gathered in the cave of Teju Jagua (beneath Cerro Yaguarón).
The brothers began drinking and were soon drunk. Porâsý tried to sneak out of the cave but realised that she had been blocked in by a boulder. Moñai wasn’t as drunk as she thought he’d been and he made sure that she was unable to leave the cave.
Porâsý realised she would not survive their plan and called out to the townsfolk who had been waiting outside the cave. Understanding that she was sacrificing herself, the townsfolk continued with their plan and burnt all seven of the Guaraní monsters alive.
It is said that every morning the spirit of Porâsý can be seen leaving Teju Jagua’s cave in the form of a small but bright morning light.
Other Guaraní creatures and Paraguayan folklore
The Pombero
The Pombero is known as the Master of the Night (el Señor del la Noche) and is a creature to be feared, especially by those who do not respect his night-time hours. There are those that say that drinking, smoking, and doing drugs in the night is a quick way to insult the Pombero.
No one knows exactly what the Pombero looks like, as he can choose to be invisible or to shapeshift into various animals. Apparently, if you hear the sound of a horse neighing during the night, this is actually the sound of the Pombero committing a violent and heinous act.
Some people will leave offerings for the Pombero to pay their respects, leaving him cigars and other gifts to hopefully buy protection from his shenanigans.
Bruja Micaela Yahari
Another famous legend in Yaguarón is Micaela Yahari, the local witch that is said to have lived for 150 years.
Micaela was a woman who lived through the 1800s in the forest to the north of Yaguarón. While most locals visited Micaela to receive herbal medicine for their illnesses, Micaela had been a student of an Indigenous shaman named Ventura Guari, who taught her about darker magic.
She had a mirror through which people could see the fate of their family members who were travelling or at war. This mirror would show them whether their loved one was living, or if some ill fate had befallen them. It is said that her powers included the ability to remove her head, and it would travel to find answers to peoples’ problems, and that she was also able to see into the future.
Her death certificate is dated 1917, however, because there is no evidence of her birth, the rumours of her old age can run free. People still go to her shrine today to pray, and leave offerings of photos, hair, flowers and clothes.
The area where Micaela Yahari lived and practiced her magic is bordered by two streams. This type of location, at the intersection of two currents, creates a vortex for the forces of magic.
There is a small castle nearby where Micaela also used to receive her clients. It lay abandoned for many years until 2019 when it was turned into accommodation for tourists. It is said that in one room, her presence can still be felt.
Visiting Paraguay to discover Guarani mythology
Visiting Paraguay is the best way to learn more about the Guaraní culture and explore Paraguay’s legends and folklore that exist to this day.
The best town to learn about the Guarani mythological monsters is the town of Yaguarón, a couple of hours to the south-east of Asuncion. Yaguarón is the first stop along the Route of the Picturesque Towns. This is due to parts of the myths having happened in the town and surrounding forest. You can learn more about Yaguarón here.
There is also a mythological museum in the town of Capiatá, part of the Golden Circuit just outside Asuncion. The Museo Mitológico de Ramón Elias has impressive sculptures of the monsters, amongst other historical and indigenous items.
Otherwise, talk to any Paraguayan and they’ll be able to tell you about the stories. Some will find it hilarious that you’re asking, and others will tell you stories of how they’ve felt the Pombero’s presence.
Which of the Guaraní monsters would you be most terrified to encounter when you visit Paraguay?
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