Cimmaron Grover
Katsin Mana
10 1/4"
total height
Of all the women who appear
with other Kachinas, the Kachina Maiden, or Kachin' Mana, is
the most prevalent. If she is carrying blue corn, she is known
as the Blue Corn Maiden, similarly yellow corn, etc.
She often appears in regular
Kachina dances with household ware, accompanied by Long Haired
Kachina. Based on this Corn Maiden’s yellow color, she’s
a Yellow Corn Maiden. Her presence is a prayer for corn. She
also honors Mother Earth and her continuing ability to feed her
children. Placing this Kachina in your home, particularly on
an altar, shows respect for the many gifts we receive each day
from Mother Earth. This gentle maiden reminds us always to be
thankful. By the way, a Kachina Maiden often will change her
name to that of the Kachina with whom she is dancing, although
her appearance does not change.
"Yellow Corn Maiden appears
with a variety of kachinas, Angak'china, Ma'alo, Pawik and others.
She may sometimes be seen with the Kocha Mana.
They dance in a line seperate
from the other kachinas but following the same pattern of dance,
turning as the others do, gesturing as they do. Their only deviation
is when they kneel and place large gourds on the ground to rasp."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi Artist's
Documentary (175)
