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Pinga


Pinga is a feminine deity whom the moon-god is subordinate according to a legend among the Caribou Inuits. She takes over certain functions of the moon-god. Pinga, "The one above," seems to be the celestial counterpart to Sedna, "The one below." As the guardian of earthly game, especially the caribou, it would seem that she would reside on the earth, but this is not true; hoe she got in the sky and where exactly she resides is not known. She directs hunting by not allowing too many caribou to be killed at any one time. She watches over the souls of the living and the ill pray to her. She entrusts the dead to the care of the moon-god who upon her instructions brings souls back to earth to begin a new life. On occasions she provides helping spirits to the angekkoks, but apparently does not observe human behavior as close as the spirit A.G.H.


Source:

Grimal, Pierre, Larousse World Mythology, Secaucus, New Jersey, Chartwell Books, 1965, p. 445