March 2026
Pericú Legend Mural
Voice of the Ancestors
Inspired by the worldview of the ancient Pericú people of the Baja California Sur peninsula, this mural evokes the figure of Niparajá, creator of the sky, the earth, and the sea. From his origin came Cuajaip, who walked among humans to teach and guide them. Tradition also recalls the great struggle against Tuparán, who was defeated and expelled from the heavens; then Niparajá took from him the pitahayas and the fruits he possessed and imprisoned him in a cave near the sea, creating the whales to guard his prison.
These stories reflect the spiritual vision of the Pericú people, their deep relationship with nature, and their search for harmony in the world.
“The Pericúes said that in heaven there lived a great lord called ‘Niparajá,’ who had created the sky, the earth, and the sea, and who could do whatever he wished. This lord has a wife named ‘Anajicojondí,’ and although he has not made use of her due to lacking a physical body, he nevertheless has three children through her. One of them, called ‘Cuajaip,’ was conceived in the Acaragui mountains; he was a true man and lived for a long time among our ancestors to instruct them. He was powerful and had many people under his command, because whenever he wished he would go beneath the earth, and from there he would bring forth men. But these ungrateful people, despising the many benefits they had received from him, conspired against him and killed him; and when they put him to death, they pierced his head with a crown of thorns.”
“They also added that in heaven, which is more populated than the earth, there was once a terrible war, because a great figure of that land, called by some Tuparán and by others Bac, conspired with all his followers against the supreme Niparajá. However, after Niparajá emerged victorious in the war, he took from Tuparán the pitahayas and all the other delicious fruits he possessed, cast him out of heaven along with all his followers, imprisoned him in a cave near the sea, and created the whales to guard him and prevent him from escaping.”
“They also said that Niparajá did not desire war, whereas Tuparán did; for this reason, those who died pierced by arrows did not go to heaven, but to the cave of Tuparán.”
“From these doctrines arose in the land of the Pericúes two opposing sects or factions, both in their beliefs and in their customs. The followers of Niparajá were generally serious, circumspect, and obedient to reason, and thus it was not difficult for the missionaries to persuade them of evangelical truths, making use of their false doctrines. Those who followed Tuparán were deceitful, false, restless, and stubborn in their errors.”
Clavijero, F. X., History of Ancient or Lower California, Editorial Porrúa S.A., Mexico, 1990, pp. 63–64.
“They added that in heaven, which is more populous than the earth, there was once a terrible war, because a great figure from that realm—called Tuparán by some and Wac by others—conspired with all his followers against the supreme Niparaja; but he, having emerged victorious in the war, after having taken from Wac-Tuparán the pitahayas and all the other delicious fruits he possessed, cast him out of heaven along with all his followers, imprisoned him in a cave near the sea, and raised the whales to guard him and prevent him from leaving there. They also said that Niparaja did not want war, whereas Wac-Tuparán desired it; for this reason, those who died by arrow did not go to heaven, but to the cave of Wac-Tuparán.”
Clavijero, F. X., History of Ancient or Lower California, Juan R. Navarro Press (translated from Italian by Presbítero Nicolás García de San Vicente), 1857, p. 29.
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