churinga
noun
chu·rin·ga
chüˈriŋgə
variants
or less commonly tjurunga
or tjuringa
tyüˈrəŋgə
-ˈriŋgə
plural churingas or churinga
: an object of wood or stone that is considered sacred by various aboriginal tribes of Central Australia and that is often elliptical in shape, bears incised designs, is believed to represent either the spiritual double of a living native or the embodiment of the spirit of a totemic ancestor, and is generally regarded as secret
sometimes
: the quality of sacredness compare bull-roarer
Dictionary Entries Near churinga
Cite this Entry
“Churinga.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/churinga. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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