Hasjelti and Hostjoghon were the children of Ahsonnutli, the turquoise,
and Yolaikaiason (white-shell woman, wife of the sun). Ahsonnutli placed
an ear of white corn and Yolaikaiason an ear of yellow corn on the
mountain where the fogs meet. The corn conceived, the white corn giving
birth to Hasjelti and the yellow corn to Hostjoghon. These two became the
great song-makers of the world. They gave to the mountain of their
nativity (Henry Mountain in Utah) two songs and two prayers; they then
went to Sierra Blanca (Colorado) and made two songs and prayers and
dressed the mountain in clothing of white shell with two eagle plumes
placed upright upon the head. From here they visited San Mateo Mountain
(New Mexico) and gave to it two songs and prayers, and dressed it in
turquoise, even to the leggings and moccasins, and placed two eagle plumes
on the head. Hence they went to San Francisco Mountain (Arizona) and made
two songs and prayers and dressed that mountain in abalone shells with two
eagle plumes upon the head. They then visited Ute Mountain and gave to it
two songs and prayers and dressed it in black beads. This mountain also
had two eagle plumes on its head. They then returned to the mountain of
their nativity to meditate, "We two have made all these songs."
Upon inquiring of their mothers how they came into existence, and being
informed, they said, "Well, let our number be increased; we can not get
along with only two of us." The woman placed more yellow and white corn on
the mountain and children were conceived as before. A sufficient number
were born so that two brothers were placed on each of the four mountains,
and to these genii of the mountains the clouds come first. All the
brothers consulted together as to what they should live upon and they
concluded to make game, and so all game was created.
Navajo prayers for rain and snow are addressed to Hasjelti and Hostjoghon.
These gods stand upon the mountain tops and call the clouds to gather
around them. Hasjelti is the mediator between the Navajo and the sun. He
prays to the sun, "Father, give me the light of your mind, that my mind
may be strong; give me some of your strength, that my arm may be strong,
and give me your rays that corn and other vegetation may grow." It is to
this deity that the most important prayers of the Navajo are addressed.
The lesser deities have shorter prayers and less valuable offerings made
to them. Hasjelti communicates with the Navajo through the feathered
kingdom, and for this reason the choicest feathers and plumes are placed
in the cigarettes and attached to the prayer sticks offered to him.