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{{Infobox deity
| type = Taíno
| name = Yúcahu Bagua Maórocoti
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| god_of = God of creation, the sky, the sea, bountiful harvest and peace
| abode = [[El Yunque (Puerto Rico)|El Yunque]]
| symbol = Three-pointed zemi, frog, rain, cassava and derivatives
| consort =
| parents = Atabey (mother)
| siblings = Guabancex/[[Juracán]] (twin)
| children = Boinael and Maroya
}}
'''Yúcahu'''<ref name="Pane 4">Fray Ramón Pané 1999, p.4</ref> —also written as '''Yukajú''', '''Yocajú''', '''Yokahu''' or '''Yukiyú'''— was the masculine spirit of fertility in [[Taíno people|Taíno]] [[mythology]].<ref name="Arroyo 221">Stevens-Arroyo 2006, p.221</ref> He was one of the supreme [[deity|deities]] or [[zemi|zemís]] of the [[Pre-Columbian]] [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Taíno peoples]] along with his mother [[Atabey (goddess)|Atabey]] who was his feminine counterpart.<ref name="Rouse 13" /> Dominant in the [[Caribbean]] region at the time of Columbus’ First voyages of Discovery, the peoples associated with Taíno [[culture]] inhabited the islands of the [[Bahamas]], the [[Greater Antilles]], and the [[Lesser Antilles]].<ref name="Pane 4" /><ref name="Arroyo 221" /><ref name="Rouse 13">Rouse 1993, p.13</ref><ref name="Rouse 5">Rouse 1993, p.5</ref>
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The Taíno had a well developed [[creation myth]], which was mostly passed down via oral tradition. According to this account, in the beginning there was only [[Atabey (goddess)|Atabey]], who created the heavens. However, there was still a void, where nothingness prevailed. The heavens were inactive and any action was meaningless. Earth and the other cosmic entities laid barren. Despite being dominated by darkness, [[Atabey (goddess)|Atabey]] herself failed to notice that this universe was incomplete. Eventually she decided to create two new deities, Yucáhu and Guacar, from magic and intangible elements. [[Atabey (goddess)|Atabey]] now felt confident that her creation could be completed and left it in charge of her sons. Yucáhu took over as a creation deity, becoming a universal architect and gathering the favour of his mother. From his dwelling in the heavens, he contemplated and awoke the Earth from its slumber. As part of this process, two new deities emerged from a cave. Boinael and Maroya, controlling the sun and moon respectively, which were tasked with illuminating the new world day and night. No longer would the Earth be shrouded by darkness. Yucáhu was satisfied with his work, but in a fit of jealousy Guacar hid within the heavens, never to be seen again. Now bored, Yucáhu roamed and noticed four gemstones that lied in the ground, which he took and converted into the celestial star beings Racuno, Sobaco, Achinao and Coromo, who reproduced and spread throughout the universe, where they guide the deities. He followed this by creating animals, granting them dwellings and teaching them how to live. Yucáhu then had a revelation, believing that something else should complete his creation. Convinced that the new entity should be neither animal nor deity, he pondered this profoundly. Yucáhu then opened a rift in the heavens from which emerged the first man, whom he granted a soul and named Locuo. This man would roam the Earth endlessly filled by joy and thanking the deity for his creation. Finally satisfied with his creation, Yucáhu left the world in the hands of humanity, feeling that balance had been reached.
Yúcahu became known as the deity of [[agriculture]], as well as the zemi of peace and tranquility, he represented goodness. This was contrasted greatly by the goddess Guabancex (more commonly, but erroneously, known as [[Juracán]]) whose fierce nature was regarded as responsible for persuading other zemis in order to bring forth chaos and who was associated with the more aggressive [[Island Caribs|Caribs]]. Yúcahu was believed to have a throne in [[El Yunque (Puerto Rico)|El Yunque peak]], the largest mountain found in the tropical [[El Yunque National Forest]] reserve, where he resided in the same manner that the [[List of Greek mythological figures|Greek gods]] did in [[Mount Olympus]]. The Taíno referred to the peak as ''yuké'', or "The White Lands", in reference to the thick cloud shroud that always surrounds it. This mountain range diverts the wind of hurricanes, minimizing the damage that the storms do to the lower parts of the island. Noticing this, the natives interpreted this as Yúcahu confronting Guabancex and her cohorts over the safety of his worshipers. Located in the northern mountains of Puerto Rico, the region where El Yunke is located was originally known as "Yukiyu", a name that became associated with the deity. Following the Spanish colonization, it became known under the Hispanized variant of [[Luquillo, Puerto Rico|Luquillo]], a name that remains in use.
== References ==
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