The Eerie Legend of The Pudwudgie
Dear friends around the world,
If you have been following my blog for a period of time now, you would realize that I am very into paranormal topics. Since young I have always had a fascination towards mysterious creatures like Bigfoot, Aliens, UFOs, mysterious legendary creatures and etc.
I hope you enjoy the article, it’s very interesting how Pudwudgie look like. Researchers may not have enough evidence to prove it’s existence but if Bigfoot and aliens exist, why not creatures like Pudwudgie?
Tsem Rinpoche
Spirit of The Swamp: The Eerie Legend of The Pudwudgie
By Theresa Argie
Haunting the woods of the northeastern United States are tales of an ancient creature capable of both good and evil.
The pukwudgie, also known as bagwajinini or bokwjimen, among other things, is thought to be a magical creature of the forests and swamps. It is physically similar to a gray-skinned troll or other small goblin-type being in size and stature. The origin of the pukwudgie legend comes from Native American folklore. The name “pukwudgie” literally means “person of the wilderness.”
The Algonquian and Wampanoag tribes have many legends about this creature who is thought to be capable of both good and evil. To some it is a good natured and helpful being who inhabits the forests of the Great Lakes and New England regions. To others it is a mischievous trouble maker who is capable of terrible, even deadly deeds including kidnapping and sabotage. Pukwudgies use their wits as well as magical weapons such as bows and arrows against those who anger them.
The earliest legend of the pukwudgie seems to be connected to Wampanoag people. The Wampanoag believed in a creation giant named Maushop. He was responsible for creating much of the land the tribe called home. Maushop and his wife Granny Squanit were much loved and revered by the tribe. They lavished them both with affection and respect.
The smaller and less powerful pukwudgie were jealous of Maushop, as all their efforts to be helpful to the Wampanoag usually backfired. Instead of being loved, they were considered a nuisance. Rather than help the tribe, they decided to annoy them instead. Things soon escalated and the tribe turned to their creation giants.
Maushop was invoked to help rid the natives of their pukwudgie problem. He scooped up the little critters, shook them senseless, and tossed them all around the New England area, killing many of them in the process.
Eventually the surviving pukwudgies returned and exacted revenge on the tribe by setting fire to their homes, kidnapping their children, and luring many to their death deep in the woods.
Maushop again was called upon to help. This time he sent his five sons to take care of the problem. It wasn’t long before the pukwudgies dispensed of the five by shooting them with magic arrows.
An outraged Maushop and Granny Squanit went on a rampage crushing as many pukwudgies as they could find. Those that got away scattered across the region, laying low until Maushop faded into the native mythology.
Whatever colorful story folklore gives us about the pukwudgie, eyewitness accounts have been around for generations. Some believe that they are elemental type beings whose intent is to trick or tease their target. A run-in with this type would be scary to be sure but not necessary dangerous. But for others, the pukwudgie is more than a bothersome elemental. It is capable of causing accidents, pushing people off cliffs, and driving them to suicide among other things.
Lately, stories of the pukwudgie have come to light on shows such as PARANORMAL STATE and MONSTERS AND MYSTERIES IN AMERICA. In one instant, the pukwudgie was a bothersome and frightening creature who needed to be appeased with respect and small gifts. In the other, the pukwudgie was a formidable and terrifying monster who attacked an entire family. His evil laughter still haunts the nightmares of those who encountered him.
Interestingly, some of the places the pukwudgie have been known to frequent are connected to other supernatural beings. Recent reports put the pukwudgie in Massachusetts at the Freetown-Fall River State Forest on the Watuppa Reservation, an area belonging to the Wampanoag Nation. Fall River is the home of the infamous accused axe murderess Lizzy Borden, who may or may not be haunting her old residence.
Mounds State Park in Anderson, Indiana is another active pukwudgie area. Mounds State Park is the site of ancient mounds built by early native tribes who inhabited the area. Mythical properties are attributed to these mounds. A very famous haunted prison, Moundsville State Penitentiary, is not far from the Park.
Round Rock, Texas, is also considered a hot spot for these beings. People have encountered strange little gnome-like creatures while traveling Hairy Man Road. Round Rock hosts the Hairy Man festival, which is named for—you guessed it—Bigfoot!
Is it coincidence that these places are “supernaturally charged?” Maybe, although I personally believe that such things are more common than one might think.
Crytid, myth, or figment of the imagination, the pukwudgie is not to be ignored. Maybe those campfire tales told to us as small children have a sliver of truth behind them. Whatever the case may be, it is best to show respect and reverence for the world around us, whether that be the physical or metaphysical realm.
Source: http://www.the-line-up.com/pukwudgie/
For more interesting information:
- The Mysterious Monsters – narrated by Peter Graves
- China’s bigfoot
- Nepal is the land of spirtuality, beauty and Mystery and the Yeti
- Japanese Mountain Climbers Say They Found Yeti Footprints
- Malaysia Scientists to Hunt ‘Bigfoot’ in Rainforest
- The neatest footage on film!
- Monsters & Mysteries In Alaska..Sasquatch!
- 7 Parts-Very Interesting!!
- I was in Willow Creek:
- 5 Years + USD500,000 = EVIDENCE!!
- Pacific Northwest May Finally Have Evidence Bigfoot Exists
- Bigfoot Hunt Is On By Land And By Air
- Researcher Says Bigfoot DNA Analysis Reveals Human Hybrid … Seriously?
- Is this Evidence of Bigfoot?
- Bigfoot Is Real, And We Have DNA To Prove It: Researchers
- Images of the Wildman Inside and Outside Europe
- Sasquatch (Bigfoot)!!!
- Bigfoot in Kechara????
- Bigfoot hunters claim they have footprint
- Bigfoot Proven?? Must Watch!!!
- Respect Them
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Found this interesting old post about Pukwudgies. I have not come across this weird name till I read this post. They are little wild man of the woods …. a human-like creature found in Delaware and Wampanoag folklore. They are said to be two to three feet tall and have features that resemble humans. These creatures seem to appear in the folklore of various indigenous peoples of North America. Living in the wilderness throughout North America inside wooded areas and swamps. They are considered spirits of the forest and Native Americans believed they used to get along with humans at one time but later turned against them due to some misunderstandings. Interesting read. Even though not much evidence to prove it’s existence, I do believe of their existence as we are not alone.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
It seems the Pukwudgie are symbols of good fortune as well reading other sources on the internet. Interesting to note that such beings have a range of emotions and inclinations just like how humans are too.
I have always enjoyed folklore and stories like this one because it opens my mind to things I have not thought of and at the same time give me an opportunity to understand a certain culture and belief. All these information help me to understand our world and people better. This is important.
The world of the paranormal is vast and mystical. There are so much for us to learn and to understand each day. This report on the pukwudgie is an interesting one, with a combination of a creator Maushop, a wife Granny Squanit and also a group of jealous pukwudgies. The Maushop is believed to have created the land to house the tribe, his wife, and the jealous pukwudgies. Wonder if the pukwudgies existed before Maushop and whether the Maushop created the pukwudgies. It will be interesting to know why Maushop created the pukwudgies to attack him if that is the case too.
The Pudwudgie somehow reminds me of a famous Japanese folklore creature named “Kappa”. It has been said that Kappa seen as dangerous, perceived as trouble-makers, but they are also extremely polite and are able to understand the Japanese language. Don’t you think that there is a possibility where Kappa and Pudwudgie are somehow related?
No matter where we are, we must always respect the place. Be it if it is in the forest, waterfall, parking lot, zoo or anywhere. We should not make a lot of noise, because there might be beings invisible to our eyes residing in the area and when we are too noisy, the beings might get offended. I would personally recommend not to offend the native beings as there are severe consequences to it.
There are so many beings out there in the world that has yet to be discovered. Of course we have heard stories of them but I can’t wait to at least see one of them in the wild. Bigfoot, Kappa, Giants, Phoenix, Dragons, Unicorn, Pegasus or whatever, I just can’t wait to see them. It excites me just to even imagine it, I wonder if the day where humans are able to live together peacefully with everyone and every being will come.
What an interesting article on Pudwudgie. They remind me of their counterpart in England, the Trolls. Since young I have had an interest in fairies, gnomes, trolls and everything “fairtytale”. I guess some may just be real as there are still many undiscovered aspect of nature in the world. As beings in this world, I am not surprised that they are as temperamental as humans.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article with us.
Dear Sofi,
I agree very much with you. There are so many things in this world that we may not be able to see with our own eyes. We have to keep an open mind or numerous possibilities.
Thank you for your comments. We really appreciate it.
Valentina
Thank you Rinpoche for introducing us to mysterious and mystic beings like the Yetis and now the pukwudgies, who are regarded as “magical creatures” of the forests and swamps in the northern parts of North America. You show them as beings who possess the same traits of humans, and not naturally evil or harmful.
The small, goblin-like pukwudgies are purportedly both good and evil. To some,they are good natured and helpful; but to others, they are mischievous trouble makers capable of terrible, even deadly deeds. Why are they so contradictory in nature?
One reads the story of how they had tried to be helpful to the Wampanoag, but their efforts backfired, and they were regarded as nuisances; so afterwards, they decided to be real nuisances and pests and created havoc. The Wampanoag then turned to their creation giant Maushop for help. Maushop came, scooped them up and tossed these little goblins around and killed many of them in the process. Small wonder, that these pukwudgie became harmful beings, turning from being kind and good to being evil. Maushop, the creator of the Wampanoag, acts like a god of the Gods Realm ; arrogant and showing destructive anger.
To me , the Pukwudgies appear to be more sinned against than sinning. Like any human, if you are kind to them, they will return your kindness. If you are nasty to them, they will become evil towards you.Like spirits and nagas, who live in the woods and forests, it is best not to disturb them in their natural habitats; respect them, just as you would respect the spirits and the nagas. It is their space.
As the creatures that inhabit this earth, be they a Pukwudgie, an alien, bigfoot, or mysterious legendary monstrous creature; be they human, an animal, a creature or reptile, are said to be here by their own karmic fate to contribute each in its own peculiar way to the beauty and prosperity of the World! The existence of Pukwudgie might be depicted in a folklore story form, but ‘God’ only knows whether such existences do exist, perhaps in isolation, deep in the invincible and inaccesible wild jungles of the mountanious range of Massachusetts, U.S.A. or perhaps in other parts of this wild, wild World! Om Mani Padme Hum.
Wow, this story reminds me of the video that Rinpoche has shown us a few weeks ago about Elementals. It is just amazing how beings like that are also attracted to kindness and compassion. Treating those with these qualities with the same kindness and compassion, even showing gratitude to them. Whereas, for people that are mean, selfish, and other negative qualities, they will treat them negatively as well. It shows us the instant effect of Karma and how important it is for us to always be kind, compassionate, and respectful to everyone no matter who or what they are.
I really hope that for all that will meet them will be possess the positive qualities that I have mentioned above and not receive any sort of harm from them.
To have heard of how the Pudwudgie have been hurt in the past that makes them react in this manner is extremely sad as it has changed their nature of being kind, but I guess it just comes to show that everyone no matter who or what they are have their limits and we should never push them to that limit of theirs.
I’ve read before that in Native American lore, Pukwudgies have the following traits and abilities:
they can appear and disappear at will
they can transform into a walking porcupine (it looks like a porcupine from the back, and the front is half-troll, half-human and walks upright)
they can attack people and lure them to their deaths
they are able to use magic
they have poison arrows
they can create fire at will
It is said that when you see a Puckwudgie you are not supposed to mess with them. This is because they will repay you by playing nasty tricks on you, or by following you and causing trouble. They are known to kidnap people, push them off cliffs, attack their victims with short knives and spears, and to use sand to blind their victims.
Great that the article mentioned where are the hotspots for Pukwudgie. You will not see me anywhere near these places, hehe!
Dear Rinpoche,
This is an interesting post. I never believed in paranormal and only came to scary movies and stories through a friend. Now, that i have learnt from Rinpoche through the paranormal blog and Dharma about the 6 realms it makes sense.
I believe that pukwudgies, Bigfoot, the little people… exist and they show us again that it is important to life a good and meaningful life. It is good to know about them and show them that we respect them and do not want to hurt them.
Indeed, the way they are described is scary and they are able to create harm. Knowing that such elementals and beings exist will make us more aware about our surroundings and show care and support to others as this is the only way to improve their situation and our situation.
We are very fortunate to learn Dharma from our precious Guru who always cares and shows us the way.
Thank You very much,
Pastor Antoinette
Creepy! I am very certain these being are real! And I think I saw something like that, some kind of “wild” man or creature of the forest back in my younger raving days. Me and some friends went to KKB for a rave party and all of a sudden at the corner of my eye I saw a man with longish kind of hair, who seem to be very agile and he could hop, climb, walk, run really fast coming up the river stream.
It really freak me out and I remembered I was getting a high fever that night. But when I look again I could not see anything. I remembered Rinpoche gave me a chakra via my sister and I was carrying it with me. I think that chakra must have protected me from whatever that was out there.
One thing’s for sure, these beings do exist and it is always best to carry some kind of protection especially when we are venturing in to unknown places like the woods or jungle. And when we are in these places to not misbehave, spit, pee, or simply say swear words as these beings or spirits can get offended and that is how we trigger them to harm us.I guess the best mantra to chant in such places would be Chenrezig, Buddha of Compassion mantra as they would feel the compassion and appreciate it? Or Dorje Shugden mantra to protect oneself. I wonder which is best?
This is the first I have heard of the Pudwudgie. While a lot of people would dismiss their existence as folklore, I believe that the Pudwudgie and many other beings that are yet unknown, do in fact exist. Intrigued I researched a bit more and found the following information:
In Native American lore, Pukwudgies have the following traits and abilities;
they can appear and disappear at will
they can transform into a walking porcupine (it looks like a porcupine from the back, and the front is half-troll, half-human and walks upright)
they can attack people and lure them to their deaths
they are able to use magic
they have poison arrows
they can create fire at will
It is interesting that like Pudwudgie, they are capable of good and/or bad just like human beings and in that they bear similar characteristics to Man.
They sound like humans with their foibles – some are helpful and kind, some are evil and untrustworthy. But what I really found interesting about the legend is the status accorded to Maushop as a creation giant. If Maushop was indeed a creation giant, how come their power was outlasted by the pukwudgies’ mischief?
I’m not doubting his existence but I’m a little skeptical of the view that the Wampanoag would’ve placed on him as an omnipotent, omnipresent god or giant. Because what the conflict between the pukwudgies and Maushop sounds like, is a conflict between the gods or spirits. It just so happens that maybe Maushop passed on into another existence because his karma to exist in that form, as that being was over and the pukwudgies’ karma to exist in that form is not over yet.
The pukwudgie is a paranormal creature I least heard about, all this while watching Youtube videos of legends and paranormal beings with Rinpoche, I have only heard of bigfoot, loch Ness, Ogopogo, gnomes, New Jersey devils etc but not pukwudgie. So it is nice to learn about this new addition, and the look of it reminds me of Gollum in “Lord of the Ring” 🙂
Dear rinpoche,
Thank you for a fascinating read about the scary little paranormal creature called Pudmudgie. I have never heard of them before but I don’t doubt that such creatures do exist. I love Rinpoche’s blog as it exposes people to all types of knowledge and it doesn’t just limits itself to posts on spirituality alone.
Back to the pudmudgie, I believe their existence reveals the fact that ghosts and spirits do exists and hence, it opens one’s horizon to accept the fact that higher beings can exist as well. Even if you don’t believe they do exist but there are many people out there that do believe and knowing about them allows one avenue to reach out.
Pudwudgie sounds like a spirit being that resides in the forests. Some are evil and some are more friendly. What’s disturbing is that they harm others by pushing them over the cliff and so on. They sound very unhappy and angersome.
Apart from that, what’s interesting is that these beings appear in places that also have sightings of bigfoot. I wonder what’s the correlation.
There is so many other existences beyond the human realm that we’re oblivious of. It’s best that we don’t intentionally contact them and focus on our spiritual practice. As Rinpoche said, contacting spirits will create the portal to connect to all spirits, the good and evil ones. If we don’t have to skills to protect ourselves, it will be very dangerous when an evil spirit comes into contact with us.
OMG so many mysteries around the wrold . if there is a possibilities that Pudwudgie exists then bigfoot exists too.. I love the story of Pudwudgie but i don’t like scares me ..
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you for this interesting post about groups of creatures called Pudwudgie. When I was younger, I read many books including few fairies, new age and spirit books – for fun. Prior to this, my idea about fairies revolved around Cinderella’s fairy god mother. I had this notion that witches are all bad and fairies are all beautiful and good. But I found out later from books that witches, fairies, and other mystical creatures came with varied characteristics and forms.
I don’t eliminate possibilities that Pudwudgie exists. If we believe that bigfoot exists, why not Pudwudgie. When I read about Pudwudgie, I felt sorry for them. It seems that few good things can be said about them. They continuously and deliberately harm others around them like it is the purpose of their lives and existence. I hope one day they will find peace and stop harming others.
Valentina
I had never heard of the Pudwudgie before reading this. It is interesting to note that the beliefs of the native Americans has crossed over into mainstream American culture. This just goes to show that there is some truth to the old myths about them, and they they do have interaction with people.
In fact most cultures all around the world do have myths and legends like these, because people all over the world have realised that it is not only just humans and animals that inhabit the world but other beings as well.
This is really explained within Buddhism, especially when talking about the myriad types of sentient beings. We should be aware of that these beings exist, so we are mindful not to offend them. Usually these beings, elementals and such are most commonly found in natural environments. So it’s better for us to be very mindful when in these environments and respect it, as it is their home.
What a mystical read. Thank you!
I accept that there is so much that I do not know about. I don’t know a whole lot of world cultures, there is another long list of places I have never been to or even heard or…languages that are alien to me…natural phenomena I am completely clueless about…. The list goes on.
Being a person with such limited knowledge, who am I to decide on what is real or paranormal? It is essential for us to be open minded as this enables us to learn. I believe in the possibility of mystical beings like pudwudgie, Bigfoot etc. What makes their existence more plausible is the consistency in their sightings and growing number of evidence that captured their image with advancement in technology.
Rejection of the unconfirmed phenomena in life stems from fear and attachment to our comfort zone.
I don’t think this fun post is intended to sound so heavy but I always believe in the Dharma orientation in everything that rinpoche does.
Again, thank you for this post on the unknown. It is a good reminder of how little we know and liberates us from our modern attitude of being bored to adventure into a world still magical and curious.
Based on the description of Pudwudgie, its characteristic draws parallel to those of hungry ghost; i.e. capable of good and evil, possess strong desire (of being love) that is not fulfilled, and vindictive. They are capable to cause accidents, push people off cliffs, and drive them to suicide among other things.
Since in the studying of Buddhism, we believe in the existence of the Six Realms and Cause and Effects of the nature of things, we must demonstrate compassion to these beings, show them the respect as another sentient beings. Like us, they are suffering and worse still, they have a limited way out.
I pray that they will take rebirth with 8 freedoms and 10 endowments to learn dharma and develop bodhicitta in their future lives.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this interesting blogpost.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang