The Hopi Keeper of Death and Doorway to the Underworld Sipapu

In a certain part of the Grand Canyon, a passage to the underworld known as Sipapu is said to be according to the Hopi natives. And from the depths of the underworld, the keeper of death, Maasaw is said to roam.

Looking out at the vast landscape of the Grand Canyon there is no wonder that people have thought about it as a sacred place and that many legends, myths and stories are set in this rugged landscape, both new and ancient ones.

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The canyon is sacred to many Native tribes that believe that when they begin sailing through the Colorado River inside the canyon, they journey from human life toward the next phase of their afterlife and that the Canyon itself is a doorway to another dimension, the afterlife and the underworld. The canyon is believed to hold magical energy that these tribes believe in and that travelers should respect.

In a certain part of the Grand Canyon, a passage to the underworld known as Sipapu is said to be according to the Hopi natives. And from the depths of the underworld, the keeper of death, Maasaw is said to roam. — **The Grand Canyon**: The National park of the Canyon encompasses over 1.2 million acres of rugged landscape, with the Colorado River carving a mile-deep gorge that stretches 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide around 5 or 6 million years ago. The park’s striking geological formations, vibrant hues, and dramatic vistas attract millions of visitors each year, offering opportunities for hiking, rafting, and exploring the highs and lows of the Canyon. It is also said to have several haunted places.

Sipapu and the Gateway to the Underworld

There are many legends about how the Grand Canyon came to be, like the Havasupai tribe telling the story of two rival gods who battled for world domination and flooded the entire world that created the Canyon.

According to the Hopi people though, the Canyon holds the door to the afterlife as well.

In the area around the Crash Canyon, where legends of the ghosts of the Midair Collision in 1956 are haunting, there are also those who believe that the sipapu, a gateway to the underworld, is found.

This is traditionally where the Hopi’s ancestors are thought to have come from and where the dead can come back.

The place is described as a big reddish lump with a hole and this can also be found recreated in the ground of the floors of their kiva, or pithouse for political or religious meetings. The area is mostly closed off for tourists and the surrounding trails are known as some of America’s scariest trails.

The Underworld

The Hopi have a strong mythological tradition, but there are many different variations of each story, even from village to village.

Central to their mythology is the story of the creation, where Spider Woman called Sotuknang, a powerful deity, helped create the world and guided the Hopi to emerge from the underworld through a door called Sipapu to the present world through a series of trials.

They came through this hole as the first people, changing into humans before breaking into the different tribes as they migrated through the land.

The Hopi also revere kachinas, spirit beings that represent various aspects of life and nature, and perform elaborate ceremonies to honor them, seeking their blessings for rain, fertility, and prosperity.

Maasaw Haunting the Canyon

Maasaw, a Hopi god known as the keeper of death, is said to reside in a particular region of the Grand Canyon that the Hopi people thought was the opening from the Third World into the Fourth known as sipapu. He is also known as the Skeleton Man and door keeper to the Fifth World.

He is described as wearing a terrifying mask, but underneath he is often said to be beautiful and bejeweled, although this depends on who you ask as he is also said to be a bloody and fearsome creature.

Legends warn that if you see strange lights approaching from deep within the canyon at night or hear a tapping sound like rocks knocking against each other, it could be Maasaw coming through the Sipapu for you.

Superstition of the area

Both Natives as well as the rangers working there are very superstitious about the place they think the Sipapu is located and some believe that you can encounter spirits around these parts where the veil between the two worlds is so thin. The Hopi people warn people to “avert” their eyes from it out of respect as well as safety. There are even stories about helicopter pilots who refuse to look down when they are flying over it.

Visitors to this area often report feelings of nausea and anxiety and seem to be more prone to accidents like falling, some are even said to have been struck by lightning.

There are also said to be strange whispers heard in the dark and according to some, this is also the place to see the spirits and ghosts of the Hopi people still on their migrating journey through the worlds.