In the
Kulin nation in central
Victoria he was regarded as one of two
moiety ancestors, the other being
Waang the crow. Bunjil (or Bundjil) has two wives and a son,
Binbeal the
rainbow. His brother is
Palian the
bat. He is assisted by six
wirmums or
shamans who represent the clans of the Eaglehawk moiety: Djart-djart the
nankeen kestrel, Thara the quail hawk, Yukope the parakeet, Lar-guk the parrot, Walert the
brushtail possum and Yurran the
gliding possum. A
Boonwurrung story tells of a time of conflict among the Kulin nations, when people argued and fought with one another, neglecting their families and the land. The mounting chaos and disunity angered the sea, which began to rise until it had covered the plains and threatened to flood the entire country. The people went to Bunjil and asked him to help them stop the sea from rising; Bunjil agreed to do so, but only if the people would change their ways and respect the laws and each other. He then walked out to the sea, raised his spear and ordered the water to stop rising. According to one legend, after creating the mountains, rivers, flora, fauna, and laws for humans to live by, Bunjil gathered his wives and sons then asked Waang, who had charge of the winds, to open his bags and let out some wind. Waang opened a bag in which he kept his whirlwinds, creating a cyclone which uprooted trees. Bunjil asked for a stronger wind. Waang complied, and Bunjil and his people were blown upwards into the sky. Bunjil himself became the star
Altair and his two wives, the
black swans, became stars on either side. Bunjil was said to have left this world via the island of
Deen Maar. ==Bunjil's Shelter==