There is no one who visits the Iguaçu Falls and does not become enraptured about the imponent show of the waters and falls.

        Along more than two kilometers of the river Iguaçu, there are 275 waterfalls reaching more than 70 meters high.

        The name Iguaçu, in the Guarani language comes from y - water, river and guasu or guaçu – big.

        This means abundant water or big water river.In other words, we could say it means a river with plenty of water.

        Besides the exuberant landscape, in the high water days or in the drought ones, the incessant dance of the singing waters is never a boring view.

        There is always one more detail to be observed. The birds nesting within the rocks, getting in and out through the water curtain;

        the muddy waters coming down during the high water season, and falling down with such power, that clouds of an impeccable whiteness rise up;

        the drops which struggle at the end of the fall, running swiftly, wishing to win the river bed, gleaming by the kisses of the sun, like liquid crystal.

        There are the ones who look at them and remain quiet. Others take pictures to show their friends.

        Nobody will believe in such an incredible thing as these water falls! - some people say, contemplating the gorge shaped as an inverted u, 150 meters wide and 80 meters high.

        The so called  Devil’s Gorge.

        Some enjoy themselves getting soaked by the water clouds formed by the waterfalls. They capture the moment, letting themselves be photographed.

        Others even let themselves be taken by the emotion of the waterfalls creation legend.

        This Tupi-Guarani Indian legend says that a long time ago the Iguaçu River ran free, with no rapids nor waterfalls.

        On its shores, lived the Caigangues tribe, who worshipped a serpent-god, son of Tupã.

        The tribe’s chief had a beautiful daughter called Naipi. She should be consecrated for the deity’s cult of the great serpent.

        A young warrior named Tarobá, fell in love with Naipi, and on the consecration day, the couple fled to the river.

        They both went down the river on a canoe.

        Furious with the runaways, the great serpent dug into the ground and wriggled itself.

        It caused several collapses, and rocks fell into the river, creating the abyss of the waterfalls.

        Engulfed by the waters, the couple fell down from a high altitude.

        Then, Tarobá was transformed into a palm tree on the edge of the abyss.

        Naipi on the other hand was turned into a rock, standing below the great waterfall, so that she would be constantly fustigated by the mighty waters.

        Tarobá was condemned to contemplate his beloved one forever, without being allowed to touch her. Watched by the serpent-god, they remain there, still.

        The legend is delightful and attractive. Lovers enjoy it and get fascinated, by finding out the palm tree and the rock.

        In reality, whoever stops to observe the majesty of the waterfalls, cascades, rapids and the luxurious landscape, cannot avoid thinking about the greatness of God.

        God, the restless sculptor who carved the rocks throughout the time by His own will.

        God, who created the abundant waters and gave them sonority, in a way that whoever listens to the sequential sound of the falls can actually notice a mantra or a chant, and rock their own soul.

        Before we were even awaken as men, masters of our reason, God spread the seeds of His love, creating the diversity of the forest, with thousands of different shades.

        Shades of green that repeat and mix themselves, of leaves, flowers, and diversities where butterflies rehearse their colorful dances.

        The unmatchable painter, God continues, to alternate the colors of the rainbow until today.

        One here, another one there, going from one side to the other in the huge crater where the waters of the river bed constantly dissipate themselves.

        Sublime Father, God has even idealized a lesson of fraternity for the people.

        Most of the falls are in the Argentinean territory, but, actually, it is on the Brazilian side that the most beautiful views can be observed.

        Therefore, the people from these countries hug each other. Brazilians go to Argentina to have a view from there and Argentineans come to Brazil to watch the beauty of their own waterfalls.

        Oh! The unmatchable greatness of God!

Spiritist Moment Team
March 6 2008.