Na`vi customs

[We are Omaticaya]

Yea I agree 

[TheEternalPhoenix]

This was going to go in the Na'vi warfare thread, but here is my theory on the need for Toruk Makto

Just a theory, but the times of great sorrow are not specifically war. More possibly cultural upheaval.

This latest one seems to have been the destruction of Hometree, the escalation of the 'war' was just a side effect, a retributory action. Also a potential response to large scale destruction of 'sacred sites' and forest.

- Neytiri references Toruk Makto to the times of great sorrow.
- Near the end Jake talks about Toruk Makto being unneeded now as the time of great sorrow is coming to an end.

We also know from other sources that the Omaticaya have been 'given' a hometree by a neighboring tribe, there could be several reasons for this, respect between warriors that the last two 'Toruk Makto's' have come from the Omaticaya, Eywa creating a period of balance etc etc.

Also it could be a 'deep culture shock' with Eywa in pain as 'neurons' are cut out and people are drilling into her brain.

Whilst several of the reasons mentioned above are valid for earth, they are about 'Earth' and not Pandora, the Na'vi hold life to be sacred and so solve one of the problems about human wars, they are pacifists to an extent as they only bring in talk of warriors when they are needed before all talk was of hunters, respect for other life 'they did not need to die' etc.
There is also the point that the Na'vi have no need for anything more than they have, they live in perfect fung shui harmony, even when Tsu'tey goes for Jake it is because he still considers him an 'alien'.
Therefore a need for Toruk Makto can be seen as due to unification against anything that could threaten Eywa, especially as the tribes have a basic economic system in place, with the Omaticaya being respected weavers and others being known for pottery etc.
The idea for war amongst the people therefore makes less sense.

Thusly a previous great sorrow could have been anything that damaged Eywa or the peoples connection to her.

[Tìng Eywatikìte'e]

Good point!

Though just so you know, it's Makto not Macto. There is no "c" in Na'vi.

Also, you have to be very careful about any sources outside of the movie. Most of them were rushed and didn't have Cameron's full insight. The Survival Guide must be taken as a grain of salt as it was filled with mistakes on purpose since it was supposed to be the first report written about the Na'vi.