Na`vi customs

[Sngä'i Tìrey-yä]

Once I get the guide book and have some time I plan to write a brief anthropological paper about them.

That was the one thing that bugged me about the movie. Why was Grace, a botanist, given supposedly the head position of interaction with the tribe. Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to have an anthropologist take the lead, the have the training and experience with integrating and learning completely foreign cultures. They would have learned from the Na'Vi with out giving the idea that their "cup is full."

I sort of wondered that at first as well, but then I have to wonder how many scientists with friends/family/a career would be willing to leave everything behind for at least eighteen years to study another planet's cultures.

[Tìng Eywatikìte'e]

There are plenty of anthropologist I know who would drop everything in a second for such an experience. Many anthropologist go into the field for long periods of time and plenty eventually just live there permanently. It's something you must consider when you get into the field.

[Txur’Itan]

Once I get the guide book and have some time I plan to write a brief anthropological paper about them.

That was the one thing that bugged me about the movie. Why was Grace, a botanist, given supposedly the head position of interaction with the tribe. Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to have an anthropologist take the lead, the have the training and experience with integrating and learning completely foreign cultures. They would have learned from the Na'Vi with out giving the idea that their "cup is full."

She was working for a corporation, she was not working for an expeditionary organisation and was not working for a community of benevolent curators.

It was established that she was a scientist.  No discipline was identified, even though it was suggested that she was a botanist, it was not ever made clear what here back ground was.

Corporations frequently promote people to management roles based on a handful of arbitrary criteria, I am not surprised by this move in the least.   Typical corporate thought process in a nutshell: "She is a scientists we can trust as a manager, so lets put her in charge of this science thing, she can request/hire staff around the more specific needs of the department."

Selfridge was acting on behalf of the corporate business interests, so he was technically assigned as her boss, even though she debated with him, she had to bend to his decisions in placing Jake in her department or be deemed insubordinate.

[Tìng Eywatikìte'e]

Well I assume botanist since she apparently work the book on it, heh.

What an idiotic thought process for the company then! Shouldn't it be, "well we're probably going to have to work with them at one point, and we'd rather not shoot them, so send in someone who is actually trained to befriend and learn." Granted a good anthropologist would be on the native side every time...maybe they thought it would be easier to manipulate a scientists who "likes plant more than people" with pretty grant money than someone trained to pretty much become a native. That makes sense...

I wonder, if before the corporation took control, what the initial exploration of Pandora was like. Surely when they first landed they didn't know that the resource was there and at that point it was just for basic human need of exploration. I bet at that point they would have scientists doing what they were supposed to do instead of stretching them out like poor Grace.

Anywho, I need sleep, I can tell I'm making less and less sense.

[Txur’Itan]

Some Cultural highlights

Olo'eyktan = Cheif (Clan leader)

Tsahìk  = Shamman (Voice of Eywa)

Taronyu  = Hunter (All Omatikaya from the movie must become this, to be a full member of the tribe, this has prayers to Eywa)

Ikran Mokto = Banshee rider, many Na'vi clans learn this to become a member of the tribe, the ritual requires mutual selection

Toruk Mokto = Rider of Great Leonopteryx "Last Shadow", the ritual for becoming Toruk Mokto requires being chosen by Toruk, then taming the Toruk after being chosen, Toruk Mokto is a title bestowed by the Na'vi people to one who has earned it

muntxa = there are rituals for this act that are performed as Muntxa tok Utral Aymokriyä eo Eywa to represent a union of a mated pair.

Eywa = the Na'vi diety, the "all mother" or nìwotx sa'nok

mawey aysmukan = informally a prayer of "peace brothers" for the suffering of animals

Tsahaylu = the bond which uses the neural head-tail that connects the Na'vi to the creatures of Pandora, and to Utral Aymokriyä and thus Eywa.  Prayers to Eywa are done using Tsahaylu.

[Txepa-utral Atxkxe]

Some Cultural highlights

Olo'eyktan = Cheif (Clan leader)

Tsahìk  = Shamman (Voice of Eywa)

Taronyu  = Hunter (All Omatikaya from the movie must become this, to be a full member of the tribe, this has prayers to Eywa)

Ikran Mokto = Banshee rider, many Na'vi clans learn this to become a member of the tribe, the ritual requires mutual selection



Toruk Mokto = Rider of Great Leonopteryx "Last Shadow", the ritual for becoming Toruk Mokto requires being chosen by Toruk, then taming the Toruk after being chosen, Toruk Mokto is a title bestowed by the Na'vi people to one who has earned it

muntxa = there are rituals for this act that are performed as Muntxa tok Utral Aymokriyä eo Eywa to represent a union of a mated pair.

Eywa = the Na'vi diety, the "all mother" or nìwotx sa'nok

mawey aysmukan = informally a prayer of "peace brothers" for the suffering of animals

Tsahaylu = the bond which uses the neural head-tail that connects the Na'vi to the creatures of Pandora, and to Utral Aymokriyä and thus Eywa.  Prayers to Eywa are done using Tsahaylu.

Did you derive this just from the film or did you have an outside source?

[Uniltìranyu]

Some Cultural highlights
mawey aysmukan = informally a prayer of "peace brothers" for the suffering of animals

Do you have the full text of this? That would be quite interesting to read/learn

[Txur’Itan]

I will add references.

[Txepa-utral Atxkxe]

Irayo. 

[Txur’Itan]

Some Cultural highlights primarily from the film.

My observations are of the movie Avatar's Na'vi characters specifically, and coupled that with the dialogue used to describe the characters, and included anecdotes from their choices in action or speaking.
I had watched Avatar eight times in English.
I had watched the movie twice after learning some Na'vi.
The times of appearance in the film, and direct quotes are currently incomplete, but the cultural references and how they appear in the film are listed in the spoiler tags from memory.
** Using the Na'vi on this site and from other sources which have dissections of corpus from Publishes sources, interviews with Dr Frommer and so on...

----

Olo'eyktan = Chief (Clan leader)

Spoiler

film - ref 1> Dr. Augustine showing a picture of (current Olo'eyktan) Eytukan and (next Olo'eyktan) Tsu'Tey briefing Jake before returning for day one of Na'vi training.
film - ref 2> Norm warning Jake that Tsu'Tey is this now Olo'eyktan and will not allow Jake to return, when he needs to find a way to get back with the Na'vi in good standing.
film - ref 3> Jake speaking to Tsu'Tey  at the Tree of Souls acknowledging that Tsu'Tey has become Olo'eyktan
film - ref 4> Eytukan conducts the ritual brining Jake into the clan.
film - ref 5> Eytukan chooses Tsu'Tey to lead the first war party announced after the human bull dozers destroy a grove of trees "Tree of Voices"
film - ref 6> Eytokan directs Tsu'Tey to lead an attack from above the human attack craft
film - ref 7> Eytukan directs the clan to run into the woods when "Hometree"(Kulutrel) is being destroyed
film - ref 8> Eytukan directs Neytiri to protect the "people"(Omatikaya-ru)

Tsahìk  = Shaman (Assertion:'Voice of Eywa'/Neytiri quote "Interprets the Will of Eywa")

Spoiler

Film - Ref 1> Neytiri interpreting the will of Eywa to have been giving signs about Jake when the atokirina' Neytiri quote:("seeds of the sacred tree") interact with her bow, and then later with Jake in larger numbers
Film - Ref 2> Neytiri speaking to Tsu'Tey after being jumped by her clansmen as she first Brings Jake to Home Tree. She informs Tsu'Tey there have been signs from Eywa, a matter for the Tsahìk.
Film - Ref 3> Dr. Augustine showing a picture of (current Tsahìk) Mo'at and (next Tsahìk) Neytiri briefing Jake before returning for day one of Na'vi training.
Film - Ref 4> Mo'at at the tree of souls leads two types of rituals (clan singing, mind transfer x 2 Mo'at quote:"Through the Eye of Eywa") at the tree of souls near the end of the film, able to ask through it -> thus ask Eywa do things for them.

(T)aronyu  = Hunter (All Omatikaya from the movie must become this, to be a full member of the tribe, this has prayers to Eywa)

Spoiler

Film - Ref 1) Neytiri says "maway (ay)smukan" repeatedly un-translated while touching the nantang(viperwolf), and some other words when retrieving her arrow
Film - Ref 2) Neytiri is upset Jake that the animals died in the way depicted in the film
Film - Ref 3) Neytiri says to become a hunter, he must choose an Ikran, and the Ikran must choose him "when you are ready"
Film - Ref 4) Jake learns a hunting Prayer that he recites after Killing the Yerik(dear like hexapod) Paraphrased Translation for now, "I see you. (Peace/Eywa?) be with you my brother. Your spirit returns to Eywa, but your body will become part of the Na'vi people." -> At this point Neytiri Judges Jake to be ready for the ritual of his first flight riding the Ikran

Ikran (makto-yu) = Banshee rider, many Na'vi clans learn this to become a member of the tribe, the ritual requires mutual selection

Spoiler

film - Ref 1> Neytiri says to become a hunter, he must choose an Ikran, and the Ikran must choose him "when you are ready"
film - Ref 2> When Neyteri reminds and advises Jake about what to do when he is chosen, the way he is chosen is for the Ikran to kill(hunt) him, implying that he must know how the creatures feel about being chosen during a hunt, dealing with the symbiotic relationship of the Na'vi to their wild life and its spiritually.
film - Ref 3> Neytiri quote:"The first flight seals the bond..."  This infers that there are some problems if the rider and Ikran do not take flight right away. This may be more of a biological issue than a ritual, but such relationships seem synonymous throughout the film with regard to the bond, and connections.

Toruk Makto = Rider of "Last Shadow"(Great Leonopteryx), the ritual for becoming Toruk Makto requires being chosen by Toruk, then taming the Toruk after being chosen, Toruk Makto is a title bestowed by the Na'vi people to one who has earned it or needs it

Spoiler

Film - Ref 1> Neytiri stated that her grandfather's grandfather was the last Toruk Makto, during a time of great sorrow.  There is no technical reason why more hunters can not try to get one of these animals as their mount, so there has to be a social/cultural reason for not attempting it frequently, so Neytirir says the Toruk chose the rider in the scene where she explains this to Jake, and that it has not happened for some time.  Through these words she is indirectly stating that Jake is somehow special in that Toruk chose him, even if it was to kill him or eat his Ikran.
Film - Ref 2> No one is in the film is called Toruk Makto until they are riding Toruk, and not before they were chosen
Film - Ref 3> Jake implies that he is only Toruk Makto temporarily at the end of the film, since the need for Toruk Makto was over, but this may be his idea and not typical for the Na'vi
Film - Ref 4> Neytiri said that all Na'vi people know the story of her Grand Father's Grand Father being Toruk Makto, which implies it was a very special event worthy of a great deal of reverence from the Na'vi people

muntxa = there are rituals for this act that are performed as Muntxa tok Utral Aymokriyä eo Eywa to represent a union of a mated pair.

Spoiler

Film - Ref 1> Dr Augustine briefing Jake on Tsu'Tey and Neytiri reveals that they are destined to become a "Mated Pair" along with their roles as leaders of the clan.
Film - Ref 2> Neytiri Quote:"We are mated before Eywa, it is done." Neyteiri explains that something has been completed, but other than the act, the rest is unspecified or unobservable
Film - Ref 3> The activists Field Guide implies something... I will have to read more about it and update...

Eywa = the Na'vi deity, the "all mother" or (nìwotx?) sa'nok

Spoiler

Film - Ref 1> Norm refers to Eywa poetically as the "All Mother" when he first speaks Na'vi to Dr Augustine
Film - Ref 2> Neytiri Quote:"She interprets the will of Eywa", this line is spoken just before Mo'at interrogates Jake
Film - Ref 3> Jake asks indirectly who's Eywa, Norm Quote:"Who's Eywa? She's their deity, made up of all living things.  You would know this if you had any training."
Film - Ref 4> Mo'at refers to Eywa poetically as the "All Mother" when performing the mind transfer on Dr Augustine
** There were other references, I will have to watch the DVD/Blu-ray to get them down, but by then others will have better info...

mawey aysmukan = informally a prayer of "peace brothers" for the suffering of animals

Spoiler

Film - ref 1> Neytiri says this line repeatedly about the slain viperwolves after Jake first meets Neytiri, she has her and on one of them as if to comfort the dying animal
Film - ref 2> Jake learns a hunting Prayer that he recites after Killing the Yerik(dear like hexapod) Paraphrased Translation for now, "I see you. (Peace/Eywa?) be with you my brother. Your spirit returns to Eywa, but your body will become part of the Na'vi people."

Tsahaylu = the bond which uses the neural head-tail that connects the Na'vi to the creatures of Pandora, and to Utral Aymokriyä and thus Eywa.  Prayers to Eywa are done using Tsahaylu.

Spoiler

Film - Ref 1> The bond is demonstrated by the Na'vi after Jake is tripped by bolos and Tsu'Tey leaps off of the Pa'li(Direhorse) disconnecting from it
Film - Ref 2> Neytiri shows Jake the bond with Pa'li(direhorse) as his first experience with it. Neytiri Quote:"You can tell her what to do, inside..." she then points at her head.
Film - Ref 3> Neytiri informs that Ikran is not like the Pa'li(direhorse) and will bond with only one hunter their whole life, the reason for this wasn't revealed in the film
Film - Ref 4> During Jakes training Montage, Neytiri is teaching Jake about how all things in her world are connected, but this is initially represented as a metaphor, then later as a contextual fact when Eywa attacks the RDA with the wildlife.
Film - Ref 5> Neytiri shows Jake the Tree of Voices, she says Quote:"This is a place for prayers to be heard, and sometimes answered..."
Film - Ref 6> When the Omatikaya clan collectively arrive at the Tree of Souls, Mo'at can be seen connecting her queue with it
Film - Ref 7> During the two "mind transfer" scenes, the whole clan is connected to the Tree of Souls and doing a sit/dance ritual probably meant to combine their thoughts into one purpose, Mo'at is chanting during this event
Film - Ref 8> Toruk Makto uses the Tsahaylu to connect with the Toruk(Great Leonopteryx)
Film - Ref 9> Neytiri uses Tsahaylu to bond with palulukan(Thanator) during the end fight with Quaritch, though difficult to spot, even though the creature appeared to be given a mission to help her, it may have helped her ride it
Film - Ref 10> Near the end of the film, Jake connects with the Tree of Souls and starts talking to Eywa about the coming battle, Eywa apparently understood and attacked the RDA, this act could have been seen as divine intervention triggered by a prayer to Eywa
** There were obviously queues on other animals in the film, connecting to each of them would seem to serve various purposes as of yet unseen, we may have to wait for the sequel to know what they are.

[Txepa-utral Atxkxe]

Irayo!

[Sngä'i Tìrey-yä]

Irayo x1000000000000

Very helpful, wonderful!

[Uniltìranyu]

Nang irayo!

[Tìng Eywatikìte'e]

Some Cultural highlights primarily from the film.

My observations are of the movie Avatar's Na'vi characters specifically, and coupled that with the dialogue used to describe the characters, and included anecdotes from their choices in action or speaking.
I had watched Avatar eight times in English.
I had watched the movie twice after learning some Na'vi.
The times of appearance in the film, and direct quotes are currently incomplete, but the cultural references and how they appear in the film are listed in the spoiler tags from memory.
** Using the Na'vi on this site and from other sources which have dissections of corpus from Publishes sources, interviews with Dr Frommer and so on...

----

Olo'eyktan = Chief (Clan leader)

Spoiler

film - ref 1> Dr. Augustine showing a picture of (current Olo'eyktan) Eytukan and (next Olo'eyktan) Tsu'Tey briefing Jake before returning for day one of Na'vi training.
film - ref 2> Norm warning Jake that Tsu'Tey is this now Olo'eyktan and will not allow Jake to return, when he needs to find a way to get back with the Na'vi in good standing.
film - ref 3> Jake speaking to Tsu'Tey  at the Tree of Souls acknowledging that Tsu'Tey has become Olo'eyktan
film - ref 4> Eytukan conducts the ritual brining Jake into the clan.
film - ref 5> Eytukan chooses Tsu'Tey to lead the first war party announced after the human bull dozers destroy a grove of trees "Tree of Voices"
film - ref 6> Eytokan directs Tsu'Tey to lead an attack from above the human attack craft
film - ref 7> Eytukan directs the clan to run into the woods when "Hometree"(Kulutrel) is being destroyed
film - ref 8> Eytukan directs Neytiri to protect the "people"(Omatikaya-ru)

Tsahìk  = Shaman (Assertion:'Voice of Eywa'/Neytiri quote "Interprets the Will of Eywa")

Spoiler

Film - Ref 1> Neytiri interpreting the will of Eywa to have been giving signs about Jake when the atokirina' Neytiri quote:("seeds of the sacred tree") interact with her bow, and then later with Jake in larger numbers
Film - Ref 2> Neytiri speaking to Tsu'Tey after being jumped by her clansmen as she first Brings Jake to Home Tree. She informs Tsu'Tey there have been signs from Eywa, a matter for the Tsahìk.
Film - Ref 3> Dr. Augustine showing a picture of (current Tsahìk) Mo'at and (next Tsahìk) Neytiri briefing Jake before returning for day one of Na'vi training.
Film - Ref 4> Mo'at at the tree of souls leads two types of rituals (clan singing, mind transfer x 2 Mo'at quote:"Through the Eye of Eywa") at the tree of souls near the end of the film, able to ask through it -> thus ask Eywa do things for them.

(T)aronyu  = Hunter (All Omatikaya from the movie must become this, to be a full member of the tribe, this has prayers to Eywa)

Spoiler

Film - Ref 1) Neytiri says "maway (ay)smukan" repeatedly un-translated while touching the nantang(viperwolf), and some other words when retrieving her arrow
Film - Ref 2) Neytiri is upset Jake that the animals died in the way depicted in the film
Film - Ref 3) Neytiri says to become a hunter, he must choose an Ikran, and the Ikran must choose him "when you are ready"
Film - Ref 4) Jake learns a hunting Prayer that he recites after Killing the Yerik(dear like hexapod) Paraphrased Translation for now, "I see you. (Peace/Eywa?) be with you my brother. Your spirit returns to Eywa, but your body will become part of the Na'vi people." -> At this point Neytiri Judges Jake to be ready for the ritual of his first flight riding the Ikran

Ikran (makto-yu) = Banshee rider, many Na'vi clans learn this to become a member of the tribe, the ritual requires mutual selection

Spoiler

film - Ref 1> Neytiri says to become a hunter, he must choose an Ikran, and the Ikran must choose him "when you are ready"
film - Ref 2> When Neyteri reminds and advises Jake about what to do when he is chosen, the way he is chosen is for the Ikran to kill(hunt) him, implying that he must know how the creatures feel about being chosen during a hunt, dealing with the symbiotic relationship of the Na'vi to their wild life and its spiritually.
film - Ref 3> Neytiri quote:"The first flight seals the bond..."  This infers that there are some problems if the rider and Ikran do not take flight right away. This may be more of a biological issue than a ritual, but such relationships seem synonymous throughout the film with regard to the bond, and connections.

Toruk Makto = Rider of "Last Shadow"(Great Leonopteryx), the ritual for becoming Toruk Makto requires being chosen by Toruk, then taming the Toruk after being chosen, Toruk Makto is a title bestowed by the Na'vi people to one who has earned it or needs it

Spoiler

Film - Ref 1> Neytiri stated that her grandfather's grandfather was the last Toruk Makto, during a time of great sorrow.  There is no technical reason why more hunters can not try to get one of these animals as their mount, so there has to be a social/cultural reason for not attempting it frequently, so Neytirir says the Toruk chose the rider in the scene where she explains this to Jake, and that it has not happened for some time.  Through these words she is indirectly stating that Jake is somehow special in that Toruk chose him, even if it was to kill him or eat his Ikran.
Film - Ref 2> No one is in the film is called Toruk Makto until they are riding Toruk, and not before they were chosen
Film - Ref 3> Jake implies that he is only Toruk Makto temporarily at the end of the film, since the need for Toruk Makto was over, but this may be his idea and not typical for the Na'vi
Film - Ref 4> Neytiri said that all Na'vi people know the story of her Grand Father's Grand Father being Toruk Makto, which implies it was a very special event worthy of a great deal of reverence from the Na'vi people

muntxa = there are rituals for this act that are performed as Muntxa tok Utral Aymokriyä eo Eywa to represent a union of a mated pair.

Spoiler

Film - Ref 1> Dr Augustine briefing Jake on Tsu'Tey and Neytiri reveals that they are destined to become a "Mated Pair" along with their roles as leaders of the clan.
Film - Ref 2> Neytiri Quote:"We are mated before Eywa, it is done." Neyteiri explains that something has been completed, but other than the act, the rest is unspecified or unobservable
Film - Ref 3> The activists Field Guide implies something... I will have to read more about it and update...

Eywa = the Na'vi deity, the "all mother" or (nìwotx?) sa'nok

Spoiler

Film - Ref 1> Norm refers to Eywa poetically as the "All Mother" when he first speaks Na'vi to Dr Augustine
Film - Ref 2> Neytiri Quote:"She interprets the will of Eywa", this line is spoken just before Mo'at interrogates Jake
Film - Ref 3> Jake asks indirectly who's Eywa, Norm Quote:"Who's Eywa? She's their deity, made up of all living things.  You would know this if you had any training."
Film - Ref 4> Mo'at refers to Eywa poetically as the "All Mother" when performing the mind transfer on Dr Augustine
** There were other references, I will have to watch the DVD/Blu-ray to get them down, but by then others will have better info...

mawey aysmukan = informally a prayer of "peace brothers" for the suffering of animals

Spoiler

Film - ref 1> Neytiri says this line repeatedly about the slain viperwolves after Jake first meets Neytiri, she has her and on one of them as if to comfort the dying animal
Film - ref 2> Jake learns a hunting Prayer that he recites after Killing the Yerik(dear like hexapod) Paraphrased Translation for now, "I see you. (Peace/Eywa?) be with you my brother. Your spirit returns to Eywa, but your body will become part of the Na'vi people."

Tsahaylu = the bond which uses the neural head-tail that connects the Na'vi to the creatures of Pandora, and to Utral Aymokriyä and thus Eywa.  Prayers to Eywa are done using Tsahaylu.

Spoiler

Film - Ref 1> The bond is demonstrated by the Na'vi after Jake is tripped by bolos and Tsu'Tey leaps off of the Pa'li(Direhorse) disconnecting from it
Film - Ref 2> Neytiri shows Jake the bond with Pa'li(direhorse) as his first experience with it. Neytiri Quote:"You can tell her what to do, inside..." she then points at her head.
Film - Ref 3> Neytiri informs that Ikran is not like the Pa'li(direhorse) and will bond with only one hunter their whole life, the reason for this wasn't revealed in the film
Film - Ref 4> During Jakes training Montage, Neytiri is teaching Jake about how all things in her world are connected, but this is initially represented as a metaphor, then later as a contextual fact when Eywa attacks the RDA with the wildlife.
Film - Ref 5> Neytiri shows Jake the Tree of Voices, she says Quote:"This is a place for prayers to be heard, and sometimes answered..."
Film - Ref 6> When the Omatikaya clan collectively arrive at the Tree of Souls, Mo'at can be seen connecting her queue with it
Film - Ref 7> During the two "mind transfer" scenes, the whole clan is connected to the Tree of Souls and doing a sit/dance ritual probably meant to combine their thoughts into one purpose, Mo'at is chanting during this event
Film - Ref 8> Toruk Makto uses the Tsahaylu to connect with the Toruk(Great Leonopteryx)
Film - Ref 9> Neytiri uses Tsahaylu to bond with palulukan(Thanator) during the end fight with Quaritch, though difficult to spot, even though the creature appeared to be given a mission to help her, it may have helped her ride it
Film - Ref 10> Near the end of the film, Jake connects with the Tree of Souls and starts talking to Eywa about the coming battle, Eywa apparently understood and attacked the RDA, this act could have been seen as divine intervention triggered by a prayer to Eywa
** There were obviously queues on other animals in the film, connecting to each of them would seem to serve various purposes as of yet unseen, we may have to wait for the sequel to know what they are.

I'd like to just point a few more things about Toruk Makto. Neytiri says that there have only been five of them since the Song Time, which proves that it is a rare event.

If one considers the bond between mount and rider to be one of equality than there is a very big technical reason why other Na'vi simply do not try to become Toruk Makto. There must be a mutual choosing between Ikran and Rider, which is different than the bond with the Pa'li, horse. This would suggests that the Ikran and Toruk probably have a more complex brain than the Pa'li, which could mean that if it was a forced connection it could be rejected. It's bad enough to have a pissed off Ikran denying you, but messing with Toruk with out him choosing you probably means death.

Yes Jake jumps on Toruk and does a sneak attack, but I think that if he wasn't the right choice it wouldn't have ended  a lot differently. Eywa showed signs for him to be spared for a reason. If one wants a more biological explanation, it would make sense that in order for the bond to work between more complex minds like the Ikran and Na'vi there has to be a similar electrical pattern in their brains that they can sense due to tsahaylu. If someone has a similar electrical pattern, or whatever, to Toruk they may attract the atokarina hence the signs from Eywa.

This is all just speculation of course :3

[Txur’Itan]

-- SNIP

I'd like to just point a few more things about Toruk Makto. Neytiri says that there have only been five of them since the Song Time, which proves that it is a rare event.

Definitely...

If one considers the bond between mount and rider to be one of equality than there is a very big technical reason why other Na'vi simply do not try to become Toruk Makto. There must be a mutual choosing between Ikran and Rider, which is different than the bond with the Pa'li, horse. This would suggests that the Ikran and Toruk probably have a more complex brain than the Pa'li, which could mean that if it was a forced connection it could be rejected. It's bad enough to have a pissed off Ikran denying you, but messing with Toruk with out him choosing you probably means death.

Interesting theory, it may explain the structure of the ritual.  Currently, there is no exposition on why this occurs, just that it occurs.  What you state may prove to be similar to what Cameron decides when he releases the sequels through retroactive continuity.

Yes Jake jumps on Toruk and does a sneak attack, but I think that if he wasn't the right choice it wouldn't have ended  a lot differently. Eywa showed signs for him to be spared for a reason. If one wants a more biological explanation, it would make sense that in order for the bond to work between more complex minds like the Ikran and Na'vi there has to be a similar electrical pattern in their brains that they can sense due to tsahaylu. If someone has a similar electrical pattern, or whatever, to Toruk they may attract the atokarina' hence the signs from Eywa.

The choosing process seems far less polite as it was portrayed in the movie between rider and mount when it came to Ikran, or Toruk.  The atokirina' may be attracted to similar chemistry, but there aren't any indications of the Na'vi brains being telepathic, so far.  Electrochemical signals from brains are not likely to wander freely into the ether on their own, but that could be some new thing Cameron makes up for the fiction in the film.  It could be that he is emmitting pheromones and he is attractive to every form of wild life on the planet, but that would contradict what Neytiri said about being attacked by the viperwolves being caused by Jakes lack of stealth.  Stay tuned I guess...

It was clearly stated that the choosing is an attempt to kill, not to hang out.   Neytiri quote: "He will try to kill you."  If anything, Jake may have not known how the Toruk would behave, and its yeowl indicates it was not happy to have him there when he first landed on its back.  The scene would have been interesting, if it had showed him struggling with the creature, or having it react to him in some way, but instead, we are shown nothing between his plan Jake quote:("Why would he look up?") and him arriving with the Toruk as is his mount.

This is all just speculation of course :3

Understandably, we would have to go to Cameron's school on Na'vi sociology and Pandora ecology, botany, biology to get a better handle on the separations between the biological and ritual components.  For instance, anything conclusions having to do with the bond are dubious and speculation at best, it is the most alien component of the life on Pandora, and aside from what is observable in the film, still completely unknown to us all.

[Tìng Eywatikìte'e]

Well I didn't mean that the choosing was a polite reaction. If there is a way for them to recognize a similar brain pattern (what ever way Cameron comes up with) perhaps it frightens the Ikran, or activates it's fight or flight instinct.

And yes, Jake completely surprised the Toruk, but if my theory is correct or at least on the right path, if he wasn't the right one it would have had a negative effect. When he bonded with the Ikran the animal was instantly soothed. Perhaps if they bond with one they're not supposed to it'll only upset them more.

[Txur’Itan]

Well I didn't mean that the choosing was a polite reaction. If there is a way for them to recognize a similar brain pattern (what ever way Cameron comes up with) perhaps it frightens the Ikran, or activates it's fight or flight instinct.

And yes, Jake completely surprised the Toruk, but if my theory is correct or at least on the right path, if he wasn't the right one it would have had a negative effect. When he bonded with the Ikran the animal was instantly soothed. Perhaps if they bond with one they're not supposed to it'll only upset them more.

That could be it. 

[Tìng Eywatikìte'e]

Yes, once again it's just speculation. But it's always difficult for me to simply except the answer "it's just a ritual" rituals have to come from somewhere, so there is usually a reason behind it. Besides, I'm sure there has been the occasional mischievous Na'vi teen that went against traditions from time to time and there would probably be a lot more people sharing Ikran or trying to get their's early if there wasn't some serious consequence. 

[Txur’Itan]

Yes, once again it's just speculation. But it's always difficult for me to simply except the answer "it's just a ritual" rituals have to come from somewhere, so there is usually a reason behind it. Besides, I'm sure there has been the occasional mischievous Na'vi teen that went against traditions from time to time and there would probably be a lot more people sharing Ikran or trying to get their's early if there wasn't some serious consequence. 

I am not surprised that you would not want to accept this.  The word "ritual" as I am using it, is a description though, and while not an answer, it could be if some one asked a question:

Q:"What are they doing?"
A:"It looks like the are performing a ritual." 

Q:"Is that ritual part of their culture?"
A:"I do not know, but that ritual is not part of my culture."

Which gets back to the original post, which was about cultural references to the Na'vi, and so far that is what I have observed.

[Tìng Eywatikìte'e]

Yes I know. It's very important to list the rituals found in a society, but I find it fun to try and find the meaning behind it and perhaps the reasoning. It's why I'm going into anthropology . To just list the rituals is good for a brief over view of the culture, but to gain a deeper meaning you have to poke at it a bit.

To me the Na'vi are very practical people. They are of course very spiritual, but that is because they have a direct connection to their god. They don't seem to be the type of people who blindly follow something "because Eywa said so." Their rituals seem to have a practicality base, they respect Eywa and protect her, but they make no offerings or sacrifices to her. From what we've seen it appears that they are not a superstitious people. A site is sacred because they can literally connect to it, not because of an ancient story. Before a hunt they may pray to Eywa, but they understand that there is nothing they could give to her to sway her favor.

I think their literal connection to their God would make most of their rituals have a solid practical founding, or at least some remnants of it.