Bhanti Island[1] is one of the southern islands of the Fire Islands archipelago which has been inhabited by Bhanti sages for thousands of years. They live cut-off from the rest of the world and choose to remain uninvolved in its troubles.
History[]
Around 9,832 BG, during the era of Raava, the Bhanti developed and settled on an island located in the Spirit Wilds, which would eventually become part of the southern portion of the Fire Islands archipelago. After some time, several members of the tribe ventured from the island and into the other nations, where they became sages,[2] most notably the Fire Sages,[3] the Earth Sages,[4] and the Northern Water Tribe sages.[5]
In the late 4th century BG, Avatar Kuruk and Fire Sage Nyahitha used Bhanti Island's library for research to help them in their grueling battle against dark spirits.[1][6]
In 171 AG, sages from the island came upon Avatar Korra washed up on shore, with no recollection of who she was. The tribe members rushed the young Avatar to the village temple in order to be examined by the elderly shaman. Attributing Korra's amnesia to a parasitic dark spirit feeding on the Avatar Spirit, the shaman ordered the sages to lower Korra into a pool of spirit water in an attempt to purge her body of the possession.[7] After cleansing her body and reconnecting with her past lives, Korra awoke with most of her memories intact.[8]
Locations[]
Bhanti Village Temple[]
A pagoda in the temple features a large golden statue.
The Bhanti Village Temple is a sanctuary where the shaman and other members of the Bhanti take residence.[2]
The temple is comprised of several stone pagodas, one of which enshrines a seated golden statue flanked by two guardian figures, with a number of smaller outbuildings surrounding the grounds.[9] Located directly underneath the temple is a cavern with a subterranean pool filled with spirit water that can heal grave injuries. A pulley system is used to lower individuals into the waters for spiritual healing.
A small yard located within the temple grounds also houses a small herd of flying bison that the Bhanti have been caring for ever since the Hundred Year War.[8]
Bhanti library[]
The island is also home to a large hidden library containing multitudes of tomes of spiritual knowledge, including details about dark spirits and how to deal with them.[1] The library is considered one of the greatest repositories of spiritual knowledge in the physical world.[6]
Inhabitants[]
- Erdene (relocated)
- Herds of flying bison
- Karu
- Qacha (relocated)
- Shaman
Trivia[]
- Bhanti Island was the only location in the Fire Nation to be shown in The Legend of Korra.
- The temple's architecture is comparable to that of Pagan Kingdom hollow temples in the Mandalay region of Burma. The golden statue is based on southeast Asian figures of the Buddha in the "earth-witness" posture, though the right hand is in the wrong position.
- The spirit water cavern located beneath the temple is formed from basalt.[10]