Brief introduction of Inca religion

For the Incas, like many other ancient civilizations, religion is inseparable from politics, history and the whole society. Every aspect of community life is closely related to religious belief, from marriage to agriculture, from * * * to funeral. People believe that the ancestors of the gods and Incas influenced any form of success or failure in life.

A very important purpose of Inca religious customs is to satisfy gods and ancestors and avoid their anger in the form of natural disasters such as drought and earthquake. Religion is also an important tool for ruling elites to legalize their privileged social status and spread the universal belief that Incas are superior to their imperial subjects.

Influence and local traditions

Inca religions are influenced by early and contemporary Andean traditions, especially the Vari civilization and ancient Tiwanaku. In fact, although Cuzco enforced all religions recognized by the state, many local communities persisted in their traditional beliefs throughout the empire, even though they were forced to accept the main Inca gods. One of the enduring Andean traditions is the specific founder of the faith community and his connection with Paqarisqa, the specific place where this person appeared from the earth.

The long-term worship of the sun, moon, stars and planets by the ancient Andean community is another belief inherited by the Incas. Shaman wizards also have frightening casting abilities and special divination skills. They read unfathomable signs in fire and camel intestines for divination, and they are still important figures in the Inca world. Cusco is believed to have 475 people, the most important of whom is Yacar Ka, the king's personal adviser. Another Andean tradition that the Incas have continued for 1000 years is to believe in Oracle-the most famous Oracle is in Chavin and Pachacamak.

Inti is the most important god of the Inca, because he is the sun god and the patron saint of empire and conquest.

Creation of the world

For the Incas themselves, the world was created in Lake Titicaca, which has long been regarded as the holy land of the Andes, and Inca rulers make regular pilgrimages. One day, the creator Wiraqoca Pacayacaciq (or Viracocha for short) created a giant race on the sacred sun island of Lake Titicaca, only to find that these giant races were too big for his purpose, but created mankind on a smaller scale. The first human annoyed Veracocha because of their greed and arrogance, so as a punishment, he turned some of them into stones, while others became earth and natural features. Then he sent a big flood to clean the earth, only saved three people and let them start the game again. It was also in Lake Titicaca that Veracocha created the sun, moon and stars. Next, the god traveled around disguised as a beggar and was called Kantiki and many other names. He carved in Tiwanaku, where he established Cusco by guiding the Inca founder Manqu Qhapaq and Ocelo's mother, and generally taught people the art of civilization. Then, when he reached the coast,

Inti and the Temple of the Sun

Inti is the most important god of the Inca, because he is the sun god and the patron saint of empire and conquest. His family is rich, and it is also the home of people who have a good life in this life. Inca kings or rulers are considered sacred and living descendants of the Inca, which legalizes the sacred rule of the Inca. An Indy gold statue representing a little boy sitting is called Pang Chao, which is kept in the Sun Temple in Qorikancha. ) The sacred building in Cusco. His head glows and is decorated with gold ornaments, and the belly of this figure is used as a container for the ashes of the burned important organs of the former Inca king. Take the statue outside the temple to bask in the sun every day. After the Spanish conquest, the map was deleted and hidden, and it can no longer be found. Similarly, all 65,438+0,400 kilograms of gold covered inside and outside the Sun Temple were stolen by European invaders. In addition to Coricancha, Inti also owns the Sacsahuaman Temple Fortress complex on the outskirts of Cuzco for his use.

The well-being of the king and the Inca empire, as well as the guarantee of a bumper harvest, are entirely in Indy's hands. God was served by a dedicated high priest (Villaq Umu), who was the highest religious figure in the Inca world, and was helped by a group of young virgin priests acllas (also called acyllyaconas). Every major town in the Inca has a temple, and many resources are dedicated to him. Even the land and cattle were reserved for Inti, and the whole province near Lake Titicaca was reserved for him. Corikancha went one step further and built a corn field with life-size camels and shepherds in it, and presented it to the sun.

One of the most important ceremonies to worship Inti is Inti Raymi, which lasts for 8-9 days, and is held every June (winter solstice) in the plain outside Cuzco. Sacrifices were offered, water and chica beer were provided, and all nobles and clergy attended grand banquets and singing festivals, which also marked the beginning of the busy farming season. Another important festival to commemorate Inti and Veracocha is Qhapaq Ucha. During the ceremony held in Cuzco and the subsequent pilgrimage, imperial towns will send one or two beautiful children (Copacocha) to sacrifice to various important holy places in the Inca world. Death is by strangling or removing their hearts, and this sacrifice is considered to ensure the continued well-being of the ruler and his people.

Other gods

In addition to Inti, there is also a temple dedicated to the mother of the moon goddess Kilia, a temple dedicated to Vera Cocha, the god of creation, and a temple dedicated to Raytheon Ilapa, which is called Pu Camarca. Kilya's mother is considered important because she manages the ritual calendar, and Illapa brings rain and storms-thunder when he swings his sling, and lightning comes from the flash of his silver robe. Cui Chu, the god of the rainbow (ominous for the Incas) and Caska -Qoylor, the incarnation of Venus, have their own temples together with others in the sacred Corecancha complex.

Although minor gods are still important in their specific fields, they include Pachamama, the goddess of the earth. Farmers built a stone altar in the middle of their fields, and they can easily offer sacrifices in order to get a bumper harvest. Pachamac ("the creator of the earth") is a famous Oracle and creator, especially in the provinces. Especially related to the earthquake, he has a complete temple city-Pachakamak, built in his name, where there is a huge wooden statue, and pilgrims come to listen to its suggestions. Finally, the coastal people have special respect for Mamacocha ("the mother of lakes and seas"). These and other gods have more than 400 temples in Cuzco alone.

The Incas were keen observers of celestial bodies and mastered their movements and periods. Therefore, stars, constellations and planets are also personified, especially the Pleiades (Qollqa), the Milky Way (cocoon), the belt of Orion and Venus (Chaska Cuyllor). Generally speaking, it seems that all living things have their own specific stellar equivalents, which somehow manage and protect all physical specimens on the earth.

Worship mode

Then, the Inca gods built temples (wasi) and sacred places (huacas) to hold ceremonies, prayers and dedication. Priests with strict ranks hold such ceremonies, and their status depends on the God they serve. The gods satisfy and maintain the status quo by sacrificing precious objects and animals, especially alpacas (white for Inti, brown for Veracocha, and stripes for Ilapa). Humans, including children, have also been sacrificed (even on a smaller scale than other American cultures), usually by hitting their heads with alcohol, so that they may feel happy with God when they first meet him. These more dramatic sacrifices are usually prepared for major conflicts, such as prolonged drought, solar eclipse or the death of royal family members. Human sacrifice also took place in the war after the victory and was enshrined in many mountain shrines scattered throughout the empire.

Vacas and Essex

Incas believe that gods, gods and dead ancestors can appear on the earth in the form of natural landscapes such as mountain peaks (apu), rivers, springs, caves, rock outcrops and even grotesque stones. These places are sometimes modified to highlight unusual features and are regarded as sacred places with special forces that affect reality. They are called huacas (wak'a). In the case of stones, they are taken to palaces and tombs for safe preservation, and sometimes even transported during military expeditions. People leave sacrifices in Vacas, especially shells, textiles, coca, valuables and clay figurines, and offer sacrifices, most commonly camels and guinea pigs.

Huakas can also be used for astronomical observation. Perhaps the most famous is the "intihuatana" located at the highest point of Machu Picchu, which is used to symbolically connect the sun with the earth through a special rope. However, the most important witness station is the raised platform USNU in Cuzco Square. There are stone pillars for astronomical observation and a pure gold throne for Inca kings to watch religious festivals. All these holy places-about 328-were then connected to Cuzco, the center of the Inca world, through 4 1 line called ceque (zeq'e). This may be a physical path or line of sight, thus creating an imaginary sacred network centered on Cuzco.

Ancestor worship and mummies

Ayllu was never forgotten in Inca society, and the tomb was reopened at a certain time so that people could offer new sacrifices to the dead. These come in the form of precious commodities and food, and sometimes even specially built passages allow wine to be poured into graves without disturbing them. In particular, important people who have died can be represented by statues in the community, especially the founders of the community, whose idols are the most precious items in the community. In fact, the Incas took advantage of this tradition and often kidnapped idols of conquered communities and left them as hostages in Cuzco to ensure the obedience of the conquered.

The bodies of important community members are often mummified, mainly using techniques involving drying and alcohol, and then wrapped in textiles and tied with ropes in a fetal position. Then, these mummies were placed in graves, special rooms in community graves, or sacred caves-most famously in the highlands of Cayatambo, where the Spanish found more than 65,438+0,800 mummies.

Detention is usually not permanent, because mummies are occasionally taken out of graves so that they may participate in important community activities in some way, such as marriage and harvest. The most famous role of the deceased ancestors in the living life is the mummy role of the former ruler Marquez. These animals are favored at important ceremonies held in Cuzco, dressed in exquisite clothes and even given ritual feeding. When important decisions need to be made, priests and specialized waiters will "consult" their opinions. They are VIPs of Inti Raymi Festival.

The demise of the Incas

Interestingly, with the worship of the state religion of the Incas, especially the worship of the sun, after the collapse of their state religion, they quickly lost the favor of communities outside Cuzco, which have long regarded the moon as their main god. The temples built by the Incas and the land left for Inti were abandoned as religious sites and used for other purposes. People abandoned the solar calendar and restored their ancient customs about gods, holy places and ancestors. The local beliefs of ancient Andean people proved to be flexible at that time, but to some extent, so did the unique elements of Inca religion, because after centuries of Catholic rule, in the revival of the late 20 th century, many Inca rituals and traditions, especially Inti Raymi Festival and mountain pilgrimage,