Inca Gods and Their Religion

Inca Gods and Their Religion

The Inca gods represented the natural and cosmic elements of their world. The Inca civilization, located in the Andes, was highly religious, and their daily life was deeply connected to their beliefs.

Key Points of Inca Mythology:

• Religious Significance: Everything the Incas did had a religious meaning.
• Nature and Spirits: They worshipped natural elements like mountains, rivers, and plants, as well as celestial bodies like the sun and moon. Animals such as monkeys and condors were also considered sacred.
• Inca Pantheon: Gods were seen as having roles both in the sky and on earth, influencing various aspects of life. The importance of each god determined their rank in the pantheon.
• Human-like Traits: Many gods were believed to have human-like emotions, such as love and hate.
• Cultural Integration: The Incas adopted and blended religious beliefs from the peoples they conquered.
• Creation Stories: Myths about the creation of the world and humanity were passed down orally, as the Andean civilizations did not have a writing system.

The Formation of the World

The Inca Trilogy in Inca religion represents the heavens (Hanan Pacha) where the gods reside, the earth or the world of the living (Kay Pacha) where humans dwell, and the underworld (Uku Pacha) or the world of the dead.

Hanan Pacha

Interpreted as the heavens and represented by a condor. The condor was sacred to the Incas, believed to communicate the upper world (Hanan Pacha) with the earthly world (Kay Pacha).

Kay Pacha

Translated as the world of the living and represented by a puma. It symbolized strength, courage, freedom, and intelligence.

Ukupacha

Decryption as the underworld and represented by a snake. It inhabited the underground, at the bottom of lakes and rivers, and in caves. The snake symbolized the underground world (Ukhu Pacha) and represented wisdom.

Inca Rituals and Ceremonies

Inti Raymi

Inti Raymi is one of the most important festivals in the Inca religion. This ceremony is celebrated in honor of the sun god, Inti, and marks the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere. During the celebration, the Inca and his court gather in the main square of Cusco to offer tributes and sacrifices to the sun god, seeking to ensure a bountiful harvest and the protection of the sun god.

Capac Raymi

Qhapaq Raymi also know Qhapaq Raimy, is an initiation ceremony celebrated in December. During this festival, young nobles are prepared and presented as adults. The ceremony includes purification rituals, tests of endurance and skills, and finally, the presentation of weapons and ceremonial attire.

Ayahuasca

The use of Ayahuasca was part of Inca shamanic rituals. This plant, known for its hallucinogenic properties, was used by priests to communicate with spirits and obtain visions. Ayahuasca rituals were guided by a shaman and performed for healing and spiritual purposes.

Capacocha

The Capacocha ceremony was a human sacrifice ritual performed during times of crisis, such as droughts, famines, or natural disasters. Children, considered pure, were sacrificed to appease the gods and ensure the community’s well-being. The victims were carefully chosen and treated with great honor before the sacrifice.

Chicha Ritual

Chicha was a fermented corn beverage consumed in various ceremonies and festivals. During rituals, chicha was offered to the gods as a libation and also shared among participants as a symbol of unity and celebration. Women, especially the acllas or “virgins of the sun,” were responsible for preparing this sacred drink.

Agricultural Ceremonies

Agricultural ceremonies were vital in the life of the Incas. These included blessing seeds before planting, offering coca leaves and chicha to Pacha Mama during the harvest, and rituals to ensure the land’s fertility. Priests led these ceremonies and recited prayers to attract the protection and blessing of the gods.

Principal Inca Gods

Viracocha

Viracocha, also known as Wiracocha or Huiracocha, is a primordial god predating the Inca civilization. He is the creator god and essence of origin, believed to have emerged from the waters to create the sky and earth. Accompanied by Inti, a magical bird who knew past and future events, Inca emperors wore large feathers to emulate Inti and gain knowledge for ruling. Viracocha is depicted with a staff in each hand, resembling spears.

Inti

Inti, the Sun God and companion of Viracocha, was worshipped across the Inca Empire. He received grand offerings such as gold, silver, youths, and animals, and was represented with a golden disc and human features. Inti ensured bountiful harvests and protection for humans. On June 21, during the Inti Raymi festival, the Inca ruler performed animal sacrifices to honor Inti.

Pachamama

Pachamama, the goddess of the earth and fertility, is known as Mother Earth. She required significant offerings to ensure abundant crops; insufficient offerings could lead to poor harvests.

Pachacamac

Pachacamac, a version of Viracocha, was the god of earthquakes and also considered a creator god. He was known for his severity, even killing his wife and son. His son Wichama eventually defeated him through clever tactics. Pachacamac’s wife, when killed, was scattered across the earth, fertilizing the land.

Mama Cocha

Mama Cocha, the sea goddess, was revered by fishermen who prayed for calm waters and bountiful catches. Representing all things feminine, she was venerated for her role in ensuring good fishing and calm seas, and held a special place in the hearts of women for her connection to the feminine world.

Mama Coca

Mama Coca, the goddess of health and happiness, was believed to be split in two, with one half becoming the coca plant, vital to Andean culture. Initially considered a promiscuous goddess, her transformation into the coca plant was thought to bring health and joy. Ancient customs associated the plant with maintaining sexual and familial harmony.

Supay

Supay, the god of death and evil spirits of the underworld, is a name that also refers to the devil in indigenous areas of Peru and Bolivia.

Mama Quilla

Mama Quilla, the moon goddess and mother of the firmament, protected women and was greatly worshiped by them. She was also the wife of the sun god, Inti, and had a statue dedicated to her in the temple of the sun.

Mama Sara

Mama Sara, the goddess of corn and food, was crucial to the Inca diet. Corn, along with coca and potatoes, was a staple food for the Incas, making her an essential deity for agricultural prosperity.

Illapa

Illapa, the god of weather, was associated with lightning and thunder. Believed to make rain from the Milky Way using water stored in a jug, he was a popular deity. During droughts, the Incas would tie black dogs to invoke Illapa’s pity and bring rain.

Coyllur

Coyllur, the goddess of the stars, was deeply revered in Inca cosmology. Her name means “star” in Quechua, and she was associated with the celestial realm. As a deity linked to the night sky, Coyllur was believed to guide and protect through the stars, playing a role in agricultural and ceremonial activities. The Inca people paid homage to her to ensure guidance and protection from the cosmos.

Wasikamayuq

Wasikamayuq, the god of the home, was essential in maintaining the harmony and prosperity of domestic life. As a household deity, he was invoked to protect and bless the family dwelling, ensuring the well-being of the inhabitants. Rituals and offerings were made to Wasikamayuq to secure his favor and safeguard the household.

Apus

The Apus were revered as the gods or great spirits of the mountains. Each important mountain, rock, or cave in the Inca Empire was believed to have its own Apu. These Apus were considered powerful protectors of the land, looking after people, livestock, and crops. They were central to Inca spirituality, with sacrifices made to harness their strength and secure their favor.

The Apus were regarded as living or spiritual mountains by various Andean cultures even before the rise of the Inca Empire. They were believed to offer help and protection to the local inhabitants. Despite the fall of the Inca Empire, many descendants of the Incas continue to honor and worship these mountain spirits, preserving ancient traditions and respecting the divine influence attributed to them.

Formation of Sacred Places: Hills and Lagoons

Throughout Inca culture, a tradition of pilgrimage emerged. The organizing centers of the Andean space were sacred symbols, places where people gathered to worship their gods, accepting the dominance of the representatives of supernatural powers on earth. Huiracocha created lakes and lagoons, which were an inexhaustible source of life.

The Apus were considered male deities. They were worshiped from the smallest domestic units to the highest elites of Inca society, and other kingdoms and lordships.

The arrival of the Spaniards brought the imposition of Western religion, which they made their own, blending it with their ancestral customs to make it visibly acceptable to the Western invaders.