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The Religion and Spirituality of the IncasSpirits and Gods are Intimately Tied to Time, Space and Nature
To Andean people before the Conquest, rocks, mountains and streams were hardly inanimate objects, but vibrant living spirits.
For the Incas, the entire world was imbued with spiritual qualities. In Tiwantinsuyu, the Inca Empire, daily life depended on maintaining harmony with a variety of deities. Successful harvests, and thus life itself, depended on the good will of the god Inti, the Sun, and his wife Mama-Killa, the Moon. Another god, Illapa, ruled the sky and brought rain. Crops also depended on Pacha-mama, the goddess of the Earth, and Mama-cocha, the goddess of rivers, streams and the sea. Even the stars were gods and cared for the plants and animals. The power of all these gods and goddesses ultimately came from one Supreme Creator, Viracocha. Spirits and AmuletsWhile the Incas worshipped a diverse pantheon of gods, they also believed that spiritual power could reside in specific places or objects. In the spiritual world of the Incas, natural formations like rivers, springs and mountains were themselves spirits, or huacas. Yet huacas did not only reside in geographic features. Some inhabited special amulets that could be worn around the neck, allowing the wearer to transport the powers of the huaca. Inca MummiesSome of the most important huacas were the mummified remains of dead emperors. The Incas seem to have used special herbs to preserve the remains of dead royalty, and the cold, dry climate of much of the Inca realm served to slow the process of decomposition. After death, the ruler's mummy resided in the palace where he had ruled in life, surrounded by his extended family, or ayllu, and his servants. For this reason, each new Inca ruler had to construct a new palace, while the estates of former emperors continued to function. In fact, Machu Picchu may have belonged to the estate of the deceased emperor Pachacuti. During special festivals, the Incas often brought the mummies outside to participate in special rituals. Thus, the ruler remained alive in the sense that he continued to participate in economic and religious life. The Spiritual Significance of the Inca CalendarThe Incas shaped their conceptualization of space and time around huacas. They believed that a series of straight lines emanated from the capital city of Cuzco, like spokes on a wheel. Along these spokes rested 385 of the most important huacas, each of which usually had a shrine and an official attendant. Also, each of the 328 days on the Inca ceremonial calendar corresponded to a specific huaca. A distinguished ayllu (extended family group) cared for each huaca and organized the proper rituals on its specific day. Sacrifice in Inca ReligionThe Incas and their subjects made sacrifices to huacas: usually llamas, guinea pigs, food and coca. Sometimes adherents would burn fine cloth or offer seashells, gold or silver. On rare occasions, and usually only for the most important events such as wars and coronations, a child might be sacrificed. However, human sacrifice did not occur on the same scale as in the Aztec Empire. Many of the Incas’ spiritual beliefs came from other Andean peoples, and some are probably very ancient. Even today, half a millennia after the conquest of Peru and the imposition of Christianity, many people in the Andes continue to honor huacas and pray to the Pacha-mama.
The copyright of the article The Religion and Spirituality of the Incas in Inca History is owned by Colin Forsyth. Permission to republish The Religion and Spirituality of the Incas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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