Inca religion

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Inca religion, gods, mythology, rituals

The Incas were polytheists (venerated multiple gods).

They even considered their emperors demigods, who had connections with the gods.

Some of the gods were very important to the Incas, there was a main god and there were a large number of other gods. Some of them were considered more powerful, others had somewhat smaller significance.

Beliefs and rituals

The Incas also had sacred objects and sacred places. For example, there is the Vilcanota or Wilcamayu ("Sacred River"), which is today most often called the Urubamba River.

The sacred objects were called "huaca". These could be anything, either elements of nature (rivers, mountains, etc.) or human built values (such as temples, etc.). Periodically Incas would perform worshipping ceremonies, even give offerings to the huacas. For example, inside houses, the huacas were placed into wall niches and offerings were periodically given to them. This was believed to contribute to the balance of nature and society. This way, Incas believed they have an influence on their happy life or their crop production.

The Incas believed in afterlife, they cared deeply for their dead, which were embalmed, mummified and placed into tombs. Afterwards, the relatives would bring food and various objects to the tomb. They believed that the dead could hear them and they would use the multitude of objects that were brought there.

The bodies of the dead were considered huacas.

Rulers who died were treated with more attention than ordinary Incas who died. They were periodically talked to by priests and other high level Incas. The priests were believed to be communicating with the dead emperors, who were in another dimension.

Offerings were brought to the dead ruler's tomb and servants would also attend them.

The colour of mourning was black, just like in the case of Christians. Women would have to cut their hair when someone close died. These rituals would be kept for a whole year.

Incas would offer sacrifices to the gods, these were mostly animals, but sometimes humans too.

Inca gods

2 Inca gods were given the highest importance: Inti and Viracocha.

Viracocha was the supreme god. The word "Viracocha" means "sea foam".

Viracocha revived the World after God Paricia flooded it, because people were unkind to him. Viracocha crated people out of clay and gave them languages and songs.

Viracocha created the elements of the sky: Sun, Moon, the stars, also assigning them places on the sky.

If people didn't venerate him, Viracocha punished them by turning them into stone.

Viracocha and his 2 sons were also believed to have walked on water.  

Inti was the Sun God, who was believed to have had descendants on Earth, this was the royal family. He was often represented on golden discs with a human face. He is believed to have been the ancestor of the Incas. Inti had 4 sons.

Here's a list of other Inca gods:

Apu or Apo: mountain god.

Apocatequil: god of lightning.

Apu Illapu: the god of thunder.

Apu Punchau: the "head of the day".

Ca Ata Quilla or Ka Ata Quilla: goddess of the Moon.

Catequil: god of thunder and lightning.  

Cavillaca: virgin goddess, impregnated by the Moon God, Coniraya.

Chasca: goddess of the planet Venus of the dawn and the dusk, protector of young girls.

Chasca Coyllur: god of flowers and protector of maidens.

Cocomama or Coco Mama: goddess of health, wellbeing, wealth and happiness.

Con or Kon: god of rain and southern wind.

Conira Viracocha or Konira Viracocha: Viracocha disguised as a traveler. He thought to have disguised himself into a traveler in rags and walked between people, observing and creating. He created the agricultural terraces (andinas in Spanish) and he made the water flow.

Coniraya: the Moon god.

Copacati: lake goddess.

Ekkeko: god of personal property, wealth.

Illapa: weather god (rain, storm, lightning, thunder).

Imahmana Viracocha or Imaymana Viracocha: son of Viracocha. Together with his brother, he was sent by his father to Earth to verify if people follow his commandments. He and his brother taught people essential things about life, like: which plants can be eaten and which are poisonous, they also gave names to the plants.

Mama Allpa: goddess of earth and harvest.

Mama Cocha or Cochamama: goddess of the sea, venerated by fishermen and sailors.

Mama Oello: the mother goddess of the Incas, she taught the Incas spinning.

Mama Pacha or Pachamama: earth goddess, venerated by those who planted crops.

Mama Quilla: wife of Inti, linked to marriages and feast days, she was the protector of married women. She is represented on a silver disc with a human face.

Manco Cápac: god of fire, son of Inti. He is the youngest of Inti's 4 sons, he killed one of his brothers, closed one forever in a cave and exiled the third. He is believed to have created the city of Cuzco (Cusco).

Pachacámac: earth god, a creator god, son of Inti.

Pariacaca: god of rain and water.

Paricia: he once flooded Earth because mankind made him angry.

Punchau: sun god ,warrior.

Tocapo Viracocha: son of Viracocha. Together with his brother, he was sent by his father to Earth to verify if people follow his commandments. He and his brother taught people essential things about life, like: which plants can be eaten and which are poisonous, they also gave names to the plants.

Supay: god of death and the greedy leader of the underworld.

Urcaquary: god of underground treasures and buried riches.  

Vichama: son of Inti and god of death.

Zaramama: goddess of grain and corn.