Inca Traditions And Beliefs

The Incan Empire had a very complex religion and it was an important part in everyday life. The Incas were polytheists which means they had multiple gods, and most of their gods were connected to forces of nature. The Inca’s main gods were Viracocha (the superior god),he was originally worshiped by the pre-Inca community of Peru. He is believed to have created the moon and the sun on Lake Titicaca. It is said after he was done creating the world and the heavens, he traveled from different places teaching men the arts of civilization. Viracocha was sometimes represented as an old man wearing a beard, a long robe, and carrying a staff. Viracocha was actively worshiped most during times of crisis. Inti (the sun god), was known for warmth, light,
and healthy crops. He ruled with another god, Llapa, the Thunder God, and his wife, Mama-Quilla the Moon God. He was known for being the ancestor of the Incas, It is said that one day Inti arose out of Lake Titicaca. Inti made a promise that everyday he would take a turn on the world to see that all went well. A ceremony was held for Inti every year, an Inca would come to the center of the sun in Cuzco, to remind the sun god of his promise and to come back to his people, and to bring the long days needed to make the crops grow. A special festival called Inti-Raymi was held where the Inca’s would honor Inti, feast, animal sacrifices, and ritual dancing. Inti is most represented by a golden disk with a face, and sunbeams, this is a very popular symbol in the Incan civilization.They treated their gods with much loyalty and respect.
When the Inca’s conquered over new land they built temples in almost every region. they told the new people of the Incan civilization people already settled there to worship Inti. In almost every region, every temple had a priest, and people to support it. The Inca’s let their new followers of the inca gods allow their gods into their pantheon (original set of Inca gods). The Incas had ceremonies and rituals for their original and new gods. In fact the Incas practiced making sacrifices daily. The most common sacrifices were llama and, textiles, human sacrifices were, made but not commonly. They thought this was a good way to ensure good health, strong crops, and prevent disasters. By the time Incan Empire came to it’s peak, ceremonies were a very important part in their everyday life. Daily sacrifices were still made, but ceremonies were way more extravagant, and long weekend events. These events would sometimes happen after a natural disaster or military battle. The Inca’s had three main ceremonies, Capac Raymi (Great Festival), Aymoray (which means both "corn harvest" and "May"), and Inti Raymi (festival of the sun).
Separate from the everyday religion practiced in the Inca civilization, was a worship called Huaca, this was commonly worshiped by the peasants in the Arden community.
In this worship they would be forced to live in the cold dark underworld revered earths natural features. This was practiced by the Ayllus for thousands of years. The Ayllus is a groups of families, that formed a sufficient community including the major needs like farming, marriages, and religion. They believed that their ancestors sprung from a object or a specific point, like a tree or herb, and they worshiped these things greatly. The Huaca’s are said responsible for the sacred land on the Inca’s in Cuzo. Ceque which is like an imaginary line, there divide a city or community into districts. In one of these districts there was 328 Huacas, which also included natural and human made things like rivers, rocks, and fountains, which is all said to be sacred. The bodies of the dead were known as Huacas, who were treated with utmost dignity and reverence. When the supreme ruler of the Incas Sapa died his body was mummified by a complex procedure, doing things like removing
organs.
The Incas believed in after life.
The dead would be mummified and put into a tomb. The persons family would bring food jewelry, and items to the resting place to make them comfortable in the afterlife. A funeral in an Inca civilization would last eight days, in this time they would wear all black to show their respect. Families of this person would enter the burial daily to consult them. Upper class were treated at a higher standard, being buried in a upper chambers, unlike the lower class which would be buried in caves or pits. If you were in a higher class they would make sure your eldest son becomes the next Sapa Inca. During rituals, they would carry the mummified buddies of rulers. The Inca’s believed that the dead of lived respectful and virtuous would get to join the sun in the heavens, and be with their descendants. However evil spirits would live a dark cold spirit life without
light.
The Incas believed that before anything was created all that existed was considered Viracocha Pachayachachi, this means “creator of all things.” Viracocha might not seem like the happiest person he created a world of no sun, stars, or moon, everything was just dark. It is said he created large creatures, as well as humans, out of clay and gave them strict rules to follow. If or when they would disobey he would curse everyone on the earth. This included being swallowed by the sea, earth, or turned into stone. He would use a liquid called uñu pachacuti, this would wipe out all of the living creatures, this would rain for 60 to 90 days. When this was done he preserved the lives of two beings that would follow him and come to his needs when help is needed. Titicaca Viracocha came out of the darkness and brought sunlight and new animals, as well as human beings. Every human being he made had a distinctive feature to them. He also created something similar to blue prints, that were painted on stone. He would burry these in the earth and wait for the right time of summoning.