Chakana
Encyclopedia
The Chakana symbolizes for Inca mythology what is known in other mythologies as the World Tree, Tree of Life and so on. The stepped cross is made up of an equal-armed cross indicating the cardinal points of the compass and a superimposed square. The square represents the other two levels of existence. The three levels of existence are Hana Pacha (the upper world inhabited by the superior gods), Kay Pacha, (the world of our everyday existence) and Ucu or Urin Pacha (the underworld inhabited by spirits of the dead, the ancestors, their overlords and various deities having close contact to the Earth plane). The hole through the centre of the cross is the Axis by means of which the shaman transits the cosmic vault to the other levels. It also represents Cuzco, the center of the Incan empire, and the Southern Cross
constellation.
The shaman was superior to priests, sorcerers and witch-doctors in that he could modify his states of consciousness and journey at will to the lower level to enquire into the causes of people's illnesses or misfortunes. These were generally attributed to breaches of taboo. Such trances were induced by the ingestion of hallucinogenic substances, most probably ayahuasca
, or chewing the leaves of the sacred coca plant which are both used widely by the Indian shamans of Peru.
The cross has 12 points and legend has it that these points represent the following sayings, affirmations and life points
The four flat sides represent the elements
Water
Air
Earth
Fire
Crux
Crux is the smallest of the 88 modern constellations, but is one of the most distinctive. Its name is Latin for cross, and it is dominated by a cross-shaped asterism that is commonly known as the Southern Cross.-Visibility:...
constellation.
The shaman was superior to priests, sorcerers and witch-doctors in that he could modify his states of consciousness and journey at will to the lower level to enquire into the causes of people's illnesses or misfortunes. These were generally attributed to breaches of taboo. Such trances were induced by the ingestion of hallucinogenic substances, most probably ayahuasca
Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca is any of various psychoactive infusions or decoctions prepared from the Banisteriopsis spp. vine, usually mixed with the leaves of dimethyltryptamine-containing species of shrubs from the Psychotria genus...
, or chewing the leaves of the sacred coca plant which are both used widely by the Indian shamans of Peru.
The cross has 12 points and legend has it that these points represent the following sayings, affirmations and life points
| Worlds | Animals | Affirmations | Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Underworld | The Snake | I Live | Don't Lie |
| The Current World | The Puma | I Work | Don't Steal |
| The Upper World | The Condor | I Love | Don't be Lazy |
The four flat sides represent the elements
Water
Air
Earth
Fire
External links
- Soledad Cachuan: Mitología Inca, Buenos Aires 2008
- Drury: The Elements of Shamanism, Element Books, 1989.
- www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/941062
- members.fortunecity.es/chakana/chakana.htm
- Uitgebreide betekenis van de Chakana (artikel in het spaans)
- De Chakana als symbool voor het 'mensworden' in de Andes (artikel in het Duits)