Religious Studies of the Inca Empire
The Inca Empire was located in South America in an area we now call Peru. The Incas reigned from about 1000 AD to 1483 AD. The Incas believed in many deities. They believe there was a creator of all things and the sun was their most powerful god. The Incas built great temples for worship of the sun god. They gave great importance to the immortality of the soul and other secrets of nature. The Incan religion was organized to be practical. It was comprised of many officials such as high priests, high priestesses, priests and the Chosen Women. The religion complemented economic and social policies that reflected Inca power.
The Inca individual was to insure his or her well being by carefully carrying out all rituals and everyday worship. This was for the well being of all environmental forces and powers. Any bad thing that happened to an individual whether it was physical or economical was seen as punishment by the supernatural forces. They believed it was because there was a lack of attention or because of a wrongdoing on their part.
Viracocha, the creator, was both the mother and father of the Sun and Moon. Veracocha was also referred to by Pachacuti Yamqui as 'The Real Sun'. The Sun produced Venus, the Morning Star and the Moon produces Venus, the Evening Star. The Morning Star was then father to Cama Pacha (lord Earth) from which man descended.
Evening Star was mother to Mama Cocha (lady Ocean) from which women descended.
"The nature of Viracocha is hard to assess. He should be thought of as more of a phenomenon, than a defined god." ( Ann Kendal, 1972;182). Viracocha took the shape of a man by the Incas but was thought of as invisible. The Incas, because of this, did not build temples to worship his image because he was too illusive. They did house his image in the shape of a man in early Inca temples but did not build temples specifically f...