The History of Inca Empire Religion

The Incas believed in many gods and viewed nature as sacred. They worshiped a god who created the world, gave life, and could end it. Over time, this god took different names. You may know him as Pachacamac, Kon, or Viracocha.

Other gods and sacred animals also played a role in their religion. The Incas believed these beings had supernatural powers. Their beliefs often involved opposites that complemented and balanced each other, creating harmony.

Did you know that: The Incas treated conquered people like friends. They gave political roles to local leaders. The Incas also allowed them to keep their gods. However, they had to accept that the Inca ruler was above all their gods.

Inca Religion

The Inca religion was polytheistic, which means they believed in many gods. It was the heart of Andean culture. The Incas spread the worship of Wiracocha Pachayachachi, the creator god, to all the people they conquered. Their religion focused on nature, worshiping natural forces and beings.

The Andean worldview was divided into three worlds. The world above, the earthly world, and the world below. Two big religious ceremonies marked this belief. These events happened during the solstices. People carried figures of Inca gods and mummies of dead emperors in processions.

Main Festivals in the Inca Calendar

Inca religious festivals took place in sacred spaces. People did not focus on statues or sacred objects inside buildings. Instead, the temples were spaces marked for worship. Most of these temples were near water sources like rivers and lakes. Each Ayllu or Panaca (Inca family groups) managed the rituals.

Here are four important Inca festivals:

1. Capac Raymi
   This festival honored the sun during the December solstice. People carried out rituals while walking upstream along the rivers (Mayucati).
2. Huayna Punchao
   This festival was part of the famous Inti Raymi celebration in Cusco. It honored the sun during the June solstice. Priests, known as Tarpuntaes, walked downstream following the river. They watched the sun’s position, visited sun temples, and worshiped at sacred places like Apu Huanacahuri, Catequil, Coropuna, Pariacaca, and Pachacamac.
3. Citua
   The third festival focused on cleansing. People performed rituals to clean the Cusco valley and prepare for the new farming year. It took place in the space between the main square and the Coricancha temple.
4. Qolla Raymi
   This festival was celebrated by Tarpuntaes (Inca priests) and Acllacuna (chosen women).

Ritual Temples

The Incas built sacred temples for religious worship. Three important ones are:

• Coricancha

  This was the most sacred temple in Cusco. It was a temple for the sun god, Apu Punchao. The ancestors of the Sapa Inca (the emperor) and all the main gods of the empire were honored here.

• Pachacamac

  This temple was built near the sea. It honored Pachacamac, the god of earthquakes, and the sun god.

• Island of the Sun

  This sanctuary was located on a rocky island in Lake Titicaca. It was a sacred place dedicated to Inti, the sun god.

Male Trinity

The Incas shared their main gods with other cultures of the time. Three powerful gods ruled the world:

• The Sun (Inti)
• Illapa (God of thunder and rain)
• Viracocha-Pachacamac (Creator god)

These gods ruled three worlds:

• Kay Pacha: The visible world where humans live.
• Hanan Pacha: The invisible world where the gods moved daily.
• Hurin Pacha: The home of Viracocha-Pachacamac. His power was seen on Earth through Illapa, the thunder god.

Female Trinity

This trinity was formed by three goddesses who represented the moon's three phases:

• Mama Cocha: Goddess of lakes and seas.
• Mama Quilla: Goddess of the moon.
• Pachamama: Goddess of the Earth.

Aymara Trinity

The Aymara people also had their own sacred trinity:

• Pachamama: Goddess of the Earth.
• Mallku: Spirit of the mountains.
• Amaru: Sacred serpent.

Did you know that: the Villac Umu (High Priest of the Inca religion) led the major ceremonies and rituals. In addition, 12 priests called Hatun Villac assisted him, and they were responsible for preparing ritual offerings and sacrifices.

Main Gods of Inca Empire

Punchao: The Sacred Icon of the Incas

You can think of Punchao as the most important image of Inca worship. According to legend, this god appeared in the dream of a future Inca ruler. He saw the god in the clear waters of the Susurpuquio spring, now called Inkiltambo. Once the ruler gained power, he ordered a gold figure to be made in the form of a 10-year-old boy wearing sandals and a tunic. The image was kept in the Temple of the Sun in Vilcabamba. However, after the Spanish arrived, soldiers of Martín Meneses stole it from Hualpa Yupanqui.

Inti: Sun God

Inti means "sun" in Quechua. He was seen as a servant of the creator god, Wiracocha. Inti ruled the sky and had power over humans on Earth. He was one of the most important gods of the Incas. People represented him as a golden disk. The Acllahuasi (House of the Chosen Women) was home to women who worshiped Inti. People honored him during the Inti Raymi festival and made sacrifices of llamas, gold, and sometimes humans during Capac Hucha. Over time, Inti's image changed, and he eventually merged with the god Wiracocha.

Wiracocha: The Supreme Creator

Wiracocha, also called Apu Qun Tiksi Wiraqucha, was the creator god. His name means "Lord of Water, Earth, and Fire," which shows his control over nature. He was worshiped at the Quisuar Cancha temple and is believed to have come from Tiahuanaco. The Inca ruler Pachacutec ordered his worship to be spread. During his journey to the sea, Wiracocha passed through Cacha, where locals tried to kill him. He raised his hands and made fire rain from the sky. Today, the Raqchi Temple stands in his honor.

Pachamama: Mother Earth

Pachamama means "Mother Earth" in Quechua. She represents the Earth as a provider and protector of all living things. People honored her as the goddess of fertility, life, and growth. Celebrations for Pachamama were focused on farming and livestock. Rituals included offerings of llama blood, coca leaves, seashells, and llama fetuses to ensure fertile land.

Supay: Lord of Death

Supay was the god of death and evil. He ruled the Uku Pacha (underworld) and was linked to minerals. People believed he could transform into different animals.

Apus: Protectors, Judges, and Sacred Spirits

Apus were the mountain gods. People believed Apus protected and judged human actions. These gods were linked to sacred places called Huacas, where offerings and human sacrifices were made.

Huacas: Sacred Places

Huacas were sacred sites carved into stone. People believed these places were homes for idols and spirits. They were often linked to Apus or guardian mountains. Many were near water sources like rivers and lakes, where people held ceremonies and made sacrifices of llama blood.

Cochamama: The Voice of Seas and Lakes

Cochamama was the goddess of the sea and lakes. People believed she controlled marine forces. Offerings and ceremonies were made to calm her anger.

Other Secondary Gods

Quilla: Moon Goddess

Quilla means "moon" in Quechua. She was the sister and wife of Inti, the sun god. People linked her to the feminine world. She controlled harvest times and was honored in the Coya Raymi festival in September. She was represented by a silver disk.

Coyllur: Goddess of Beauty and Stars

Coyllur, also called Chaska, was the goddess of beauty and stars. She was the sister of Illapa and the protector of maidens. Her light followed the moon's path.

Kuychi: Protector of the Inca

Kuychi was a divine being linked to Apu Huanacauri and the double-headed serpent Amaru. He was seen as a bringer of disease or death.

Illapa: God of Thunder and Rain

Illapa, also known as Chuquilla, Catuilla, and Intillapa, was the god of thunder. People believed he caused rain, hail, and storms. He was honored in the Sacsayhuaman temple, and today, he is symbolized as "Santiago Mata Indios" (Saint James the Indian Slayer).

Wasikamayuq: Protector of Homes

Wasikamayuq was the god who watched over homes and families. People believed he protected houses from harm.

 

Sacred Animals in the Inca Religion

Condor

The condor represented the Hanan Pacha (heavenly world). People saw it as a messenger of the gods, connecting the earthly world to the divine world.

Puma

The puma symbolized Kay Pacha (the earthly world). It was a sign of power, strength, and intelligence. The puma was also linked to political power. The layout of the city of Cusco was said to resemble the shape of a puma.

Serpent (Amaru)

The serpent represented the Uku Pacha (the underworld). It acted as a link between the earthly world and the underworld. People believed the double-headed serpent Amaru lived underground and controlled water. It also represented rainbows and chaos.

Other Sacred Animals

• Ccoa: A mystical black feline with glowing eyes. It was blamed for destructive hailstorms caused by the movement of its tail.
• Llama: A sacred animal and a key part of Inca life. It served as a form of transport and was often sacrificed during ceremonies.
   

Peruvian gods: Gods and cultures before the Incas

Chavín Culture

The Chavín culture thrived from 1500 to 550 BCE and worshiped multiple gods. Their main deity was Wiracocha, accompanied by sacred animals like hawks, condors, eagles, monkeys, snakes, spiders, and bats. You can see these depictions on the Monolithic Lanzón, a key religious artifact.

Gods of the Day:

• Eagle God: Ritual races honored this god, and winners sacrificed their blood.
• Marine Twin God: Devotees offered marine animal blood, such as sea lions.

Gods of the Night:

• Owl God: Worshipers sacrificed prisoners’ blood, seashells, and coca leaves to honor this god, linked to plant growth.
• Jaguar God: The Chavín's main deity evolved from a terrifying animal form to a human-like figure with large fangs. Human sacrifices were common in its worship.

Lima Culture

The Lima culture existed between 100 and 650 CE, centering its religious practices in Pachacamac. They worshiped Pachacamac, the god of the underworld and earthquakes. Over time, he became known as the “Lord of Tremors.”

Secondary Gods:

• Urpai Huachaq: Goddess of the sea and creator of fish, married to Pachacamac.
• Guamancanfac: Goddess of the islands, who received fish and bird offerings for guano.

Paracas and Nasca Cultures

In the Ica region, these cultures revered Kon, also known as the “Eyed God,” a creator of the earth, animals, and rivers. Kon was later overthrown by Pachacamac, who destroyed Kon’s creations.

• God Botto: A fearsome deity, Botto had a mix of marine, bird, and feline traits. People made sacrifices to appease this destructive god.

Moche Culture

The Moche people, based in La Libertad, worshiped Aiapaec, a deity with a human form and tiger-like mouth. They conducted human sacrifices to honor him. Moche rituals also paid homage to the moon, sun, and sea.

Key Deities:

• Aiapaec: Known by many names, this god symbolized maize, felines, and the air.
• Chicopaec: Associated with the sea, often guarded by warrior gods and priests.

Wari Culture

The Wari, from Ayacucho, claimed to be children of the sun. They worshiped the “Staff God” or Wiracocha, inherited from the Chavín culture. This god controlled natural forces, often taking the form of a serpent or air.

• Other Worshiped Elements: The Wari also honored fire and the sun in their ceremonies.

Tiahuanaco Culture

Located in modern Bolivia, the Tiahuanaco people worshiped Wiracocha, a creator god who emerged from Lake Titicaca to shape the world.

Key Symbols:

• Monoliths and Sun Gate: These artifacts depict Wiracocha with a solar crown and scepters, surrounded by soldiers and birds.
• Chachapuma God: A feline with a human body, this god received human sacrifices to ensure fertility.