Pachamama Mother Earth

Every August 1, the Andean culture worships Mother Earth or “Pachamama” following the indigenous traditions of the original peoples. Pachamama is a creative and protective deity who protects men, makes life possible, and supports fertility. As part of our gratitude for the help and protection, the “ALTOMISAYOC” (Andean priests in charge of performing the ceremony) are obliged to give back to the Pacha in various ways, not only on special occasions and in ritual sites, but during all activities cultural significant events. For the offering, you need to make a ceremonial blanket and know where it will be distributed.

The main table of offerings

In addition to the pots and buried food, there is a main table in the ceremony. Its elaboration is entrusted to the Andean priests, who make a ceremonial blanket and the paper where the food is placed. They are also responsible for ordering the coca leaves for the k’intus (three special leaves that cover the central part of the table). The specialists also order other products such as huayruro, seeds, medicinal plants and more.

Pachamama in the Inca times

Although it is true that the Sun was the main god of the Incas, there were others that gained relevance over time, even more so after the Spanish conquest, La Pachamama was one of them. Remember that the Incas were the result of the conquests and unions of different pre-Inca cultures, human settlements and small towns settled throughout the territory (the Tawantinsuyo) before the 13th century.

These cultures and peoples have their own deities and their own ways of worshiping them. In this way, the Incas adopted some of these gods such as the Sun (pre-Inca Tiahuanaco culture), Pachamama (pre-Inca Chavín culture), and the most important of all, the god Viracocha or maker of all (first worshiped by the Caral culture, followed by the Chavín, followed by the pre-Inca Wari and Tiahuanaco cultures).

Until these days, the forgetfulness of this last god by the Incas is a mystery during, the truth is that they replaced it with one that accompanied them during the day, providing them with heat and energy, a god visible as the Sun. In this way, With the conquest of nearby cultures, the Incas were gaining influence and other religious aspects that were later incorporated into their culture in general. However, together with the Sun, the Pachamama prevented surviving the oblivion to which Viracocha was subjected by the Incas.

She was the feminine soul of nature, so the Andeans improved her as the provider of everything: life, food, animals, water, atmospheric and geological phenomena, fertility, among other elements of the great biodiversity of Peru. Not to mention that the entire Inca economy was based on agriculture, so you can understand the importance of Mother Earth in their culture. The Pachamama used to be fertilized by the rain and the Sun God himself, delivering abundant harvests for her children.

Andean Duality

One of the most important characteristics of the worldview of the Incas was duality. Every feminine thing had to have its masculine counterpart. Do not confuse the concepts of good and evil. Because the Incas understood that a god could be both merciful and punishing, good and evil could reside in them. Therefore, they paid tribute in the form of sacrifice, to obtain the grace and mercy of the gods, especially Pachamama. Therefore, Pachamama had the Inti (Sun), the water had the fire, and the Kay Pacha (world of the earth) had Hanna Pacha (world of the sky), among others.

The PACHAMAMA ritual, step by step

1. The eve of August 1 (usually the day to make offerings to Pachamama) is known as “la llamada”, where both the corrals and the houses and orchards are shaken with abundant smoke and incense to scare away evil spirits. It’s a way to call good energies and scare away bad ones.
2. At noon, the shamans (Andean priests) arrive at the houses to prepare the offerings. They are packets or pots of coca leaves, fruits, corn, wheat, part of the food that has been prepared for the day, sweets, chocolates and candies. All of them were sprinkled with wine and chicha de Jora (a kind of Andean beer made from fermented corn, consumed since the time of the Incas). The Shaman prepares the offering in front of the relatives, giving thanks to the Pachamama and asking for protection, fertility and other intentions that are related to the intentions and family goals, in the case of farmers, for the next harvest. During the ritual, each member of the family also gives thanks to the Pachamama and makes a wish, blowing three coca leaves, selected by themselves. Then these leaves are given to the Shaman, who will incorporate them into the offering.
3. Once the offering is prepared, the shaman goes alone to the nearest huaca or to an inhospitable place. He digs a well and deposits the offering there, sings ritual songs in Quechua, burns incense, drinks chicha de jora or wine, invokes the Inca gods (Apus) and finally buries the offering.
4. In the afternoon, the shaman shares lunch with the family, as a kind of celebration of the ritual performed.