Chakana

Chakana.

Construction method

The Chakana (or Inca Cross, 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

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

See also

• Wiphala
• Axis Mundi

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)