the andean chakana

By Kelly Moody

Andean religion is very rooted in the environment from which it is derived. The Andean cross or the Chakana symbolized the connection between the important ecological and spiritual elements in the lives of the people who live in this region.

Three animals that are found in different regions of Peru(mostly Andean culture but much more complicated, indigenous rainforest plus catholicism is present too depending on what region you are in) include the condor(now endangered), the puma(sometimes a jaguar or other cat is significant), and the serpent. These three animals hold special meaning to Andean people because they symbolize the three worlds. The upper world is represented by the condor(the condor is a very large bird). the middle world and literally our own world, what WE are, is represented by the puma. The lower world is represented by the serpent. This layering of worlds and animals that represent worlds is seen in the shape of the chakana. It is like geometric totem. One animal rolling into another. With the cross, you can see a set of steps that go up, and a set of steps that go down. This signifies the upper world, middle world, and lower world. Condor, puma, serpent. The four points on the cross represent the four directions. The points in between the directions represent the 4 elements. The circle in the middle is the unifying factor, the circle of life. Sometimes a spiral is seen here, or a triangle within a circle(with 3 points= 3 worlds). In this culture, a lot of things are done in threes to represent the importance of the 3 worlds. Coca leaves(an important crop for Andean people) are put together in threes, given as offerings to the pachamama(mother earth) as a way of giving back, continuing reciprocity.
What is also interesting is how much these three animals are used throughout Andean culture. Some cities are actually built in the shape of these animals. Machu Picchu is said to resemble a condor. The Ururbamba river that runs through the sacred valley in the Andes is in the shape of a serpent and Cusco--an important Andean and Incan city is shaped like a puma. This symbol, which represents the three worlds and the three animals that represent the worlds is found all over Peru and Bolivia as well. It was an important symbol to the Incans, you can see designs incorporating the symbol in much of their architecture and carved in their stones. Even some preincan societies used versions of the symbol suggesting that the environment and fauna were so connected to the people who lived in this area through their interpretation of the world, it was carried on from one society to the next. The layers of religion and culture in Peru and the Anders is fascinating. There are numerous preincan cultures(nazca, tiwanaku, for example) whose language, culture, and religious elements were carried onto the incans who conquered them, and now the Catholicism that then conquered the incan religion is still very apparently mixed with Andean elements.
The southern cross is even see from the Andean sky as well as many other animals reflected in their view of the constellations. (serpent was cut off on right)