This Mesoamerican civilization is characterized by having an interesting culture, mythology and symbology, among which the Mayan Jaguar. On this occasion Spiritual Energy, will describe everything related to this topic.
Mayan Jaguar
The Mayans are known for having a very particular culture and beliefs. In fact, it is considered one of the most important civilizations in Mesoamerica. They have a mythology made up of various deities, as well as fundamental symbols for their belief. One of these outstanding figures is the Mayan Jaguar.
Currently, many of the elements of their culture remain in force, due to the stories of the modern Mayans. Although there is not a great extension of texts referring to this civilization, many of its elements are located in the places where the Mayans were located. Which are the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and part of Belize.
Over the years, new discoveries related to this civilization have been made, especially with regard to natural medicine, gastronomy, agriculture and symbology. An example is the Mayan Jaguar. For this culture, the feline received the name of Balaam or Chaac. So the word Chilam was related to a group of priests who specialized in oracles, divination and prophecies.
The word Balam meant Jaguar and symbolized everything related to mystery and the occult. In fact, this culture had various books called Chilam Balam, which described historical events written in the Mayan language by anonymous authors during the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries. This has formed part of the little-known and collective memory of this civilization.
Symbolism
This figure represents power for such an outstanding civilization. In the same way, being part of the most important sacred symbols for their culture, because their representation was also related to various outstanding elements of the natural and supernatural context.
Another characteristic that stands out from this symbolic figure is that he was highly respected by them, due to the strength he had and the impressive ability he possessed to hunt, for which he was known as the lord of the animals.
In this way, the Mayan Jaguar constitutes an outstanding symbol of strength and power for this entire culture. Well, its most outstanding characteristics are associated with many of the beliefs that the members of this civilization possessed.
That is why they also related it to the control of cosmic forces, which occurred in the day and at night. This is because its activity was established during sunrise and sunset. What also generated that it was known as a symbol of darkness and light, thus signifying a relationship with the esoteric and mysterious.
Characteristics of the Mayan Jaguar
This figure was characterized by having opaque spots along its skin, which represents the stars. Hence, in a large number of ruins of this civilization, found in Yucatan, there are various images of this feline.
For this civilization, he was a symbol related to the underworld, because they believed that throughout the night, the God of the Sun, had a transformation in which he became this feline, in order to walk in the dark, through the world of the dead.
Therefore, for them, the jaguar sun was the one who exercised dominance throughout the night and also during the day. At the end of the afternoon, he gave way to the night to fight against Xilbalbá, the representative of the underworld, in order to defeat him and leave again the next day.
Xibalbá, constitutes in the Mayan civilization, the dangerous hell and underground world, where Hun-Camé and Vucub Camé ruled. So the road was full of dangers, besides it was full of thorns and it was very steep. In it were also the so-called Lords of Xibalbá. From there to the Mayan Jaguar, had to fight with all of them in order to defeat them.
Over the years, the Mayan Jaguar was associated with the various manifestations and symbols of this Mesoamerican civilization, especially in many of the outstanding monuments found in its various cities. Learn more about the Mayan cities.
The vast majority of these large sculptures were made of stone, in fact small figures made of jade were also found.
Likewise, the presence of the representation of this feline is observed, in the respective clothing of this culture, also in ceramics, elements made of metal and as a decorative and prominent theme in the design of many of its main elements. Hence, a sacred place was granted to him, as he was related to the god of greatest power.
Clothing
In this culture, the people who dressed with characteristic elements of this animal were the ones who had authority and who were very prominent in society. Some of these were the members that made up the military nobility, they wore feline skins in their clothing, because it was believed that in battles, the warriors performed an imitation of the jaguar's roar. This in order to cause fear and impression on their opponents.
In fact, those who had a mythical and religious relationship with the feline placed claws on their clothing to replace their feet, while their entire body was covered with the animal's skin, which symbolized leadership.
Another way in which the feline was used as a symbol for this civilization was through the clothing that the emperors also used for war. Even at court, the thrones were covered with the skin of the animal.
The Mayan jaguar was so revered and respected for this civilization that it was related to many of the most important deities. Therefore, it was also related to various characteristic elements of the context and especially with nature.
One of these was that they assimilated it with Kinich Ahau. Which in its journey at night and representing the underworld, received the name of the jaguar god. Hence, the members of this culture represented the figure of this god with very sharp feline ears and teeth, with a beard that symbolized the sun's rays.
Another of the most important elements of this civilization is astrology. They believed that those born under the ocelotl Sign, which was the fourteenth sign of the Aztec calendar, had an influence of the force of this feline. Hence, many stated that they were going to be important warriors.
Mayan Legends
There are many Mayan legends that refer to this feline. One of them describes that the culmination of the earth will be at the moment when these felines rise from the underworld to end the sun, the moon and even the universe. Thus giving way to an eclipse that will represent the final event.
However, one of the main Mayan legends related to this animal is the one that refers to the moment in which God created humanity using mud, because at that moment the jaguar observed everything that was happening.
It should be noted that for the Mayans, the creation of man occurred after the gods decided that they should originate humanity so that they could praise them. So there were three attempts to achieve them. In addition to this, various gods were present in the process.
In the first attempt, they obtained as a result a man created from mud or mud, but this one melted because it was a very soft material. On the second attempt, it was created using wood, but it had no soul, which was essential for him to worship the gods.
Therefore, by trying again, they used corn and in this way they were able to successfully create humanity. Learn more about Kukulcan, one of the gods related to the creation of humanity.
Therefore, returning to the legend, mentioned above, where the Mayan jaguar was found, at the time of the creation of man when using the mud, God, not wanting what was being carried out to be known, ordered the feline to I was carrying water in a cup that had holes in it, so there was no way it was going to fill up.
However, a frog explained to him how to close the holes using mud. So by the time the cat came back, God had already created thirteen men, twelve weapons, and was creating a dog at that moment. So the feline told him that this animal looked appetizing. God replied that this animal was to serve man and the weapon for the feline to learn what respect was.
The feline, believing himself to be superior, told him that the dog also looked delicious, which caused God to make the man hurt him in the leg with the weapon. But the feline continued to express the same opinion about the dog. This caused the man to order the dog to chase the feline, who climbed a tree, in order to escape from there.
But the man injured him again, which made the Maya jaguar learn to respect and leave the man alone. Another text related to the presence of this feline is the Popol Vuh, one of the main texts of this civilization.
In it it was described that the jaguar was the one who carried out the destruction of the wooden men, hence it is attributed as the main destroyer that possessed extensive energy to generate destruction that could completely disappear humanity in the universe.
The Mayan Jaguar Today
The Mayan jaguar is one of the most important animals and praised by many members of this civilization, although there are still species of this feline. It is currently at risk of extinction, so there are various places in the Riviera Maya, as well as in various reserves in Mesoamerica, where these animals are protected.
Likewise, they still exist in 18 countries, where they are located in places related to their protection and the preservation of their species, in order to avoid their disappearance, since they also constitute the third largest feline on Earth. If you were interested in the information in this article, you may also be interested in knowing more about the mayan ball game.