Mayan Religion:
Involves several aspects of nature, astronomy and rituals. God's actions are represented in forms of nature, for example, Kinih Ahous (sun god), or Yum Kaax (corn god). The Mayans are known for their belief of an ongoing circle of life, history of human sacrifice, calendars, pyramid temples, respect for nature, and their mathematical and astronomical systems.
*Note: A Mayan will say there is only one god and his actions are represented in the symbols of Kinih Ahous (sun god), or Yum Kaax (corn god) along with many others. But there are also many people who worship these symbols as gods.
Followers of Mayan Religion: Less than 1% of the world's population (note).
There is no known founder.
Authoritative Texts: Popol Vuh, The Mayan Codices
Popol Vuh contains:
• The Mayan version of creation: Tepeu (god of the skies) and Gucumatz (snake with feathers - god of the seas) meet, discuss, and create the earth along with animals and man.
• In Xibalba, the Mayan underworld, nine evil spirits became angry with the hero twins, Hun-Hunahpú and Ixbalanqué, because they were playing a loud ceremonial ball game. Hun-Hunahpú's head was put on a tree and it spat into the hand of a princess who became pregnant with the hero twins. Later, the twins played the same game as their father but managed to survive against Xibalba through a series of clever tricks.
• More information on how the gods created the cosmos and man. When clay and wood failed to make man, the use of corn was successful. Four men were created along with their wives. They multiply and rule the tribes of the Maya.
• Descendants of Jaguar Quitze, Jaguar Night, Naught, and Wind Jaguar traveled to Tulam, a mythical kingdom where Gucumatz gave them all the knowledge included in the Maya Codices.
The Mayan Codices contain:
• astronomy (including constellations)
• astrology
• calendars and dates
• good days for rituals
• planting, prophecies, sickness, and medicine.
• Maya ceremonies
• historical information and descriptions of Maya gods and spirits.
• the different days of the year and the Maya gods associated with those days,
• hunting
• making pottery
Authors: Popol Vuh: Original Quiché authors are unknown. It was later translated by Francisco Ximénez, a spanish priest.
The Mayan Codices: unknown
