Pachamama, also known as Pacha Mama, is the name of the goddess of fertility, considered the greatest female deity acclaimed by numerous cultures - but mainly by the Inca culture, which has the mythology that originated it. This unusual name comes from an indigenous language called Quechua, very ancient and spoken by a people before the Incas, the Andeans. Pachamama means "Mother Earth", and carries with it the symbolism of "The mother of all". Check out the article and learn more about this maximum deity who is considered the goddess of fertility of the earth!
History of Pachamama
According to the history of the Inca civilization, women did not have any freedom in the society of the ancient people, but they were essential for the society's belief system to be created and structured. Thus, they became the reason all things exist and are crucial figures in all religious organizations. Thus, within the cultural link, Pachamama is a fundamental figure of the mother who generates life, who gives her life and gives meaning to everything and everyone – both for the earth and for human beings.
Currently, Pachamama is a great symbol of fertility, abundance, shelter and care for the earth and for all beings that live on it.
Your various names
Mother Earth has many names – each culture names her differently based on their beliefs and perceptions. She knows some of her names: Gaia, Terra Mater, Danu, Erce, Spider Woman, Mahimata, Nerthus, Haumea, Mutant Woman, Haumea, among others. Universally, her symbol is the grotto, which is connected to the womb and refers to birth and reception – some say that all things come from caves and craters on Earth. Even in Hindu culture, many places of worship were established in caves and grottos. At this time, there was the custom of lying on the body of Mother Earth, in order to receive healing and answers through dreams, and to reconnect with ancestors and beings from other planes.
Image of Pachamama
Pachamama is often represented as a dispersed body in a symmetrical image or as part of nature itself. Her image represents perfection – in some of her representations, she has a circle of arms and legs that wrap around her body, with a newborn in her lap. Her face is always calm or smiling, with the aim of providing peace to the beings who are her children.
The strength of her image represents a calm woman who is always working – in the context of divinity, always producing lives. Her body is a symbol of security and calm over the world.
Commemorations
On August 01st, the day of Pachamama is celebrated, and many creditors of this deity make offerings in his honor. It is customary to bury a clay pot with ready-to-eat food or other items such as alcohol, cigarettes, wine, etc.
Pachamama is regarded as the greatest female deity in the world, especially for shamanism, as it was from Mother Earth that all things were created and many teachings were spread across the Earth.
Pachamama and nature
It is possible to find numerous references to Pachamama in the midst of traditions known over the years, and in many of them, Mother Earth has different names and represents different things, but with the same meaning: motherhood, fertility, creation, the womb sacred, the beginning and end of cycles. This figure is the support of existence, in different textures, smells, colors, formats, according to its nobility exuded in each season of the year. Recognizing the Earth as a mother figure provides a reverence for everything she offers us, from nourishment to security.
Pachamama is our home, it is through her that things come to us. She is the divinity that values the care of nature, that feeds the ecosystem, that preserves the cycles, elements and all things that no matter how much we don't realize, are contained within our being. Connecting with Mother Earth is synchronizing with our inner nature so that there is abundance in the outer life. In ancient times, the main representation of this deity was “the one who nourishes, the one who gives abundance” – so many shapes of spirals and circles were found in caves and in images of goddesses. These symbols represent the Earth, circular, as well as life on Earth.
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Mother Earth cults
Any kind of ritual performed to Pachamama has always been taken care of and led by women. In her rites, many spoke softly to her, kissed and caressed the earth throughout the planting and harvesting period, often pouring offerings over the chosen surface. At other times such as weddings, for example, Mother Earth was also worshiped for promoting fertility. There were and still are many ways to celebrate, honor and connect with Pachamama, and all ways are well regarded.
But in any case, Pachamama is within each one of us and it is possible to connect to it and respect it daily. When we take care of the external (environment), we work with it in the macro; and when we take care of the existing ecosystem in our own physical body, we work with it in the micro. This care and honor come from respecting, nurturing and nourishing everything that comes from this deity.
