Chakana

Chakana.

A Chakana (or Inca Cross, Chakana) is an Andean symbol. It is the three-stepped cross representing the southern cross and symbolising the three tiers of Inca life. The lower world, this world and the higher world. The three levels also represent the snake, puma and condor. Many buildings, temples, and religios sanctuaries are scattered with relevance to the chakana. Sacsayhuamán Temple, located in Cusco, Peru, has a stone entrance shaped to form the upper portion of the chakana. Artifacts and jewelry still made by Inca descendents often depict the chakana.

The hole in its centre denotes Cusco, termed "the navel of the Inca empire" and also represents the circle of life.

Its Twelve external corners are believed to mark the Twelve months of the year, While the four arms of the cross represent North, South, East and West.

The chakana was a cross with three different levels, representing the three worlds: Hanan Pacha, the world of above (representing the gods of the sun, moon and stars); Kay Pacha, this world (representing this life); and Uqhu Pacha, the world of below (representing death). Each of these worlds was represented by an animal: the condor, the puma and the snake. It is important to note that these worlds do not correspond to the Christian ideas of Heaven, Earth and Hell. In fact, the negative imagery associated with the snake, for example, was not shared by the Incas. - taken from www.perutourist.info