Purépecha deities
The culture of the Purépecha people was polytheist.
List of some deities:
- Curicaveri - Sun god
- Cuerauáperi - Creation goddess
- Xarátanga - Water god
- Cuitzeo - War god
- Auicamine - Evil goddess
- Pehuame - Birth goddess (advocation of Cuerauáperi)
- Jurhiata - (advocation of Curicaveri)
| Name | Comment |
|---|---|
| CURICAUERI | “The Great Fire”, main deity with a black painted body, although the lower part of the face as well as feet nails and hands were painted yellow; wore a white skin head piece and a heron feather ornament on his back. Accordingly, the cazonci, priests and chiefs were painted black. Three descriptions of this deity exist in the “Relacion de Michoacan. Depicted as a white eagle with a large wart in the forehead; also a personage covered with charcoal dust (Entiznado)” with white heron plumages on his head and back; and most frequent it is described as “… that stone said to be God Curicaueri.” According to Mythological Stories the God Curicaueri was identified with the sun.[1] |
| CUPANTZIERE | The old sun “Cupantziere” plays ball with “Ahchurihirepe” that represents the night. The old sun is defeated, but his son, the young sun “Siratatáperi” arises by the east and rescues his father’s corpse, who resurrects in the form of a deer that goes away to the north. The deer were considered sacred animals associated to the sun in diverse Mesoamerican cultures, as divine food. Among the tarascos its skin was tanned and used to cover the Curicaueri image.[1] |
| CUERAUAPERI | “The one that unties in the womb”, associated with birth and considered the mother of all Gods, men, animals and plants. Its main sanctuary was in Tzinapécuaro.[1] |
| CURITACAHERI | The great priest and Sun’s Messenger, related with the Sea God who received offerigns from shells.[1] |
| URENDEQUAUECARA or HURENDEQUAUECARA | Morning star related to Venus and the eastern region. Related to Pungarancha War God.[1] |
| TIRIPEMES or TIRIPEMENCHA | Gods of the “four parts of the world” considered Curicaueri siblings: Tiripeme-xungápeti, “the yellow God” north deity, lord of Pichátaro; Tiripeme-turupten, “the white God” best deity, lord of Iramuco; Tiripeme-caheri, “the black God” south deity, lord of Pareo and; Tiripeme-quarencha, “the red God” east deity, lord of Curínguaro.[1] |
| ANGAMU CURACHA | Were the forest gods.[1] |
| GOD OF HELL | The Cuingo celebration sacrifices (skin removal) were dedicated to the God of hell.[1] |
| XARATANGA | “The one that appear in the top” or “the one that illuminates or shines”, goddess of the moon and maintenance, she made plants germinate and took care of men and animals. As other goddesses associated with the moon in Mesoamerican cultures, one of its characteristics was its relation with love, sex and Octli (pulque).[1] |