The Mayan Gods and Religion

The Mayans were very religious people; their religion regulated almost everything they did in their life's. Priests were the most important individuals in the tribes. The Mayan beleived their Gods had destroyed and recreated their earth several times, this was a main reason for always trying to please their gods with sacrifices and various other actions. Their sacrifices included various animals that had many spiritual ties to them. Each God represented something for them in one way or another. Their Supreme Being and creator of the universe was called "Hunan Ku" (Gallenkamp). The next important gods were the sun and moon gods. "Kinish Ahau" was the sun god. They beleived that the sun and moon gods were responsible for harvest and various other vital things important to their life's; statues show him wearing a headdress from ears of corn. Their were four rain gods called "Chacs", which represented rainfall, lightning, thunder, and storms. "Ixtab" was the goddess of sacrificial suicide (Henderson). Mayans beleived suicide lead to heaven. "Yum Cicil" was the god of death (Gallenkamp). He was also called "Ah Puch", the god of the underworld. Every job or activity in the Mayan life had a god or goddess.