The Mayans are highly religious people, for them death was something to be feared and revered. For them, their god's judgment is something to be considered important, which makes them afraid of the world beyond, even while they believed in a heaven-like afterlife. They have a great respect for their dead, they mourn extensively and keep their memory alive by telling the dead's achievements in life. Although the procedure for burial transformed through the years, the thing that didn't was the sophisticated method in which they'd conduct it.
Do Mayans Believe In Heaven And Hell?
One belief of the Mayans is that some deaths were nobler when compared to others. Men and women who gave themselves for sacrifices, died on the battleground, or perished caused by childbirth were believed to have passed away nobly and thought to have been taken straight to heaven to experience the afterlife.
People that enjoyed their lives in avarice and crime, nonetheless, were damned to suffer for all eternity in the Xilbalba, the Mayan's version of hell. For the people that didn't fall under these two categories, it was believed that they went on a journey, with heaven as their goal, and might obtain a second life in the world from rebirth. Those of very important family tree, though, were made into deities that watched over their surviving families along with the descendants that followed.
Very Old Burials
The deceased themselves were entombed at places that oriented around access to the other world. The Mayans believed in two heavens which points north or west, this is the reason why some grave sites are made to point to both directions. While they bury others in caves believing that these caves are entrances to the other world. No matter whether they were entombed in a cave or in a monument, or maybe underground, with regards to commoners, terrific preparation and also ritual went into being sure that they will have a safe and secure journey to the other side.
Nearly all of the bodies were buried with maize in the mouths, simply because their family wished them to have food for their trip into the other world. For the dead's journey to the after life, jade or stone beads are the currency which is commonly placed in their mouths. Stuff including whistles along with small carvings of deities and animals also were located as a burial offering, as they simply were expected to aid the departed find their way to the spirit world. The color of rebirth and death for the Mayans is red, and most of the time painted on the bodies themselves and on the walls of the tomb.
The particular burial of the person usually relied on the era by which they lived as well as died. In the beginning, the bodies were buried in flexed position, however, later on, they were laid to rest flat lying on their backs, just like the way we bury our dead these days. At some point, cremation grew to become a popular method to bury an individual, instead of the sophisticated sites.
Social Status
The social status has a great influence the way the body is buried. In general, commoners are entombed near or underneath their homes. Men and women of high-rank usually were entombed in family crypts, yet it wasn't rare for them to be buried under the family house also. Merely the city's most prominent ruler had the monies, man-power, plus ability to create intricate tombs within ceremonial buildings, just like a pyramid.
Do Mayans Believe In Heaven And Hell?
One belief of the Mayans is that some deaths were nobler when compared to others. Men and women who gave themselves for sacrifices, died on the battleground, or perished caused by childbirth were believed to have passed away nobly and thought to have been taken straight to heaven to experience the afterlife.
People that enjoyed their lives in avarice and crime, nonetheless, were damned to suffer for all eternity in the Xilbalba, the Mayan's version of hell. For the people that didn't fall under these two categories, it was believed that they went on a journey, with heaven as their goal, and might obtain a second life in the world from rebirth. Those of very important family tree, though, were made into deities that watched over their surviving families along with the descendants that followed.
Very Old Burials
The deceased themselves were entombed at places that oriented around access to the other world. The Mayans believed in two heavens which points north or west, this is the reason why some grave sites are made to point to both directions. While they bury others in caves believing that these caves are entrances to the other world. No matter whether they were entombed in a cave or in a monument, or maybe underground, with regards to commoners, terrific preparation and also ritual went into being sure that they will have a safe and secure journey to the other side.
Nearly all of the bodies were buried with maize in the mouths, simply because their family wished them to have food for their trip into the other world. For the dead's journey to the after life, jade or stone beads are the currency which is commonly placed in their mouths. Stuff including whistles along with small carvings of deities and animals also were located as a burial offering, as they simply were expected to aid the departed find their way to the spirit world. The color of rebirth and death for the Mayans is red, and most of the time painted on the bodies themselves and on the walls of the tomb.
The particular burial of the person usually relied on the era by which they lived as well as died. In the beginning, the bodies were buried in flexed position, however, later on, they were laid to rest flat lying on their backs, just like the way we bury our dead these days. At some point, cremation grew to become a popular method to bury an individual, instead of the sophisticated sites.
Social Status
The social status has a great influence the way the body is buried. In general, commoners are entombed near or underneath their homes. Men and women of high-rank usually were entombed in family crypts, yet it wasn't rare for them to be buried under the family house also. Merely the city's most prominent ruler had the monies, man-power, plus ability to create intricate tombs within ceremonial buildings, just like a pyramid.
About the Author:
Original article can be found at The Mayan Ritual: Death and Its Ceremonies article on Onejungle.com. More articles on Mayan Ruins can be found at the Mayan Ruins Articles.
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