GOD OF THUNDER, LIGHTNING AND RAIN: ILLAPA

The ancient settlers said that whenever he was seen on the ground, he played his pan, making the trees come to life and the stones laugh.

We know that during the Tahuantinsuyo and before this, the settlers had gods that represented each of the natural phenomena that occurred in their localities, this time we will tell you about a very worshiped god during the Inca empire, this god represented thunder, lightning and rain and was venerated, especially in times of drought with pilgrimages to the Apus or higher mountains.

We are talking about the great god Illapa, also known by other names such as Chuquilla, Cautilla, Intillapa or Libiac, depending on the place, he is also considered one of the most important gods after Wiracocha and Inti. He was the son of the god Inti with a human, that is why he felt close to men and had a kind heart.

Legend has it that Illapa had an imposing presence, wearing golden robes, precious jewels, and carrying a club, stones, and a sling. It is said that he was in charge of filling a jug with water from the Milky Way and gave it to his sister to take care of it, when it was filled he would launch a projectile with his sling with which a roar would be produced that would cause thunder, lightning it would be the sparks generated on impact and finally the water output would be the rain.

The ancient settlers said that whenever he was seen on the ground, he played his pan, making the trees come to life and the stones laugh. It is said that he loved all the creatures of the earth that is why in times of drought, one of the rituals was to tie black dogs without giving them food or drink for several days, so that their moan reaches the ears of Illapa and this listening to their cries, would take pity on them and make it rain so they can drink and avoid their deaths, if the dogs died, Illapa threw a thunderbolt on the culprits to leave no trace of those who were killed.

Illapa does not like injustices, that is why he usually punishes those who do wrong or disrespect him by throwing lightning at them to disappear them from this world. On the other hand, to people who do well or have a gesture of compassion for another living being, he usually lends them his gavel, which is said to grant wishes and can even defeat death.

With the arrival of the Spanish, this god was adapted to the image of Santiago Apóstol since in one of the confrontations in Sacsayhuaman the Spaniards faced the Incas invoking Santiago, which coincided with the fall of lightning in the center of the battlefield, which was won by the Spanish, in addition to comparing the sound of Spanish firearms with the thunder of this god, so they began to call these weapons illapas.

For a long time the Andean settlers believed (and in some cases until now they believe) that children born with spots or moles on their bodies have been touched by the rays of Illapa, so they must perform a ritual, since they have been chosen by divinity to be shamans or master healers, likewise people who have received the impact of lightning and have survived are considered chosen to communicate with the gods and carry out healing and shamanic work.

We hope you have liked the history of this god and have been able to learn a little more about the vision of the ancient inhabitants of Peru.

Leave in the comments what other legends, gods or ancient stories you know and what you would like to read about next time.

Until next time!

Peruvian Shades