In the Incan tradition the cult of the Sun is portrayed as supreme. The chief temple in Cusco region, the Coricancha, is dedicated to the Sun and the Incan rulers prided themselves on being the descendants of the Sun God.
But where did the name Coricancha come from. Though it is said that in the Quechua language Quri means gold and Cancha means enclosure, Coricancha is not the original name. The temple had an earlier name and was also known as Intiwasi. Inti is of course Quechua for sun, wasi means 'house'. That is exactly what it means in Sanskrit - vasa is house, residence, habitation.
or Thease are variations of an even earlier nme to which meanings have been attributed.
In Sanskrit, Korit-Kanchan (कोरित- काञ्चन) means 'scraped out gold' or 'sculpted gold'. Kanchan (काञ्चन) means gold
Describing the interior of the temple, writes Prescott, "The interior of the temple was the most worthy of admiration. It was literally a mine of gold. On the western wall was emblazoned a representation of the. deity, consisting of a human countenance looking forth from amidst innumerable rays of light, which emanated from it in every direction, in the same manner as the sun is often personified with us. The figure was engraved on a massive plate of gold of enormous dimensions, thickly powdered with emeralds and precious stones. It was so situated in front of the great eastern portal that the rays of the morning sun fell directly upon it at its rising, lighting up the whole apartment."
Tawantinsuyo is often translated as 'Four Quarters or Four Regions' from the native Quenchua language. But, if the fact that the Incans were worshippers of the Sun-God be kept in mind, one may decode the word 'Tawantinsuyo' differently, with the aid of Sanskrit.
The first syllable may be 'Tapan' and not 'Tawan'. Tapan, (तपन) which means 'Sun', 'warmth' or 'heat' also has to do with 'meditation', 'penance' and 'austerity'. 'Ati' (अति) means 'beyond', 'surpass', 'extreme' - 'One who surpasses the brilliance or warmth' of the Sun'. 'Sut' (सुत) means 'born of' or 'offspring'. 'Tapan-ati-suta would translate roughly as 'Born of the Great Sun' or its equivalent. Interestingly, 'sUt' (सूत) also means 'Sun'. 'Tawantinsuyo' could be a distortion of any of these words and still combine to make perfect sense.
In the Vedic tradition, Lord Indra himself is also known as 'Tapastaksha' (तपस्तक्ष) . 'Viracocha', (वीरकोच) one of the Gods followed by the Incans, is often equated with the Vedic God, Indra. For more details on the Sanskrit Connection to the name 'Viracocha' click here.
In India, the name 'Tapansuta' (तपनसुता) is another name of the River Yamuna, which is regarded as 'Daughter of Sun God'.
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Tawantinsuyo is often translated as 'Four Quarters or Four Regions' from the native Quenchua language. But, if the fact that the Incans were worshippers of the Sun-God be kept in mind, one may decode the word 'Tawantinsuyo' differently, with the aid of Sanskrit.
The first syllable may be 'Tapan' and not 'Tawan'. Tapan, (तपन) which means 'Sun', 'warmth' or 'heat' also has to do with 'meditation', 'penance' and 'austerity'. 'Ati' (अति) means 'beyond', 'surpass', 'extreme' - 'One who surpasses the brilliance or warmth' of the Sun'. 'Sut' (सुत) means 'born of' or 'offspring'. 'Tapan-ati-suta would translate roughly as 'Born of the Great Sun' or its equivalent. Interestingly, 'sUt' (सूत) also means 'Sun'. 'Tawantinsuyo' could be a distortion of any of these words and still combine to make perfect sense.
In the Vedic tradition, Lord Indra himself is also known as 'Tapastaksha' (तपस्तक्ष) . 'Viracocha', (वीरकोच) one of the Gods followed by the Incans, is often equated with the Vedic God, Indra. For more details on the Sanskrit Connection to the name 'Viracocha' click here.
In India, the name 'Tapansuta' (तपनसुता) is another name of the River Yamuna, which is regarded as 'Daughter of Sun God'.
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