Maya mythology Maya mythology or Mayan mythology is part of Mesoamerican mythology and comprises all of the Maya tales in which personified forces of nature, deities, and the heroes interacting with these play the main roles. The legends of the era have to be ...

, Cabaguil (meaning ''Heart of the Sky'') was a solar god who assisted in the creation of human beings.

Creation

In Mayan society, gods were seen as the source of life. According to the

creation myth A creation myth or cosmogonic myth is a type of cosmogony, a symbolic narrative of how the world began and how people first came to inhabit it., "Creation myths are symbolic stories describing how the universe and its inhabitants came to be. Cre ...

in ''

Popol Vuh ''Popol Vuh'' (also ''Popul Vuh'' or ''Pop Vuj'') is a text recounting the mythology and history of the Kʼicheʼ people of Guatemala, one of the Maya peoples who also inhabit the Mexican states of Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo, ...

'', the universe began as an undifferentiated chaos. Later, the spiritual powers became separated into deities and the universe was split into three entities: the heavens, the earth and the underworld. These entities were ruled by the gods Tzacol, Bitol, Alom and Oaholom. Tepeu (god of lightning and fire), Gukumatz (god of wind and rain), and Cabaguil (the solar god) joined them to form a council. Together, they created plants and animals. Lastly, the deities created human beings to recognize and worship them. Other deities were also involved in the process, as they only succeeded on the third attempt. Cabaguil was also referred to as "Heart of the Sky" making him one of the most important sky gods.

References

Maya gods Sky and weather gods {{Mesoamerica-myth-stub Solar gods