E'atusyawa

E'atusyawa
Type	Syncretic
Region	Taiwoqa

Esyawa is a polytheistic and syncretic religion originating from Southern Baredina, made popular by the Saidri people. Often called the “shattered path,” Esyawa is an immensely complex and diverse religion with hundreds of different sects all unified with a few basic tenets. Legend dates the founding of Esyawa at the height of the mythical Shashayina Kingdom, roughly 1500 BCE, but archaeological evidence suggests that Esyawa could have been founded as early as the 1800s BCE.

Esyawa holds onto the belief that the universe was sparked into life and the Supreme Being awoke from their eternal slumber. Through reincarnation and reaching the path of enlightenment, one can reach the Supreme Being and partake in everlasting paradise once this universe reaches its end.

Etymology

official name = E'atusyawa anglicized name = Esyawa adjective = Esyawi name of one follower = Esyawan name of many followers = Esyawans

Core Beliefs

Creation

According to the Mahafet Text, the oldest book in the religion, the universe was started by a Spark. E’atu, the Supreme Being, the Supreme One, existed surrounded by nothingness in eternal slumber before being awoken by the Spark of life. This spark inspired and invigorated E’atu to create the universe and all things in it. E’atu spent eons molding the natural world with detail and creating the gods of the universe as stewards to tend to it, rule over it, and ultimately to bring glory to the Creator. When E’atu was finished creating, they blest the universe and masturbated; their seed then fell on creation. The Spark that energized the Creator was now transferred over to the creation, and life was made. E’atu then fell into another deep slumber, leaving creation in the hands of the universe’s stewards, the major and minor gods.

Reincarnation

All sects of the religion believe in reincarnation. All living creatures have the same number of lifetimes before they reach the Alahfaswa, the Point of Convergence. A soul must finish their path along the Shattered Path to reach the Creator before the Point of Convergence or they will be destroyed along with the rest of the universe. There are billions upon billions of souls in the universe that each need a vessel or body to reincarnate onto a higher level on their path to reaching the Creator. But there are only a limited number of vessels that exist at any point in time. Upon the birth of a vessel, these billions of souls all vie and fight over the right to enter the vessel and take control of it. Once a soul has successfully possessed the vessel, their path continues along the Shattered Path, and they become one step closer to enlightenment, or in other words: reaching the Creator.

Vessels are separated into seven different levels of classification in the process of reincarnation: the plants (1), insects (2), aquatics (3), reptiles and amphibians (4), birds (5), animals (6), and lastly humans and gods (7). Each soul originally started off weak and only able to possess the lowest level of a vessel in the process of reincarnation. Once a soul has lived that life, based upon their actions, deeds, accomplishments, and experiences, they are either strengthened or weakened. If a soul is strengthened, then they can more easily fight off other souls in their quest to possess a new and higher vessel.

Alahfaswa, the Point of Convergence

The Point of Convergence is an unknown point in the future where all creation and lost souls are destroyed to make way for the New Creation. All paths in the universe will converge at one point and spiral out of control into chaos, at which point the Supreme Being will awaken and destroy the universe, making way for the creation of Paradise and a new world of perfection. The Point of Convergence is a necessary step in the universe’s evolution of becoming perfect.

Shattered Path

The Creator did not lay one path to reach them, but rather hundreds. Believers recognize that there is no right way to reach the Creator. Each path brings different lessons and truths that a soul must learn and recognize to reach enlightenment. Stray gods have laid other paths for souls to follow, namely the other religions of Sahar, but ultimately a soul following one of these stray paths would likely never reach enlightenment due to how long and confusing those paths are. Religious scholars agree that the quickest way to enlightenment is by following one of the many paths the Creator laid.

Spark of Life

Every soul has a spark inside of them, giving them life and existence. In most vessels, the Spark of Life resides in the blood. Spilling blood without reason is a heinous crime deserving of death. Murder is punishable by death because it spills blood unnecessarily. This law applies not only to humans but also to other creatures; a lion that kills an animal or a man but does not eat it or have a reason for killing it, is often executed. There are many ways to get around this law, as long as the reason for spilling blood is justified.

Worship

Private worship of a chosen god is essential in daily life of an Esyawan, regardless of the path they have chosen. Private worship is practiced in several different ways, ranging from prayer at the worshiper’s home shrine dedicated to their chosen god, to chanting their god’s prayer, to singing praising songs or songs of request, to the offering of certain items of significance. Private worship is flexible and varies from one follower to the other.

Public worship is like private worship but stands out in that groups of people partake in rituals together to appease, praise, or worship a god. Public chants of a god’s prayer outside the god’s shrine often echo through the streets at all hours of the day. Followers dance ritualistically before a shrine’s entrance, hoping to bring favor and blessings upon themselves or their family. Often a single follower sings within the shrine and is eventually joined by other followers in song. Public prayer is held at certain times of the day by priests at these shrines. Offerings are laid out by crowds at shrines and then ritualistically burned at the end of the day by a priest.

Rituals

Rituals are an integral part of the religion; there are rituals for every milestone and step in life. Rituals are either performed by the follower or a priest, depending on the ritual.

Major Sects

Meisungu - Predominantly followed by the Zhizhao ethnic group in northeastern Taiwoqa. Meisungu differs from other sects in that it originates from Zhizhao folk beliefs and the old Lailai religion. Purity, nobleness, and stoicness are the three main characteristics of the sect. The Meisungu symbol is a red flame on a black background symbolizing how fire penetrates the darkness and evil of the world with its holiness.

Deities

• E'atu - Supreme Being
• Karnen - Creature of Man
• Wohar - Gaurdian of the Weak
• Ecixu - Poison of Men
• Rhame - Life's End
• Elaqu - Life's Beginning
• Yanow - Avarice Incarnate
• Teshekwahalu'on - The Dancing Flame
• Ramesutayir - The Unmoving One
• Arumahay - The Glaring One
• Mu'ora - Grief's End
• Oron - Guide of Souls
• Sashinu - Mother of Mothers
• Elishawu - Passion's Fire
• Asalyu - Roar of the Heavens
• (create a separate page with all the gods u have written about)

Scriptures

Mahafet Text A collection of writings by various prophets and great teachers from the 900s BCE to roughly the 500s CE. The Mahafet is a collection of short books, legends, and stories telling about life, the universe, and how to reach the E'atusyawa, the end of the Shattered Path.

Book of Alarhen A guide and instruction book for the priesthood. Within the pages there are detailed instructions on how to perform rituals and rites. It is a book of theology. The Book of Alarhen is not available to the general public.

Code of Ka'in A religious code of law that summarizes the Mahafet and other texts. The book is really just a list of what is acceptable and what is not within the religion.

Suqum Text A collection of legends, myths, and stories about the gods. Depending on the edition, the amount of gods in it changes. In the original Suqum, there is exactly one hundred gods written about. The Suqum is updated by the priesthood every ten years, and they add more gods to it every edition.

Other Texts and Books Due to the multitude of different religious branches, there exists many other books and holy texts specific to that sect or branch.

History

Origins, Kingdom Period, Modern Day

Culture

Art, Architecture, Clothing, Cuisine and Dieting, Music, Literature