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chacana: (n) (1) Stairs; ladder. RS (2) The Andean, or Inca, cross that reflects the three worlds (see, Hanaqpacha, Kaypacha, Ukhupacha) with a central disc representing the Hatun Inti. IGMP The Incan representation of the Southern Cross constellation described as symbolic power to bridge between heaven and earth. SXHU
Huge Chacana found at Tiwanako.
chacanana, chakanay: (v) To cross; to make ladders; to construct stairs; to build bridges. RS
chacapa: See, schacapa.
chacara: See, chacra.
chacaruna: (n) Literally, bridge person. A chacaruna is the one who helps others to cross from one state of consciousness to other states of consciousness, from the mind to the heart, from the present to the past or to the future. A chacaruna is always exploring this reality to contact with the beauty and perfection of creation. They help people connect to the spirit world and can walk between the upper, middle and lower worlds( respectively, Hanaqpacha, Kaypacha and Ukhupacha). (See, pacha, def. 4). IGMP
chacchar: (v) To chew coca leaves. THIM
chacra, chakra, chacara: (n) Land; farm; field. RS A slash-and-burn field in the Amazon jungle. AYV The translation of the word is a field, but it refers to a field that has a crop growing in it. For the people, their chacra includes the fields, the animals, the house, and the family. IGMP
chacruna (Amaz): (n) Psychotria viridis, the companion entheogenic vine to ayahuasca. The tryptamine alkaloid N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and beta-carbolines are present in the leaves of this vine. BOA AYV
chacha (AYM): (n) Male, husband. ASD
chachacoma, chachacomo, chachakuma: (n) Andean tree that is used to cure altitude sickness, cold and toothache.
Chai-Cullkimama: (n) Literally, mother of silver, she spreads white silver plates. Her icaro is chanted to help a person prosper in business and become rich. Her chant also cures the mal aire de difunto. AYV (See, qolqe, mama.)
chaicuni (Panoan): (n) Spirit. AYV
chakhllatpacha tutiri (AYM): (n) Virgin. ASD
challa: See, ch’alla, ch’allay.
chamáiro: (n) Vegetable ash that replaces lime in chewing coca leaves. THIM
chanca piedra (Span): (n) (Phyllanthus niruri) Literally, stone crusher. Used for kidney problems, especially kidney stones. This is recognised as a gall bladder and liver tonic. It is also used for cleansing the urinary system and for dealing with intestinal parasites. This plant is only used for it's many pharmaceutical properties, not as a plant teacher per se. SCU
Chancas: (n) A powerful political unity that attacked Cusco in the early 15th Century and were defeated by Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui. MAN
Chankillo: An ancient observatory and ceremonial complex in Coastal Peru. It is the oldest solar observatory in the Americas, dating from 2300 years ago. Thirteen stone towers were used to mark the changes of the seasons. MSNBC2-07
chanrara: (n) A little bell; handbell. RS (See, bell.)
chapay: (v) To guard; to watch; to observe. RS
charango: (n) A small South American stringed instrument of the lute family, about 66 cm long, traditionally made with the shell of the back of an armadillo (not to be confused with a Cuban style of music called "charanga"). It typically has 10 strings in five courses of 2 strings each, although other variations exist. WIKI
chaska: See, ch’aska.
chaska despacho: See, Appendix J.
chaspi: (n) Concussion; shock. RS
chasqi (chaski): (n) Emmissary or runner from heaven to earth.
chaskichiwaychis: (imperative) Receive us, welcome us, embrace us with your love.
chaucallas: (n) Ancient burial houses that contained the mummies and bones of “the beautiful grandparents.” AWE (See, mallquis.)
chaupi, chawpi: (n) (1) The bridge between the right and the left sides. JNP (See, lloke and paña.) (2) Energy center or chakra. WAN (See, ñawi.) (adv) Among; between; in the middle of. RS
chawpinpi: (adv) In the middle. QP
chayay: (n) Literally, arrival. RS Baptism. JLH
chayka: (n) The energy of fear.
chaykapay: (v) To startle; to frighten. RS
checa pinihua (AYM): (phrase) It is truth. ASD (See, cheqak.)
chej-pacha: (n) Cosmic order. CHAM
cheqak, cheqa: (n) Truth. One of the major organizing principles. (See, saiwa , nuna, kawsay, yuya, ch'ulla, kallari.) JLH (adj) Real genuine. QP
Chia: (n) (Also known as Huitaca) Moon goddess of happiness and pleasure. DRB
chicua: (n) The squirrel cuckoo, Piaya cayana, one of the mamas of the ayahuasca vine. AYV
Chicua.
chicha: (n) Corn beer offered to the mallquis of ancestors and drunk by priests in ceremony. MAN The ancient Peruvian drink of ritual sacrifice and celebration, was also the brew of choice as far north as Mexico when the conquistadores arrived. Passersby should look for a bit of red cloth or plastic marking the door to a chicheria indicating that the lady of the house has made a fresh batch of corn chicha. This ancient beer is best when fresh or laced with strawberries for a frothy frutillada. The alcohol content is determined by the length of fermentation—up to about three days and often spices are added to the milky concoction for flavor. Chicha isn’t always made of corn. Quinoa is frequently mixed with ground peanuts in Bolivia. The Indian women of the Amazon Basin grind up manioc tubers for their version and sometimes add sweet potatoes. NGEO4 [Recipes are available via a web search.] [Also called aqha.]
chilca: (n) Baccharis punctulata DC. Leaves of this low bush were heated in water and then applied as a poultice to joints or sprains into which the cold had made its way. ACA
chillquenocaquikhama (AYM): (phrase) In good time may I see you walk well and healed. ASD
chin: See, ch'in.
chinca, chinka: (n) Loss. RS
chincana, chinkana: (n) (1) A man-made tunnel, large enough for humans. These run underground throughout the Andes and some islands on Lake Titicaca. IGMP (2) The game of hide-and-seek. RS
(3) A maze or labyrinth; a place to become lost. CSCR (See, chinca.)
Chincana, La: (n) (1) The fabled subterranean city located beneath the former Inca capital of Cusco. WLC (2) Passages and semi-underground tunnels of an Inca palace that seem to form a labyrinth in the north part of the Island of the Sun at Lake Titicaca. WEB It is believed the akllas lived there. WCC
La Chincana ruins at Lake Titicaca.
chinchay: (n) In legend, refers to the jaguar. (See, Chocachinchay.)
Chinchincalla: A hill with twin pillars that represented the third shrine of the thirteenth ceke of Kontisuyu. The approximate positions of these pillars include the locations where the sun is seen to set on the December solstice as viewed from the Coricancha and from the central plaza of Cusco. AEAA
Chinchisuyu, Chinchaysuyu: (n) (1) Northwest quadrant of Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu), comprising the Andes regions and the coast west and north of Cusco, encompassing most of modern Ecuador and stretching as far north as southern Columbia, limited in the west by the Pacific Ocean. ROR MAN (2) Mythically, it is the ability to articulate words, creation. The ability to detach and engage thru perceptual shifts beyond communication. The ability to speak to mountains. Corresponds to the West direction on a medicine wheel. JLH (See, chinchay.)
chinchona: (n) Cinchona officinalis, better known as quinine, was given to the world by Peru. It is used to regulate heartbeat; stimulate digestion; calm nerves; treat malaria; relieve pain; kill insects, parasites, fungi and bacteria; and to reduce fever. WRT
chinkachiy: (v) To mislead; to disorient; to mislay; to make lose; to lose. RS (See, chinca.)
chinkakuy: (v) To disappear. RS (See, chinca.)
chinkana: See, chincana.
chinkapuy: (v) To disappear. RS (See, chinca.)
chipchiy: (v) To shine (sun), illuminate. QP
chiqanta: (adj) Straight. QP
chiqaq: See, cheqak.
chiraopacha: (n) The dry season. AEAA (See, pucuypacha.)
Chirao Sucanca: The name of solar pillars in the Cusco area marking the June solstice, the beginning of the dry season. AEAA (See, chiraopacha, sucanca.)
chirapa: (n) Jungle Quechua for the rainbow, which acts as a bridging element between earth and water. The other bridging element is the marsh. These elements of rainbow and marsh are seen as iridescent and black, respectively, and can intervene in the lives of individuals. The rainbow is particularly conceived of as a sender of disease. AYV (See, k’uychi, sinchi amarun, yana puma, puka chirapa.)
chirik-sanango: (n) (Brunfelsia grandiflora) An ayahuasca additive. AYV (See, chirisanango.)
chirisanango: (n) This plant is good for colds and arthritis and has the effect of heating up the body, so much so that the vegetalista advises a cold shower after each dose! This plant can be used in baths for good luck, and bring sucess to fishing, hunting etc. This plant also makes it possible for people to open up their heart to feel love for people and animals, and identify with other people as though brothers and sisters. The gift of chirisanango is self esteem. SCU A tonic prepared by shamans made by blending the energies and juice of several plants. THIM (See, chirik-sanango.)
Chocachinchay, Choquechinchay, Chuqui-Chinchay, Choque Chinchay: (n) (1) The organizing principle of the kaypacha; maintenance of fertility and diversity. Awareness or peaking of the sense(s). (2) The rainbow jaguar, the bridge between heaven and earth. (3) A constellation that rises 30 days after solstice. JLH Also the name of the star or constellation that represented large cats. AEAA (4) An animal of many colors, said to have been chief of the otorongos. PYS (4) From choque gold + chinchay jaguar. Literally, golden jaguar. That which makes gold stand forth. ACA (See, chinchay.)
chonta: Magical dart. (See, virote.)
chontero: (n) A sorcerer who uses chontas to cause harm. He takes one from his mariri and blows toward his victim. If not treated by a vegetalista, the chonta will cause great pain, even death. AYV
choque (AYM): (n) Gold. ASD
Choque Illa: A god of thunder and rain whose name means radiance of gold. He lived in the sky and wore a cape made of the stars. When his cracked the sling he carried, it made the sound of thunder. This also caused his great cape to flash, which was the lightning. He would crack his sling when he wanted it to rain, getting the water from the Milky Way, which the Incas believed was a river in the sky. (See, choque, illa, Mayu.)
chori: (n) A mestizo or Quechua from the Andes. THIM
chuchali: See, ch'uchali.
chuchuwasha, chuchuwasa, chuchuwasi: (n) A tree whose roots are chopped up and put in rum to make a medicinal drink, aphrodisiac, or tonic. THIM (See, palero.)
chukcha: (n) Hair. RS
chulu, cholo, -a: (n) Cholo, -a. A person at an intermediate stage of acculturation between indigenous and mestizo (sp). CSCR (2) Quechua. Hybrid. CSCR Indigenous who has adopted European habits. RS
chullachaki: See, ch’ullan chaki.
chullchu: See, chhullchu.)
chullo: (n) A traditional Andean woven wool hat with earflaps, often sporting colorful tassles and intricate bead work. NND The hats of the Q’ero are always colorful with long tassels and beads in all the colors of the rainbow. In all of the Andes, you can identify each man’s community by the colors and designs in his knitted woolen hat. You can also distinguish if he is married or single and what position he holds in the community by his hat. IGMP
Peruvian wearing his chullo.
chullpa: See, ch’ullpa.
chullumpi: (n) An honorable address for llamas during ceremonies. ROR (See, napa.)
chunpi, chumpi: (n) Literally, belt. The Andean shaman has energetic belts as part of his/her initiation of the medicine body. KOAK In Andean mysticism this term also refers to the belts of living energy that surround the human body and make up the human 'bubble' or energy field. NND (See, wiracocha, karpay, chaupi, ñawi.)
chunpi khuyas: (n) A set of stones used to give the chunpi karpay (bands of power initiation), which opens the energy centers of the luminous body. KOAK (See, mullu khuya.)
chunpi paq’o, chumpi paq’o: (n) an Andean shaman who is empowered to give the chunpi karpay. KOAK A special designation of mystical priest initiated in the art of the chunpi's, or opening the energy belts. NND
chupini (AYM): (adj) Honest. ASD
chupinijaqui (AYM): (adv) Honorably. ASD (See, chupini.)
chuqui illa: (n) Lightning. HOI. (See, hatun k'anchay, illa.)
churafiña (AYM): (n) Offering. ASD
Churi Inti: (n) Son of Inti. RMFA
chushllu: (n) An honorable address for alpacas during ceremonies. ROR
chusi: (n) Blanket. QP
chuyanchaki: See, ch’ullan chaki.
chuyki, chuiqui: (n) A bad omen (can be a person). RS
chuyma: A welcome from the heart. IGMP
chuyma churafitha (AYM): (v) Putting your heart or thoughts on something. ASD
ch’aka: (n) Sore throat. (adj) Hoarse. QP
ch'akataya: (n) Type of medicinal plant. PSL
ch’aki: (adj) Dry. QP
ch’akispa: (adj) Thirsty. QP
ch’akiy: (v) To dry, to be thirsty. (n) Thirst. QP
ch’alla, challa: (n) An offering performed by putting wine into a shell and throwing the liquid outward to Pachamama in the direction of the sun, first to the right and then to the left side of the place for the burning of the despacho. Repeat with pisco. IGMP
Ch’alla: (n) Also known as El Tío, Ch'alla is the guardian spirit of the mine/mountain: the devil who owns the mines and to whom offerings must be given. Part bull, part devil, and part white man, he requires weekly offerings of coca, alcohol and tobacco. A surprising attribute of Ch'alla is his large erect penis, which represents fertility and renewal. Miners eat the mines (earn their living from them) and are eaten by them (literally from health problems, but also socially and symbolically). Ch'alla has become a symbol of resistance and union organizing. WVU (See, ch’allay.)
ch'allay: (v) To give a splash of liquor as an offering to Pachamama. PSL To spray (spit). DQ
ch’arki: (n) Dried meat. The origin of the English word “jerky.” CSCR
ch’aska : (n) Star (usually Venus). PSL Star. QP Ch’aska was was the goddess of dawn and twilight. She protected virgin girls. EFD Personification of planet Venus, servant of the sun. WMO (See, Ch’aska-Qoyllur.)
Ch’aska-Qoyllur: (n) Literally, shaggy star; she was the Inca goddess of Venus, the guardian of young maidens and flowers. MAN The goddess of flowers. EFD The names perhaps mean “dawn” or “long hair dawn.” It is not clear if this is what the Incas thought or if the Spanish confused Aztec belief with Incan belief. (The Aztecs felt that Venus was a smoking star -- like a comet -- so that it had hair coming from it.) In any case, the same god (as planet Venus) is the morning and evening star seen at dawn and at twilight. WMO God of Flowers and Protector of Maidens. Could be the husband of Ch’aska, but there's no documentation apart from a similarity of names. WGC (See, ch’aska.)
ch'aska ñawi: (n) Big, beautiful eyes. PSL
ch’aska plata: (n) Literally, silver star (hair). Formed from the silver stolen by raio, the female lightning. (sp)
ch’ikay: (n) Bee or wasp sting. QP
ch'in: (adj) Quiet, silent. (n) Silence. PSL The voice of the mystery. JLH
ch'in pacha: (n) Quiet place; desert. PSL
ch'inyay: (v) To shut up, be quiet. PSL
ch’iqmiy: (v) To bother. QP
ch’isiyay: (v) To get dark. QP
ch'uchali, chuchali: (adj) Debilitated, weak. RS
ch’ulla: (n) (1) Everything is connected energetically through ceke(s). Oneness, communion with oneness. Absolute conciousness. One of the major organizing principles. (See, saiwa, munay, nuna, cheqak, kawsay, yuya, kallari.) JLH (2) (adj) Only one; only; alone; odd; unpaired; unequal; asymmetric. RS
ch’ullan chaki, chuyanchaki: (n) (n) Plant spirit, elemental that walks on one foot; the trickster; from the Amazon. JLH Literally,single foot. A mythical being, demon or goblin. Legend has it that this being cannot disguise one of its feet. Usually the right foot refuses to assume human form and takes instead the shape of a deer’s hoof or jaguar’s paw. THIM
ch’ullanchaki-caspi: See, palero, ch’ullan chaki.
ch’ullanchaki garden: See, supay chacra, ch’ullan chaki.
ch’ullpa, chullpa: (n) Ancient artifact, mummy, round tomb. PSL RS Burial tower of a shaman at Lake Titicaca. AVO
ch'uncho:(n) (1) A traditional hourglass design in Q’ero weaving, it is a symbol of the jungle dancer. NND The wild man from the jungle serves ... as a means of looking at Andean symbolic values. ... [T]his motif, which has been woven into textiles over the past centuries ... is of Inca origin and relates to pre-contact, culture-hero mythology. It continues to reflect the survival of a pre-conquest world view: textiles function as narrative. UTE (2) A jungle dancer.
Image 1: Pottery depicting a ch'uncho carrying a
flag. Note the diagonal
quares of the flag.
(See, wiphala.) Image 2: Ch'uncho design in a Q'ero textile.
ch’upuy: (v) To become infected. QP
ch'uru: (n) Sea shell. PSL
ch’usak: (n) Space, zero. (adj) Empty. QP
ch’uspa: (n) A bag made of cloth or fur used to carry ceremonial coca leaves. RS
ch'uya: (adj) Clear; transparent; clean; crystalline; obvious; pure. To be energetically clear and pure, in a condition of readiness for ceremonial work. RS KOAK
ch’uyaska, ch’allaska, ch’uyasqa: (n) Ritual of discharging, balancing, and imprinting with sacred water. The spraying of liquid in a ritual of purification. ROR (See, ch’allay.)
ch'uya sunqu: (n) Heart of clear conscience.
ch'uyayay: (v) To clear up; to get clear. RS
chhakhlla (AYM): (n) Childhood. ASD
chhullchu, chullchu: (n) A small bell. RS
chhulli: (n) Influenza. QP
chhullunku: (n) Ice. QP
chhuqay: (v) To push. QP