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'''Kaharnism''' is a traditional [[Charnea|Charnean]] religion associated with {{wp|Tuareg language|Tamashek}} speaking peoples of the [[Zahra desert]] and today practiced by many groups across Charnea and [[Ajax#Scipia|Scipia]]. Core aspects of Kaharnism as an organized religion were established through the amalgamation of the traditional beliefs of Tamashek speaking nomads and the faiths of many ethnic groups residing in southern and eastern Charnea as the former came into contact with the latter through migration and conquest in the 10th and 11th centuries. Modern Kaharnism arose through {{wp|syncretism}} of this medieval Kaharnism with [[White Path]] beliefs introduced through osmosis from [[Mutul|Mutulese]] interests in Scipia, followed by the appearance of {{wp|Mendicant orders|mendicant}} {{wp|Proselytism|proselytising}} entities such as the semi-legendary [[Desert Oracle of Charnea|Desert Oracle]]. It is not known when these processes of syncretism and partial conversion of Kaharnists to Sakbe beliefs began as the earliest surviving record of these activities are an early account of the Desert Oracle's activities dating to the mid 16th century, indicating that Sakbe must have been present or known in Charnea for some time prior. However, it is widely accepted that the heavily syncretic Sakbe-infused beliefs recognizable in modern Kaharnism had been well established around the mid to late 18th and early 19th centuries in many regions, and became widely although not universally practiced after the reunification of the Charnean Confederation in 1816. Kaharnism and similar {{wp|Amazigh}} belief structures are also known to be syncretic with the [[Azdarin|Azdarin faith]], various Christian denominations, and {{wp|Judaism}}. | |||
Kaharnic practice focuses on the correct treatment and veneration of deities known as the ''kel essuf'', which are described as {{wp|animism|animated spirits}} of natural places and elements, in addition to the ''imanen'', the souls of dreaming or dead human beings and animals. The religion has many local variations and the nature of spirits and distinction between nature spirits and ancestor spirits vary greatly. The standard Kaharnic term to refer to all lower deities of either nature is ''rada'', a corruption of the [[Urushar people|Urushar]] word ''arada'' used to define similar animist spirit deities in traditional Urushar religion. The rada are identified as Sakbe deities or avatars, as well as Yen temanaa and some Fabrian catholic saints through syncretism with various faiths. Kaharnist worship of the Rada can take place in a variety of locations, including graveyard shrines which generally feature a {{wp|stelae}} field, established temples called ''taghazam ta rada'' or a "House of Spirits/Ghosts", as well as personal or household shrines and even notable locations in the landscape such as the peaks of mountains or bodies of water. Rituals center on contacting the Rada, which is facilitated through gift giving to the spirits, animal sacrifice, singing, dancing and close contact with ancestral remains either by keeping a {{wp|relic|talisman}} of an ancestor's bone or simply praying at or sleeping on an ancestor's grave. Spirit possession and divination practices are present in some, though not all, local variations of Kaharnism. | |||
Many variations and syncretic sects of Kaharnism exist across Charnea and Scipia, practicing at times markedly distinct and differing liturgical orthodoxy and rites. The central constant which unifies Kaharnist practice and distinguishes it from other forms of Scipian traditional shamanism and ancestor worship is the deified figure of [[Kaharna|Mother Kaharna]], a legendary queen of the ancient {{wp|Amazigh}} peoples who was posthumously deified as a powerful ancestor spirit and later a higher order goddess as Kaharnism continued to develop. Kaharna, often referred to as ''Mother of us all'', is worshipped as a powerful ancestor spirit representing an original ancestral matron of all nations and tribes of humanity, who therefore presides over the local and more specific rada affecting the lives of many different groups. The rada of Kaharna is strongly associated with water, especially desert {{wp|oasis|oases}}, and is seen as a benevolent deity seeking to nurture and guide her descendant children. While most traditions of ancestor worship in Kaharnism fall under familiar ancestry, the spiritual motherhood of Kaharna is more metaphorical, encompassing not only groups decended or associated with the Amazigh but the rest of humankind as well. Some rada, such as the imanen of the well known Charnean conqueror [[Agnan of the Tree]], receive similar treatment and broad veneration, although this is typically limited to particular tribes or nations as opposed to the universal worship of Kaharna across all of Kaharnism. |
Revision as of 17:55, 10 December 2020
Kaharnism is a traditional Charnean religion associated with Tamashek speaking peoples of the Zahra desert and today practiced by many groups across Charnea and Scipia. Core aspects of Kaharnism as an organized religion were established through the amalgamation of the traditional beliefs of Tamashek speaking nomads and the faiths of many ethnic groups residing in southern and eastern Charnea as the former came into contact with the latter through migration and conquest in the 10th and 11th centuries. Modern Kaharnism arose through syncretism of this medieval Kaharnism with White Path beliefs introduced through osmosis from Mutulese interests in Scipia, followed by the appearance of mendicant proselytising entities such as the semi-legendary Desert Oracle. It is not known when these processes of syncretism and partial conversion of Kaharnists to Sakbe beliefs began as the earliest surviving record of these activities are an early account of the Desert Oracle's activities dating to the mid 16th century, indicating that Sakbe must have been present or known in Charnea for some time prior. However, it is widely accepted that the heavily syncretic Sakbe-infused beliefs recognizable in modern Kaharnism had been well established around the mid to late 18th and early 19th centuries in many regions, and became widely although not universally practiced after the reunification of the Charnean Confederation in 1816. Kaharnism and similar Amazigh belief structures are also known to be syncretic with the Azdarin faith, various Christian denominations, and Judaism.
Kaharnic practice focuses on the correct treatment and veneration of deities known as the kel essuf, which are described as animated spirits of natural places and elements, in addition to the imanen, the souls of dreaming or dead human beings and animals. The religion has many local variations and the nature of spirits and distinction between nature spirits and ancestor spirits vary greatly. The standard Kaharnic term to refer to all lower deities of either nature is rada, a corruption of the Urushar word arada used to define similar animist spirit deities in traditional Urushar religion. The rada are identified as Sakbe deities or avatars, as well as Yen temanaa and some Fabrian catholic saints through syncretism with various faiths. Kaharnist worship of the Rada can take place in a variety of locations, including graveyard shrines which generally feature a stelae field, established temples called taghazam ta rada or a "House of Spirits/Ghosts", as well as personal or household shrines and even notable locations in the landscape such as the peaks of mountains or bodies of water. Rituals center on contacting the Rada, which is facilitated through gift giving to the spirits, animal sacrifice, singing, dancing and close contact with ancestral remains either by keeping a talisman of an ancestor's bone or simply praying at or sleeping on an ancestor's grave. Spirit possession and divination practices are present in some, though not all, local variations of Kaharnism.
Many variations and syncretic sects of Kaharnism exist across Charnea and Scipia, practicing at times markedly distinct and differing liturgical orthodoxy and rites. The central constant which unifies Kaharnist practice and distinguishes it from other forms of Scipian traditional shamanism and ancestor worship is the deified figure of Mother Kaharna, a legendary queen of the ancient Amazigh peoples who was posthumously deified as a powerful ancestor spirit and later a higher order goddess as Kaharnism continued to develop. Kaharna, often referred to as Mother of us all, is worshipped as a powerful ancestor spirit representing an original ancestral matron of all nations and tribes of humanity, who therefore presides over the local and more specific rada affecting the lives of many different groups. The rada of Kaharna is strongly associated with water, especially desert oases, and is seen as a benevolent deity seeking to nurture and guide her descendant children. While most traditions of ancestor worship in Kaharnism fall under familiar ancestry, the spiritual motherhood of Kaharna is more metaphorical, encompassing not only groups decended or associated with the Amazigh but the rest of humankind as well. Some rada, such as the imanen of the well known Charnean conqueror Agnan of the Tree, receive similar treatment and broad veneration, although this is typically limited to particular tribes or nations as opposed to the universal worship of Kaharna across all of Kaharnism.