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Ashankism is a Satrian, panentheistic religion, although it is often regarded as more of a way of life than a religion. It is the largest religion in Rajyaghar and has over 50 million followers worldwide, who are called Ashankus. The religion dates back to the time of the Mahasanarikavas. The word Ashankism comes from the ancient matrabasha language meaning "The Faith".
Ashankism is a diverse religion with many different sects, beliefs and concepts although all revolve around the same core beliefs known as Sanātana Satya (Matrabashi: सनातन सत्य, lit. "the Eternal Truth"). There are 4 "Sidhanton" (Matrabashi: सिद्धांतों, lit. "Princples") within the Sanātana Satya; the principle of Anekose in which there is one supreme being that spans time and space but there are different forms of this one true being which take up the form of Gods, the principle of reincarnation in which the physical form is a host for the soul which then passes from one host to another after death, the principle of karma in which every action has a positive or negative outcome which impacts your journey of reincarnation, and the principle of dharma in which one must walk the ethical and righteous path to be one with the supreme being and break the cycle of reincarnation so that their soul can merge with that of the supreme being. The numerous sects of Ashankism vary in their ritualistic traditions and on the deity to which they focus their worship. The largest and most dominant sect of Ashankism is Trimurtism, with over 2/3rds of Ashankus belonging to this denomination.
Etymology
"Ashankism" is based on the word "Ashank", coming from the ancient matrabasha language to mean "The Faith". The matrabasha language dominated the Naratha River basin where Ashankism originates. Prior to 600 BCE, the numerous settlements of the basin would slowly develop a common set of core beliefs, which would later become the Sanātana Satya. When the Mahasanarikavas emerged in 600 BCE, this belief system would be expanded upon and due to its dominance in the basin as the sole religious faith, would take the name of "The Faith".
Followers of Ashankism are called Ashankus, and the adjective version of Ashankism is Ashanki. Ashanki places of worship are called Mandirs, coming from the matrabasha words for "inner self" and "place", with Mandirs being places of worship to individual God (or avatars) through self reflection and prayer.
Sanātana Satya
The Sanātana Satya are the four core principles of Ashankism and were the basis of the religion during its emergence in the Mahasanarikavas. The four principles are; Anekose (belief in a supreme being who can take the form of various avatars commonly called Gods), Reincarnation (belief that the soul passes from one physical form to another after death), Karma (belief that every action has a negative or positive outcome), and Dharma (belief that one must live life ethically).
Anekose
In Ashankism, the concept of God varies between monotheism and polytheism but within the realms of panetheism. The core principle related to God in Ashankism is "Anekose" (Matrabashi: अनेकों से, lit. "from many one") and is found both in the written scriptures (i.e, The Aamnayas) and through verbally passed down teachings. Anekose is the belief that there is a supreme being that is not constrained by both time and space and that all life is a part of this supreme being (Antaryamin). This supreme being is known as "Parmatma".
The concept of Anekose includes the ability of the supreme being, Parmatma, to take the form of avatars, commonly referred to as Gods. There are 3 main avatars (or Gods) of Parmatma, collectively known as the Trimurti or ANA. These Trimurtal Gods then each have their own avatars covering various elements and fields related to those of their Trimurtal God. The Trimurti Gods are Adikarah (God of Creation), Nashanam (God of Destruction), Adhipa (God of Preservation).
Reincarnation
Karma
Dharma
Symbolism
Trikatra
The Trikatra (Matrabashi: त्रिकत्र, lit. "triquetra") is one of the most prominent and oldest Ashanki symbols. Its origins date back to the Madhyarajyas when priests would emblazen their clothing with the symbol to show that they were religious teachers. The Trikatra is a triangular figure consisting of three interlaced lens shapes with an interlaced circle. The three lens shapes represent the three Trimurtal Gods with the interlaced circle representing the supreme being; Parmatma.
During the Vikasan Era, the Trikatra was used by the Naratha Confederacy as its state symbol and on its flag. To this day, the Trikatra is adorned on religious clothing and flags and there is a movement in the Federal Territory of Bishnupur to change the territorial flag to incorporate the Trikatra. It is also the main symbol used by followers of Trimurtism.