Gaism

Gaism (Guy-is-um, or Gaiei|Mahanan: गास्सिस्म) is an Oriental religion that originates in the Ghobari Valley of Mahana. The religion is based around the worship and following of the bovine god of Kuladara and her teachings. It is similar to the three other major Oriental religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism in many of it's teachings and traditions, however can be closer compared to Christianity with it's structure and systems. The religion is spread through much of Oriental Europa, however is most prominent in the religions 'Holy Land' of Mahana. Gaism encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on the original teachings of Kuladara. The religions followers are those who belive in Kuladara and her teachings, as well as the claim of the creation of the world by the single god.

Gaism is a diverse system of thought marked by a range of philosophies and shared concepts, rituals, cosmological systems, pilgrimage sites, and shared textual sources that discuss theology, metaphysics, mythology, yoga, agamic rituals, and temple building, among other topics. The religion also remains diverse in the way it is taught, especially outside of Oriental Europa, known as Western Gaism. Despite this, all branches of Gaism hold the common belief that the sole God of Eurth is Kuladara, and they follow closely with their teachings through the Pustaka (Holy Book).

Gaism began in the Ghobari Valley, where evidence from around 4000BCE which shows the people worshipped cows with sculptures and art left behind. It is believed that it evolved into a more modernised version of the religion around 3200BCE, during the Jhuapi Punha Dynasty, which is known due to early scripture and text that has been found near the village of Ura in northern Mekabiri, just outside of the Ghobari Valley. The early followers spread throughout Orient, to Mahana, Kotowari, Mekabiri and Tamurin as well as having an early presence in Marenesia in Safiloa. Despite early religious persecution, mainly by Koto Hindu populations, it spread widely throughout the sub-continent. Mahana became the holy land of the religion as the first ever Gai, Achalendra I, settled in the ancient city of Vaddkewatta in 433BCE. Subsequently, this brought great wealth into the region, with pilgrims donating to the Gai in exchange for their acceptance into 'Pachikō' (The afterlife) by Kuladara.

Etymology

The name 'Gaism', or natively 'Gaiei', originates from the ancient word in Mahanan Gaiemamu meaning 'Soul of the Cow'. Since then, the word 'Gai' slowly evolved into the generic word for 'Cow' in Mahanan, despite the name 'Gaism' originating before that.

History

Ancient Gaism

One of the few bovine sculptures showing evidence of early Gaism in the GVC.

Evidence of a similar religion's existence dates back as far as 6,000 years ago, during the Ghobari Valley Civilisation and it's short cultural reign over the region. The earliest found evidence is a famous cow sculpture that was uncovered in almost perfect condition after being buried under sand for almost five and a half thousand years before it's uncovering in 1884. The markings on the sculpture suggest that it was used in worship, with sacrificial pedestals found in the same area suggesting it was a part of early Gaism. Similar markings and stone texts show similar signs, if translated correctly. A lot of early Gaism evolved closely with Iron Age Mahana, being prominent at similar times. The first mention of 'Gaism' is in the original Gai texts that also recognised Mahana as a singular state, despite it being split, in 3200BCE. It is also believed at this time that Gaism had started to become closer to the modernised version of the religion, due to this some take this time as the founding of the religion.

The Bhunath, constructed for Achalendra I, in Jutpandi.

In c.2600BCE Panesh was born as the prophet and only child of Kuladara in the city of Veydu in the Jhuapi Punha Dynasty. Upon the birth of Panesh, many began to spread the word as his mother, Jua, told the people of Kuladara's visiting of her and fortelling of the child's prophecy. Upon this happening, many doubted the woman however others became her followers. Many of the Hindu populations refused to believe that Panesh was the son of any god, so tried on multiple occasions to assassinate the boy, however failing due to the protection of his followers. The rest of Panesh's Life played out, with Gaism becoming much more popular in the region throughout the course of his life. It is believed that even as early as 2400BCE, Gaism had spread as far as Tamur and soon after as far as Safiloa, which evolved it's own version of Gaism known as Pushpambara Gaism. The end of ancient Gai history came with the establishment of government for the religion with the 'Gai' at it's centrepiece, with the first Gai, Achalendra I, who settled in the ancient city of Vaddkewatta, building the Bhunath and turining the city into a site of great religious importance.

Medieval Gaism

The settlement of the Gai and establishment of the borders of the Gai Holy Lands with the 'Dhārmika Sīmāharū Book' lead to great pilgrimages being made into Mahana, bringing with them great wealth in the region.