Religion

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Santh

This article is about the religion of Santh. Santh is also the name of the deity.

Santh is a semi-polytheistic religon and is the primary religion of Saltha with over 1.2 Million adherants[1]

History

The root of the name "Santh" is unknown, but the story of a god names goes back in oral traditions of antiquity. Other deities of lesser prominence also existed in traditions and as idols, many of the ones that exist today as lesser beings all made their appearance before 6500 KG.

either around this time, or shortly after before 7000 KG, during the koba period. The holy book of the religion is called "Ksyda" (The Way), and was written by daradelsanth in the year 5156 NG.

Beings

The religion of Santh is officialy a Monotheistic religion, as stated in Ksydsa "There is only one true God. there is no being in heaven but Santh." [Citation needed]. but other deity-like beings such as Lyke are also mentioned and the same word root "dosh" for "god" is used to refer to both Santh and the other deities, though the "gi" prefix denoting superiority is used whenever Santh is referenced. Santh is written as being "a circle with neither begining nor end." but no reference is made to where the other deities come from. A number of religious schools believe that Santh created them, and they are akin to "angels" in other religions, and that "dosh" is a very generic term meaning super-humanoid, which clears the apparent inconsistency. However, there is no supporting (nor refuting) text for this in the Das Ksy or the traditions.

Santh (Santh)

Santh is The cheif god and ruler over the other gods, and is also known as the god of the sun.

Greater Divines

Lykei (Lie-Keh-ee)

Lykei is a supernatural being that governs the wind. Lykei is portrayed as a nearly naked female Salthan with cloth flowing behind her on her arms and across her groin area. Some versions also depict her with feathery wings. The earliest scroll depicting here is the udkoba scroll, believed to be dated c. 6600 KG. She is considered the patron of swift travels.

Rela (Rel-La)

Being of fire and power. He is portrayed as a male Salthan enveloped in flame, carrying a long sword. He is often associated with the sun.

He is the patron of warriors, specifically those who are besieging cities. He is called "the punisher", "the great refiner", "the accuser". Some portray him as sadistic and evil.

Kai (Ka-ee)

being of knowledge, portrayed as a female Salthan with a large head and carrying a scroll and a sythe. She is the patron of teachers, scholars and students.

Kakela (Kak-el-lah)

being of strength. Portrayed as a stout stubby-bodied Salthan male of stone with a large shield and hammer. He is considered the patron of warriors who are defending a city.

Gikari/gikaria (Gee-kar-ee/Gee-kar-ee-ah)

Is a being with a duel nature of both male and female that changes at will (and including the physical form). The name in both form means "Beautiful". This being is incredibly beautiful, and is considered the patron deity of actors. Is said she/he is good at pretending and deceiving to attract people, particularly those of the opposite sex into bed with him/her.

Lower Divines

Hasany (Ha-sa-neye)

A being with long, sharp claws that bend like cloth. It is the offspring of Rela and Lyke.

Nalsiskitei (Nal-See-Skee-teh-ee)

shape-shifter creature that takes the form of women to lead travelers astray. It is believed to be the offspring of Gikari and Rel. Her true form is that of a cloud of smoke shaped like a person, with small fires as feet.

Shaseshui (Shah--Se-Shoo)

Water deity, and daughter of Lyke. Associated with the moon. She is depicted as wearing blue, and sometimes having a mark of a tear by her eye. Like Lyke she is very free-spurted.

Hasasshui (Ha-sas-shoo-ee)

Trickster who loves pulling pranks, she is the offspring of Lyke and Gikara. Like her father/mother, she is a shapeshifter, only she favors using her ability for tricks more than seduction. Her name means "to grab hold of light", because she is that elusive. She never intentionally will harm someone seriously, but favors hurt pride or embarrassment. Her pranks include causing someone to trip and fall when they are carrying something fragile, causing someone to fall in front of others to make them seem foolish, causing awkward moments or causing someone to be naked in public (sudden wardrobe malfunction). It is said that it is Hasashui who plants a desire to say swear words, or other embarrassingly inappropriate things.

Uulshua (Oo-ool-shoo-ah)

Son of Lykei and Gikaria, is the patron of thieves. Generally not accepted as real, or at least worthy of respect except by thieves.

Creatures

Creatures are not born of divines, but they are not mortal either.

Rokesrel (Rok-es-rel)

A servant of Rel who is said to be the one to dress Rel in the morning with his light cloak, when he rises at dawn.

Nekesana (Neh-keh-san-ah)

A creature covered in thorns that looks like a cactus. He is said to carry away bad children, which is very uncomfortable to be carried by him. He also whips children with a switch covered in thorns. It is thought by many that Nekesana is either the offspring or creation of Rela.

Beliefs

These is quite a variety within Santh for many areas of doctrine, but these are the ones commonly held by most if not all sects.

Purity

Those belonging to the religion of Santh believe that all are naterualy born pure, but they are "filled" like a vessal with badness over time. This badness must be removed by a number of ways

Good Deeds

This includes giving to the poor (tutasdokul), giving to the temple (tutasdokgi) and working at the temple (tutaskakgi). When a boy or girl is 8 years old they are expected to work in the temple for 6 months. They do not get to see their family during this time, though they might not be nessicerly living very far from their home. During this time they work in the temple, cleaning it, lighting candles and running errands for the head priest and the monks at the temple. Also during this time he is taught to pray, meditate and fasts for short periods of time.

Purification (!asalis)

The idea of complete purification of the whole being, the Kaselgidar (Mind-spirit-body) through study, prayer, meditation, bathing and ritual beatings, including a periodical punishment of children. This is known to Salthans as !asali, which means complete-clean.

Reincarnation

Santhans beleieve when they die, their spirit goes to Santh, and if they are seen as being worthy they are reincarnated into another life. The unowrthy are judged and sent to enternal judgement. Eventually at the end of the world all of the remaining are judged and the ones who are judged as pure will go to heaven.Time is therefore seen as a chain of linked circles, like links in a chain.

Dietary Restrictions

Santhans beleive it is wrong to eat reptiles and carion eaters such as hyenas and vultures. To them the foods are forbidden (|asky, lit. "not the way").

Sects

See Sects of Santh

There a number of sects of Santha, mostly those that focus on a single aspect of the relgion. These sects include what are considered heretical cults by the other sects.