Selkaksai

Selkaksai (Salthan, "the spirit knowing way"), also known as Santhism is a monotheistic religion and philosophy, that worships a god called Santh, and traditional divine beings and the teachings of Daradelsanth, (the mouth of Santh) who lived some time during the end of the divided kingdom period around 300 KG. It is the primary religion of the Salthan people with nearly 8 Million adherents[1]. Selkaskai centers around belief in a divine creator Santh, and minor immortal beings called Dosh.

History

Much of Selkasky comes from ancient oral traditions, such as rituals and mythological folk stories. Up to the time of the divided kingdom, there were many local gods. Many times these local gods were accepted in harmony as a sort of make-shift pantheon, though there was no cohesive one religion, but a collection of separate traditions and practices. Around 600 KG the prophet daradelSanth unified the religion, elevating the creator sun god Santh (which by that time had gathered a wide following) to the status of god (doan), and relegating the others to a immortal but inferior status.

Beliefs

Tas (Debt, Gratitude)

A person can acquire a debt when they commit wrongs against another person, a divine or God. This debt can be also aquired from having a favor. A child naturally has an ongoing Tas towards a parent, a student to their teacher and so on.

Sila (Purity)

In Selkaskyian philosophy, the concept of purity is one that is both external, involving the body (gidar), and internal involving the mind (ka) and soul (sel), thus the word for a complete purity is composed of these parts and called silselkagida, or sometimes refereed to the shorter term |asil (literally "completely clean"). This ritual cleansing is a way of being accepted by God and this divines, and can be a way of paying back some Tas debt.
A metaphor that is commonly used is that of a jar, containing a person's purity that has a hole in the bottom that drains. This purity is refilled through a number of means of works, doing good deeds, prayer, ritual purification, praise songs to Santh and the divines, and sacrifices. It is believed that one can be "spirituality injured" by doing bad enough deeds, and be caused to drain goodness, like bleeding a wound, thus one purity is lost faster. This bleeding requires a priest to preform a healing ceremony to stop the bleeding.
Another metaphor used is that of a jar filling up with bad, and this is seen by some as a more fitting metaphor, particularly amongst the sects that focus more on physical punishment, as they see the evil being drained out with the blood from punishment.

The Five Divine Ways (silagilhasanai)

Each of the highest five divines are seen as the five paths of desires one takes in life, and each can be taken too far, and must be balanced. Lykei represents freedom and independence, Rela with desire to administer justice and punishment to wicked and to rise to a position of authority, Kakela to nurture and defend, Kai to pursue knowledge and truth, and Gikara to love. Each of these five impulses is seen as balanced by the other four to create a harmony. While most have a single patron divine that is their focus, it is understood that there is a balance that must be maintained, and some respect is still paid to the other four divines.

Practices

Good Deeds

This includes giving to the poor (tutasdokul), giving to the temple (tutasdokgi) and other good deeds. Each divine has different deeds that they are more pleased with, as well as sometimes sins that they are more forgiving towards.

Work 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 necessarily living very far from their home (many times in the same city if the family lives in a large city). 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 (!asilas)

This is clearly the most important part of Selkaskyian philosophy and religion. Purification is seen as being of the whole being, the Kaselgidar (Mind-spirit-body) through study (for the mind), prayer and meditation (for the spirit), bathing and ritual beatings, including a periodical light punishment (a few swats on the bottom with the hand) of children (for the body). This is known to as !asilas, which means complete-clean.

Reincarnation (sanadathe)

Most selkaskyians believe when they die, their spirit goes to Santh, and if they are seen as being worthy they are reincarnated into another life. The unworthy are judged and sent to eternal 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 believe it is wrong to eat reptiles and carrion eaters such as hyenas and vultures. To them the foods are forbidden (|asky, lit. "not the way"). Some foods are considered bad, and "spiritually poisonous", (Chuksel) but can be healed if eaten with purification and/or healing ritual.

Doan (God) and Doshnai (Heavenly beings)

Most followers of Selkaskai are monotheistic, they refer to Santh as "Doan" which means supreme being, or god. The divines are refereed to as "dosh" (plural doshnai), which means a being that is heavenly, eternal, powerful, and self-existing, but far less in power than Santh. However, there are some who refer to Santh and the divnes all with the word "daon" and are thus considered polytheists, though they also concede that while they may share the title with Santh the are obviously inferior in power, and so in some cases it is argued this is just semantic arguing.
Conversely, there are some too who argue that the primary five Doshnai were created by Santh, thus separating them more from Santh, though this teaching is too rejected as heretical by most Selkaskyians.

Greater Divines (Gidosh)

Lykei

Lykei is a supernatural being that governs the wind.She is dipicted in variuous forms, sometimes as a nude female child, a nude female adult or an adult wearing nothing but a cloth that is across her groin thqat trails behind her. She is also often depicted as having a peice of cloth that is wound across an arm that trails behind her in the wind as she goes. Some versions also depict her with feathery wings [Citation needed]. The earliest scroll depicting here is the udkoba scroll, believed to be dated c. 6600 KG. She is considered the patron of swift travels and protecting children. She is portrayed as being flighty, carefree and sometimes reckless. She is seen as representing the ideals of freedom and independence. During the pre-senate period she was thought of negetively, but since the downfall of the last king has become a sort of symbol of the republic.

Rela

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. He is portrayed as having a violent temper. One cult sect teach that Rel is actually the son of Santh, and that he will one day overthrow Santh. Rel tends to be more forgiving of violence, and sometimes even torture if there is a "higher reason" for it, such as protecting someone else, or to punish evil doers.

Kai

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. She is known as being especially harsh to liars and deceivers. One way in particular to please Kai is to donate money or books to the library.

Kakela

Being of strength and stamina. Portrayed as a stout stubby-bodied Salthan male of stone with a large shield and hammer. He is considered the patron of guardsmen, and soldiers who are defending a position, such as a city or keep.

Gikari/gikaria

Is a being with a duel nature of both male and female that changes at will (and including the physical form), or is a hermaphrodite, possessing characteristics of male and female. 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. Gikari tends to be more lenient towards promiscuity, adultery and dishonesty, particularly telling lies to aid another person.

Sects

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

Type

Religious, Temple

Controlled Territories

• Great Temple of Santh