Apu Salkantay, Protector of Cusco Region
Apus of the Cusco Region Part 2
Welcome Brothers and Sisters of Andean Wisdom Path to another article about Andean mysticism. Today we will continue a series of articles about the “Apus” (sacred Mountain Spirits) around the Cusco Region.
Rising in solitary splendor to the south of Machu Picchu, Salkantay (6,271 m) is one of the highest impressive mountains in the Cusco region, and dominates the region all the way to Machu Picchu and beyond. With an impressive triangular peak that is visible from great distances, this spectacular mountain was revered in Inca times and continues to be so today.
The name "Salkantay" probably comes from the Quechua word “Salqa” which means "wild" or "uncivilized." Indeed, it is a formidable mountain to climb, with the steep and treacherous icy slopes of its glacier peak, glistening in the sun.
Two Mountain King Brothers, Ausangate & Salkantay
To the native people of this region, the sacred mountain Salkantay is a mountain king and brother of the other great, magnificent mountain king of the Cusco region, Apu Ausangate. (See our article about Ausangate in Part 1 of the Apus of Cusco series.) In fact, these two powerful mountain spirit brothers are considered the fathers of all the other mountains of the Cusco region. That is why the people refer to them as "Tayta," a term of great respect literally meaning "father."
As reigning kings, Ausangate rules a large area encompassing the Southeast part of the Cusco region, and Salkantay rules a large area encompassing the Northwest part of the region, both of which include many mountains and the neighboring jungle areas. Salkantay's importance and influence extends beyond the Cusco region. It is one of the primary mountain deities for the entire department of Cusco and a tutelary deity for the department of Apurimac, the place of my birth, as well.
Although Ausangate is higher in elevation, both are considered to be equally powerful. That is why these mountains are often the first named in rituals in this region, and their permission is frequently requested before making offerings to the other mountains. When local people make offerings, they generally request good weather and increased fertility for their crops and animals.
Is Salkantay a Male or Female Mountain Spirit?
There is some confusion about the gender of this powerful mountain, especially among foreigners. We Andean people call this powerful mountain Urqo Salkantay. Since “urqo” means male, it is clear he is a masculine entity. Furthermore, Salkantay, like most Apus of the Andes, has a female partner. His consort is the nearby mountain Wakaywilka, also known as "Apu Verónica." Many local people also call her China Salkantay, (china) meaning female. We will talk more about her in following posts.
Salkantay’s Healing Powers
One of the earliest written references to Salkantay is that of the Spanish priest, Cristobal de Albornoz, who wrote in 1583 that Salkantay was very revered. A document of 1697 found in the Cusco Archives said, "Salkantay is one of the principal mountain deities called upon for curing a man in Cusco." Even to this day, the local people of the Cusco region commonly invoke Salkantay in rituals to cure illnesses.
Salkantay, Place for Andean Shamanic Initiations
In this region, many Andean priests (called "paqo's" and "altomesayoq's") consider themselves under the domain of either Salkantay or Ausangate, depending on where they resided when they learned their trade. In order to be presented to these mountains, the student and his teacher should journey to their slopes. Altomesayoqs and Paqos conduct their initiations to Salkantay at lakes near the mountain followed by other challenges which we will share in future posts
Salkantay’s Mountain Family
According to the Andean Cosmovision, all of the Cosmos is animated with Living Energy. Therefore, the mountains not only hold powerful and sacred guardian spirits alive with consciousness, they also have families, just like all living beings. So it is with Apu Salkantay. As we explained in a previous post, this sacred being is considered a father of the mountains of Cusco, along with the great Apu Ausangate, who is considered his brother. As fathers, these Apus have wives, called “Ñustas.” Apu Ausangate’s wife is Ñusta Q’ayangate, while Apu Salkantay’s wife is Ñusta Wakaywilka, also known as Mount Veronica.
This relationship of male and female, husband and wife, king and consort is a relationship of complementary opposites that the Andean people call a “yanantin” relationship. We look forward to diving deeper into the mystery of the Andean duality of “yanantin” in a later article.
There is also another type of relationship in Andean cosmology, called “masintin.” While “yanantin” refers to a relationship of complementary opposites, “masintin” refers to things that are in relationship based on their similarity. Apu Tayta Ausangate and Apu Tayta Salkantay, as brothers of equal status, have a “masintin” relationship between them. Ñusta Mama Q’ayangate and Ñusta Mama Wakaywilka, as wives of the most powerful apus of the Cusco region, also have a “masintin” relationship with each other.
By now you may be wondering, if Apu Salkantay is a father, and Ñusta Wakaywilka is his wife, who are their children? Glad you asked. Right beside Salkantay’s prominent pyramidal peak stands the mountain Humantay, whom the locals also call Tarkahuay, their oldest son. And not far from her brother stands the younger sister mountain Yanantay, also known as Qoyllur. As brother and sister, their relationship is “yanantin.” But, from another perspective, as children of the same parents, they also have a masintin relationship. Two beings can have both types of dynamics in their relationship.
Now every Andean family needs to have its herd of animals, and the Apus are no exception. Salkantay, as well as his brother Ausangate, are the masters of the wild animals that live on their slopes: the Andean fox, the native rabbit (la vizcacha), the wild deer (los luichos), the beautiful vicuñas (wild camelids related to the llamas and alpacas) and the sacred mystic cat, the puma.
While Ausangate and Salkantay have their immediate families, all the sacred mountains of the region form a great brotherhood and sisterhood of the Apus of Cusco.
