The secret of the magical, ancient temple of Chavin in Peru

Chavin de Huantar Temple is located in a narrow valley in the Andes mountains, 3,200 meters above sea level.

I cannot see the temple until I step inside. The temple builders have deliberately chosen the choking terrain as a place to build this delicate building.

The valley floor stands out on the surrounding flat terrain as well as where the two rivers merge into one, making it impossible to ignore even though it was miles away.

It is believed that the temple began to be put into use 5,000 years ago and became the cultural center of ancient Peruvians living around 1,000 BC.

Stanford University assistant professor of anthropology John Rick said: "The Chavin Temple was built in a place with rugged terrain, easily flooded. The people who built the temple understood the risk of flooding, but they build on it instead of trying to avoid it.

The goal is not only to make a strong impression but also to declare to people that they dare to challenge nature. And they were very successful ".

The temple of Chavin de Huantar is now preserved and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.(Photo hiddenincatours.com).

Terrifying hallucinations

Not the biggest compared to other temples, but this is probably the place that contains the most interesting secrets.

The building is constructed with a structure of 25m high, surrounding an area as large as a football field. Granite blocks are artfully decorated.

The middle part of the temple is a separate world. The complex consists of underground spaces and tunnels that bring people into the place where the mind becomes strangely sensitive to ritual, sound and visual effects.

It seems that the priests of the Chavin Temple have conveyed to others difficult feelings. This powerful power made the clergy here revered as demigods.

When entering the labyrinth of underground tunnels, it was only illuminated by the sun, where the sculpted works filled with the spirit as if roaring and the water flow as if they would suddenly push us away, we would be easy easy to get lost and completely disoriented.

Associate Professor John Rick said: "It is a very interesting system. It shows creativity in the application of advanced technology. They have combined hydraulic techniques, sound techniques, "The mirror and the drugs that affect the nerves. They make water like dancing and singing when flowing through canals. The temple builders have applied scientific knowledge here."

"We see pictures of people carrying cacti. In the same work carved in stone, we can see their effects. A variety of plants used as inhalers - they are very annoying."

"We see pictures of nasal cavities, staring eyes and painful expressions, similar to those who use this medicine in the Amazon area. We also see drawings of other things, like inhaler, pill and mortar ".

"Drugs are exactly what happens at Chavin. They are reliable drugs, they don't work so hard that people lose their sense of the world. Users are not dull. They will get used to them and become more sensitive, more psychologically vulnerable. They are perfect when used in this temple. "

Touched by God

So who are those who do not manage the remote roads to the remote, difficult plateau of the Andes just to enter the labyrinth temple of these magical priests?

At that time, the powerful people of the local village wanted to find ways to strengthen personal power.

The combat power is not very effective. Therefore, local leaders rule too many people and power in war-based cultures is often changed rapidly and bloody.

According to Associate Professor John Rick, the solution is to create religious belief for the people and make people believe that seeing the power of the ruler is caused by the coming of God. He said: "It is the beginning of an organized government. There is no political system that is completely stable. All are strategies to make the public trust someone and it is always. Start with a simple belief system ".

Due to the deep underground, the interior of the Temple of Chavin was almost intact.(Photo of John Rick).

There is evidence that many people from far away come to this place, carrying objects from 500km away, "at that time this was an extremely distant distance". Those who come here are important figures. This was a cult for the second class in the society when it was just emerging and Chavin Temple was very suitable for the way they looked at the world.

Local leaders bring skilled workers to help build complex temples. There are still traces of exquisite ceramics and stone-made items brought from far away.

Whoever is more and more empowered or progressive, he or she will be able to go deeper and deeper into the dharma ritual. Thus, these people feel more attached to the denomination, and are empowered by God through the clerical touch.

John Rick, a scholar, thinks that there may be between 8 and 20 sectarian centers in the central Andes competing with each other to win over believers.

That's why centers have to develop technology to make believers attractive. For example, there is another sect in the north that has traces of gold that Chavin does not have.

This sect makes people who come to the place attracted by the ability to control light.

Explain human beliefs

What makes Chavin temple special, the monks have made a complete record of the rituals. Associate Professor John Rick said:

"At that time, social activities were often not carefully recorded - many parts of the formation stages were destroyed and rarely saw anything preserved intact. When the Chavin culture collapsed. There are not many things that are ruined. The underground spaces are perfectly sealed. "

"Things built up in the temple for the purpose of making it extremely impressive, are still impressive now."

"When we enter the excavated area, the feeling of fear, privilege and excitement is not entirely from our imagination. We still feel the message from the priests 3,000 years ago. ".