Kauil Mayan god of fire, is one of the most popular Mesoamerican divinities and his cult is considered one of the oldest. Proof of this are the discoveries of his sculptures, found in ancient and remote sites; however, this god symbolizes a bountiful harvest of human seed and as such, attracted prosperity.
In one of his many incarnations he appears as a deity in the figure of an old man, with short white hair personifying a lanky being who is seated; This print is linked to the god «Itzamná»; the eye creating an arc, links it with the god of water «Chac» as a clairvoyant image, the bowl-shaped forehead with a mirror, constitutes the self-observation of the soul.
Kauil the god of fire, embodies one of the oldest notions of the Mesoamerican indigenous. A deity that is related to the cardinal points and its belonging is directly related to the daily life of pre-Hispanic cultures, being the center of the aboriginal house.
In the sky, the god of fire was identified with the sun; however, in some of his invocations he was described in the underworld, referring to the darkness of death. «Kauil» had a privileged place in the Mayan civilization, standing out as a central motif in their rites and ceremonies. Furthermore, he was designated as the father and mother of the human species; since in this way, he was conjured to heal diseases, which were generated by the wrath of the fire; at the same time, he was implored and adored to favor a successful birth.
Likewise, the god of fire is related to the spiritual force that we must conquer as a barrier against violence. In Mayan mythology, «kauil» is also known as «hurricane», or heart of the sky; according to legend he was one of the thirteen creator gods, who helped build humanity, during the third attempt, symbolizing the god of wind, storm and fire with indescribable power.
The rituals for «kauil», in the fire temples, included the encounter between mother earth and humans through the pre-Hispanic temazcal bath. Although, on occasions, offerings of human sacrifices were made, these were devised for the link between man and nature; after the ritual inside the fire sanctuaries was over, it seemed to return to a new life.
«Kauil» differs from other gods by his elongated nose and protruding snake-like mouth; where some molars stand out, with a long fang pointing towards the ground. The fire serpent is related to it in a complex way; since this element embodies the discernment granted to man, to decide for himself.
The story of the god of fire «kauil» is full of emotions, converging the ancient Mayan civilization with amazing knowledge; where a doctrine was maintained, dedicated to the veneration of their gods, which, as you have been able to appreciate, is preserved despite time.