Nrastaism
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Nrastaism (Classical Kasshian: Wanrastakan) was the major religion of the Kasshi Empire. It is named after the founder, Chinrasta (which simply means "The Prophetess).
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Doctrines
Nrastaism is, at least nominally, a monotheistic faith. Nrastaists believe in a single Goddess (Chidzilau), but believe that her first creations, the Divinities (soddzilaukani - literally "Children of Goddess") are the ones who run the world. In orthodox Nrastaism, they are worshipped as a collective, the Divine Council (Wafchezzhilaukan), but many sects have taken to worshipping individual Divinities, evolving into a polytheistic faith.
Eschatology
The world is threatened with destruction at the hands of Goddess, unless the original beauty and joy can be restored. To this end, all the world must be converted.
Afterlife
Nrastaists believe in a form of reincarnation. The soul, they believe, consists of two halves. Upon death, the halves separate, and are reincarnated separately, finding other halves, to form a new soul in a new body. The soul is short-lived outside of a body, dying after 6 days if it is not reincarnated. It is therefore imperative to cremate the body immediately after death, to aid the soul's attempt to leave the prison of the corpse. A particularly righteous individual may achieve Preservation, by which the Divine Council clothes them in an immortal body, and gives them a place among them.
Moral Beliefs
Nrastaism contains a number of laws, detailed in several books written by Chinrasta. The laws are found in her First Revelation, Second Revelation, Account of the Divine Laws, and the Final Revelation. Only the books written by Chinrasta herself are held valid by all sects. Many sects have further books, written by later teachers and prophets, as well as a body of interpretation of laws.
Some of the universally-held laws are
- No flying creature shall be harmed
- No worship of false gods (as mentioned above, some sects are polytheistic, with no effective distinction between the Divinities and the gods of other religions)
- No two-legged animal can be eaten (some sects claim the text actually reads "No animal that breathes air", thus including all land animals in the taboo)
Creation Story
As found in the Book of the First Revelation
In the beginning, Goddess was alone in the Void. She sought companionship, and so created beings like herself, but of lesser majesty, known as the Divinities. The Divinities failed to satisfy her, and so she left them, wandering off into the Void. There, she created another group of Divinities, but they also failed to satisfy her, and so she wandered the Void, creating one group after another of Divinities. And so, the Void was filled with groups of Divinities.
At last, Goddess despaired of ever creating beings able to satisfy her profound loneliness. She returned to her earlier creations. "Create!" She commanded them. "What shall we create?" they asked her, in awe that their Creator had returned. "Create something pleasing" The Divinities did not know how to interpret this command, and each had her own idea. "But, how shall we create?" they asked her. "I shall give unto you a piece of myself, a spark of power." And so, from her being appeared two great lights, which were called Suns. The Divinities drew power from one of the two, and with that power, they each created something different. One created ice, another water, still another created rocks, and a fourth created air, another created fire, and still another created metal. Goddess saw this, and was entertained. "Give order to your creations!" she commanded again, for at this time, everything was in a jumble. They worked together, and sometimes against each other, but gradually a world of beauty appeared. Yet, this world was too static. Once it had been shaped, it remained unchanging. Still, Goddess enjoyed the beauty. "Continue creating" she commanded them. "Create, ever improving your creation. I shall return to judge you" She returned to the Void, and visited other Divinities, giving them similar commands. And so, one after another, the Void was illuminated by countless suns, but so remote were they from each other, that each saw the others as mere points of lights, which they named Stars.
The Divinities, meanwhile, began creating an ever more subtle world, carving great mountains, deep valleys, wide oceans, and broad rivers. But, the world failed to satisfy them. At last, the greatest of them, the Chief Divinity (Chidzilaukanjezh - literally Leader of the Children of Goddess), proposed creating things that would change, things that would reshape their own world. Their first creations were the plants, which clothed the land, growing and dying. But, soon the world was filled with dead plants, and this was not good. So, small animals were created to eat the plants, and it was good. But, these creatures grew in numbers, filling the world, and so more animals were created to eat them. And so, one after another, the world was populated by animals of all different kinds. And the Divinities continued creating new plants, adding further beauty, and seeking ways to feed new animals. At last, a world of surpassing beauty, filled with great wonders and countless variety of life, was formed. And Goddess was very pleased when she returned. She continued touring the Void, looking at all the different works of art her creations had created.
But, at last, the Divinities too felt the need for companionship. They'd run out of ideas for new wonders.
"Let us create beings like ourselves, to create new things, for our pleasure" Suggested one of the Divinities.
"This is blasphemy" spoke another, "None but Goddess herself may create thinking beings" There were many who agreed with her, but more who disagreed. The Chief Divinity herself opposed her, and so, the Divinities decided to create beings like themselves. They created a small village of people, and commanded their creations to create, to shape the world, and change it. These people died after six days, however. They tried again, and again they failed. Their powers were limited, and they could not create beings entirely like themselves. At last, they discovered that if they put the beings in a physical body, they could live. But, a body is itself short-lived, and so, they ordained that the people could create more people, and that these new people could provide homes for souls who had lost their bodies.
The one who had opposed their creation sought to destroy them. She, and those who followed her, rebelled against the Divine Council. They were exiled from the Council, and cast down into the world. They became the Exiled Ones (sonnaakusuni). The Exiled Ones sowed hatred, fear, greed, avarice, willfull ignorance, disease, and other curses, among the people. They were, themselves, jealous of the people's ability to fly through the air, for at that time people could still fly, and so they struck them down, cursing them to spend their days on the ground.
The Exiled Ones began to spread lies among the people, turning them against the Divinities, by false claims of godhood. They became split among themselves, with some continuing to pursue the destruction of people, and others seeking to use people against the Divinities. The Exiled Ones fought amongst themselves, and their fights involved their enslaved peoples.
And so the world fell from its original state of beauty and joy.
Goddess returned, and was horrified. "This abomination must be destroyed!" She exclaimed, but the Divinities sought to appease her, promising to restore it to beauty, if she'd only withhold her wrath. "Very well. I shall leave now. When I return, if you have not restored this world to its original beauty, I shall destroy it."
Goddess left again, and the Divine Council met, to figure out a solution. It was decided that it was time for the Divinities themselves to intervene in the affairs of people, to reveal the truth, and break the slavery of the Exiled Ones' lies.
And so, a messenger was sent to me. She commanded me to write down all her words, and to go forth and share the Truth with all peoples.
