Narratives of Spiritual Beings: Asháninka Worldview and Culture

Abstract

The article presents the narratives of spiritual beings from the perspective of Asháninka worldview and culture. It focuses on the Asháninka worldview, the classification of spiritual beings, and the teachings conveyed through these narratives within Asháninka culture. The study seeks to gather information about their understanding of the world, how the spiritual beings that inhabit the earth are classified, and how narratives about these beings contribute to education from a cultural perspective. In Asháninka culture, the world is divided into stages, and each being fulfills a role in caring for and protecting humanity and nature. These beings are classified as maninkari, benevolent and protective beings that live in the mountains, and anakotiriri maninkari, those who seek to be superior. The study examines kiatsi, mironi, shashinti, kasonkati, kamari, and ampatsi, which are some of the spiritual beings in Asháninka culture. This knowledge was collected in the community of Cushiviani with contributions from the elders and knowledge keepers of the district of Río Negro, province of Satipo, department of Junín.