The Incas believed in 3 distinct planes of existence, interconnected and bridged by physical and spiritual elements. The 3 planes were not solely spatial, but were simultaneously spatial and temporal, and together, they shaped the existence of everything.
Although the universe was considered a unified system in the Andean thought, the division between the Worlds was part of the complementary dualism prominent in their beliefs, known as Yanantin. Andean people believes that union of opposing yet interdependent energies are the complement of difference, because it doesn't focus on the differences since that is what disconnects them. Instead, the focus is on the qualities that the 2 energies bring together. They are seen as complementary energies. One on its own can't hold everything or take care of everything. Not only they are considered great together, but they need to be together. There is no other way since the union represents extra strength for both.
The philosophy behind is the view of the opposites of existence, such as male/female, dark/light, hot/cold, positive/negative, inner/outer, .. as interdependent and essential parts of a harmonious whole.
Because existence itself is believed to be dependent upon the tension and balanced interchange between the polarities, there is a very definite ideological and practical commitment within day-to-day life to bringing the seemingly conflicting opposites into harmony with one another without destroying or altering either one.
The relationship of opposites as a harmonious partnership is considered the primary organizing principle of creation, all aspects of social and spiritual life within the Andean World is based on it.
It is essential because it involves relationship, alliance, meeting, and unity between 2 beings.
In order to be whole, one has to pair up. It is persistently distinguish to the Andean people, energies which are not well matched or equal. The act of rendering equal two things that were once unequal is called "the correction of inequalities." Un-partnered forces or energies are missing an important part of them. They are only half of a being. Alone it still is precious and unique but it is only part of a whole. This is because when the energy is by itself, it is either accumulating so much that is overwhelming or it is draining itself so much that it becomes weak. In human beings, the person will feel fear, or be confused or lost. They will believe they may know themselves, but they can never see themselves. For that you need another person, other eyes, another perspective to see that. During the childhood the person has the parents, but when he/she becomes older, the parents are not longer there to see them, to recognize them. As an adult, your complementary partner is the person who is there to see what you do not see in yourself, just as he/she is there to see in that partner what he/she does not see in themselves.
It is implied then that a perfect union of two opposites is achieved when the two energies are brought into harmony. The elements to be paired must first be pared or harmonized to achieve the perfect fit, that is the sharing of boundaries in order to create a harmonious co-existence in order to create, recreate and procreate.
While the 3 planes of existence had defined boundaries, it was believed, there were many connections passing between them as well as conceptual temporal correlations between past, present , and future.
The gods themselves were also not bound to one particular plane or realm. Vira'Cocha, for example, a creator god in both pre-Inca and Inca religion, roamed the heavens having first risen from the depths of Lake Titicaca (as a link to the World below). He also traveled within the realm of man (the World of the living), disguised as a beggar.
Caves and springs serve as connections between the Inner World (Ukhu Pacha) and the Men World (Kay Pacha). The Inner World was associated with dead as well as with new life. As the reaml of new life , it is associated with harvesting. As the realm associated with dead, it is inhabited by a group of demons which torment the living. Human disruption with the Inner World were considered a sacred matter and ceremonies and rituals were often associated with disturbances of the surface. Rituals often brought food, drink, and other comforts to cave openings for the spirits of the ancestors. Mining was considered a perturbation of subterranean life and the spirits that ruled it; they yielded to a deeper and riskier sacredness. In order to insure that the perturbation did not cause evil energies be spread into the World of the Living, especially the ones inside the mines which could be possessed by those evil spirits, the whole population offered sacrifices to the demons in order to appease them.
Rainbows and lightning serve as connections between the Upper World (Hanan Pacha) and the Men World (Kay Pacha). Human spirits after death could inhabit any of the levels of existence. Some would remain in the Men World (Kay Pacha) until they had finished business, while others might move to the other levels.
The word Pacha is often translated as "World" in Quechua, but the concept also includes a temporal context of existence and meaning. It may refer to the whole cosmos or to a specific moment in time.
The levels of existence overlap and interact depending on the context, presenting both material order and a moral order.
The most significant connection between the different levels of existence was at "Pacha' Cutec" meaning "cataclysm." These were the instances when the different levels of existence would all impact one another transforming the entire order of the World.
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