Chiminigagua

Chiminigagua
Supreme being Creator of the world
Member of Muisca religion
Sun Temple, place of worship to Chiminigagua
Other names	Chiminichagua, Chimichagua
Affiliation	Bachué, Bochica
Region	Altiplano Cundiboyacense  Colombia
Ethnic group	Muisca
Offspring	Chía, Sué, Cuchavira
Greek equivalent	Zeus
Roman equivalent	Jupiter
Christian equivalent	God
Hinduism equivalent	Dyaus Pita

Chiminigagua, Chiminichagua or Chimichagua was the supreme being, omnipotent god and creator of the world in the religion of the Muisca. The Muisca and their confederation were one of the four advanced civilizations of the Americas and developed their own religion on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense in the Andes.

Chiminigagua was a universally good god and represented the only light that existed when it was night time. When the world was created there was only darkness and the only light was given by Chiminigagua. When Chiminigagua decided to shine light across the Universe, he first opened his gigantic belly from where light was shining. He then created two large black birds and launched them into space. The birds spread light from their beaks which produced light in the cosmos. Thus he created light and everything in the world. Chiminigagua showed the importance of his important gods Chía (the Moon), Sué (the Sun) ad Cuchavira (rainbow). Adoring the Moon and the Sun for the Muisca was praising Chiminigagua. The creation of the Sun and Moon gave rise to mother goddess Bachué.

The solar cult and belief in the supreme being is comparable to other indigenous peoples of the Americas and elsewhere in the world. Tezcatlipoca was a similar deity for the Aztec and Viracocha was his counterpart for the Incas. Solar cults and gods are found in other religions as well; Horus, Ra and Aton for the Egyptians, Mitra for the Persians, Shamash for the people in Mesapotamia, Helios for the Greeks and Surya in India. Quetzalcoatl and Huitzilopochtli represented the Sun for the Aztec and the Mayas praised Kinich Ahau, while the Incas believed Inti symbolised the Sun and created the Inca civilization.