Saohri Temple
Faith of the Danatelians
Do not think the gods cannot hear you, child. They are the very world we live in, present in all things around us. The breeze that blows through your hair, the rain that feeds our fields, the warmth you feel in your heart when you see a pretty girl... The gods are always with you.
The Saohri faith is the main religion of the Danatelians, who brought it with them to Arda Almyed when they first arrived dozens of hundreds of years ago. To this day, most of the population of the Danatelian Lands follow the religion, with many cultural and regional variations. Only a few ethnic groups, such as the Dayiara and the Serulians, still follow their old religions. Through syncretism and assimilation, the Saohri faith has taken in many concepts and ideas from the local beliefs after the Danatelian Conquest, making the spread of the religion with local populations a lot easier. The Saohri Temple has played a major role in the history of the Danatelian Lands, and remains relevant to this day.
by Edmund Dulac
Organisation and Hierarchy
The Saohri Temple was originally created by Agheb the Red following the end of the Age of Eternal Sun, and the expulsion of the Danatelians from the Sea of Dusk. Each of the seven major gods has their own suit of temples, each of them lead by a Sumia Kahin. The Sumia Kahin of the largest temple of each major god, located in the seven largest cities of the Danatelian Lands, are the Him'ya Sebe, litt. the Seven Wise. They are amongst the most powerful people within the Danatelian Lands, and it is said they have their god's direct attention.Each temple is placed under the authority of a Sumia Kahin, who answer directly to the Him'ya of their god. A few priests of Aher the Green, as well as the Sabeyun, reject the authority of the Him'ya Sebe, leading to sometimes tense relationships between these various groups. And while officially there is little hierarchy within the Saohri Temple, as all Sumia Kahin are meant to be equal, unofficially the power differences amongst temples and priests are vast. The temples of the seven largest cities are powerful beyond measure, and play an important role in Danatelian politics, whilst the temples of smaller cities and villages can have almost no influence whatsoever on their local scale.
Main Assets
The Saohri Temple owns a lot of property throughout the Danatelian Lands, most of it fields and pastures used for agriculture. It is one of the most important economic powers of the country. Each temple usually has its own plot of land, and hires locals to work for it. Temples within larger cities, whilst they usually have gardens within their walls, rely a lot on donations from the wealthy and poor alike to keep themselves going. Most large festivals are sponsored by single individuals, for it is quite the honour to be able to do so.Atranium Jewel
The main place of worship for the Saohri is the Temple of a Million Years, located a half-day travel away from Ignar, capital of the Danatelian Lands. It is often considered one of the biggest architectural wonders of the country.
The temple is popular amongst pilgrims, and it is said to have been built by Deïmon the Bright herself. It is also where the seven Sublime Priests meet to discuss of their affairs, and where the Saohri Temple officially welcomes their most illustrious guests.
The temple is popular amongst pilgrims, and it is said to have been built by Deïmon the Bright herself. It is also where the seven Sublime Priests meet to discuss of their affairs, and where the Saohri Temple officially welcomes their most illustrious guests.
Theology of the Saohri
The Saohri gods are divided into two main categories: the Suhbiate, who watch over the sacred order of the world, and the Lanihayat Muqadas, who make up the vast multitude of the world. For the Saohri, the gods are ever present. They are simultaneously their own being, with personalities and desires, and they constitute the very fabric of the world too. Aher the Green, for instance, is not only the god of nature but also the essence of nature itself. He is the cycle of life, the prey and the predator."The gods are everywhere and in everything: it is they who make up the world we live in."
The articulation between a god's domain and what they are is subtle: Aher isn't really present in every single tree or every single beast, but he is the incarnation of its essence, and one could not dream to exist without the other. The same goes for all other gods and their own domains.
Myths and Legends
The Saohri adore myths and legends, and there are plenty of stories going around, each with their own many iterations. They seep into every aspect of life, from children's stories to poetry and plays, songs sang by the burning furnace of a kitchen or smith's. Some stories are so well known anyone could tell them, while others are only remembered in the old pages of an elder's diary.A few scholars have attempted to compile as many myths as they could, but none has ever come close to achieving that colossal tasks. Nowadays, the head temple of Samara the Enchantress dedicates an entire team to the collecting of myths and tales, and their work is far from finished.
C. B. Ash
As always, this is just amazing. This is, at least to me, an example of how to create well made and attractive articles.
TC
Thank you so much! Glad to know my time spent formatting is worth it :')