Shatrasmita
Shatrasmita is the ancient and powerful religion of the Umbraclaw Orcs, rooted in the belief that life and death, creation and destruction, are part of a vast, eternal cycle. This faith is built around the worship of Naraksha, the god of creation, destruction, balance, and enlightenment, who embodies both the destructive forces of the world and the potential for rebirth and creation. His followers understand that these forces cannot exist without one another, and thus, they believe in honoring both sides of the coin—life's fleeting beauty and death's necessary passage. The religion teaches that all things are temporary and that it is the duty of every living being to find inner peace, understanding, and harmony with the forces of the universe. The path to this harmony is often found through meditation, rituals, and physical acts of creation or destruction.
The Shatrasmita faith also reveres a pantheon of other deities, each representing vital aspects of existence. Seshvara, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, and the unseen forces of the universe, is often invoked for guidance in times of uncertainty or intellectual pursuit. Kshiti, the goddess of the earth, is deeply respected for her connection to the natural world, symbolizing the eternal cycle of decay and renewal. Vandana, the goddess of joy, dance, and celebration, brings balance to the otherwise heavy nature of the religion with her teachings on the importance of joyous expression and gratitude. These deities, along with Naraksha, guide the followers of Shatrasmita in their quest for personal and spiritual growth, teaching them to embrace the balance of life and death, light and darkness.
Through sacred rituals, including dances and meditations, Shatrasmita followers attempt to connect with these divine powers, often performing in group ceremonies or private reflections. Their deep respect for the natural world and its cycles informs their daily lives, with their prayers and offerings seeking balance within their family, clan, and the greater universe. The religion emphasizes personal growth, allowing each follower to find their own path to enlightenment, whether through combat, creation, or introspection. Above all, Shatrasmita teaches that life’s meaning comes not from external sources but from understanding and aligning with the eternal cosmic dance.
The Shatrasmita faith also reveres a pantheon of other deities, each representing vital aspects of existence. Seshvara, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, and the unseen forces of the universe, is often invoked for guidance in times of uncertainty or intellectual pursuit. Kshiti, the goddess of the earth, is deeply respected for her connection to the natural world, symbolizing the eternal cycle of decay and renewal. Vandana, the goddess of joy, dance, and celebration, brings balance to the otherwise heavy nature of the religion with her teachings on the importance of joyous expression and gratitude. These deities, along with Naraksha, guide the followers of Shatrasmita in their quest for personal and spiritual growth, teaching them to embrace the balance of life and death, light and darkness.
Through sacred rituals, including dances and meditations, Shatrasmita followers attempt to connect with these divine powers, often performing in group ceremonies or private reflections. Their deep respect for the natural world and its cycles informs their daily lives, with their prayers and offerings seeking balance within their family, clan, and the greater universe. The religion emphasizes personal growth, allowing each follower to find their own path to enlightenment, whether through combat, creation, or introspection. Above all, Shatrasmita teaches that life’s meaning comes not from external sources but from understanding and aligning with the eternal cosmic dance.
Cosmological Views
According to Shatrasmita, the world is understood as an eternal, cyclical dance of creation and destruction, where the forces of life and death are intimately intertwined and constantly in flux. The universe is seen not as a linear progression but as a series of interconnected cycles, each beginning with creation, flowing through preservation, and ultimately leading to destruction before the cycle repeats. This process is not seen as chaotic or random; rather, it is a purposeful and necessary part of the cosmic balance. Creation is always followed by destruction, which makes room for new beginnings. The balance of these cycles is sacred, and each moment of life and death is a part of the divine rhythm set in motion by Naraksha and the other gods of Shatrasmita.
The belief is that the physical world, like all things, is born from the divine, and its existence serves a greater purpose: to reflect the eternal dance of existence. The material realm is considered temporary, constantly undergoing change and transformation, but the spiritual world, the realm of the gods, is seen as eternal and unchanging. The balance of the cosmos is preserved by the actions of mortals and gods alike, with each being playing a role in maintaining the flow of creation and destruction. To destroy what is old and no longer serves its purpose is just as important as creating something new. The act of destruction is not a punishment but a form of renewal, and only through both creation and destruction can true balance be achieved.
In Shatrasmita, the world’s creation is also a reflection of the inner self. Followers of Naraksha are taught that their personal journeys mirror the cosmic dance—each must balance their own internal forces of creation and destruction. This understanding encourages individuals to embrace both their potential for creation (through art, magic, combat, and more) and their capacity for destruction (whether physical, emotional, or symbolic). Through this, they come to understand that they must destroy certain aspects of themselves to make way for personal growth and transformation, just as the world must shed the old to create space for the new. Therefore, the teachings of Shatrasmita stress that achieving true enlightenment requires not only understanding the cycles of the world around them but also the ability to recognize and harmonize the forces within themselves.
The belief is that the physical world, like all things, is born from the divine, and its existence serves a greater purpose: to reflect the eternal dance of existence. The material realm is considered temporary, constantly undergoing change and transformation, but the spiritual world, the realm of the gods, is seen as eternal and unchanging. The balance of the cosmos is preserved by the actions of mortals and gods alike, with each being playing a role in maintaining the flow of creation and destruction. To destroy what is old and no longer serves its purpose is just as important as creating something new. The act of destruction is not a punishment but a form of renewal, and only through both creation and destruction can true balance be achieved.
In Shatrasmita, the world’s creation is also a reflection of the inner self. Followers of Naraksha are taught that their personal journeys mirror the cosmic dance—each must balance their own internal forces of creation and destruction. This understanding encourages individuals to embrace both their potential for creation (through art, magic, combat, and more) and their capacity for destruction (whether physical, emotional, or symbolic). Through this, they come to understand that they must destroy certain aspects of themselves to make way for personal growth and transformation, just as the world must shed the old to create space for the new. Therefore, the teachings of Shatrasmita stress that achieving true enlightenment requires not only understanding the cycles of the world around them but also the ability to recognize and harmonize the forces within themselves.
"It’s a strange, somber faith—an unyielding dance of life and death. The people here don’t fear the dark; they embrace it, finding balance in what most would consider chaos. Fascinating, but not a path I'd walk myself." - Victoria Pendrake
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Religious, Organised Religion
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