The Visionary Mayan Queen: Yohl Ik'Nal of Palenque (3 page)

As the preparatory time drew to a close, Yohl Ik’nal still felt torn about the coming rituals. Both a great honor and immense responsibility were being conferred, but it came with a great price. Did she really want it? Was she capable? Did she have any choice?

“No, I do not have a choice,” she chanted repeatedly. “My father wants this. It is very important to him, I must do it for him.”

She had undergone the purification. She had performed proper oblations to the gods, memorized how to speak their names, relate their history, and count their days correctly. But her emotions often overcame her reason, and her obedience was faulty. Her conscience was not entirely clear.

Doubt nagged the edges of awareness as she followed the High Priestess along the corridor. Was she truly ready for this all-important ritual? Could she carry it out?

Ceremonially they proceded through the corridor toward the
Pib Nah
, first the priestess, and then Yohl Ik’nal followed by the attendant. With each step the priestess shook a rattle of monkey tree pods, making hollow clacking sounds ending in a decrescendo of dry murmurs. Yohl Ik’nal was in an altered state, nearly floating outside her body. Only the brushing of long dark hair against her shoulders and the sensation of cool stones below her feet anchored consciousness to her body.

At the narrow entrance of the square stone structure rising slightly above the women’s heads, they paused. The priestess began a mournful chant, shaking the rattle and clinking the copper discs at her wrists. From beside the Pib Nah where an open culvert channeled the nearby creek, the attendant brought a jar full of water and entered the structure. The sound of boiling water and vapors of steam emanated from the entrance. The attendant quickly exited and drew the door curtain down. She carefully twisted and bound up Yohl Ik’nal’s hair with white ribbon, until it perched like a twining serpent upon the crown of the ahau’s elongated skull. Finishing her chant, the priestess motioned for Yohl Ik’nal to enter the Pib Nah for the final purification.

Dropping her robe, the young ahau stepped into a dark cave of steamy heat. Settling carefully on the hot stone bench, her naked body received the purifying vapors.

The main plaza of Lakam Ha was lined with people, leaving the brilliant white center bare. Large buildings framed two sides, and the others were lined with residences of the ahauob, situated close to the Bisik River. The south building had wide stairs descending to the plaza. Ascending the stairs were two columns of Ah K’inob (priests) and Ix K’inob (priestesses), attired brightly in feathered capes and headdresses, adorned with jade and shells. Rows of incensers poured out spirals of copal smoke. The buildings shone red-orange in the sun, their roof-combs painted white, yellow and blue. From the main plaza, complexes of stone buildings clustered on level areas of the narrow mountain ridge, while wood and thatch huts clung among trees on the slopes.

The city of Lakam Ha, Place of Big Water (called Palenque by Spaniards) was situated on a plateau of K’uk Lakam Witz, “fiery water mountain” hovering over fertile plains that stretched north to the Great Waters. It was a city beloved of the B’aakal Triad Gods, for they had thought to place it on this Holy Mountain long ago, when the Bacabs, Lords of the Four Directions, raised the sky and parted it from the waters. In that ancient time the Land of the Mayas arose from the waters like the back of a huge turtle shell, for they had willed it.

The day was hot and clear. Smells of jungle humus mingled with pungent copal, incense made from dried tree resin. Flocks of squawking parrots flew overhead and the roars of howler monkeys reverberated in the distance. Clay flutes, drums of hollow logs and turtle shells, wooden sticks, pod and shell rattles created plaintive and rhythmic melodies. Dancers performed in the plaza, enacting the coming of age story that was the purpose of the ceremony. It was a rite of transformation, when someone moved into a different phase of life, never to return to the previous status. Life changes such as puberty, adulthood, and marriage required this rite. Transformation to adulthood took place when 18 tuns (17.75 solar years) were attained.

When the dance ended, drummers struck a stately cadence. All eyes shifted to the platform above the stairway. The crowd murmured greetings when two richly dressed ahauob appeared, well-known and respected nobles through whose veins flowed the sacred blood of the B’aakal Triad: Kan Bahlam the father and Xoc Akal the mother of Yohl Ik’nal. They raised arms in salute, using the open-palm hand sign of blessing as the villagers cheered then fell silent.

Like a flock of birds suddenly changing direction, the crowd shifted toward the west building. Standing on the stairway was a collection of nobility together with the most respected warriors and artisans of Lakam Ha. They gazed up toward the platform as long wooden trumpets blared from rooftops and musicians drummed a rapid rhythm, escalating to a crashing frenzy. In the sudden silence that followed, the ruler of Lakam Ha appeared, the
K’uhul B’aakal Ahau
, Holy B’aakal Lord Ahkal Mo’ Nab II, elder brother of Kan Bahlam.

Standing between two ornate incensers, wreathed by copal smoke, Ahkal Mo’ Nab raised one arm to bestow blessings as he made the sowing gesture with his other hand. This hand sign replicated the motion of sowing corn seeds into the ground. It was the archetypal hand sign of Maya rulers, who were embodiments of the Maize God, First Father-Hun Hunahpu, the bringer of life, sustenance and abundance to his people. The crowd roared approval, reaffirming their sacred social contract. In return for the ruler’s intercessions with gods to bring beneficence, they gave their love and support and effort. Thus Maya society maintained harmony and balance with nature and spirit worlds.

Attention shifted again to the parents of Yohl Ik’nal. Speaking in clear tones that carried across the plaza, they told of their daughter’s accomplishments. She excelled at sciences, understood the workings of nature and the stars, knew the sacred calendars. She played lovely flute melodies, danced gracefully, spoke and used hand signs eloquently. She recited the gods’ names correctly, read glyphs and performed oblations. She gently tended children, guided her household properly, honored elders and ancestors. She kept a calm demeanor and brought peace with her presence. She was, in all ways, an exemplary daughter who now had reached adulthood.

At each pause in the recitation, musicians rattled and drummed as the crowd murmured approval. Excitement was building, for the moment approached when the young woman would appear.

The High Priest and Priestess, standing on the top stairs, stepped onto the platform beside Yohl Ik’nal’s parents and rapped their beribboned staffs seven times against the stones. In unison they chanted:

“
Uht-iy 4 Chuen 16 Uo, u-pib-nah ek-uan-iy, Ix Yohl Ik’nal.”

“It happened, on this auspicious day, the sweatbath is set in place, for Ix Yohl Ik’nal. She has arrived at the age of adulthood, her parents have said so, she has prepared and been purified, all has been done according to what is prescribed. Ix Yohl Ik’nal is spiritually and physically clean, she is reborn into a new life. As an adult,
Halach Uinik-
real human, she is fully formed. She takes her place in Lakam Ha as a woman of the B’aakal dynasty, bearer of the sacred blood. She is now her own person.

“Come forward, Ix Yohl Ik’nal.”

Intense silence settled upon the plaza. The crowd’s anticipation was palpable. Softly in the distance birdcalls insinuated melodies into the silence. A shape began to coalesce, seen dimly through copal smoke. Each deliberate step gave the apparition more form, until the young woman was suddenly visible. The crowd drew a collective in-breath, exhaling with a sigh.

Yohl Ik’nal stood on the top step of the platform. Her heart thundered in her ears and pounded against her chest. Blinking through the smoke, she looked around the plaza at an immense sea of faces, all eyes trained on her. Sweat formed tiny beads on her trembling upper lip. Nothing could have prepared her for this moment. Many times she had watched her uncle, the ruler, stand before the people. Sometimes she was also standing among the royal family on the platform. But never before had the people directed their full attention to her.

The blast of energy from the crowd felt like a shock wave against her body. Every nerve vibrated, sending prickling sensations along her spine and electric tingles to fingers and toes. Waves of nausea threatened to make her retch, and only maximum determination kept her upright. Nostrils flaring, she inhaled deeply and willed her rebellious gut to stillness. Her eyes lost focus and the crowd became a blur, an odd comfort that allowed her to regain poise. She raised clammy palms toward the people in the blessing sign and hoped her hands were not shaking.

To the crowd below, her appearance was regal. Almost as tall as her father, her stately form was adorned sumptuously in a towering headdress of quetzal feathers, beads and shells held by richly embroidered fabric and a huipil (shift dress) of yellow with red and green borders. The waistband held a medallion of
K’in Ahau
-Sun Lord’s face. Below the waist, a woven-mat skirt covered the huipil, connecting her with the Maize God and the generation of life. This mat also signified the
Popol Nah
(Council House) and her role as advisor and decision-maker. Maya leaders sat upon woven reed mats when they met in council. Brightly colored reed sandals covered her feet; wrist and ankle cuffs jangled metallic beads. A large jade pendant hung at mid-chest, carved in the face of K’uk Bahlam I, the first Halach Uinik-real human ancestor of her lineage.

Now was her time to speak to the people, her first formal speech as an adult of the sacred blood. She must demonstrate her knowledge and her memory. The ruling lineage carried this responsibility; they were the ones who remembered. They knew the history of their people far into ancient times, and even what came before that. Not everyone in the lineage had clear memory, however. The ability to remember in part determined who was selected as ruler. Not just remembering, but also communicating with ancestors and gods. All her training had brought her to this point. Now she must speak.

Yohl Ik’nal drew in a deep breath. She hesitated a moment, tempted to glance at the High Priestess, her mentor. Would she be worthy of her training? Would the sacred blood run true and fire her memory? Uncertainty rippled through her heart and her eyelids flickered, but she kept her gaze directed toward the square. She sensed her father’s strong presence and felt his encouragement.

Fastened to this moment in time, arms too heavy, her tongue felt huge, choking her, adhered to the roof of her mouth. Could she utter even one word? Much less recite a complex poem . .

Quickly, before panic closed her throat, she breathed out, lowered her arms and began to speak.

In a clear, pure voice that surprised her and carried across the plaza, Yohl Ik’nal recited the creation story of B’aakal, her people and land.

“It was before the Fourth Creation, in times long ago

Ix Muwaan Mat was born.

Of her birth it is said, she entered the sky

On the Day of Lord (Ahau), Month of Conjuring (Tzek),

For she was to bring the new creation.”

Everyone knew the gods’ first three creations had failed. The animals could only howl and screech and growl and twitter; the mud people dissolved when it rained; the stick people had no hearts and little minds. None could properly honor the gods, name their names, keep their days and give suitable gifts. The great saga bound all B’aakal people together, and none ever tired of listening. They swayed to her rhythmic cadence:

“Seven tuns after her birth came the new Creation,

When all counts of the long calendar returned to zero.

The gods of the sky, of the earth, of the underworld

Knew what they must do.

They did three stone-bindings in the sky:

The Jaguar Throne Stone at the 5 Sky House;

The Water Lily Throne Stone at the Heart of the Sky;

The Serpent Throne Stone at the 13 Sky Earth-Cave.

These three stones formed the First Hearth Place,

Patterned the stars so homes on earth would have hearthstones.

Then the Lords of the First Sky took their places:

9 Sky Yoch’ok’in, 16 Ch’ok’in, and 9 Tz’ak Ahau.

These were Lords of the Jeweled Tree

That reached from the Middleworld of earth

Into the Upperworld where the gods lived.

These Lords required gifts, these bundles were their tribute,

They were adorned with precious jewels, with necklaces and ear spools.

Ix Muwaan Mat adorned them,

She did tribute in the way required.

And also for the new Creation, the underworld gods were put in order.

The Underworld Ruler K’in Bahlam – Sun Jaguar

Received bundles from the six Lords of the Underworld.

They gave their gifts and all things were in order.

It was done. The Fourth Creation came to pass.

The hearthstones were seated, the Jeweled Tree was raised,

The Lords of the Sky and of the Underworld took their places.

“Eight tuns after her birth, Ix Muwaan Mat

Did the Deer Hoof Binding ceremony to designate herself as heir.

She carried the burden of creating the lineage.

The time was not yet, it was still to come, her travail for the lineage.

Two days after the Deer Hoof Binding ceremony,

First Father Hun Ahau entered the sky, sited the House of the North

In the 6 Sky Ahau place, creating the origin-lands of Matawiil.

“Now was the time of Ix Muwaan Mat’s travail.

It was time for the birth of the B’aakal lineage.

It happened, 750 tuns after House of the North was sited.

Hun Ahau
the Son of First Father was born

Of the penance of Ix Muwaan Mat in the origin-lands of Matawiil.

He is the Lord of the Celestial Realm.

“Great was the travail of Ix Muwaan Mat,

For next was born in 4 days a second son,

Mah K’inah Ahau
the Lord of the Underworld,