Hri Religion

Hri religion is a mix of hylozoistic and animistic pantheism and Buddhism. Everything has its own spirit but all share the same spiritual essence known as Whrak Dharth.

Gods and Spirits

Hri religion includes the worship of a number of gods, demons, and spirits. The gods are frequently invoked; offerings are made to them, and ceremonial dances are performed in which they are represented by painted and masked men.

Spirits are believed to favor particular individuals and to render aid to them; particularly protective spirits dwelling in rocks and thunder.

The most important god is the Great Elder. Below the Great Elder are 6 powerful spirits, referred to as the Six Grandfathers. Next are the are the four spirits of the points of the compass, known as the North, East, South and West spirits, the spirits of the weather ,elements, and environment: wind, fire, lightning, fog, water, rain, smoke, mountains, steppes, rivers, and so on. Finally are the animal spirits. All animals possess a soul (animal spirit), and thus the Hri tend to treat all animals with respect. Certain animals such as the eagle, the bear, the lish, the otter and the beaver are regarded as particularly endowed with strong spirits.

Religious Practices

Vision Quest

Soon after making the Kha'i, newly adult males under go a visionary quest, known as Kae Lin. Questors deliberatly seek out isolated situations of privation. The purpose of this quest is the discovery of a totemic gaurdian spirit. The identity of this spirit is typically revealed through a vision, induced by physical and mental stress.