Immortal Elements

Prologue Glossary

Bathala- is believed to have come from the Sanskrit Bhattara Guru or “the highest of the gods.” In Philippine mythology, the highest-ranking god of the ancient Tagalog people is Bathala, also known as or Maykapal or Abba. Bathala is the creator of all things — the sea, the sky, the earth, and all the plants. He dwelt in the highest realm of the sky. No one knows where Bathala came from. One day, he simply appeared (in different versions, heralded by flood, fire or strong earthquake) and announced his authority over the world. He is the all-mighty epicene and hermaphrodite deity who created the universe. A descriptive honorific is often attached to his name, describing him as the Bathalang Maylicha So great and powerful is Bathala that no one dares question his demand for obedience and reverence. He is often imagined as very humanlike. 

Tungkung Langit- This lesser deity is known as the Pillar of Heaven. Similar to Atlas, this strong and mighty god bears the duty to carry the skies upon his shoulders. If he fails, the sky would fall down and crush the people below. He has a wife named Luyong Kabig, who lives in the underworld to guard its entrance and prevent undead mortals from entering its realm.

Kaluwalhatian- is an ancient Tagalog people's version of heaven, known as the sky realms and the court of Bathala. Kaluwalhatian has no room for growing rice and forbids chasing of deer.

Kaluluwa- pertaining to human soul. 

Anito- also spelled anitu, refers to ancestor spirits, nature spirits, and deities (diwata) in the indigenous animistic religions of precolonial Philippines. 

Apolaki- is the sun god and patron of warriors. Apolaki is arguably the counterpart of Mars in Roman mythology. In Kapampangan mythology, he is comparable to Aring Sinukuan, god of war and death. Other stories state that he is son of Anagolay and Dumakulem, and also the brother of Dian Masalanta, the goddess of lovers. There are other sources that also say he is the son of Bathala himself from a mortal woman. In this version, the mortal woman gave birth to two children, Apolaki and Mayari. When they were born, their eyes shone so bright, they lit up the entire world.

Mayari- was the daughter of Bathala, the king of the gods, to a mortal woman. Mayari is the Goddess of Combat, War, Revolution, Hunt, Weaponry, Beauty, Strength, Moon and Night. She is known as the most beautiful deity in Bathala's court.

Sitan- is an ancient dark god from Filipino mythology, his role is the same as that of the monotheistic Satan, the guardian of Kasamaan (the ancient Tagalog version of Hell) and all of the souls within he had four agents tasked to tempting and ruining mankind.

Bagani- A group of remarkable warriors, children of anitos with the strength and powers coming from the elements around us. 

Sangkatauhan- humankind

Engkantao- the offspring of mating between humans and engkanto, diwata, anito. 

Engkanto- are mythical environmental spirits that are said to have the ability to appear in human form. They are often associated with the spirits of ancestors in the Philippines. They are also characterized as spirit sorts like sirens, dark beings, elves, and more. Belief in their existence has likely existed for centuries, and continues to this day.

Diwata- is a type of deity or spirit.