Amaru (mythology)

In the mythology of the Andean civilizations of South America, the amaru or katari (Aymara) is a mythical serpent or dragon. In Inca mythology, Amaru is a huge double-headed serpent that dwells underground, at the bottom of lakes and rivers. It represents infinity, knowledge, and cosmic renewal, and connects the earthly world with the spiritual. It is an animal that traverses worlds and is capable of transcending boundaries to and from the spiritual realm of the underworld.

Amaru, also known as the cosmic serpent, is a deity deeply connected to the natural world and cosmic order in Andean cosmology. Its undulating form symbolizes the interconnection between earth and sky, embodying the dualistic forces of creation and destruction, life and death. Furthermore, it is said that all things, all beings, their lives, their realities, and their dreams are written on the scales of the Amaru.