Celestial Temple of Ashar's Enlightened Path

Celestial Temple of Ashar's Enlightened Path
Flag of the Khadahari Hegemony
Supreme Grand Apostle of Jannah	Kharon Vizirov
Founder	Arkhan Vissari
Founding Date	1142 AC
Headquarters	Jannah, Tovakizar

"I will fill your mountains with the dead. Your hills, your valleys, and your streams will be filled with people slaughtered by the sword. I will make you desolate forever. Your cities will never be rebuilt. Then you will know that I am God."

The Celestial Temple of His Most Sacred Majesty's Enlightened Path, simply known as the Celestial Temple, is the newest and largest branch of Asharanism and is currently the state religion of multiple states with the most important being the Celestial Hegemony. Formed by Arkhan Vissari who proclaimed himself the Fourth Avatar of Ashar, the Celestial Temple grew rapidly at the end of the Half-Century War and within a few years rivaled the power and influence of the long-established Temple of Ashar.

The Celestial Temple is lead by the Supreme Anchorite

12 Commandments

You shall not put any other god before Our Lord the Sun.

You shall not neglect the worship of Our Lord the Sun nor any of His holidays.

You shall not disrespect your neighbors, for they too are the children of Our Lord the Sun.

You shall not murder.

You shall not steal, lie or deceive.

You shall not fear death.

You shall protect the weak, but never the craven.

You shall look after the well being of mind and body.

You shall take full responsibility for your actions.

You shall give assistance and kindness wherever needed.

You shall treat the earth and all that dwell on it with respect.

You shall honor, Our Lord the Sun, your father and your mother.

Father is returned Azar Son is Second King of Kings

Cosmology

In the beginning, there was only the Supreme Creator. The Supreme Creator created the Firstborn, also known as the Lord of Darkness or the Worm and channeled half of their energy into the creation. However, he realized it was too powerful and could not destroy it only banish it. The Creator then created the first man and woman and used the remaining half of its energy to create the Lord of Light or the Second Born. The Two heavenly beings fought throughout the cosmos until landing on the red planet where they held their final battle. The Lord of Light struck down the Worm and banished it to the pits of the planet.

Thousands of years later, Azar Lightbringer as born and began to unite the Tovak people. As he waged a campaign of conquest across the land, he discovered he was the Son of the Sun and was destined to bring Ashar's message to all. Azar fought his childhood best friend, Ahriman who eventually became the Boundlord and attempted to conquer the world in the name of the Worm.

Beliefs

God Hand

The Five Saints of Ashar, the God Hand are the manifestations of Azarel.

Mother-Founder of the religion: less than a million

Son-Spreader of the religion: 2 million dead

Daughter-Attempted rebel against the daemons of her nation: 7.5 million

Second Son-Founder of the Celestial Hegemony: 13 million

Fifth member of family-Undetermined gender, will bring about the end of the world

Two Lights

The Two Lights refer to two roughly opposite yet also closely complementary tendencies in Asharan theology and practice, the Black Light, and the White Light. Each of the two Lights is characterized by specific general attitudes in approach to subjects such as the path to ascension, the goal of ascension, the organization of the faithful, and the regimentation to be pursued by the believer. Black Light has been described as mysterious and authoritarian, but also egoistic, while White Light has been described as rationalistic, focused on doctrinal abstraction into principles, and egalitarian, yet also tightly regimented and collectivistic. The presence of seemingly contradictory tenets in a Light is actually considered essential to their composition.

Although the Two Lights are historically often considered as radically opposite due to the rivalry of the schools of thought espousing each of them, they are not in fact mutually exclusive interpretations and approaches, and are considered to be the same aspects of the truth that Costeny represents; accepting both is a step towards approaching the Absolute. However, churches have usually tended towards one or other Light, and traditions have been developed upon one particular tendency. The following of Black Light is regarded to span most of northern West Borea, while White Light is considered to be accepted by its southern half.

Rituals/ Six Pillars of Ashar

Declaration of Faith

The Kansist Declaration of Faith is recited in prayers and the beginning of every congregation. The declaration consists of four parts, with each part representing one of God's major revelations. Converts to Kansism must recite the declaration before they can be formally accepted into the religion.

1. "I declare that God is the Almighty; He is all and He is above all."
2. "I declare that all beings are of God's creation - from God they come and to God they return."
3. "I declare that all creations are equal under God."
4. "I declare that the word of God is entirely delivered and pledge to realize its universal acceptance as the means to salvation."

Prayer

Daily prayer is necessary to remind adherents of the greatness of God. Kansists must pray once a day, although the ideal time of prayer is disputed between sects. Orthodox sects argue that noon is the ideal time of prayer as that is when Chen prayed with his followers, but liberal sects reject the concept of an ideal prayer time, believing that people should be able to perform mandatory prayer at any convenient time of the day because God's power does not peak at any point in time.

Prayers must be performed before an altar of God, which are usually set up in homes and must face the east, the direction from which the sun rises.

Congregation

Congregations are important in Kansism because they are believed to keep the religion intact while bringing a sense of community to adherents. Kansism requires that adherents congregate in a temple once a week, where rituals honoring God and his saints are performed. Congregations must also occur on the birthdays of the saints and holy people. Should a Kansist reside in a place where there are no temples or other fellow believers nearby, he or she can compensate for the lack of congregation by performing rituals before an altar.

Frugality

Frugality is a core principle of Kansism, as it is seen as a deterrent to avarice, which in turn leads to hubris. Adherents must "match one's wants with one's needs" by buying less and consuming less. Some sects have interpreted this as vegetarianism and proscribed the consumption of meat products, although this practice is not universally accepted by Kansists.

Fasting is a practice recognized by both liberal and orthodox Kansists. Kansists are required to fast on the first day of every month; in addition, they must fast between dusk and dawn in the 49 days following the death of a relative.

Charity

The principle of charity goes hand in hand with frugality. As adherents of Kansism are taught that excesses in wealth do not belong in their possessions, they are expected to give excesses in wealth to the poor.

Pilgramage

For every devout Asharan, the greatest duty and undertaking of all is performing the Path, a pilgrimage through the entirety of the Celestial Hegemony where a prayer is given and sanctification received at each of the Cathedrals of the Saints. The journey is long, difficult, and trying for the body and faith, but many a hobbled pilgrim feels their vigor return upon seeing the spires of the White City of Jannah, knowing their final destination is near: the Holy Saint Rossa Cathedral. Their feet find speed beneath them, and they continue with purpose. For many, it will be the first time witnessing the famous rosarium of the cathedral.

Festivals

In Kansism, the birthdays of the saints are observed as "manifestation days," reflecting the Kansist belief that the birth of the saints actually marks the beginning of God's manifestations on Earth. The manifestation day for the Committee of Ten falls on the 7th day of the 4th month on the Namorese calendar, since the Declaration of the Rights of the People was ratified on April 7, 1790.

Distrubition

Kansism is the second largest religion in Namor with over 110 million adherents according to the latest census. Kansists maintain a presence in every region, although they are mostly concentrated in the interior districts of Namor. Over 20 million Kansists reside in West Nozama, while the city of Gukmo - where Chen Minko delivered his first sermon - is considered to be the capital of Kansism. A majority of Gukmo's inhabitants are Kansists.

Kansism is popular among overseas Namorese. After Hao authorities crushed the Kansist uprising, some Kansists fled Namor and resettled in other countries, where they spread Chen's teachings. Kansists played a major role in building anti-Hao sentiment both at home and abroad, with large numbers of Kansists joining republican organizations including the Democratic Brotherhood which would later overthrow Hao rule. Jacob Cho, a revolutionary who eventually founded the Republic of Namor, converted to Kansism after listening to a sermon delivered by one of Chen Minko's closest followers who was living in exile.

Hierarchy

Priesthood

Acolyte - Priests in training who are yet to receive proper anointment but who are already educated in all the rituals. Expected to meditate on the words written in the Exaltography and the Chronicles, and help the priest that oversee his training in anything that does not involve performing the rituals.

Priest - A priest who is allowed to perform all rituals but does not oversee their own temple and instead serves under another older priest.

Arch Priest - A priest who oversees their own temple

Apostle - Religious head of a city

Grand Apostle - Religious head of a province and in charge of various Apostles

First Acolyte - Vice leader of the Temple, head of the Council of Apostles and heir apparent to the religion

Prophet - Supreme head of the religion residing in Jannah, elected by the Council of Apostles

Offices

Office of Inquisition - The Inquisition, led by the High Inquisitor, acts as the secret police force of the Temple and the Hegemony, hunting down any and all of the myriad threats to the stability of Asharadom, from the corruption caused by the Dragon Cults and rebels, to blasphemies and heresy.

Office of Administration - Divided into Clerks and Scholars, led by the High Administrator. The Clerks ensure that Holy estates run without any problem and that time the entirety of the Temple runs functions from a financial standpoint. Scholars serve as researches and translators of the temple.

Office of the Message Led by the High Messanger, Sanctioned Missionaries are those who seek to spread the knowledge of the faith to the most distant corners of the world and to ensure that even those faithful who live on the borders of the known world can participate in all the rituals.

Orders

Monastic Order of Seekers - Various monasteries and nunneries that operate throughout the Hegemony. Each monastery is led by an Abbot or Abbess and is usually found in isolated spots such as mountains or large plains. Novice, Robe Bearer, Flame Bearer.

Order of the Celestial Temple - Split into various Chapters, the Templars are the military arm of the Temple and the largest paramilitary force in the Hegemony.