Learning about the Mayan afterlife can be difficult, both because of how long the Mayan culture lasted, and the last of unity in the cultures political and social structure. Between the changes in Mayan religion and mythology over time, and differences between varies Mayan areas, speaking of Mayan beliefs is a bit like talking about the beliefs of ancient Mediterranean cultures – Roman, Etruscan and Greek mythology have a lot in common, but they have many differences too.

In spite of this difficulty, records from the Classical Mayan period, as well as the descriptions made by the Spanish when they invaded Mayan territories provide enough information to figure out a few commonalities in Mayan beliefs of the afterlife.

In Mayan beliefs, the underworld is literally beneath the physical world, and could be reached through holes in the Earth. There is one place in the Guatemala, and another in Belize that are supposed to be entrances to the world of the dead.

Records indicate that the world of the dead in Classical Mayan culture, Xibalba was a dark and horrid place, ruled by the lords of death. The Quichi Maya of the 16th century continued this belief, while the Yucatec Maya believed in a similar realm called Metnal.

A myth from Classic Maya texts involved two twins who go into Xilbalba to rescue their father, and kill the lords of death. It is speculated that there may have been another afterlife, a paradise similar to the Aztec warrior’s paradise. The Yucatec Maya certainly believed in such a place, a paradise of plenty, where a tree, yaxche, that stood at the center of the world shaded the souls of the deceased.

Additionally, the Mayans apparently believed that the dead could come back and speak with the living, in some cases the dead, especially patriarchs of powerful families, were cremated and their remains kept in a prominent place in the family home. Carvings and paintings show former kings being petitioned to speak, and appearing in the mouth of a ‘Vision serpent’.

Overall, what we know of Mayan beliefs shows the existence of a dark and horrid afterlife, but also the possibility, sometimes only suggested, sometimes in the form of an alternate afterlife, or in the dead who can return to counsel the living, that there are other options.

Sources:

http://www.deathreference.com/Ke-Ma/Maya-Religion.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_religion#Earth.2C_sky.2C_underworld

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xibalba