Celestial Temple

Celestial Asharan Temple of the Enlightened Path
Flag of the Celestial Temple
Classification	Asharan
Hegemon	Kharon Vizirov
Founder	Arkhan Vissari
Founded	1590
Headquarters	Jannah, Tovakizar
Members	320 million
Political wing	Celestial Society
Armed wing	Eternal Lightguard
Aid organization	Asharan Hands
Other names	Celestial Temple The Path

The Celestial Asharan Temple of the Enlightened Path, commonly known as the Celestial Temple or by its acronym the CATEP, is the newest and currently largest major sect of Asharism and the state religion of ten states most notably the Celestial Hegemony. Like other branches of Asharism, the Celestial Temple worship Ashar, a deity who resides in the sun as his palace. Unlike other branches of Asharism however, the Celestial Temple believe the sun to be a "Golden Cage" and is where Ashar is currently imprisoned while the Seven Lords rule the earth in his stead.

They believe that the world of the Old Ones was destroyed by a demonic entity called the "Shadow Worm", who corrupted the Seven Lords and led them in rebellion against Ashar and his loyalist host. The Shadow Worms wins and imprisons Ashar and his angels within the sun while the Seven Lords corrupt Ashar's children, humans.

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.

Beliefs

The sun is the palace of Ashar and the five brightest stars in the night sky are his Five Angels. The remainder stars are the souls of the devout. It is said that in the beginning of the world, the night sky was devoid of stars save for the Five but as more people learned of the faith more stars appeared.

After the anticipated the Great Collapse has passed, the night sky will be filled with so many stars it will appear as if it were day.

There has been four other generations of men (Diamond, Golden, Silver, Iron) each one destroyed by Ashar due to their corruptness and evil. The Fifth Age of Man, the Bronze Men, however shall remain due to his marriage with Vida. He has guaranteed that this age will be the last for better or worse.

Cosmology

Age of Light

Mankind if first created, the demiurge is imprisoned

Age of Blood

The War of Heaven, mankind wages a civil war amongst those who follow Ashar and those corrupted by the Devourer.

Age of Darkness

Mankind is reduced to a primitive state. The sun is black and no light is seen for thousands of years.

Age of Enlightenment

Vida spreads the gospel of Ashar. She is executed and the knowledge of Ashar is given to all once again.

Age of Deception

After the fall of the First Hegemony, the following empires and led by false prophets.

Age of Righteous

Kishar the Righetous starts an rebellion against the false prophets. Although she fails, the world sees how corrupt and weak the false prophets are.

Second Age of Deception

The remainder of the false prophets time.

Age of Reclamation

The current age, begins with the rise of Arkhan and the toppling of the false prophets.

Age of Great Collapse

The coming age of death and the end of the current world.

God

Ashar also known as the One Lord or the Lord of Light, is the chief diety of the Celestial Temple. Ashar is said to have created the world and all within it and gave guardianship over it to Seven Lords. These Seven Lords rebelled against Ashar and claimed the world as their own and covered it in darkness. Ashar, not willing to abandon his children, gave mankind a spark.

Prophets

Vida the Mother- Vida is regarded as the primeval mother of peoples and the highest of saints, the chief intercessor between humanity and the divine. In life, she was a prophet and teacher, until she was betrayed by two of her followers who had become envious of her wisdom. Her death allowed that divine wisdom to become available to all peoples.

Ari El'Benazar- The second prophet of Asharism, he known as the First Son of Ashar and Vida. Supposedly found in a crater after a meteorite, Azar was raised as a warlord by a warlord. After the destruction of an Asharan city however, Azar, out of grief and remorse, converts and becomes the Defender of the Enlightended Path.

Kishar-Third prophet of Ashar and the First Daughter of Ashar and Vida.

Arkhan Vissari-Fourth prophet of Ashar and the Second Son of Ashar and Vida. Founder of the Celestial Hegemony.

The Coming One-The Fifth and final prophet of Ashar, they shall be the last child of Ashar and Vida. they shall destroy the Great Worm and their followers of death, ending the End Times and bringing out an golden age of peace and prosperity.

Festivals

The Asharan solar calendar is divided into twelve months, with each month dedicated to a certain celebrated occurrence in yearly Asharan routine. These months are:

• First month - Marks the start of a new year. The month of rest, of new resolutions and of planning. Is typically celebrated with a large feast, sometimes lasting the entire month for the richest and most decadent.
• Political month- The month where the first Ravadi of the year sits, and is expected to make the most important decisions to be carried out in the year to come.
• Beautiful month - The month of peace, where war is forbidden, and no drop of blood is to be spilt. Murderers and warmongers of any kind during this month are imprisoned and with extreme prejudice and are typically executed in the month following. Wars of defence however are permitted.
• Artistic month - Month of artistic and laborious pursuits. In this month typically most buildings begin to be built, roads begin to be paved, are armies are often raised.
• War month - Month of martial pursuits and righteous war. The occurrence of this month alone has historically been used as a casus belli by Soziti nations to wage war against others, especially those of other religions. Tournaments of combat and strength are also held in this month, especially in more peaceful times where war is not foreseeable, with traditional sports being archery, horse racing and wrestling.
• Fire month - The month of fire and of death and rebirth, where the dead are celebrated and young are born. The dead are disposed of in this month, either through cremation or sky burial, and it is considered lucky for a child to be born in this month. Bonfires are lit in the streets to celebrate. In history and legend, undesired towns and cities captured in the month prior have also historically been razed during this month.
• Charity month - The month of charity and gift-giving.
• Speaking month - The month of announcements and review. This month is characterised by public forums held by priests and nobility reflecting on the national achievements that have occurred in the year thus far, as well as reviews of perviously made national decisions that have not yet been fulfilled. The right for commoners to speak has historically been denied, however this has been ignored through various points in history, normally during times of social uprisings and unrest.
• Food month - The month of food preservation and cooking. Typically foodstuffs with long shelf lives are prepared in this month, ensuring steady nourishment in the freezing Neiran weather.
• Repair month - The month of repair and healing. Buildings and infrastructure are traditionally tended to and repaired during this time, and the sickly are given the most attention. Often seen as a second month for charity, specifically for the diseased and disabled.
• Learning month - The month where young children of 6-8 years begin schooling. Universities also often accept applications during this month.
• Clarity month- The month of truth, where political decisions are finalised and politics come to a close. End-year exams often begin this month for students, specifically older students.

Morality

Asharan philosophy teaches the co-existence of good and evil as being integral to the divine balance of the world. Though individuals are taught to practice both in equal measure, Asharism makes an important distinction between productive and non-productive practices, with productive evil actions, in the right circumstances, often being seen as beneficial to society, and inversely, non-productive good actions are frequently seen as thoughtless and wasteful.

Some examples of productive evils include:

• Waging war to liberate people from unrighteous rule, or to allow a people to expand to prosperous new lands.
• Taxing a society so that it may all benefit from the spending of the wealth accumulated.
• Hiding a terrible truth through lies and obscurantism.
• Self-sacrifice in the name of a greater good.
• Ridding the world of those the greater society suffers at the hand of.

Examples of non-productive goods include:

• Letting a person or group of people who are not a benefit to society continue living.
• Charity to those who do not need it.
• Aid to those who can help themselves.
• Staying peaceful when threatened with conquest.
• Accumulating large amounts of wealth, only to store it away to never be used.
• Heroic and daring actions that only do harm to others or one's self.

Place of Worship

Praying is often done within a Light Temple, also called a Light House, a long, rectangular, building usually found in the center of a population center such a village or a large city. Light Temples are often buildings with a tall tower built into or adjacent to the temple. Inside, murals and portraits depicting religious figures such as saints, martyrs or the Light God himself are commonplace. On the far end of interior, a large pit of fire is standard.