Shamanic hierarchies in the Peruvian Amazon: Banco, Master of everything
The figure of the Banco is at the top of the shamanic hierarchy of vegetalistas in the Peruvian Amazon, alongside the Muraya (or Meraya, for the Shipibos) and the Suni runa. It is believed that Bancos were exceptional beings capable of incredible magical feats, such as being in two different places at the same time and to shape-shift, transforming themselves into any animal they wanted to, including the jaguar.
During their shamanic work they left completely the physical body. According to some vegetalistas, they needed at least a disciple in charge of the protection and control of their physical body, to prevent spirit/soul loss.
The figure of the Banco is – aside extremely isolated and geographically remote instances – practically disappearing in the Peruvian Amazon, given the immense hardships of the strict plant diet required to become a Banco. According to Shipibo Onanya (shaman) Don Alfredo this diet is at the very least of ten years in length (being in isolation in deep jungle, without seeing anyone, without touching a woman, without eating any kind of meat or game, only feeding on green plantains and certain kinds of river fishes, like the Boquichico). Each Banco had his own style, learnt through the Ayahuasca, and by fasting and dieting with the teacher plants for many years without any interruptions. They were special beings with an enormous power and energy (beware of imitations!!…).
According to anthropological sources, that of the Banco is the specialization of the Lamista people of the Amazon. However, among the Shipibos the term is used indistinctly to refer as well to their Meraya. Actually the two categories of Banco and Meraya are used as synonymous of each other.
The Banco ‘s specialization is to work in trance, face-down, inside a mosquito net, and he (or she) is capable to summon – and communicate with – the spirit of deceased people. The name “banco” in Spanish means, literally, ”bench”, and indicate the fact that – during the trance – he/she works as a bench for the spirits.
A mayor difference between the figure of the Shipibo Banco / Meraya and that of the Onanya (shaman) is that the first healed and operated directly via the intervention of the spirits (invoked and summoned whilst laying face down in a mosquito net), whilst common master shamans heal mostly using plants (including plant teachers) and/or other physical remedies.
Tags: Banco, banco meraya, banco muraya, high-ranking shamans of the shipibos, meraya, Muraya, shamanic hierachies peruvian amazon, shamanic plant diet, shapeshifting, shipibo, shipibo banco, shipibo meraya, suniruna
