Thanks to its long history and past, Peru is rich in myths and stories. Since ancient times, these tales have been passed down from generation to generation. In the Urubamba mountain range, 2 hours away from the city of Cusco, you’ll find Sawasiray and Pitusaray snow-capped summits.
Both are ideal for travelers who love adventure, trekking, and high mountains. However, they also have an outstanding romantic story that dates back to the Inca Empire.
We’ll tell you a beautiful story about two sad lovers in this blog, Sawasiray, and Pitusiray, introducing the new section, “Peruvian Legends”, on Viagens Machu Picchu blog. Before we start with the story, let’s know some details about these mountains.
More details about the mountains
“El Nevado de Pitusiray” is a stunning, snow-capped mountain near the famous Vilcanota River. Pitusiray stands at 4,950 meters above sea level, it’s a splendid challenge for adventure sports enthusiasts, you can find it in the province of Calca.
On the other hand, Sawasiray is also located near the Sacred Valley of the Incas and is among the highest mountains in Peru, located at an altitude of 5,818 meters above sea level.
These mountains are located in the Cusco Region, Calca Province. Calca is located in the heart of the Sacred Valley, people from there honor “Pachamama” or Mother Earth. The part of the eastern mountain range and one of the most outstanding high Andean zones is in the Calca area.
Alluvial cones are formed as a result of steep slopes and other circumstances, while pre-Hispanic Andean thought associated the Sawasiray-Pitusiray mountain with farming and herding rituals.
The Legend
Many Andean myths and legends describe sacred encounters of feminine and male parties, one of them is this legend, that goes like this:
Orqo Waranqa was a “kuranka”, a chief of Inca times in Urco village. This chief had a daughter, called Pitusiray. Over the years, Pitusiray grew into a beautiful maiden, and her father looked at her with great joy. Later, Pitusiray fell in love with a handsome young man named Sawasiray. She loved him so much that she gave him her heart.
Since the maiden was so beautiful, she had many suitors who wanted to marry her, and they went to ask her father for his consent. The chief couldn’t decide which of them was the best match for her daughter. Around that time, Orco Waranqa owned several lands that, unfortunately, were unproductive due to a lack of water in the area. He tried to take advantage of this situation, offering Pitusiray’s hand in marriage to whoever could bring water to his dry furrows.
Pitusiray was devastated when she learned of her father’s request because she feared Sawasiray, the young man she loved, would fail at such a tough task. She wept and shivered with anxiety for several days as her suitors labored tirelessly to fetch the water. Kuntisiray, Sawasiray’s rival, was a lord of neighboring regions.
They competed for this nearly impossible task because of the challenging terrain. Sawasiray tried to guide the water down the hill, but he failed for the short time he had left. After Kuntisiray dug an extensive well atop a hill, water began to flow down a ravine’s terraces. In the meantime, Sawasiray dug a canal along the side of a hill that he tried to move water through while working very hard and lovingly, all the while thinking of Pitusiray.
Sawasiray called this waterway “Sonqo” because he thought it looked like his heart. He took a long time building this symbol of his love, which worked in Kuntisiray’s favor by enabling him to bring the water first and defeat the others. Orqo Huaraca was so happy that Kuntisiray went to ask him to uphold his promise.
Overwhelmed by the outcome, the princess had no choice but to obey her father’s orders. She ended up making the painful decision to marry Kuntisiray. With a broken heart, Sawasiray was extremely depressed; his sadness increased upon realizing that he was losing his beloved Pitusiray. He had no idea what to do as several ideas rushed through his head. Using all of his power, he yelled out in pain as he ascended a hill:
‘Oh, my Pitusiray… what will I do?’
‘Oh, my Pitusiray… what will become of me?’
When thunderstorms and lightning descended upon Calca one stormy night, Pitusiray, thinking of her beloved, rushed in to find Sawasiray. After they back together they decided to go to the range’s mountains as they no longer wanted to be separated. Her father was furious to hear of this and aimed to instill in them the value of living according to the law since lying and cheating were considered serious faults back then.
The two young lovers’ actions angered the Wiraqocha god, who transformed them into two snow-capped mountains by encasing their hearts in a frozen mantle. Today, two snow-capped peaks behind Calca are known as Pitusiray and Sawasiray, while Kuntisiray is located behind these two mountains. Inhabitants and visitors visit Calca to see the two lovers transformed into mountains watching the whole Sacred Valley.
The story is based on a translation by César Morante Luna from Quechua to Spanish that was included in Rodolfo Sanchez Garrafa’s book “Apus de los cuatro suyos” (2006).
Analysis of Names and Meanings
The meaning of names in this story can be understood through the oral tradition. The word “sira” in Quechua means “to sew” or “to unite,” which can be interpreted symbolically as joining or binding together—a concept appropriate for a love tale. Nonetheless, “sira” in Aymara literally means “sexual union,” which gives the story of Pitusiray and Sawasiray’s love and bond a greater level of significance.
The story’s romantic and dramatic aspects draw attention to the Andean nations’ cultural values and the symbolic importance of names and relationships. In Andean cosmology, the lovers’ transformation into mountains is a powerful symbol of enduring love and the connection between the natural world and human emotions.
That was a beautiful love story, isn’t it? Read our blog for more stories like that! If you are intrigued and want to visit the places we mentioned in this tale, Viagens Machu Picchu invites you to travel with us to Cusco and other incredible destinations!
