Sacred Animals

The Picture above is  of Tepeyollotl a Manifestation or nahual of Tezcatlipoca.

-Codex Telleriano Remensis

Tezcatlipoca, one of the most complex and multifaceted deities in Mesoamerican mythology, is closely associated with the jaguar. This connection is evident across several ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, including the Olmecs, Toltecs, Aztecs(Mexica), and Mixtecs. Each culture had its unique interpretation of the jaguar's symbolism, often intertwining it with their religious beliefs and cosmology.

Tezcatlipoca, whose name means "Smoking Mirror" in Nahuatl, was a principal deity among the Aztecs, embodying conflict, sorcery, and the night. He was often depicted as a jaguar, a creature symbolizing power, stealth, and the night. The jaguar was seen as a sacred animal and a totem of Tezcatlipoca, for example the Osa Mayor is thought to be Tezcatlipoca's as it looks like a jaguar.

Olmecs:

• The Olmec civilization, one of the earliest in Mesoamerica (circa 1500–400 BCE), revered the jaguar as a powerful symbol of their shamanistic and religious practices. The "were-jaguar" motif, a representation of a human-jaguar hybrid, frequently appears in Olmec art, suggesting a belief in the jaguar as a spiritual mediator. The Olmecs' reverence for the jaguar laid the foundation for its sacred status in later Mesoamerican cultures.

Toltecs:

• The Toltecs, who thrived between the 10th and 12th centuries CE, also held the jaguar in high esteem. Tezcatlipoca was a central deity in Toltec religion, and his jaguar form symbolized the warrior ethos and the connection to the night and the underworld. The Toltec capital, Tula, features many representations of jaguars, highlighting their importance in Toltec culture.

Aztecs:

• For the Aztecs (14th to 16th centuries CE), the jaguar was a symbol of the elite warrior class, the Jaguar Warriors, who were among the most revered fighters in Aztec society. Tezcatlipoca, as the patron of these warriors, was often depicted in jaguar form, symbolizing his influence over war and fate. The jaguar’s nocturnal nature also aligned with Tezcatlipoca's association with the night and darkness.

Mixtecs:

• The Mixtecs, 1500 BCE-1523CE, also venerated the jaguar. Their codices, which are some of the few surviving pre-Columbian books, depict jaguar warriors and deities. The Mixtecs believed the jaguar had powerful connections to the spiritual world and often portrayed their gods with jaguar attributes. Nobles would adopt the jaguar name into their own and into their families they would also adorn themselves and their objects with jaguar themed things. This practice was a testament to the widespread cultural and religious significance of the jaguar across Mesoamerica.

The jaguar’s symbolism in connection to Tezcatlipoca and other Mesoamerican deities underscores the animal’s role as a powerful spiritual and physical entity. The jaguar's attributes of strength, agility, and nocturnal prowess made it an ideal representation of Tezcatlipoca’s complex nature, embodying his control over the night, war, and sorcery.

Tezcatlipoca's association with the jaguar reflects a broader cultural reverence for the animal across various Mesoamerican civilizations. The jaguar was not only a symbol of power and mysticism but also a link between the earthly and the divine, embodying the characteristics of the deities it represented. This enduring legacy highlights the deep cultural and spiritual significance of the jaguar in Mesoamerican mythology.

The Picture above is  of el coyote emplumado the feathered coyote made famous by "La India Maria" in the movie "El Coyote Emplumado" 

Huehuecoyotl the coyote god commonly referred to as the old coyote could very likely be a manifestation or nahual of Tezcatlipoca according to the Museo Nacional De antropología in Mexico.

Huehuecoyotl the very old coyote, he was a trickster and shapeshifter much like Tezcatlipoca in all sources he is from the Tezcatlipoca family and in most he is his direct descendant or Nahual of Tezcatlipoca. In some myths he was born from Omecihuatl the female half of Ometeotl after she had given birth to the Tezcatlipoca family she gave birth to a Tecpatl a obsidian blade. The Gods were concerned and threw it away it fell to chicomoztoc aa part of earth which translates to seven caves, upon falling into these seven caves the Tecpatl(Obsidian Blade) released 1600 gods and goddesses the Nauhtzonteteo they spread all over the earth, the sea, the underworld and the heavens.

The Picture above is  of Chalchiutotolin the Jeweled Fowl a Nahual or Manifestation of Tezcatlipoca 

image from -Codex Borgia

Chalchiuhtotolin is a powerful symbol of sorcery. He also keeps humans from ending themselves as Chalchiuhtotolin he can cleanse beings of any contamination absolve guilt and most importantly overcome their fate. 

Tezcatlipoca and his relation to Turkeys or Fowls is not widely documented but it is real. Chalchiuhtotolin is direct proof. There is stories lost about Tezcatlipoca and Chalchiuhtolin, the conquest destroyed much history. it's fair to assume many stories related to this have been erased or otherwise lost.

  In the era of the 4th sun all humans were turned into turkeys as Chalchiuhtlicue ended her cycle as the sun. In some versions Tezcatlipoca had much to do with her ending her cycle as the sun so there might be something there thats been lost or otherwise erased during the conquest about Tezcatlipoca and Turkeys or Fowls

The Picture above is of Lord Eight Deer Jaguar Claw. 

He unified the Mixtec people in the 11th-12th century CE he acquired much power for them and his bloodline.

• The ñuu savi known as the Mixtecs, revered the jaguar as a sacred animal closely associated and linked to their patron and protector god Ñuhu Dasavui. He is a deity of rain, water, and thunder, embodying the elements essential for agriculture and survival.
• Lineage and Nobility: The Mixtecs mythically associated the jaguar with the lineage of their rulers. Noble names often included the term jaguar, reflecting its significance. ( This is a practice similar to the Olmecs with the "Were Jaguar.") Besides the lineage the nobility would adorn with jaguar decor such as jaguar themed chairs, seats, clothes, pottery, etc.
• Codices: Mixtec codices record that in places like Tututepec in the Mixteca region, many high-ranking nobles incorporated the term jaguar into their names.
• 8 Deer "Jaguar Claw": One of the most prominent examples is 8 Deer "Jaguar Claw," a noble who unified the regions of the Mixteca Alta, Mixteca Baja, and the Mixteca Coast. His name and deeds are well-documented in Mixtec codices, showcasing his authority and the symbolic power of the jaguar.
• Priesthood: Mixtec priests performed rituals dedicated to Ñuhu Dasavui, often invoking the jaguar’s power to ensure rain, fertility, and successful harvests.
• Ceremonial Art: Artifacts, masks, and carvings featuring jaguar motifs were integral to Mixtec religious ceremonies, underscoring the animal’s sacred status.
• Respect and Veneration: The jaguar's abilities and dominant presence in its environment made it a symbol of superiority, respect, devotion, fear, authority, power, and veneration.
• Predatory Skills: The jaguar's stealth, strength, prowess, and hunting techniques distinguished it as the apex predator, enhancing its mythological status among the Mixtecs.

The jaguar, held a profound place in Mixtec culture as a symbol of divine power and rulership. The association of the jaguar with noble lineages and its depiction in Mixtec codices highlight its revered status. Notable figures like 8 Deer "Jaguar Claw" illustrate the blend of mythology and historical leadership, emphasizing the jaguar's importance in pre-Hispanic Mixtec society.

 Tezcatlipoca, a prominent deity in Aztec mythology, shares similarities with Ñuhu Dzahui. Both deities are associated with powerful natural elements and hold significant influence over their respective cultures. The jaguar is also a key symbol for Tezcatlipoca which parallels the Mixtec reverence for the jaguar. Tepeyollotl one of Tezcatlipoca's Nahuals the jaguar god of the Aztecs he is guardian of the sacred mountain were all things unborn are awaiting their birth his roar is thunder he invokes rain and his steps cause earthquakes and tsunamis in some versions of the legend of the 5 suns Tezcatlipoca himself turned into Tepeyollotl and destroyed the first race of humans after Quetzalcoatl's betrayal in other versions he sent down jaguars to do it. This shared symbolism and connection to jaguars underscores the cultural and religious connections among Mesoamerican civilizations.