Uk'u'x Kaj

Señala el destacado lingüista k'iche' Sam Colop que Uk'u'x Kaj (2008: 26n21) significa, literalmente "Corazón del Cielo". En el texto k'iche', añade el investigador (2008: 24n15) cuando se dice kaj ulew, cho palo, esto sería "literalmente: 'cielo tierra' y 'lago mar', metonimias para refirse al cosmos y a todas las aguas de la tierra, respectivamente."

According to Mayanist scholar Allen J. Christenson (2007: 53n21), the creator deities Uk'u'x Kaj (Heart of Sky) and Uk'u'x Ulew (Heart of Earth) are linked to Uk'u'x Cho and Uk'u'x Palo, and to each other. In particular, U K'ux Kaj (Heart of Sky), who is also called Jun Raqan (Huracán), "appears to be the principal god in the Popol Vuh account. He is the only deity to appear in every phase of the creation, as well as throughout the mythologic and historical portions of the text. K'ux refers to the heart as the source of the “vital spirit” of a thing, or that which gives it life. According to Coto’s dictionary, it is also believed to be the center of thought and imagination. This deity, therefore, combines the powers of life and creativity, which are believed to exist in the midst of the heavens. During each creative period, Heart of Sky is the deity who first conceives the idea of what is to be formed. Other deities then carry out his will by giving it material expression." Other scholars caution that Christenson's religious convictions may influence his interpretation of K'iche' names and titles, especially for sacred concepts. See for instance Nathan Henne (2020, chapter 2), who places Christenson's work within the category of Western religious translators rather than academic researchers.

For his part, Christenson (2007: 53n21) suggests that the names Uk'u'x Cho (Heart of Sea) and Uk'u'x Palo (Heart of Lake) "are likely titles for Sovereign and Quetzal Serpent, who are associated with water (see p. 68; lines 140-143; Recinos and Goetz 1953b, 76). K'ux may refer to either “heart” or “spirit.” This pair of deities thus embodies the inward powers of large, standing bodies of water. The Popol Vuh states that prior to the creation the world consisted of a vast expanse of placid waters from which all things emerged (p. 67; lines 129-136)."