Children of the Watch / GROGU

In Mandalorian myth, the sloth-god Arasuum eternally fought the destroyer god Kad Ha’rangir. This represented the constant struggle between stagnation, and the opportunity for change that stemmed from destruction. Every Mandalorian warrior who died supposedly joined an army in the afterlife; there they defended their wives and children, who lived on in an enduring, peaceful homestead. This was viewed as the only place where Mandalorians could finally settle down permanently.

Later generations moved away from a belief in a literal heaven to emphasize the idea of the manda. The manda was described as “a combination of the collective state of being, the essence of being Mandalorian, and an oversoul.” To be part of it, a Mandalorian must understand their culture and truly live out its ideals. Otherwise, they would be a dar’manda–someone who was ignorant of their heritage, and would have no soul and no afterlife. This was regarded as a fate worse than death. This emphasis on culture helped to preserve the identity of the Mandalorians even when scattered across the galaxy.