Nik'aqaj Taq'aj

Nik'ajqaj Taq'aj es la deidad que recibió Iq'i B'alam cuando el cuarto fundador del pueblo K'iche' llegó de Tulán con sus compañeros B'alam Ki'tze', B'alam Aq'ab', and Majuk'utaj. Cada fundador recibe una deidad particular: Tojil es de B'alam Ki'tze, Awilix es de B'alam Aq'ab', Jaqawitz es de Maujk'tuaj y Nik'aqaj Taq'aj es de Iq'i B'alam. El lingüista k'iche' Sam Colop (2008: 142n228) indica que el nombre Nik'ajqaj Taq'aj "literalmente significa 'en medio del valle.'"

Nik'aqaj Taq'aj, the deity that Iq'i B'alam received when he, as one of the first four founders of the K'iche' people, arrived from Tulán with Balam Ki'tze', B'alam Aq'ab', and Majuk'utaj. Each founder receives a specific deity: Tojil for B'alam Ki'tze', Awilix for B'alam Aq'ab', Jaqawitz for Majuk'tuaj, and Nik'aqaj Taq'aj for Iq'i Balam. According to anthropologist Allen J. Christenson (2007: 199n594), "Nik'akaj Taq'aj (Center/Middle Plain/Valley). Because Iqui Balam failed to produce offspring, and thus a nation of descendents, this god does not appear again in the Popol Vuh account. The gods of the progenitors are listed as a trinity (Tohil, Auilix, and Hacavitz) subsequent to this passage."