Laudany

The Laudany (Wortsproke: Lovordens Låda; Pastanan: Laudanium; Anisoran: La Laddia; Awenydd: Y Lodanwry; Stoldish: Die Lauddel), also known as the Book of Laudars or simply The Laudars, is a collection of writings that comprise a book in the Orkanan Scriptures. The Laudany is a second-era collection of religious poetry composed by Exemplar Peter of Pastana (Wortsproke: Per af Pastan) in the mid-6200s. It features Orkanan poetry that celebrates and praises the natural world and divine creation. The name originates from the original Pastanan title Laudanium, derived from the verb laudo, meaning "to praise" or "to celebrate."

The collection consists of 213 poems, called Laudars, of varying lengths and meters, originally composed in Pastanan. Today, the Laudany is considered a canonical text of the scriptures by most interventionist Orkanan denominations and branches, including Mellanhand, Cydhlig Orkana, Peratolian Orkanan, Sunna, Stellist-Orkanan, and Congregational Orkanan. The Laudany has been translated into over 30 languages and exists in over one hundred translations, used by Orkanan interventionist worshipers in many Anarian countries. However, the Laudany is largely excluded from non-interventionist branches of Orkanan, as its themes align mainly with interventionist teachings concerning the master plan.

History

The Laudany was composed around 6250 RH, although some scholars suggest a more precise date between 6263-68 by Exemplar Peter of Pastana, a renowned theologian and poet of the sixty-third century who lived in Demonarda, Pastana (modern-day Anisora). The work initially spread among the Peratolian congregations of Pastana and the southern Medio Sea region and was declared a canonical work by the Congregation of Pastana by the early 6300s. Over the following centuries, the Laudany gradually spread throughout Orkanan Anaria and gained increasing popularity.

Mainstream translations of the work began to appear by at least the 6400s, with the first believed to be an Old Stoldish version. By the early 6600s, the Laudany had become widespread in Orkanan worship across the Medio Sea region and soon began to circulate among foreign traders, particularly Pastanan-speaking traders from Stoldavia, especially those from the Skara Alliance (Skara Samverkan). By the mid-67th century, the Laudany had been translated into Scarch and became an important text within Sunna Orkanan by 6700. The text was further disseminated by Skaran traders and was soon incorporated into the worship practices of most mainland Stoldavian Orkanan congregations by the early 6800s.

Although the entire work is traditionally attributed to Exemplar Peter of Pastana, modern scriptural scholars generally agree that some of the Laudars are, in fact, earlier poems composed by various authors, later included in Peter's broader work. Laudars 73-77, 108, 110-118, 170-178, and 201 are widely believed to be examples of such additions, with other poems' authorship still under debate.

Translations

The Laudany has been translated into over 30 languages and exists in more than one hundred translations, reflecting its importance and widespread use among Orkanan worshippers in various Anarian countries.