Chilam: Name given to priests.
Balam: Name of the most famous of Chilames. Balam is a family name, but it also means jaguar.
Chilar Balam became famous because he predicted the arrival of a new religion.
Chilam Balam's books form an important part of American indigenous literature.
They were written after the Spanish conquest. Some friars ordered indigenous priests who knew how to read and write in their own language to transcribe historical and religious texts contained in their hieroglyphs including Chilam Balam's predictions.
Thus, from several sources, copies would be released that would be passed to other priests in other localities. From there were other books that included the place of origin.
There are more than a dozen books by Chilam Balam. Some of them are:
1- The Chilam Balam of Chumayel
2- The Chilam Balam of Tizimín
3- The Chilam Balam of Káua
4- The Chilam Balam of Ixil
5- The Chilam Balam of Tekax
6- The Chilam Balam of Nah
7- The Chilam Balam of Tusik
8- Codex Perez
This 2 Ahau that sits on the 1 Cauac, thunder, starts on the second day after 1Poop, Mat. This is the word contained in his burden and what he manifests in his years: The 4th Ahau Katun will die and then the 2nd Ahau Katun will settle. Here is the word contained in the charge, everything, totally, and the order in which your word will be spoken.
In Maycú deer-tecolote. Saciyapan, will settle the Katun 2 Ahau; in Saclactun, white stones-maycú, deer tecolote, Mayapan, standard-deer. Katun sad, katun crying because then they will come down ropes, will come down agony, will lower anguish and sadness of mind.
Then there will be sudden death and large piles of skulls. Sterile will be his years. This is the burden: This is what you see.
In this 2 Ahau will tie his cargo Buluc Ch ¨ abtan, Eleven-fasting man and Hun Yoppol Ik, Wind-dry will be born.
From the fruit of the tree ramón will be bread: from wild jicama it will be. Half the load comes good, he will have his bread, he will have his water, his power, his reign.
Half will have great miseries; but there will be a throne, and there will be a mat, and with regard to bread and water for the Lords of the earth, and they will feel the footmark, the footprint of the strangers.
This is the Katun in which will come the light-colored men, bearded men, so he said, so the Ah Kin knew. Priest — del-culto-solar, chilar, interpreter:
It is the time when your parents, your brothers will arrive. Thus it was said to the great Itzaes, water sorcerers: You will go to feed them; you will wear their clothes, wear their hats, speak their language. But your dealings will be discord deals.
There will also be the flower of May, the button of the flower of May and no one will have to not fall when the presence of Ix dziban Yol Nicté is present. The May-heart-painted flower.
When I arrive, May flower will be the word of the 2 Ahau Katun..
This will be the charge of the 2 Ahau. In 1800 it will be the end of 2 Ahau Katun and then join the Katun 11 Ahau. This 2 ahau is settled in the 1 Cauac. Thunder, as it's on.
Source. The Book of Books of Chilam Balam. Economic Culture Fund.