Elements of a Proto-Uralic religion can be recovered from reconstructions of the Proto-Uralic language.
According to linguist Ante Aikio, although "evidence of immaterial culture is very limited" in the Proto-Uralic language, "a couple of lexical items can be seen as pointing to a shamanistic system of beliefs and practices." The concept of soul dualism, which is widely attested among Uralic-speaking peoples, probably dates back to the Proto-Uralic period: the word *wajŋi (‘breath-soul') designated the soul bound to the living body, which only left it at the moment of death, whereas *eśi (or *iśi, *ićći) referred to the 'shadow-soul', believed to be able to leave the body during lifetime, as when dreaming, in a state of unconsciousness or in a shaman's spirit journey.[1]
The Indo-Iranian loanword *pi̮ŋka designated a 'psychedelic mushroom', perhaps the one used by the shaman to enter altered states of consciousness. The verb *kixi- meant both 'to court [of birds]' and 'to sing a shamanistic song', suggesting that it referred to states of both sexual and spiritual excitement. If the etymology remains uncertain, the word 'shaman' itself may be rendered as *nojta, and the shamanic practice as *jada-, although semantic variations in the daughter languages make the reconstruction debatable (cf. Erzya Mordvinjɑdɑ- 'to conjure, do magic, bewitch', East Khantyjɔːl- 'to tell fortunes, shamanize', Ket Selkuptjɑːrә- 'to curse; quarrel').[1]
A common creation myth shared by many Finno-Ugric peoples is the earth-diver myth in which a diver, often a waterbird, dives into the sea to pick up earth from the bottom to form the lands. In the Mordvin variant, the diver is the Devil (sometimes in the form of a goose), in the Yenisey Khanty variant a red-throated loon,[2] and in at least one Finnish version a black-throated loon[3]
Several Finno-Ugric languages have a theonym that can be derived from the Proto-Finno-Ugric word *ilma meaning sky or weather. These include Udmurt Inmar, Komi-Zyrjan Jen, Khanty Num-Ilәm and Finnish Ilmarinen. These theonyms suggest an early central Proto-Finno-Ugric sky-god.[4]
Aikio, Ante (2021). "Proto-Uralic". The Oxford Guide to the Uralic Languages. Oxford University Press.
Frog (2012). Evolution, Revolution and Ethnocultural Substrata: From Finno-Ugric Sky-God to the North Finnic God-Smith Ilmarinen. International Symposium on Finno-Ugric Languages in Groningen.
Frog; Siikala, Anna-Leena; Stepanova, Eila (2012). Mythic Discourses: Studies in Uralic Traditions. Finnish Literature Society. ISBN978-952-222-376-0.
Deviatkina, Tatiana (2011). "Images of Birds in Mordvinian Mythology". Electronic Journal of Folklore. 48: 143–152. doi:10.7592/FEJF2011.48.deviatkina.
Hoppál, Mihály (2000). Studies on mythology and Uralic shamanism. Akadémiai Kiadó. ISBN963-05-7741-0.
Hajdú, Péter (ed.). Uráli népek: Nyelvrokonaink kultúrája és hagyományai [Uralic peoples: Culture and traditions of our linguistic relatives]. Budapest: Corvina Kiadó. 1975. ISBN963-13-0900-2. (in Hungarian)
Jauhiainen, Marjatta. The Type and Motif Index of Finnish Belief Legends and Memorates: Revised and enlarged edition of Lauri Simonsuuri’s Typen- und Motivverzeichnis der finnischen mythischen Sagen (FFC No. 182). FF Communications 267. Helsinki: Academia Scientiarum Fennica, 1998.
Jones, Prudence; Pennick, Nigel (1995). A History of Pagan Europe. Routledge. pp. 178–183. ISBN978-1-136-14172-0.
Konakov, N. D.; Black, Lydia T. (1994). "Calendar Symbolism of Uralic Peoples of the Pre-Christian Era". Arctic Anthropology. 31 (1): 47–61. ISSN 0066-6939. JSTOR 40316348.
Krupp E.C. (2000). "Sky Tales and Why We Tell Them". In: Selin H., Xiaochun S. (eds). Astronomy Across Cultures. Science Across Cultures: The History of Non-Western Science. Vol. 1. Springer, Dordrecht. pp. 20–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4179-6_1
Kulmar, Tarmo (1997). "Conceptions of soul in old-Estonian religion". Electronic Journal of Folklore. 4: 27–33. doi:10.7592/FEJF1997.04.hing.
Kulmar, Tarmo (2005). "On Supreme Sky God from the Aspect of Religious History and in Prehistoric Estonian Material". Electronic Journal of Folklore. 31: 15–30. doi:10.7592/FEJF2005.31.kulmar.
Kuperjanov, Andres (2002). "Names in Estonian Folk Astronomy - from 'Bird's Way' to 'Milky Way'". Electronic Journal of Folklore. 22: 49–61. doi:10.7592/FEJF2002.22.milkyway.
Leeming, David. From Olympus to Camelot: The World of European Mythology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 2003. pp. 134-138.
Limerov, Pavel (2019). "Some Motifs in Komi Legends about the Creation of the World". Electronic Journal of Folklore. 76: 29–38. doi:10.7592/FEJF2019.76.limerov.
Lintrop, Aado (2001). "The Great Oak and Brother-Sister". Electronic Journal of Folklore. 16: 34–58. doi:10.7592/FEJF2001.16.oak2.
Siikala, Anna-Leena. "What Myths Tell about Past Finno-Ugric Modes of Thinking". In: Siikala, Anna-Leena (Ed.). Myths and Mentality: Studies in Folklore and Popular Thought. Studia Fennica Folkloristica 8. Helsinki: SKS, 2002. pp. 15–32.
Uliashev, Oleg (2019). "Perm and Ob-Ugric Relations in Terms of Folklore Data". Electronic Journal of Folklore. 76: 15–28. doi:10.7592/FEJF2019.76.uliashev.
Valk, Ülo (2000). "Ex Ovo Omnia: Where Does the Balto-Finnic Cosmogony Originate? The Etiology of an Etiology". In: Oral Tradition 15: 145–158.
Vértes, Edit (1990). Szibériai nyelvrokonaink hitvilága [The belief systems of our linguistic relatives in Siberia]. Budapest: Tankönyvkiadó. ISBN963-18-2603-1. (In Hungarian)
Yurchenkova, Nina (2011). "About Female Deities in the Mythology of Finno-Ugric Peoples". Electronic Journal of Folklore. 47: 173–180. doi:10.7592/FEJF2011.47.yurchenkova.
May 02, 2024
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Elements of a Proto Uralic religion can be recovered from reconstructions of the Proto Uralic language According to linguist Ante Aikio although evidence of immaterial culture is very limited in the Proto Uralic language a couple of lexical items can be seen as pointing to a shamanistic system of beliefs and practices The concept of soul dualism which is widely attested among Uralic speaking peoples probably dates back to the Proto Uralic period the word wajŋi breath soul designated the soul bound to the living body which only left it at the moment of death whereas esi or isi icci referred to the shadow soul believed to be able to leave the body during lifetime as when dreaming in a state of unconsciousness or in a shaman s spirit journey 1 The Indo Iranian loanword pi ŋka designated a psychedelic mushroom perhaps the one used by the shaman to enter altered states of consciousness The verb kixi meant both to court of birds and to sing a shamanistic song suggesting that it referred to states of both sexual and spiritual excitement If the etymology remains uncertain the word shaman itself may be rendered as nojta and the shamanic practice as jada although semantic variations in the daughter languages make the reconstruction debatable cf Erzya Mordvin jɑdɑ to conjure do magic bewitch East Khanty jɔːl to tell fortunes shamanize Ket Selkup tjɑːrә to curse quarrel 1 A common creation myth shared by many Finno Ugric peoples is the earth diver myth in which a diver often a waterbird dives into the sea to pick up earth from the bottom to form the lands In the Mordvin variant the diver is the Devil sometimes in the form of a goose in the Yenisey Khanty variant a red throated loon 2 and in at least one Finnish version a black throated loon 3 Several Finno Ugric languages have a theonym that can be derived from the Proto Finno Ugric word ilma meaning sky or weather These include Udmurt Inmar Komi Zyrjan Jen Khanty Num Ilәm and Finnish Ilmarinen These theonyms suggest an early central Proto Finno Ugric sky god 4 Contents 1 See also 2 References 2 1 Citations 2 2 Bibliography 3 Further readingSee also editFinnic mythologiesReferences editCitations edit a b Aikio 2021 pp 47 48 Honko 2017 Suomen Kansan Vanhat Runot VII Part 1 11 Frog 2012 Bibliography edit Aikio Ante 2021 Proto Uralic The Oxford Guide to the Uralic Languages Oxford University Press Frog 2012 Evolution Revolution and Ethnocultural Substrata From Finno Ugric Sky God to the North Finnic God Smith Ilmarinen International Symposium on Finno Ugric Languages in Groningen Frog Siikala Anna Leena Stepanova Eila 2012 Mythic Discourses Studies in Uralic Traditions Finnish Literature Society ISBN 978 952 222 376 0 Konakov Kulemzin Gemuev Tuchkova eds 2003 2009 Komi Mythology Khanty Mythology Mansi Mythology Selkup Mythology Encyclopaedia of Uralic Mythologies Akademiai Kiado Pentikainen Juha 1989 Uralic Mythology and Folklore Ethnographic Inst of the HAS ISBN 978 963 7762 64 2 Suomen Kansan Vanhat Runot VII Part 1 11 Finnish Literature Society SKS 1929 1933 Honko Lauri ed 2017 Finno Ugric Religion Encyclopedia Britannica Encyclopedia Britannica Inc Further reading editDeviatkina Tatiana 2011 Images of Birds in Mordvinian Mythology Electronic Journal of Folklore 48 143 152 doi 10 7592 FEJF2011 48 deviatkina Hoppal Mihaly 2000 Studies on mythology and Uralic shamanism Akademiai Kiado ISBN 963 05 7741 0 Hajdu Peter ed Urali nepek Nyelvrokonaink kulturaja es hagyomanyai Uralic peoples Culture and traditions of our linguistic relatives Budapest Corvina Kiado 1975 ISBN 963 13 0900 2 in Hungarian Jauhiainen Marjatta The Type and Motif Index of Finnish Belief Legends and Memorates Revised and enlarged edition of Lauri Simonsuuri s Typen und Motivverzeichnis der finnischen mythischen Sagen FFC No 182 FF Communications 267 Helsinki Academia Scientiarum Fennica 1998 Jones Prudence Pennick Nigel 1995 A History of Pagan Europe Routledge pp 178 183 ISBN 978 1 136 14172 0 Konakov N D Black Lydia T 1994 Calendar Symbolism of Uralic Peoples of the Pre Christian Era Arctic Anthropology 31 1 47 61 ISSN 0066 6939 JSTOR 40316348 Krupp E C 2000 Sky Tales and Why We Tell Them In Selin H Xiaochun S eds Astronomy Across Cultures Science Across Cultures The History of Non Western Science Vol 1 Springer Dordrecht pp 20 21 https doi org 10 1007 978 94 011 4179 6 1 Kulmar Tarmo 1997 Conceptions of soul in old Estonian religion Electronic Journal of Folklore 4 27 33 doi 10 7592 FEJF1997 04 hing Kulmar Tarmo 2005 On Supreme Sky God from the Aspect of Religious History and in Prehistoric Estonian Material Electronic Journal of Folklore 31 15 30 doi 10 7592 FEJF2005 31 kulmar Kuperjanov Andres 2002 Names in Estonian Folk Astronomy from Bird s Way to Milky Way Electronic Journal of Folklore 22 49 61 doi 10 7592 FEJF2002 22 milkyway Leeming David From Olympus to Camelot The World of European Mythology New York NY Oxford University Press 2003 pp 134 138 Limerov Pavel 2019 Some Motifs in Komi Legends about the Creation of the World Electronic Journal of Folklore 76 29 38 doi 10 7592 FEJF2019 76 limerov Lintrop Aado 2001 The Great Oak and Brother Sister Electronic Journal of Folklore 16 34 58 doi 10 7592 FEJF2001 16 oak2 Siikala Anna Leena What Myths Tell about Past Finno Ugric Modes of Thinking In Siikala Anna Leena Ed Myths and Mentality Studies in Folklore and Popular Thought Studia Fennica Folkloristica 8 Helsinki SKS 2002 pp 15 32 Uliashev Oleg 2019 Perm and Ob Ugric Relations in Terms of Folklore Data Electronic Journal of Folklore 76 15 28 doi 10 7592 FEJF2019 76 uliashev Valk Ulo 2000 Ex Ovo Omnia Where Does the Balto Finnic Cosmogony Originate The Etiology of an Etiology In Oral Tradition 15 145 158 Vertes Edit 1990 Sziberiai nyelvrokonaink hitvilaga The belief systems of our linguistic relatives in Siberia Budapest Tankonyvkiado ISBN 963 18 2603 1 In Hungarian Yurchenkova Nina 2011 About Female Deities in the Mythology of Finno Ugric Peoples Electronic Journal of Folklore 47 173 180 doi 10 7592 FEJF2011 47 yurchenkova Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Proto Uralic religion amp oldid 1194158180, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
