According to Andrzej Szyjewski (religion expert) [lt; pl], initially the Early Slavs believed in only one Vyrai, connected to the deity known as Rod (god)—it was apparently located far away beyond the sea, at the end of the Milky Way.[3] According to folkloristic fables, the gates of Vyrai were guarded by Veles, who sometimes took the animal form of a raróg, grasping in its claws the keys to the otherworlds.[3] It was often imagined as a garden beyond an iron gate that barred the living from entering, located in the crown of the cosmic tree. Whereas the branches were said to be nested by the birds, who were usually identified as human souls.[2]
The etymological reconstruction of the word, supported by preserved beliefs, allows us to connect the Iriy with the oldest Slavic ideas about the other world, which is located underground or beyond the sea, where the path lies through water, in particular, through a whirlpool.[4] The pagan Slavic peoples thought the birds flying away to Vyrai for the winter and returning to Earth for the spring to be human souls.[3] According to some folk tales, the human soul departs the Earth for Vyrai during the cremation of its deceased flesh on a pyre; however, it does not stay in paradise forever, returning some time later to the womb of a pregnant woman (traces of reincarnation can be seen in this belief)—carried by a stork or nightjar.[3]
Boris Uspenskij, having analyzed the extensive ethnographic material about Iriy, concluded that "Iriy" is a general designation of the otherworld (i.e., not a real geographical place).[4]
This term is sometimes said to be derived from rai, the Slavic word for paradise, but this is probably a folk etymology.[5] It could be derived from the Proto-Slavic*rajъ in connection with the Persianrayí (wealth, happiness).[3] Similarities to other languages have also been found, for example: the Greekéar (spring), Sanskritáranyas (alien, distant), or the Proto-Indo-European*ūr- (water), but none of these three theories have found common recognition or approval.[2]
Eventually the idea of Vyrai was split into two separate realms, most likely under the influence of Christianity. One Vyrai, for birds, was located in the heavens (simply another version of the original myth) and another underground for snakes/dragons, which is perceived as analogous to Christian hell.[6][3] During the Christianization of Kievan Rus' and the Baptism of Poland, people were able to imagine heaven and hell based on the idea of Vyrai.[7][3]
^Людмила Викторовна Евдокимова (1998). Мифопоэтическая традиция в творчестве (in Russian). ISBN9785882003561. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
^ abcKempiński, Andrzej (2001). Encyklopedia mitologii ludów indoeuropejskich [Encyclopedia of mythology of Indo-European peoples] (in Polish). Warszawa: Iskry. ISBN83-207-1629-2.
^ abcdefghSzyjewski, Andrzej (2004). Religia Słowian [Religion of the Slavs] (in Polish). Kraków: Wydawnictwo WAM. ISBN83-7318-205-5.
^ abBoris Uspenskij. Philological research in the field of Slavic antiquities. - M.: Publishing House of the Moscow University, 1982
^Max Vasmer, Этимологический словарь русского языка (М., 1964—1973), s.v. ирей.
^Елена Левкиевская (2010). Мифы и легенды восточных славян (in Russian). ISBN9785457607705. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
^Левкиевская, Елена (6 April 2019). Мифы и легенды восточных славян. ISBN9785457607705.
iriy, this, article, about, legendary, realm, slavonic, mythology, sanskrit, word, viraj, vyrai, belarusian, Вырай, polish, wyraj, vyriy, russian, Вырий, Ирий, Ирей, ukrainian, Вирій, Ірій, Ирій, irij, croatian, czech, slovak, ráj, irij, serbian, Ириј, ukraini. This article is about the legendary realm in Slavonic mythology For the Sanskrit word see Viraj Iriy Vyrai Belarusian Vyraj Polish Wyraj Vyriy Russian Vyrij Irij Irej Ukrainian Virij Irij Irij or Irij Croatian Czech Slovak Raj Raj Irij Serbian Iriј Ukrainian Irij Irij is a mythical place in Slavic mythology where birds fly for the winter and souls go after death that is sometimes identified with paradise 1 Spring is believed to have arrived on Earth from Vyrai 2 According to Andrzej Szyjewski religion expert lt pl initially the Early Slavs believed in only one Vyrai connected to the deity known as Rod god it was apparently located far away beyond the sea at the end of the Milky Way 3 According to folkloristic fables the gates of Vyrai were guarded by Veles who sometimes took the animal form of a rarog grasping in its claws the keys to the otherworlds 3 It was often imagined as a garden beyond an iron gate that barred the living from entering located in the crown of the cosmic tree Whereas the branches were said to be nested by the birds who were usually identified as human souls 2 The etymological reconstruction of the word supported by preserved beliefs allows us to connect the Iriy with the oldest Slavic ideas about the other world which is located underground or beyond the sea where the path lies through water in particular through a whirlpool 4 The pagan Slavic peoples thought the birds flying away to Vyrai for the winter and returning to Earth for the spring to be human souls 3 According to some folk tales the human soul departs the Earth for Vyrai during the cremation of its deceased flesh on a pyre however it does not stay in paradise forever returning some time later to the womb of a pregnant woman traces of reincarnation can be seen in this belief carried by a stork or nightjar 3 Boris Uspenskij having analyzed the extensive ethnographic material about Iriy concluded that Iriy is a general designation of the otherworld i e not a real geographical place 4 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Heaven and hell 3 Vyrai and storks 4 See also 5 ReferencesEtymology EditThis term is sometimes said to be derived from rai the Slavic word for paradise but this is probably a folk etymology 5 It could be derived from the Proto Slavic raj in connection with the Persian rayi wealth happiness 3 Similarities to other languages have also been found for example the Greek ear spring Sanskrit aranyas alien distant or the Proto Indo European ur water but none of these three theories have found common recognition or approval 2 Heaven and hell EditSee also Nav Slavic folklore Eventually the idea of Vyrai was split into two separate realms most likely under the influence of Christianity One Vyrai for birds was located in the heavens simply another version of the original myth and another underground for snakes dragons which is perceived as analogous to Christian hell 6 3 During the Christianization of Kievan Rus and the Baptism of Poland people were able to imagine heaven and hell based on the idea of Vyrai 7 3 Vyrai and storks EditStorks carried unborn souls from Vyrai to Earth 3 8 See also EditEarly Slavs Elysium Kingdom of Opona Nav Slavic paganismReferences Edit Lyudmila Viktorovna Evdokimova 1998 Mifopoeticheskaya tradiciya v tvorchestve in Russian ISBN 9785882003561 Retrieved 23 August 2014 a b c Kempinski Andrzej 2001 Encyklopedia mitologii ludow indoeuropejskich Encyclopedia of mythology of Indo European peoples in Polish Warszawa Iskry ISBN 83 207 1629 2 a b c d e f g h Szyjewski Andrzej 2004 Religia Slowian Religion of the Slavs in Polish Krakow Wydawnictwo WAM ISBN 83 7318 205 5 a b Boris Uspenskij Philological research in the field of Slavic antiquities M Publishing House of the Moscow University 1982 Max Vasmer Etimologicheskij slovar russkogo yazyka M 1964 1973 s v irej Elena Levkievskaya 2010 Mify i legendy vostochnyh slavyan in Russian ISBN 9785457607705 Retrieved 23 August 2014 Levkievskaya Elena 6 April 2019 Mify i legendy vostochnyh slavyan ISBN 9785457607705 Gieysztor Aleksander 1982 Mitologia Slowian in Polish Warsaw Poland Wydawnictwa Artystyczne i Filmowe ISBN 83 221 0152 X This article relating to a European folklore is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Iriy amp oldid 1110630333, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
