Vodyanoy where. Water
The image of an evil, mischievous spirit dragging unwary swimmers into a river or lake is present in many nations. The Slavs called this creature water. Millers, fishermen and beekeepers especially revered and feared the owner of the waters. Let's look at what a merman looks like and what his powers are, according to surviving folklore, and decide what place this spirit has among mythical creatures ancient Slavs.
Who is a merman
Villages were often located near bodies of water. Near rivers and lakes, women washed clothes, and all the villagers swam. Dangerous pools fast currents caused the death of people in the water. It is believed that imagination impressionable people the past has endowed the murderous power of the elements with an evil mind.
- Vodyanoy is an ancient Slavic deity who rules the underwater kingdom. In the depths of the waters, this creature rules over other supernatural inhabitants of rivers and lakes: mermaids, drowned women, and so on.
- In his possession are numerous herds of various fish, which are herded like cows by his servants.
- With the advent of Christianity, the life of the merman deteriorated. The owner of the waters was transferred to the category of demons and devils, although they did not stop being afraid. In order to appease the evil spirit, during the construction of a new mill, a live black rooster was buried under the threshold. Representatives of this profession have a special connection with water - it was this element that became driving force for a windmill - combined with the distance from the village, they gave the millers a witchcraft reputation.
- The beekeepers were also under the protection of the merman. The creature helped them if the beehives were near a pond, and the owners did not forget to throw some honeycombs with honey into the river.
- Fishermen especially had to be afraid of the ancient demon. He could easily disperse all the fish, or even grab him by the beard, if he came closer. Avid fishermen knew special moves: going to " silent hunt“, they did not say a word to the acquaintances they met where they were going. The devil respected those who knew how to keep secrets.
- People remembered who the merman was even after the Christian faith took root, but they made some adjustments to the image. From now on, the evil demon was forced to get out of his possessions for Epiphany, arbitrarily renting sleighs of local residents for this purpose.
- The merman had ancient enemies - mischievous but peaceful brownies and goblins. As soon as the river demon saw them, he immediately rushed into a fight. Often the outcome of the fight was a foregone conclusion: the disgraced devil returned to his native element.
What does a merman look like?
The appearance of the creature, which even the sorcerers-millers were afraid of, must be truly terrifying. The melancholic character of the Soviet cartoon, who dreamed of flying, is far from a real aquatic. However, the similarity between the images is noticeable. The main features of this demon were the following signs.
- A strange old man in a red shirt, sitting waist-deep in water, closely watches those passing by the river. Suddenly someone forgot to put on a pectoral cross or sign a sign before passing by the cursed place. Then the merman will instantly drag him away to his kingdom.
- The appearance of the creature contains animal and fish features. Looking at the face, you can see a mustache green and watery bulging eyes. The thick beard resembles a tuft of seaweed.
- Instead of legs, the merman has a fish tail, and his hands have membranes. Skin with scales.
- There may be one or two horns on the head.
There are several fundamentally different assumptions that have divided scientific minds into two camps: some are supporters of the meteorite or “cold” origin of the earth, while others, on the contrary, prove the “hot” origin of the planet. The first believe that the Earth was originally a large, solid, cold meteorite, while the second argue that the planet was hot and extremely dry. The only undeniable fact is that such a vital important element, like water, appeared on Earth at the stage of formation of the blue planet, that is, long before.
The hypothesis of a “cold” origin of the planet
According to the cold origin hypothesis globe at the beginning of its existence it was cold. Subsequently, due to the decay, the planet's interior began to warm up, which became the cause of volcanic activity. The erupted lava brought various gases and water vapor to the surface. Subsequently, with the gradual cooling of the atmosphere, some of the water vapor condensed, which led to a huge amount of precipitation. Continuous rains for thousands of years initial stage the formation of the planet became a source of water that filled the oceanic depressions and formed the World Ocean.
The hypothesis of a “hot” origin of the planet
Most scientists who hypothesize the “hot” origin of the Earth do not in any way connect the appearance of water on the planet with. Scientists have suggested that the structure of planet Earth initially contained hydrogen layers, which later entered into chemical reaction with oxygen present in the earth's mantle at the initial stage of formation. The result of this interaction was the emergence huge amount water on the planet.
However, some scientists do not exclude the participation of asteroids and comets in the creation of water space on huge territory land. They suggest that it was thanks to continuous attacks from large comets and asteroids, which carried reserves of water in the form of liquid, ice and steam, that huge bodies of water, filling most of planet Earth.
At all times, people have wanted to know how planet Earth was formed. Despite the fact that there are many hypotheses, the question of the origin of water on our planet still remains open.
water spirit- is the owner of all bodies of water: rivers, lakes, swamps and whirlpools. Its existence has ruined the lives of more than one person. They say about the merman that he can turn into a horse and lures people into a pool, cries like a child and leads a person into swamps, becomes big fish. Ancient legends say that the merman uses a catfish instead of a horse, and when he rides around his domain he holds on to his long mustache. All fish and swamp scum are under his control. He is a kind of shepherd in his kingdom. Thanks to the miracle horse, the water spirit is looking for those who drowned in his domain.
What does a water spirit look like?
According to ancient myths and fairy tales, a description has reached our days strange creature, which lives in reservoirs at their very depths. His lair is usually located under a mill wheel, as legends say. water spiritseems very scary and unattractive to a person. Its body is very thick and green, and very often it is covered with warts. His skin and hair have a green tint, and he is covered in mud and nets. When fishermen lose their gear, they say that the merman is playing pranks. It's possible that big fish it damages them, but this does not make the attitude towards the water spirit any better. His tangled long hair and hooked nose do not make the creature more attractive.
Even if a merman turns into a human, he is easy to recognize. Because water will drip from the clothes of the person he turns into.
What does a water spirit do?
The merman's favorite pastime is combing his hair. To do this, he carries a special comb with him. Picking up a comb from a pond is not a very good omen, since the water spirit will definitely come for it and demand it back.
The life of a merman is quite eventful. He has a lot of worries in the household, so he has no time to annoy a person, but he is very vindictive and will never forgive interference in water world. The worst revenge is to drag a person to the bottom and make him your servant. As a minor prank, he scatters his herds of fish and breaks his mill wheels.
The water spirit does not like to live alone. He takes as his wife young girls who drowned, but were baptized during their lifetime. The girls are very mischievous, they confuse the nets, and do it so cleverly that not a single person can untangle them. The century is short. She gives birth to his child and then dies. water spirit can fool around with a widow who will bear him a child. Only he takes the child with him sooner or later.
In winter, the merman hibernates. There is nothing for him to do in the frozen reservoir, but his time begins in April. We need to break the thick layer of ice and begin our duties.
Very often on Christmastide, girls turned to the merman so that fortune telling would be successful. But this was very dangerous, because if someone did not have time to say the right words, they would end up drowned.
Fishermen could not catch fish without the blessing of the merman. In order for the catch to be large, it is necessary to release the very first fish back, in this case water spirit will bring a big joint.
Very often the ruler of the reservoirs was cajoled. To prevent the water from spilling, sacrifices in the form of animal skins and heads were thrown into it. To avoid drowning, people poured wine into reservoirs and threw bread and tobacco. They really don't like gear that is woven into church holiday, so he tears them up.
People should not talk about holy things or clergy near a body of water, nor should they shout loudly and awaken the water spirit. He also doesn't like drunk people. Those who enter the water under the influence of alcohol may drown, so it is better not to risk it.
water spirit can be kind or vindictive depending on how a person treats him.
This fairy tale character known to both children and adults, but few people have thought about the legends that lie behind the popular image. The spirit of ponds is called differently: water spirit, vodovik, crowberry, water devil or grandfather. Slavic peoples have honored this spirit from time immemorial.
How do the myths and legends of the peoples of Russia describe the merman?
What do we know about Vodyanoy
Vodyanoy lives in swamps and lakes, rivers of various sizes, as well as whirlpools. Most of Life is in the water, but sometimes it swims out; even less often it comes out from the shore, but only at night. His friends are goblin, mermaids, kikimora, werewolves. His “patrimony” is considered to be the Olonets region, where there are many picturesque lakes.
Where did he come from
According to folklore, mermen appeared simultaneously with the birth of the water element itself.
However, there is another version, according to which the origin of water spirits is associated with an angelic rebellion against the Creator. God, in a fit of anger, cast down the disobedient angels to earth, where they turned into various creatures based on habitat:
- The angels who found themselves in the forests turned into goblins;
- In people's houses - in brownies;
- In the water - in the water ones;
- In the forests - in the goblin, etc.
There is a strange version that says that the failed children born to Adam and Eve became merman.
There is an even darker legend about the origin of water spirits - these are drowned or dead people who were sacrificed to please the harsh pagan deities.
Questions from visitors and answers from experts:
What does he look like?
In the Vladimir and Arkhangelsk provinces, as well as the Olonets region, the merman is perceived as an ancient elder. According to legend, this is an old man with a long gray or green beard.
For residents of the Oryol region, a vodyanoy is an old man with long hair and a green beard. Moreover, on a full moon, his hair and beard become white. It is believed that the merman is always in the water, in his element. He can get out of the water up to his waist at most.
Residents of Poshekhonye believed that the merman, on the contrary, preferred to spend time walking along the shore. At the same time, his integral attribute was a red shirt.
The merman looks a little like a devil, but without fur and excessive attention to people.
Residents of the Smolensk region associate the waterman with an old man quite creepy appearance. It was believed that this was a creature with a large head on which there were two horns. In addition, the water long fingers on feet with unsightly webbed tissue. The eyes of this creature burn brightly, like hot coals. Such eyes do not go out even in water.
Residents of the Vologda region represented the waterman short. All his clothes must certainly be overgrown with mud and moss. His eyes should sparkle like two lights, and his nose should be the size of a boot.
How to ask him for help
IN winter season the merman hibernates and wakes up hungry and extremely unfriendly when the ice on the rivers begins to melt. Early spring It is better to refrain from communicating with him to avoid trouble. But when his birthday comes (April 16), you can safely turn to the merman with requests and do not forget to bring treats.
Since ancient times, the Slavs knew that all life on earth cannot exist without water. So they paid attention to water great value in customs and traditions. They believed that water can affect many life spheres people, starting from the luck of fishermen to the fate of people living near the water or simply being nearby.
The water spirit very carefully monitors compliance with the rules in his domain. He does not like noisy and talkative people, especially if they remember the goblin, the hare, the bear, God and the priest. If the merman is not in the mood, then he is capable of driving away all the fish, breaking fishing nets, breaking fishing rods, etc. In order to appease the water spirit, fishermen throw bread or tobacco into the water, pour out wine, while saying the following phrase:
“We’ll give you tobacco and bread crumbs,
And in return you get more fish.”
It is customary among the Slavs to throw part of the catch or the first fish caught back into the water, as if returning it to the merman.
Since ancient times, the owner of the waters was also cajoled by peasants who lived near rivers and lakes. According to tradition, in the spring they donated to him livestock, both dead and alive, as well as bread and butter, saying:
“Father-water, with the arrival of red spring and new water! Accept a housewarming treat from us, love and pamper us. And we will thank you more than once.”
Conduct fortune telling
The merman was credited with the ability to see the future, for example, when girls threw wreaths of flowers or birch branches into the water, they could learn about a future marriage by the behavior of the wreath.
Another method of fortune telling, which remains relevant today: you need to take a sliver or any piece of tree bark and whisper a wish on it, then release it into the water.
According to folk beliefs, water - spirits of the water element and appeared simultaneously with it. According to another version, their origin is connected with the rebellion of angels against God: the Creator in anger cast down the disobedient ones to the earth, where they were determined in accordance with the place where they were hit. Those that ended up in the forests became goblins, those that ended up in human dwellings became brownies, and those that ended up in the water became water creatures. There is also such a version - the failed children of Adam and Eve, whom they hid from God, turned into mermen. Finally, the darkest legend tells that mermen are cursed people, hostages of drowned people or dead people, thrown into the water as a sacrifice to the harsh gods.
IN different areas was different presentation about the appearance of the merman. But all the descriptions are similar in one thing: this is an old man, entangled in mud, who has a fish tail and a long green beard. In general, he looks like a goblin, only he is not overgrown with hair and does not bother people as much. During the winter, the merman hibernates and awakens when the ice on the rivers melts. He wakes up hungry and very angry. In early spring, it is better not to disturb him and not to fall under the hot hand - he will lure him into the pool and drown him. But closer to the birthday of the spirit of water (which, according to some sources, falls on April 16), you can bring treats and make requests.
Without water, all life on earth dies, the ancient Slavs knew this. That's why water is diverted paramount importance in traditions, customs, rituals. Our ancestors were sure that many areas of human life depended on the merman: from the luck of fishermen to the fate of those who live near the water or are simply located next to a body of water. The owner of the waters jealously monitors his possessions and demands compliance with certain laws and rules when fishing, rafting timber, swimming, and traveling on watercraft. He does not tolerate noisy people and talkers, and he cannot stand it when near the water they remember the goblin, the bear, the hare, the priest and God. It can tear or tangle fishing nets if they are knitted during holidays or poorly repaired. If he is not in the mood, he can disperse the fish, break fishing rods, and steal oars. Fishermen, knowing this, have been cajoling the waterman since ancient times - they splash wine into the water, throw crumbs of bread and tobacco, saying:
“You have tobacco and bread sprinkles on you, but give us more fish.”
It is customary to return the first fish caught to the waterman (throwing it into the water) or give away part of the catch. The owner of the waters was traditionally treated not only by fishermen, but also by peasants who lived near lakes and rivers. Traditionally, in the spring, when the merman woke up from sleep, cattle (sometimes dead, sometimes alive), black roosters, sheep's heads, goose meat, which he loves very much, bread and butter were thrown into the water. At the same time they said:
“With the arrival of the red spring and with the new water, you, mistress of the water! You have a housewarming gift, love and favor us, help and assist us. And we will give back more than once.”
Fortune telling
The merman as a creature associated with the all-encompassing water element, endowed with the ability to know and predict the future. It is worth remembering wreaths made of birch branches or beautiful flowers, which girls threw into a river or lake, and by the way the wreath behaved in the water, they learned details about their future marriage. But very popular way fortune telling, which has not lost its relevance today: whisper a wish on a sliver or piece of tree bark and drop it into the river. If the river quickly picks up an object and carries it smoothly downstream, the wish will come true; if the water throws a sliver back and forth, washing it to the shore, it means that the water sign gives a sign: there is no hope that the wish will come true.
Rituals to get rid of diseases
Rituals to get rid of diseases are of great importance. So, in case of a serious illness, take your night clothes, in which you slept for at least 9 days, put them at night in front of the image of the water spirit and say:
“Father-waterman, take my illness with you, drown it in the mud-swamp, let it leave my flesh, let it not torment my soul and don’t want my death. Amen".
At dawn, take your clothes to the river and drown them in the water (preferably away from the shore, for example, from a boat or from a bridge) with the words:
“Go away, the disease, as if it never happened. Forever!"
You can wrap a stone in your clothes to make sure you drown. If there is no body of water nearby, hold the clothes under running water, then, without wringing them out, wrap them in a bag and throw them in the trash with the same words.
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