Gods of the Slavs: Perun. The pagan god Perun. The symbol of Perun

Perun - the ancient Slavic god of thunder and lightning.He is the supreme ruler in the pantheon of the pagan higher powers who patronize the prince and the fighting squad. Perun gives men power, and for non-compliance with military laws severely punish.

History of birth

According to legend, the parents of a pagan deitythere were not ordinary people, but higher powers. His mother, Lada, - the patroness of all Russia, the supreme female deity - was in charge of family relations, childbirth, love and spring. Bereginya and the keeper of the hearth, she became a symbol of female beauty, but not so much physical as internal and spiritual. Father, Svarog, was a representative of the heavenly forces, a skilled blacksmith, who personally forged the Earth. It was he who became the progenitor of all other deities worshiped by the Slavs.

The pagan god Perun was born on that rainy daywhen peals of thunder shook the earth, and terrifying lightning pierced the firmament. These forces of nature became the best lullaby for the infant: it was only during a thunderstorm that he slept sweetly and didn’t cause too much trouble. Legend has it: when little Perun grew up a little, he ran a race with lightning and tried to shout out thunder. But only by becoming an absolutely adult, I learned to control these forces of nature, to control them. Tempered by his father's work in the forge, he loved the weapons that were made there. Therefore, he took on another task: to guard the gallant warriors during the battle.

Appearance

The pagan gods of the ancient Slavs were depicted ina look that inspired fear and respect for mere mortals. Perun was no exception. Often he was represented as a solid man of 35–40 with a golden mustache and a beard, which glittered like lightning. At the same time, her hair was black, with a silvery gray of the color of a thundercloud. Like her, they swirled around his face.

God moved across the sky in a huge chariot:the crash of her wheel was the thunder that frightened people on Earth. The symbol of Perun is a black and white magpie, therefore its divine transport was harnessed not only by winged horses, but also by these birds. In addition, the thunderer could appear before people in different guises. For example, in the form of a formidable bull, Tura, who was considered an inviolable animal protected by Perun. The deity was depicted in a red cloak fluttering in the wind: this garment later became the main distinguishing feature of the image of any ancient Russian prince.

Iris and oak

These are the main symbols of the thunder.Like all the gods of the Slavs, Perun had his own signs, which were invariably associated with his character, aura of habitat and activity. For example, the mighty oak. The ancient Slavs in the annals documented rituals, part of which was this tree: usually the highest in the district, with thick branches and a thick crown. They sacrificed in honor of Perun near him: they killed the roosters, left pieces of meat, stuck arrows into the ground.

Another symbol of Perun is the iris of heavenly color.Blue flower was used not only in the rites associated with the deity. He was also part of the temple where the idol was placed. They made it in the form of an iris, the petals of which gradually fell to the ground and were supplemented at the ends by pits. A sacred fire burned in these recesses, and in the middle of the cup was a statue of Perun. One more plant is devoted to god - color of a fern. The mythical element was searched on the night of Ivan Kupala. The Slavs believed: those who manage to overcome all the dangers and find him in dense thickets, Perun will give countless treasures.

Other characters

Известный знак Перуна – так называемый грозовик.It is a symbol similar to the sun. Six rays, which are directed in different directions, depart from the center. The sign was often painted above the front door of the house. People believed that he was protecting his native walls from evil spirits and the evil eye. With the same purpose it was cut out on shutters and roofs. Women embroidered a symbol in the form of a flower: such "towels" gave men a military campaign to protect them from enemy swords and arrows, to empower them with strength and courage. Later, this sign of Perun slightly transformed and became similar to the wheel - the one that was part of the thunder chariot chariot.

The main weapon of God was considered an ax withwonderful power. Inserted into the door frame, with images of the Thunder and the Sun, it also served as a guardian of the human dwelling, preventing the penetration of evil forces, troubles and misfortunes. It is interesting, but after the baptism of Russia, all the symbols and properties of Perun passed "by inheritance" to the prophet Ilya - the saint, whom the entire Orthodox world respects.

Attributes

Day of the week Perun - Thursday, during whichSlavs worshiped him and arranged sacrifices. Through the rituals, people asked the god to change life for the better. Since then, it is believed that Thursday is the most successful day for change, new beginnings. Ideally, at this time the growing moon: it only accelerates the steps in the right direction, contributing to the whole process.

Like other gods of the Slavs, Perunpatronized the world of flora and fauna. In addition to the aforementioned oak, iris, fern, bull and magpie, wolves, wild boar, bay horses, and boletus mushroom, peas and oats were under his protection. The figure of the deity - 4, metal - tin, stone - lapis lazuli, sapphire. The planet of the solar system - Jupiter, under the influence of which grow rich yields, cattle gives offspring. When the science of astrology became popular on the territory of modern Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, it was believed that all agricultural work was better to start consistently in the period during which Jupiter dominates.

Abilities

Based on the fact that Perun was a thunderbird, heknew how to cause severe thunderstorms. God is not only the metal of lightning for his own pleasure: with their help he punished the people who angered him. Usually objectionable burned alive on the spot. Those who managed to survive were considered almost holy. The lucky ones were called “tagged Perun”, because after the incident, they usually opened up hidden magical powers, healers skills and extrasensory capabilities.

And Perun himself - the god of thunder and lightning - wassuperb magician. He flew across the sky in chariots, was able to transform into different animals, birds, people. At will, he created ghostly creatures that he sent to mortals with a specific mission. In addition, Perun possessed tremendous physical strength, no wonder he was compared with oak. By the way, the Slavs were so afraid of the thunderer that they never cut down these trees. They read the oak in which the lightning struck with double ecstasy: the rods and clubs cut from its trunk were considered to be the best weapons not only in battle with mortal enemies, but also with magical creatures from the afterlife of Navi.

Enemies of gods

They were dark entities who triedto penetrate from the afterlife into the lives of people in order to harm them, bring evil. For example, according to a long-standing legend, the lightning god Perun kills a three-headed snake trying to kidnap his beloved Diva. To defeat the enemy, he even steps over his pride and joins forces with the girl's father - his longtime adversary, the god Veles. After the overthrow of the monster, Perun becomes engaged to the beautiful Diva, the courageous Devan, the goddess of hunting, the wife of the patron of the forests of Svyatobor, is born from this union.

Perun and Velez constantly competed with each other:then they could not divide the herds of animals, they argued who is stronger and more powerful. Their hostility cannot be called enmity, rather it is the story of two brothers who do one little other mischief, while maintaining respect and even experiencing hidden kindred love. By the way, Velez was the god of cyclic movement. In humans, he was associated with a bear with strong magical powers.

First feat

It was he who raised Perun to unprecedented heights indivine pantheon. And this is not surprising. The gods of the Slavs - Perun in particular - were not indifferent to battles and battles. His thunder baptism was passed during a battle with an ugly Scepter - half a serpent, half a scorpion. Overthrowing him, he deserved the respect of higher powers, as well as mere mortals. This was followed by other battles of Perun: he killed the children of Chernobog, the evil lord of the dark forces, overpowered the griffins and basilisks. For the indomitable fearlessness and boundless rage, he was made the chief protector of the worlds of people and gods - Reveal and Rule.

Reading long written sources, for example,the manuscript of Procopius of Caesarea, dating from the sixth century, it can be assumed that Perun was considered the supreme god. By the rays of his fame, he eclipsed even his father and grandfather - Svarog and Rod. And it is natural: Perun was the patron saint of warriors. And Russia, for most of its history, was in a state of bloody war, the poet Perun was humored with gifts and sacrifices regularly and generously.

Day of God Perun

Our ancient ancestors celebrated it on June 20.On this day, the men cleaned their weapons - axes, axes, knives, spears - and marched with them through the main streets of the city. At the same time the warriors sang ritual songs that glorify the deity. By a peculiar parade, they reached the edge of the forest, where a temple was built, the place where sacrifices were made. Slaughtering a rooster or a bull, people sprinkled blood on their armor and weapons — it was believed that after the ritual it was blessed by God himself for a victorious war. In addition, she was smeared with the heads of combatants, in order to protect them from death in an unequal battle.

When the ceremony ended, the warriors returned tothe city where the main square hosted the staged battles of Veles and Perun, from which the latter invariably emerged victorious. Many gifts were prepared for the deity, which were put in a boat and set on fire. The ashes were buried, after which they sat down at the holiday table. The priests advised soldiers to spend this night with women, as they should be winners not only on the battlefield. Also on Perun's day, people caused rain: they poured water on the chosen girl so that their crops would not be destroyed by the summer drought.

Ministry of Perun

This process is called volkhovanie, or zhreniem.Rituals and ceremonies could only be performed by specially trained people who were foretold of this role from birth. Called them accordingly: Magi or priests. In some annals it is said that princes or other high-ranking persons often spoke in their roles. The honorary caste also included boys, to whom this title passed by inheritance, as well as young men, gifted with unusual abilities.

The pagan gods of the ancient Slavs always hadthe high priest who was the link between the higher powers and the people. This also applies to Perun. The high priest was served by the other wise men who are on this hierarchy a step lower. Their duties included maintaining sacrificial fire in pagan temples, organizing and conducting ceremonies of sacrifice, walking in villages and telling about the power of the deity. People often turned to priests for help. They brought gifts and asked the sorcerer to put in a word for them in front of Perun: to heal from wounds received in battle, to impart invulnerability to enemy arrows, to make a courageous and strong born child.

At the sunset of the pagan era

At this time, the thunderer was especially honored.In each house, Perun's charm hung in the form of a small hatchet or a revolt. Even Prince Vladimir, before christening Russia, ordered to put a huge idol depicting a deity, in the very center of Kiev, not far from the princely chambers. Later, when he adopted the new faith and began to spread Christianity in all Russian lands, he ordered to throw an idol into the river. People who were brought up in pagan traditions, ran for a long time along the shore and shouted after the floating statue: "Father Perun, blow out!" (“blow out” meant - swim up).

Years later on the very place where the wavesthey threw the idol onto the land, built the Vydubaysky monastery, which still exists today. Also today, the fashion of ancient traditions has returned. Scientists have found the so-called Santi Perun - a book that supposedly outlines the main teachings of God, his laws and commandments. Although some researchers doubt the reliability of the findings. They say that this is an analogue of the Indian and Aryan Vedas, only converted and veiled. Although the source is more informative, moreover, its true origin has long been proven.

Perun-Ilya

As already mentioned, after the baptism of the Russian landsin other higher powers were transformed by the gods of the Slavs. Perun, for example, is an analogue of the prophet Elijah. In lamentations, he was called "thunderous", as he is considered the manager of the thunderstorm forces of nature. The main reason for this confusion is described in the biblical story: after the prophet’s prayer from the sky, fire fell on the ground and burned the enemy, and with it also sprinkled dried fields and saved the harvest. In the minds of ordinary people in our time, Illya is considered a more pagan deity than the saint of the Orthodox religion.

When the storm comes, people say it's himriding his heavenly chariot. During the harvest, they always leave a few spikelets - Ilya on the beard. This is also something like ancient sacrifices. It can be concluded: no matter how hard we try, pagan traditions, rituals and rituals continue to exist in our daily life. The memory of them is transmitted by genes from generation to generation. Recently, young people are united in groups: by common efforts they revive Slavic rites, including those that glorify the mighty and courageous Perun.