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 pagan higher powers, who patronizes the prince and the fighting squad. Perun gives men strength, and for non-compliance with military laws severely punishes.

History of birth

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

The pagan god Perun was born on that rainy day when peals of thunder shook the earth, and fearful lightning pierced the firmament. These forces of nature and became for the baby the best lullaby: only during a thunder-storm he slept sweetly, did not deliver superfluous efforts. The legend says: when little Perun grew up a little, he ran around with lightning races and tried to shout over the thunder. But only becoming absolutely adult, I learned to control these forces of nature, to control them. Hardened by his father's work in the smithy, he loved the weapons that were manufactured there. Therefore, and took on another challenge: to protect the valiant warriors during the battle.

Appearance

The pagan gods of the ancient Slavs were depicted in the guise that inspired fear and respect to mere mortals. Perun was no exception. Often he was represented as a respectable man of 35-40 years with a golden mustache and beard, which glittered like lightning. At the same time, his hair was black, with a silvery graying of thundercloud. Just like her, they swirled around his face.

In the sky, God moved on a huge chariot: the crash of her wheels was the thunder that terrified people on Earth. The symbol of Perun is a black and white magpie, so his 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, Tour, considered an untouchable animal guarded by Perun. The deity was portrayed in a red cloak draped in the wind: this apparel later became the main distinguishing feature of the image of any Old Russian prince.

Iris and oak

These are the main symbols of the Thunderer. Like all the gods of the Slavs, Perun had his own signs, which were invariably connected with his character, halo of habitat and activity. For example, a mighty oak tree. The ancient Slavs in the annals documented the rituals, part of which was this tree: usually the highest in the district, with thick branches and a dense crown. Near him performed sacrifices in honor of Perun: they killed cocks, left pieces of meat, stuck in the ground arrows.

Another symbol of Perun is an iris of heavenly color. The blue flower was used not only in the rituals 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 sank to the ground and were supplemented at the ends by pits. In these hollows a sacred fire burned, and in the middle of the cup there was a statuette of Perun. Devotion to God is another plant - the color of the fern. Mythical element was searched on the night of Ivan Kupala. The Slavs believed: to someone who can overcome all the dangers and find him in dense thickets, Perun will present untold treasures.

Other characters

The famous sign of Perun is the so-called storm light. It is a symbol similar to the Sun. From the center go six rays, directed in different directions. A sign was often painted over the front door of the house. People believed that he was protecting his native walls from evil and evil eyes. With the same purpose he was cut out on shutters and roofs. Women embroidered a symbol in the form of a flower: these "towels" gave men a military campaign to protect them from enemy swords and arrows, to give strength and courage. Later, this sign of Perun changed a little and became like a wheel - the one that was part of the chariot of the Thunderer.

The main weapon of the god was an ax that possessed miraculous power. The door, framed in a jamb, with images of Thunder and the Sun, he also served as a guard for the human dwelling, prevented penetration of evil forces, troubles and misfortunes. It is interesting, but after the baptism of Rus, all the symbols and properties of Perun passed "by inheritance" to the prophet Elijah - the saint, whom the entire Orthodox world reveres.

Attributes

Perun's day of the week is Thursday, during which the Slavs worshiped and sacrificed. Through rituals, people asked the deity 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, Perun patronized the world of flora and fauna. In addition to the above-mentioned oak, iris, fern, bull and magpie, wolves, beetles, bay horses, as well as mushroom-boletus, peas and oats stayed under his protection. The figure of the deity is 4, metal is tin, stone is lapis lazuli, sapphire. The planet of the solar system - Jupiter, under the influence of which grows rich crops, livestock gives an offspring. When the science of astrology became popular on the territory of modern Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, it was believed that all agricultural work is better to start unchanged at the time during which Jupiter rules.

Abilities

Proceeding from the fact that Perun was a thunderer, he knew how to cause severe thunderstorms. God not only throws lightning at his pleasure: with their help, he punished people who had angered him. Usually the unwanted burned alive on the spot. Those who managed to survive were considered almost sacred. Lucky people were called "labeled Perun," because after the incident they usually discovered hidden magical powers, sorceress skills and extrasensory capabilities.

And Perun himself - the god of thunder and lightning - was an excellent magician. He flew in the sky in a chariot, he could reincarnate in different animals, birds, people. At will, he created ghostly beings, whom he sent to mortals with a specific mission. In addition, Perun had enormous physical strength, it was not without reason that he was compared to an oak tree. By the way, the Slavs were so afraid of the thunderer that they never felled these trees. That oak, in which lightning struck, they revered with double ecstasy: the staffs and clubs, carved from its trunk, were considered the best weapon not only in battle with mortal enemies, but also with magical creatures from the afterlife of Navi.

Enemies of the Deity

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

Perun and Velez constantly competed among themselves: they could not divide the herd of animals, then they proved who is stronger and more powerful. Their hostility can not be called enmity, rather it is the story of two brothers who make one another petty dirty tricks while still respecting and even experiencing a hidden love affair. By the way, Veles was the god of cyclic movement. In humans, he was associated with a bear possessing strong magical abilities.

The first feat

It was he who elevated Perun to unprecedented heights in the divine pantheon. And this is not surprising. The gods of the Slavs - Perun in particular - were not indifferent to the battles and battles. His baptism of fire thundered during the battle with the ugly Scepter - half snake, half scorpion. Having overthrown him, he earned the respect of the higher powers, as well as ordinary mortals. After that, Perun's other battles followed: he killed the children of Chernobog, the evil ruler of the dark forces, defeated griffins and basilisks. For indomitable fearlessness and unlimited rage he was made the main defender of the worlds of people and gods - Yavi and the Rule.

Reading ancient written sources, for example, the Procopius of Caesarea manuscript, dating from the 6th century, one can assume that Peruna was considered the supreme god. By the rays of his glory, he eclipsed even his father and grandfather - Svarog and Rod. And this is natural: Perun was the patron of the vigilantes. And Russia for most of its history was in a state of bloody war, the poet Perun appeased with gifts and victims regularly and generously.

Day of the god Perun

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

When the ceremony was over, the soldiers returned to the city, where the stage battles of Veles and Perun took place on the main square, from which the latter invariably emerged victorious. The deity was preparing a lot of gifts, which were put in a rook and set on fire. Ashes were buried, then sat down at the festive table. The priests advised warriors that night to spend 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 summer harvest would not destroy the harvest.

Serving Perun

This process was called sorpling, or burning. Performing rituals and rituals could only specially trained people, who from birth predicted this role. They were called accordingly: the Magi or the priests. In some chronicles it is said that princes or other high-ranking persons often played in their role. The honorary cast also included boys, to whom this title was inherited, as well as young men gifted with unusual abilities.

The pagan gods of the ancient Slavs always had a high priest who was the link between the higher powers and the people. This applies to Perun. The Supreme Priest was served by other wise men, who are on this hierarchical ladder a step below. Their duties included supporting the sacrificial fire in pagan temples, organizing and conducting sacrificial rites, walking through the villages and telling about the power of the deity. The priests often turned to people for help. They brought gifts and asked the sorcerer to say a word to them in front of Perun: heal from the wounds received in battle, impart invulnerability to enemy arrows, make the baby born courageous and strong.

At the end of the pagan era

At this time the thunderer was especially honored. In each house, the guard of Perun hung in the form of a small hatchet or a bulge. Even Prince Vladimir, before baptizing Rus, ordered the installation of a huge statue, depicting a deity, in the heart of Kiev, not far from the princely chambers. Only then, when he adopted a new faith and began to spread Christianity in all the Russian lands, he ordered to throw the idol into the river. People who were raised on pagan traditions, long ran along the shore and shouted after the floating statue: "Father Perun, blow it out!" ("Blow out" meant - swim out).

Years later, in the same place where the waves threw the image on land, they built the Vydubaysky monastery, which still exists. Also today, the fashion for ancient traditions has returned. The scientists found the so-called Santi Perunas, a book in which the basic teachings of God, its laws and commandments were laid out. Although some researchers doubt the reliability of the find. It is said that this is an analogue of the Indian and Aryan Vedas, only altered and veiled. Although the source is more informative, in addition, its true origin has long been proven.

Perun-Ilya

As already mentioned, after the baptism of Russian lands to other higher powers, the gods of the Slavs were transformed. Perun, for example, is an analog of the prophet Elijah. In lamentations he was called "thunderous", since he is considered to be the administrator of the stormy forces of nature. The main reason for such confusion is described in the biblical story: according to the prophet's prayer, fire fell from the sky to the ground and burned the enemy, and with its help water sprinkled the dried fields and saved the harvest. In the minds of ordinary people in our time, Ilya is considered a more pagan deity than a saint from the Orthodox religion.

When a thunderstorm comes, people say that he is riding on his heavenly chariot. During the harvest they always leave a few spikelets - Ilya on the beard. This, too, is something like ancient sacrifices. It can be concluded that no matter how hard we try, pagan traditions, rituals and rituals continue to exist in our daily lives. Memory of them is transmitted by genes from generation to generation. Recently, young people are grouped together: the Slavic rites are being revived by common efforts, including those that glorify the mighty and courageous Perun.