V. M. Vasilyev Mari Research Institute of Language, Literature and History, Mari State University, Yoshkar-Ola, Russian Federation, [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Introduction: in the prayers, the Mari concept of perke (perkelyk) is one of the key concepts defining the philosophy of the traditional Mari religion, its depth and diversity of the content, which was formed and passed down from generation to generation, from century to century.
Objective: identification and description of cultural and ethnic features of the Mari religious concept of perke ‘profusion, fertility, fecundity, well-being’.
Research materials: texts of prayers and descriptions of rituals from published sources, from the manuscript scientific fund of the V. M. Vasilyev Mari Scientific Research Institute of Language, Literature and History, as well as texts of prayer and descriptions of rituals by the author.
Results and novelty of the research: for the first time, the author of the article attempts a linguistic and cultural analysis of the Mari religious concept of perke ‘profusion, fertility, fecundity, well-being’. The word perke is a Turkic loan word of Arabic origin, and in the Mari language it retains its meaning represented by the semes ‘profusion, welfare, blessing’. The characteristic components of the analyzed concept include immeasurability, incalculability, uncountability. In the texts of prayers, the concept of perke is presented as an over-expected, all-encompassing, comprehensive, renewable due to prayers, determined by God Yumo since ancient times. Profusion, according to Mari religious views, not only ensures the existence of humans and animals, but also serves as a source of joy and mercy. The concept of perke in religious discourse appears as a multi-layered and multivalued.
The preservation of profusion depends on divine forces, and a person strictly observing covenants, taboos, praying, bringing gifts to the gods, makes up for it. The concept of perke among Mari believers defines behavior both during religious rituals and in everyday life, sets guidelines in the relationship between a person and society with Yumor.
Key words: linguoculturology, Mari language, Mari ethnic religion, texts of prayers, religious concept, profusion
For citation: Abukaeva L. A. Cultural and ethnic features of the Mari religious concept of perke ‘profusion, fertility, fecundity, well-being’ // Vestnik ugrovedenia = Bulletin of Ugric Studies. 2023; 13 (4/55): 607–614.