Candidate of Historical Sciences Leading researcher of the Ob-Ugric Institute of Applied Researches and Development Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia [email protected]
Abstract. The analysis of materials has showed, that a rich complex of Khanty and Mansi representations about a soul (souls) is based on its two components: a spirit (reincarnating) beginning –lil (Khanty) / lili (Mansi) and a vital beginning – is, is-χor (Khanty, Mansy). A reincarnating soul (a "little" soul, an "inner" soul, a soul-bird) is producing (life-giving) the beginning, constantly reviving in new physical bodies. It has "heavenly" origin and periodically returns after death to the Upper world. Information about reincarnating soul lil / lili has somewhat close nature; it is transmitted indirectly, covertly, and it presents more a symbolic layer of knowledge. However, lil / lili is the main soul having code characteristics of person; it has connection with his consciousness, and is responsible for communication with the space(the Upper world). The reincarnation in the Ob-Ugric milieu has definite patterns. The author has identified 12 principles for it. These principles are not hard, because everywhere we can find exceptions to the "rules". In this case we can talk about some established or determined "frameworks" allowed "to order" the process of transmigration of human souls. Traditional views of the Khanty and Mansi people about reincarnation made a single coherent worldview system which penetrate all spheres of their life and they can be can be attributed to the main meanings in their culture.
Key words: traditional world outlook, the Ob-Ugrians, reincarnation.