Institute of Humanitarian Studies of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Perm, Russian Federation, [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Introduction: the notion myzha remains relevant for the Komi-Permyak people in the XXI century. This word most often refers to diseases of people and animals, loss of livestock, which are considered the punishment of ancestors or Christian saints. The known information about this worldview phenomenon is summarized in the article. The author defines the semantic meaning of the word, the features of the phenomenon and notes common features with the traditions of other peoples.
Objective: to determine the meaning of the words myzha and myzhjyny in the traditional culture of the Komi-Permyak people and to bring out the ritual and mythological complex associated with them.
Research materials: published materials of the XIX–XXI centuries, field materials of the author.
Results and novelty of the research: the author’s field materials are introduced into scientific circulation. For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the representations about myzha is carried out, which allows to identify their specifics and dynamics of development; to identify the connection with ritual practices; to identify common features with other peoples. At the present, the Komi-Permyak people use words with the root myzh in several meanings: illness, punishment from supernatural power, and witchcraft damage. The representations about myzha are syncretic. They combine faith in
polytheism, ancestral cult, animism. They led to the development of a number of ritual practices aimed at diagnosing the causes of illnesses and misfortunes, healing and atonement for sins. Among them are the ritual of divination with a hanging axe, the customs of sacrifice, tributes to the Christian icons, healing in river water.
Key words: Komi-Permyak people, myzha, divine punishment, mantic rituals, ancestor worship
Acknowledgments: the research was carried out in the framework of the state theme “Ethnocultural processes in the center of Eurasia: archeology and ethnography of the Urals”, № 124021500047-2.
For citation: Goleva T. G. The myzha in representations of the Komi-Permyak people // Vestnik ugrovedenia = Bulletin of Ugric studies. 2024; 14 (1/56): 138–148.