Ufa University of Science and Technology, Ufa, Russian Federation, [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Introduction: the question of origin of the Ob-Ugric goddess Kaltashch has so far been insufficiently studied. The article considers the problem of Kaltashch’ genesis on the basis of Praural and Prafinno-Ugric mythological representations.
Objective: to find out the origin of the Ugric goddess Kaltashch by means of attraction of additional Finno-Permian materials. For this purpose it was necessary to solve the following problems: to specify etymology of Kaltashch and Mari spirit Koltysho; to compare Kaltashch with Finno-Permian spirits and deities close to her, first of all with Mari Koltysho and Kugyеng; to allocate characteristic totem images and hypostases of Kaltashch and close to her Finno-Permian mythological characters.
Research materials: folklore collections, ethnographic literature, author’s field materials.
Results and novelty of the research: it is believed that the etymology of Kaltashch goes back to the Finno-Permian concept kyld with the meaning ‘to create, to predetermine’. Indeed, similar images to Kaltashch were found in the Udmurts: Kyldysin, Kyldyni Mumas; in the Mari: Koltysho.
The novelty of the research lies in the fact that the author offers a new explanation of the theonym Kaltashch. It is possible that it is connected with the base –kol / kül / khуԓ which is traced in Mari koltash ‘to let go, to send, to skip’, in Hungarian küldeni ‘to send’. Based on this etymology, for the first time in the scientific literature the images of Mari spirits Koltysho yomshoenger, Kugyеng were comprehensively compared with the image of Kaltashch, its various totemic appearances including in the dual-fratrial organization aspect. As a result, the author of the research came to the conclusion that there is every reason to assume that originally Kaltashch / Koltysho could act as a Finno-Ugric deity who in the process of shamanic kamlanie released, i.e. freed the soul of a sick person from the power of evil spirits. At the same time, Kaltashch fulfilled itself the role of a mediator between the heavenly and water-subterranean worlds. The above allows us to conclude that the image of Kaltashch was formed on the basis of the evolution of Praural totem and shamanic deity associated, among other things, with a diving bird-creator as well as with various zoomorphic and anthropomorphic spirits having both solar and lunar origin.
Key words: Kaltashch, Kildysin, Koltysho, traditional beliefs, spirits, totem, shaman, gods, mythology, Ob Ugrians, Finno-Permians, Mansi, Khanty, Komi, Udmurts, Mari
For citation: Ilikaev A.S. New traits to the origin of the goddess Kaltashch in the light of Ugrian and Finno-Permian parallels // Vestnik ugrovedenia = Bulletin of Ugric Studies. 2024; 14 (3/58): 542–553.