On Kalmyk People’s Popular Beliefs

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analyses of the omens of the Kalmyk people which testify the ethnic uniqueness of the people and allow to understand the nature of the folk beliefs and the core of the traditional way of life of the Kalmyk people. The folklore material analyzed in this research was gathered during the field study in the village of Tsagan-Nur of Oktyabrskiy region of the Republic of Kalmykia. The fairytales, legends, proverbs, prayers and mother’s covenant most of which are of religious character were recorded from two informants M. M. Boldyreva and E. H. Boldyreva. The author pays a special attention to the analyses of the omens told by the informants because they explain the nature of many customs and traditions as well. According to the informants, the highest criterion for the Kalmyks is Heaven where the deities live which patronize people that is why parents forbid their children to point a finger at the sky. In one of the legends told by the informants the horned snake relieves people and animals from diseases, and Kalmyks still consider a horn to be a sacred object and to have a curative effect. The Fairytale about a Girl Who Gave Birth to Serpents is imbued with great maternal love. Kalmyk people used to believe that children were destined to their parents by the deities, and that they would either ennoble their parents or upset them. People created proverbs like the following ‘Giving birth to a child, one doesn’t give birth to mind’ or ‘All five fingers are different’. They also invented signs such as ‘You should not hurt your mother, her blessing as a curse comes back to offenders’. The author analyses some omens justifying the ethics of worshipping mothers and seniors (Happiness comes when you respect elders) and those evidencing respect to a man - a breadwinner of the family. Thus, in her prayers to the Almighty the informant E.H. Boldyreva apologizes for her bad thoughts, for incautiously said words, mistakes, etc. Beliefs played an important role in children upbringing, taught love to a human being and reverence to the Nature. They were a kind of etiquette rules protecting from bad deeds, were they physical, spiritual or verbal. Kalmyks invested special meaning and wisdom, their heart and soul into any business they did (forthcoming deals started with the left side following the Sun’s movement); they baked dough of different shapes praising the Sky, the Sun, the Earth, various animals and birds and expressing their gratitude to them. Kalmyk-nomads were wise and virtuous, lived in harmony with the environment. Faith and fortitude helped our ancestors endure all the trials of life and become a role model for younger generations. To sum up, the analysis of the recorded folklore material provided with the information which allows to explain some omens of the Kalmyk people, to understand the role of Buddhism in bringing up a harmonious person, to evaluate the influence of the Buddhist culture on an individual’s development in the Kalmyk community.