Translated from the
original by Costas Balomenos
The God Dabog of the Slavs
T
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he beliefs and rituals
of Slavic peoples
namely of Bulgarians, Serbs, Croats, Czechs, Poles
and Russians are
difficult to describe, due to
the limited number of their sources. However, what is common
in these is the word "Bong" which
means the God and by linguistic aspect is
related to the Indian word
“Baghavata” (Lord), quite literally meaning “scrumptious” and was
attributed to Vishnu and Krishna, Gods
of Hinduism.
Some information about the religion
of the Slavs gives us the Byzantine historian Procopius (500-565 AD).
Among other things he writes the following: «Because they
consider one God, this of lightning as creator and master of all and they
sacrifice to him oxen and all sanctuaries ... they respect and the rivers and
the nymphs and other such demons, and they sacrifice to all these, and they are
making these sacrifices in divination» (Procopii opera, J. Haury. Bellum Gothicum, III 14, Lipsiae 1906, p. 357 – 358)...
But what really makes an impression in the Slavic Religion is the
particular importance given
to the world of the dead, from which all came almost
the good and evil spirits. The evil spirits came
from the dead they had
suffered a violent death,
as for example those who were murdered, while good spirits came from the
dead who had experienced physiological death. Some of them even
such as Wasserman
(Aquarius), Mar
(nightmare) and Srat (ghost of forests) were omitted and incorporated in the paganistic
religion of the Germans.
The spirits of the house (Domovói) were protecting the house and the yard, the fairies of birth (Rozanitsi) foretold the future of the baby. However, they have interest mainly the evil spirits and particularly - in
these they helped and Hollywood movies - the Vampires. This demonic creature, called “living corpse”, that initially had the form
of a bird, comes at night to search for victims, is killing people and animals
to drink their blood from the artery of the neck. According to the Slavic
Religion vs. Vampires there was no reliable defensive measure.
The Rousalski (fairies of water), with their
laughter, kill their victim and Mitaksfrau (woman of midday) was causing heatstrokes and was stealing little children. The Navi
appeared from children who had been killed violently and was attacking in women
who were pregnant and like other vampires breastfed the blood of children.
Turning now to the Gods of the Slavic pantheon, things are
quite misty, because few of them are known and the most of them in name only. But some testimonials from Poland
There are two Slavic mythical cycles, an eastern (Russia )
and one west of Mecklenburg - currently located in eastern Germany - and in Eastern Pomerania, a region of Poland
In both mythical
cycles stands out the existence of God Svarogk, probably the highest Slavic deity,
who originally was representing the Sun God and later mainly the fire.
In Russia
there was Perun, a god of the storm, which
was merged with the
Scandinavian god of
thunder, Thor – who he became known and from the latest Hollywood
blockbusters.
The “God the livestock”, Volós,
probably was identical with the Veles,
a god of domestic cattle and of
dead. God of war and at the same time owner
of the farmland was
Svandevit, whose sanctuary -
with oracle of horses in Arkona in
Rigken - was destroyed in 1168 AD. In the Polish city of Szczecin - Szczecin
Goleniow today - were similar oracles
of god Triglav (triceps), who -
like his priests were explaining -
the three heads were symbolizing
the triple domination, in heaven, on earth and
in the underworld of the dead.
The Pomeranian god Giarovit, whose name is
interpreted as strict mister was a god of war and guarantor of victory. Of the women goddesses, this who stood out and
they were honoring her especially - like the fairies of birth - was the goddess
of fertility Mocós, who was the protector of women's work and
particularly of weaving.
To the Serbs, at the head of the pagan pantheon was Dajbog
or Dabog in the most popular name, which - according to one aspect - was the adoration of the sun. It was something
akin to the god of lightning of the Slavs, mentioned by Procopius and
was known to the Russians as Perun.
The residence of Dabog was away from the people, in some inaccessible
mountain top or wilderness. Since there was appearing to the people through the clouds in the form of lightning. However, particular force and mystery was giving to the Dabog his
status, as the god
of the dead. Indeed, with this status is displayed - in the old
Serbian tradition - in the form of a wolf. Also is known as god of herds, of
wealth, of mining, of luck. The anthropomorphic appearance, as a nocturnal rider is postdates and possibly of Asian influence.
But the most important attribute of Dabog, which affected
a long run in the general perception of this people about God and influenced
decisively the religious psychology, was that of the founder. Dabog, as a
national god was considered the natural father of the entire Serbian genus. So, with this
capacity, takes some messianic
form and cares for
his people. In time of war
is located always ahead of
his warriors and he is who overcomes the enemies or frees his people from
them. In peacetime takes care for concord, marriages,
births and appears as a great lover.
Another distinctive element in Slavic religion is that the
female deities were limited. In several cases the Priesthood presented stronger
than the king. The priests were exercising the oracular art and made offerings
to the gods with fruits, drinks and animals. They were becoming human
sacrifices, but under exceptional cases.
However, although the ancient Slavs were pantheist and animist and they worshiped many deities, thus personifying the elements and the forces of nature, however it seems they had capture the sense of a superior god, who was over all
and by all, a sovereign of Earth, terrible god, but
it constituted taboo (it was forbidden) to
pronounce his name.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Encyclopedia of
Religions
Educational
Encyclopedia: Religions
Papyrus -
Larousse, lemma Slavs
Tarnanidis John:
History of the Serbian
Church
Writer
Christos Pal
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