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{{Short description|Myths in the Mari folk heritage}}

'''Mari mythology''' is a collection of myths belonging to the [[Mari people|Mari]] folk heritage. It has many similar features and motifs with [[Mari people|Maris']] neighbouring people, like the [[Komi peoples|Komis]], [[Udmurt people|Udmurts]] and [[Mordvins]]. Many of their myths are also distantly related to the myths of other [[Uralic peoples]]. k▼

{{More citations needed|date=March 2018}}

▲'''Mari mythology''' is a collection of myths belonging to the [[Mari people|Mari]] folk heritage. It has many similar features and motifs with [[Mari people|Maris']] neighbouring people, like the [[Komi peoples|Komis]], [[Udmurt people|Udmurts]] and [[Mordvins]]. Many of their myths are also distantly related to the myths of other [[UralicFinno-Ugric peoples]]. k

The biggest literary work on Mari mythology is the Mari epic "[[Jugorno]]", written by the [[Russians|Russian]] Anatoli Spiridonov in 2002. The epic was originally written in Russian, despite Spiridonov being very knowledgeable on the [[Mari language]] and Mari folk poetry. However, a [[Mari language|Mari]] translation by Anatoli Mokejev was provided alongside the publication of the original epic. In 2015, the epic was translated into [[Estonian language|Estonian]] by [[Arvo Valton]].

== The creation and cosmology ==

[[File:Jumo den Jyn 04.jpg|thumb| Kugu-Yumo and his brother Jõn (Kijamat) in the form of drakes create peace on the waters of the oceans]]

The [[Mari people|Mari]] creation myth is a typical [[Uralic mythologies|Uralic]] creation myth. In the beginning there was an eternal ocean in which a duck swam. She looked for land to lay her eggs on. When she finally found land, she could only fit two of her three eggs there. Out of the first egg came a duck called Jum (probably the initial form of the skygod Kugu Jumo), who started work with creating the world. And out of the second egg came a duck called Jõn (probably the initial form of the god of death Kijamat), who went out to create the underworld. Out of the third egg later came Targõltõš.

The Maris believed the sky revolved around the Northern Star, held up by the pillar of the world Kava Menge.

The end of the world lies in the north, beyond the three rivers Tupsa, Perža and Voja.

== History in mythology ==

Much of Mari mythology is mythologised history. The story of Čumbõlat is based on the historical 12th century chief of [[Kokšar]].<ref name=":0" /> Poltõš is based on Boltuš, a historical chief of [[Malmyzh|Malmõž]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.suri.ee/il/97/2/mari.html|title=MARI KANGELASE PÄEVAST JA TŠEREMISSI SÕDADEST (in Estonian)|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>

[[Jugorno]] mentions several named chiefs of the ancient Maris. Some of them, like Kukarka and Tükan Šur are often considered historical.

== Gods, heroes and other beings ==

* Oš Kugu Jumo - "Great White God". The chiefgod and the [[god of the sky]] and light. One of the three main gods.

* Jumõn Üdõr - Daughter of Kugu Jumo.

* Onar - Mythological giant. The ancestor of Maris. Son of Kugu Jumo and Mlandava.

* Onaj - Son of Onar. Sorcerer and the husband of Piambar. The messengermediator between Kugu Jumo and the human world.

* Mlandava - "Earthmother"[[Earth mother]].

* Nönčõk-patõr - A hero made out of dough.

* Čumbõlat<ref -name=":0">{{Cite Theweb|url=http://www.suri.ee/il/99/4/palvus.html|title=PALVUS TŠUMBÕLATI MÄEL 1999. AASTA SUVEL (in Estonian)|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> hero- ofChief theof MarisKokšar. He was buried by the river Nemdõ.

* Salij - An old forgotten Mari hero. A hunter.

* Izim - Salij's father.

* Alataj - Izim's father, from the "Lands of the Seven Great Lakes".

* KečeTõlze - "Sun". [[God of the sunmoon]]. Protector of marriage and birth.

* Keče - [[God of the sun]].

* Čodõra-kuva - Forestmother. Goddess of hunting.

* Kijamat - The [[god of the dead]] and the underworld. Brother to Kugu Jumo.

* Pürõžö - One of the three main gods. God of fate.

* Küdõrčö - One of the three main gods. [[God of thunder]].

* Piambar - Daughter of Jumo. Married Onaj against his father's will and thus had to live in the men's world.

* Azõren - Kijamat's helper, who brings the dead to the underworld.

* Akpatõr - Hunter. Went to Kakšan and later Elnet. Together with Odo and Čolman, the three patõrs and the childrengrandchildren of Onaj and Piambar.

* Odo - Lumber. Went North to [[Udmurtia]].

* Čolman - Horseman. Went to Ošvič and the [[Kama River|Kama]] area.

* Sjar - Son of Akpatõr. Took his people to the southern areas of [[Volga River|Volga]]. Ancestor of Hill Maris.

* Torkan - Leader of the Eastern Maris. Became a Keremet{{efn|A Keremet is a half-god, similar to a saint.}} with the name of Sultan.

* Rjažan - Skilled horseman from the [[Ural Mountains|Urals]].

* Almakaj - Organiser of [[Mari people|Mari]] meetings.

* Kukarka - The headkart{{efn|A kart is a head of the Mari religion. See also [[Mari native religion]].}} of all karts. Together with Čimale, the rulers of the North-East Maris,Mari incounty of Jüksern.

* Šurma - The Udmurt ruler of the of Šurma, alsothe knownancient ashome of [[UdmurtiaUdmurt people|Udmurts]].

* Külmez - An [[Udmurt people|Udmurt]] hero. The only trustworthy friend of Šurma.

* Savi - A female hero. Daughter of Külmez.

* Poltõš - Ruler of the [[Kama River|Kama]] Maris. Built the [[Malmyzh, Kirov Oblast|Malmõž]] stronghold.

* Pektemõr - Chief of what was probably a vassal state of Jüksern. Later to be known as Tükan Šur. Friend of Targõltõš. Occupied Šurma and pushed the Udmurts to the east.

* Targõltõš - An evil spirit of chaos who manipulates people's thinking. Brother of Jumo and Kijamat.

* Jumõn Šočõn - Mother and councillor of Kugu Jumo and his councillor.

* Šočõn Ava - Goddess of birth and fertility.

* Akmazik - WasA hero who was foreseen to defeat Tükan Šur.

* Uvanij - Sorcerer and daughter of Tükan Šur.

* Oš Pondaš - "Grey Beard". The spirit of ancestors. A keremet.

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* Nekoš - A keremet of the Northern [[Mari people|Maris]].

* Oš Kugu Pürtüš - "The White Infinity". Nature.

*

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== Footnotes ==

{{notelist}}

== References ==

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{{reflist}}

== Sources ==

* Anatoli Spiridonov. (2002). ''Jugorno, Laul Pühast Teest.'' https://www.apollo.ee/jugorno-mari-eepos.html (in Estonian)

[[Category:Mari El]]

[[Category:Uralic mythology]]