Death which represents the end of life, is probably the main "culprit" why the belief in supernatural appeared among the human civilizations. Inexplicable fear from that strange condition and generally panic from disappearing caused among the people on the entire globe frustrations and eternal questions from the earliest times - why are we born and why do we die? Though we don't know the answer to this question even today, yet we as a civilization tried to fill the world with things in order to introduce some order and thereby give a certain sense to everything we do.
This is why humans invent religion, its unrestrained imagination creates a large number of imaginary beings which surround him, and despite numerous human characteristics, still they have some exaltation which separates them from the world of humans. Throughout centuries religion experiences its constant trend, upgrades, adjusts to human advancement and finally in ancient Iran it receives its present nature through dualism of Persians Manesa and the prophet Zarathustra, on whose principles monotheism is born - direction which tries to convince us in the absurd i.e. how it is possible that in the universe there are two principles - good and evil, but that only one principle is important and the second one is less important?!
Because of such an erroneous religious idea in Bosnia and Herzegovina around the tenth century, and probably even sooner, a revolutionary religious direction started to spread fast which seriously impairs the rigid Christian doctrine, it propagates that through the world, but also the universe, two equally important deities rule between which exists man and his primary spiritual mission to clean his soul from sins, and after death to return it to heaven. Such a claim is pretty rational, if we take into consideration the definition that according to the principles of quant physics all matter is actually condensed energy and that this is the reason why all of us are beings of energy or beings of light, what leads us into traditional belied in the spirit and soul, which every human possesses.
But, in order to die we must be born, feel life for at least a moment, in order for our spirit and soul to achieve a balance, since without this alignment with two universal principles, or with two deities of our forefathers Bogomils, we cannot enter the adventure called death. Folk wisdom claims that the spirit is the representative of the god of evil and the soul, pure and holly, it represents the god of good inside of us. While the spirit has the possibility to, usually at night while the man is sleeping, go out of the body and travel the world and also perform some weird, often bad things and bring us into various temptations, the soul is firmly fixed for the human body and there is no possibility of exiting it until death.
utorak, 21. srpnja 2015.
Spirit
Spirit and soul as two abstract terms are actually a basic framework of the entire spiritual thread which spans through the human race since its beginning. In Bosnian mythological beliefs it is an extremely dominant idea of similar, almost identical, representation of a few supernatural aspects of man himself. Namely, when we analyse some segments of traditional representations about the human spirit and soul, which are often not differentiated in folk tales which causes confusion, wild nature is clearly evident which according to mythological notion represents the essence of every man. While in classic European mythology the spirit, but also the soul, is represented by a see-through white silhouette, which in a human form hover through the air or suddenly appear and disappear, in Bosnian representation the spirit mostly resembles an energy ball whose shape has an astonishing similarity with a mouse. Certain mythological tradition describe the appearance of the soul as "fruit of the apple tree" i.e. such a description actually associates us with a light ball which exits a hole (mouth) and moves with fast steps towards the surface, emitting sounds similar to a mouse squeak. With such a comparison one receives an impression that the energy is restless and nervous, i.e. unrestrained, which it proves by exiting the human body.
A mouse was not chosen accidentally for the totem animal since it is used for the description of other supernatural events, closely tied to humans themselves. Some of the examples are as follows:
- mouse in the folk tale about Noah's ark is an extremely negative character who wanted to let water in by trying to create a hole in the ark, and destroy the entire world. He would probably succeed if he wasn't prevented by the snake. Actually, the mouse is the incarnation of evil, a demon which wants to destroy mankind.
- snijet, which in mythology in Bosnia and Herzegovina is considered to be a dragon seed after intercourse with a woman, it is described as a small hairy creature, which resembles a mole or mouse, which runs and squeaks, even climbing walls in fear of a human hand touching it, or even worse, getting killed by a broom from one of the present women.
- in exotic séances of Bosnian dervishes and Imam's, in the ritual known as "skupljanje daire", the final sign of a successful performance, usually curing a mentally ill person, is the hanged or dead mouse on a nearby bridge. This is a signal that the Jinn use to show that the Jinn attacker has been punished by the severest punishment.
A mouse was not chosen accidentally for the totem animal since it is used for the description of other supernatural events, closely tied to humans themselves. Some of the examples are as follows:
- mouse in the folk tale about Noah's ark is an extremely negative character who wanted to let water in by trying to create a hole in the ark, and destroy the entire world. He would probably succeed if he wasn't prevented by the snake. Actually, the mouse is the incarnation of evil, a demon which wants to destroy mankind.
- snijet, which in mythology in Bosnia and Herzegovina is considered to be a dragon seed after intercourse with a woman, it is described as a small hairy creature, which resembles a mole or mouse, which runs and squeaks, even climbing walls in fear of a human hand touching it, or even worse, getting killed by a broom from one of the present women.
- in exotic séances of Bosnian dervishes and Imam's, in the ritual known as "skupljanje daire", the final sign of a successful performance, usually curing a mentally ill person, is the hanged or dead mouse on a nearby bridge. This is a signal that the Jinn use to show that the Jinn attacker has been punished by the severest punishment.
Ubiquitous Bogomil tradition
The human spirit is very restless. When a man is sleeping the spirit exits the body and walks away. The man dreams where the spirit goes, and when it returns into the body, the sudden energy surge wakes the man up. The spirit in Bosnian mythology is described as an etheric apparition which squeals. As for the soul, so as for the human spirit a bridge represents a very strong barrier and prevents it from further movement, namely, as soon as the spirit comes across a bridge during his nightly travels, he cannot cross it, it gets restless starts squealing and screaming. If someone would catch that mouse, the sleeper whose spirit is represented by the mouse would die immediately.
In Bosnian mythological representation a bridge is a notion of a place with high energy, which besides connecting two shores in the material level, on the spiritual it has the meaning of a spiritual portal through which the soul passes or perishes on its journey.
According to belief from south-eastern part of Bosnia a child's spirit is especially restless, like the child itself, it is restless and always in the mood for movement and games. Aware of this older women still today warn young mothers when moving a sleeping child from one place to another or if waking it to do it carefully, calling him by his name and pulling it lightly by the nose. If the child is a heavy sleeper they would imitate the sound of a mouse (cccc) in order to draw attention to the wandering spirit, this would force him back into the body. Otherwise, if the child would awake and the spirit hasn't returned, they would risk the child would fall ill mentally and physically.
Also for an adult the same rule applies, it should not awake suddenly, since its spirit is far away, traveling across the world. Apparently such a person could physically attack, start kicking the person that is awaking him at such an unpleasant moment. In that case it is necessary for such a person to be taken to the place where he is sleeping, for it to lie there again, and stay there until it awakes. If this is not done, the person could have some mental issues all its life.
As it is narrated among the Bosnian folk, according to the Bogomil principles, the human spirit belongs to the god of evil and the soul to the god of good. This is why it is believed that witches and wizards have to sell their souls to Iblis or some other ranked Jinn, in order to engage in magical practice and rule the unseen forces. They perform this with a ritual, usually by bringing the holly book Qur'an inside the bathroom and urinating or defecating on it. This is why the soul was purposefully exchanged for a certain power, the soul is trapped and no longer belongs to the human.
After such a situation and the disturbance of the equilibrium of good and evil, the human spirit in the body of the witch or wizard becomes extremely powerful but also evil and is capable of making various evil deeds. While the witch is sleeping, the spirit exits her, and the body gets a blue hue and becomes cold, almost as if she died, which is the consequence of a trapped soul. Her mouth gaps open and become black.
It is considered that a spirit of a common man is capable of doing bad things during its nightly travels, such as attacking someone along the way, but this spirit like the witches spirit avoids crossing over all bridges which it encounters.
Similar belief exits in Iranian - Arabic occultism where it is claimed that every human possesses its astral doppelganger. Haamzad or Qarin is the name for the Jinn which follows the man at all times and tries to influence negatively his conscious and his behaviour. Qarin is the only Jinn which cannot be destroyed with exorcism or in any other way.
In Bosnian mythological representation a bridge is a notion of a place with high energy, which besides connecting two shores in the material level, on the spiritual it has the meaning of a spiritual portal through which the soul passes or perishes on its journey.
According to belief from south-eastern part of Bosnia a child's spirit is especially restless, like the child itself, it is restless and always in the mood for movement and games. Aware of this older women still today warn young mothers when moving a sleeping child from one place to another or if waking it to do it carefully, calling him by his name and pulling it lightly by the nose. If the child is a heavy sleeper they would imitate the sound of a mouse (cccc) in order to draw attention to the wandering spirit, this would force him back into the body. Otherwise, if the child would awake and the spirit hasn't returned, they would risk the child would fall ill mentally and physically.
Also for an adult the same rule applies, it should not awake suddenly, since its spirit is far away, traveling across the world. Apparently such a person could physically attack, start kicking the person that is awaking him at such an unpleasant moment. In that case it is necessary for such a person to be taken to the place where he is sleeping, for it to lie there again, and stay there until it awakes. If this is not done, the person could have some mental issues all its life.
As it is narrated among the Bosnian folk, according to the Bogomil principles, the human spirit belongs to the god of evil and the soul to the god of good. This is why it is believed that witches and wizards have to sell their souls to Iblis or some other ranked Jinn, in order to engage in magical practice and rule the unseen forces. They perform this with a ritual, usually by bringing the holly book Qur'an inside the bathroom and urinating or defecating on it. This is why the soul was purposefully exchanged for a certain power, the soul is trapped and no longer belongs to the human.
After such a situation and the disturbance of the equilibrium of good and evil, the human spirit in the body of the witch or wizard becomes extremely powerful but also evil and is capable of making various evil deeds. While the witch is sleeping, the spirit exits her, and the body gets a blue hue and becomes cold, almost as if she died, which is the consequence of a trapped soul. Her mouth gaps open and become black.
It is considered that a spirit of a common man is capable of doing bad things during its nightly travels, such as attacking someone along the way, but this spirit like the witches spirit avoids crossing over all bridges which it encounters.
Similar belief exits in Iranian - Arabic occultism where it is claimed that every human possesses its astral doppelganger. Haamzad or Qarin is the name for the Jinn which follows the man at all times and tries to influence negatively his conscious and his behaviour. Qarin is the only Jinn which cannot be destroyed with exorcism or in any other way.
Soul tied to Halal
Soul is the holder of human destiny. In BiH it is believed that Allah in the first 40 days of inception in the mother's womb determines what the destiny and life of the child i.e. future man, shall be. This is why it is considered that only when the soul enters the embryo it can develop into a fetus and begin its formation.
When a man is terminally ill his family and neighbours come to say goodbye - halale (forgive), in order to ease his death throes. Forgiveness is a very important segment of Islamic tradition, which shows mercy but also ensures an easier passing of the soul from the body. Namely, it is believed that the diseased dies in great pain and agony if someone who he has hurt won't forgive him. His parents, if alive, need to say their indulgences and by that comfort the diseased in his last moments.
How necessary halal is for the tranquillity of the soul is best described by a folk song. Sister in law while dying curses the bride Alibegovic. Time came for the bride to die, but she cannot separate from her soul which is why she asked to be carried to the tomb of her sister in law:
When they were close to the tomb,
From the tomb a small voice came:
Don't bring hither the cursed,
Until she has suffered enough!
They took her to the mountains, the mountains didn't want to take her, they took her to the water, the water threw her out. They brought her again to the sister in law. As soon as she forgave her, she immediately separated from the soul. How important halal (forgiveness) for the Bosnian people is, is testified by the custom that the person wronged by another says: "I shall die but I will not halaliti (forgive)!"
Bosnian people believe that the one who dies in the eve of Friday or during Eid is freed of all his sins, since then, it is believed, only the noble people die. Harbingers of death are numerous. In Velika Kladuša it is believed that when an old man starts to be dirty, no longer takes care of personal hygiene, or his favourite drink or food o longer tastes good that death is close by. Similarly, people give a lot of meaning to interpretation of dreams since through them one can foretell someone's imminent death. In dreams taking out a tooth and feeling pain, is a sign of death in the house, if the pain is not felt death will take place to other relatives. It is not considered favourable to plough or dig in dreams, and generally overturn earth, or see that the ground has cracked, at some location, since it foretells death in the family. Similar meaning is represented by a sunken foundation of the house or fallen beams from the roof. Such dreams are often disregarded or not shared for fear of them coming true. Usually as a counter measure it is said: "Dream is a lie and god is the truth" or, even, "Hey, let it be, thank Allah!"
When a man is terminally ill his family and neighbours come to say goodbye - halale (forgive), in order to ease his death throes. Forgiveness is a very important segment of Islamic tradition, which shows mercy but also ensures an easier passing of the soul from the body. Namely, it is believed that the diseased dies in great pain and agony if someone who he has hurt won't forgive him. His parents, if alive, need to say their indulgences and by that comfort the diseased in his last moments.
How necessary halal is for the tranquillity of the soul is best described by a folk song. Sister in law while dying curses the bride Alibegovic. Time came for the bride to die, but she cannot separate from her soul which is why she asked to be carried to the tomb of her sister in law:
When they were close to the tomb,
From the tomb a small voice came:
Don't bring hither the cursed,
Until she has suffered enough!
They took her to the mountains, the mountains didn't want to take her, they took her to the water, the water threw her out. They brought her again to the sister in law. As soon as she forgave her, she immediately separated from the soul. How important halal (forgiveness) for the Bosnian people is, is testified by the custom that the person wronged by another says: "I shall die but I will not halaliti (forgive)!"
Bosnian people believe that the one who dies in the eve of Friday or during Eid is freed of all his sins, since then, it is believed, only the noble people die. Harbingers of death are numerous. In Velika Kladuša it is believed that when an old man starts to be dirty, no longer takes care of personal hygiene, or his favourite drink or food o longer tastes good that death is close by. Similarly, people give a lot of meaning to interpretation of dreams since through them one can foretell someone's imminent death. In dreams taking out a tooth and feeling pain, is a sign of death in the house, if the pain is not felt death will take place to other relatives. It is not considered favourable to plough or dig in dreams, and generally overturn earth, or see that the ground has cracked, at some location, since it foretells death in the family. Similar meaning is represented by a sunken foundation of the house or fallen beams from the roof. Such dreams are often disregarded or not shared for fear of them coming true. Usually as a counter measure it is said: "Dream is a lie and god is the truth" or, even, "Hey, let it be, thank Allah!"
Azrail
According to traditional belief the soul and body during a human's lifetime create a whole. If the soul leaves the body forever - death occurs. The body will decompose over time and disappear, it is believed that the soul is eternal and immortal. The soul cannot disappear, but over time it changes its habitat and goes to an unknown world which is called Ahiret or another world.
The soul doesn't leave the body on its own, Azrail intervenes, who in Bosnian mythology described as a skinny man with long arms and wings. Instead of nails he has claws, like a bird, which he uses to rip the soul or take it out of the body.
General belief is that the soul leaves the body slowly, since it is wrapped around every joint 99 times, it exits through the nose and mouth. Only with a man who has been hanged the soul does not exit in this manner, instead it exits through the rectum and this is why it gets dirty which makes it difficult for it to go to the next world.
The soul leaves the body from the legs towards the head. This belief has a rational interpretation since the feet and hands go blue to the deceased. On its way from the body the soul can be disturbed and confused if there is a noise and weeping inside the house that's why a general rule is that there should be peace and quiet around the deceased. Otherwise the dying shall die painfully and for a long time. It is believed that sinful people die with difficulty and suffer mightily before death. To ease the final moments the person is descended from the bed onto the ground, on a strewn carpet, while his shoes and socks should be taken off so he doesn't die with his socks on, in that case he would lose his religion. Rings are mandatorily taken off from a female in order to ease the passing of the soul.
When Azrail rips the soul from the human he carries it to the seventh heavenly floor and gives it to Allah, where it stays until judgement day. According to another belief, angel Azrail takes the soul from the body and there his job end. Separated from the soul, the soul stays there, close, for a certain period. It can follow what is going on with its body, but without any emotions since exiting the body it became free of any feelings, in the house, on the way to the cemetery and in the grave itself.
The soul doesn't leave the body on its own, Azrail intervenes, who in Bosnian mythology described as a skinny man with long arms and wings. Instead of nails he has claws, like a bird, which he uses to rip the soul or take it out of the body.
General belief is that the soul leaves the body slowly, since it is wrapped around every joint 99 times, it exits through the nose and mouth. Only with a man who has been hanged the soul does not exit in this manner, instead it exits through the rectum and this is why it gets dirty which makes it difficult for it to go to the next world.
The soul leaves the body from the legs towards the head. This belief has a rational interpretation since the feet and hands go blue to the deceased. On its way from the body the soul can be disturbed and confused if there is a noise and weeping inside the house that's why a general rule is that there should be peace and quiet around the deceased. Otherwise the dying shall die painfully and for a long time. It is believed that sinful people die with difficulty and suffer mightily before death. To ease the final moments the person is descended from the bed onto the ground, on a strewn carpet, while his shoes and socks should be taken off so he doesn't die with his socks on, in that case he would lose his religion. Rings are mandatorily taken off from a female in order to ease the passing of the soul.
When Azrail rips the soul from the human he carries it to the seventh heavenly floor and gives it to Allah, where it stays until judgement day. According to another belief, angel Azrail takes the soul from the body and there his job end. Separated from the soul, the soul stays there, close, for a certain period. It can follow what is going on with its body, but without any emotions since exiting the body it became free of any feelings, in the house, on the way to the cemetery and in the grave itself.
Are you a Muslim?
When a girl or boy would die one would place a stalk of nacre (ruta graveolens) above their heads. According to the custom one places an herb of a distinct smell next to the deceased in order to chase the Jinn away. One would usually use nacre, whose bouquets often adorned the grave of a girl or a boy. Nacre is according to this an herb dedicated to the cult of the dead in Bosnian tradition.
As soon as a person would die one would make "dead man's paste" and would distribute it across the neighbourhood. Necessity to follow his departure into the other world with good deeds, in order to ease it, was pronounced before and during the funeral. That's why next to the head of the deceased one would place a bowl of flour, or wheat, with a few tallow candles stuck inside of it. On the next day the candles and the flour were given to the poor.
According to folk knowledge, the deceased should be buried as soon as possible. Depending on the case the funeral should be done the same day, and if death occurred at midnight or during the evening - then the next day. If the person died suddenly in his bed, and he wasn't lowered to the floor prior to that, to die there, then it is done once he has died. His head is tied with a bandana and his eyelids are squeezed, so he can have a nice face. The deceased is placed so that his body is straight, it used to be a habit to tie the thumbs on the legs in order for the body to keep that position, while a heavy object was placed on the stomach, such as a knife, or a piece of earth, out of fear that the dead body wouldn't bloat, since that was explained as him "prikazati" i.e. - becoming a lampir. This is the reason why the house cat was locked away until the funeral has passed, out of fear that the cat will cross the deceased' body.
Deceased is covered with a white sheet and positioned so that his right cheek is turned in the direction of the holly city Mecca. One of the inhabitants, using a straight stick, takes a measure of the deceased, which is called "unčija" or "ulčija" in order to know the length of ćefin, the cloth of the dead, and digging of the grave. When the deceased is taken from the house, to the outside then care is taken that a part of him doesn't get stuck by a door or wall, since if that happens, it is believed, that his spirit will come back to the house and will disturb the inhabitants.
Bosnian folk believe that the soul can return home up to 40 days after the funeral. That's why lights or candles were turned on in the room where he lie, for the entire period, among the more affluent families, while the poor families would practice this ritual for seven or three nights. Place where the deceased was bathed was passed with fire, so that the Jinn and devils don't gather, and the room in which he lie was sprayed with water or was washed "so that the soul doesn't return". If the room was swept after the body was taken out, then the broom would be thrown far from the house.
After the body of the deceased is washed and all present men and women forgive him, halaliti, the body is taken to the grave where it is buried with a prayer. It is believed that when the Imam leaves the graveyard, since he has uttered all the necessary verses and prayers, the soul stays in the community of the dead. An interesting belief is that during the Imam's question of the deceased: "Are you a Muslim?" - the deceased in the grave lifts his entire body on the small finger of his right hand and answers readily: "I am a Muslim!" He does so that he is received by the dead. It is evident that the soul, according to belief, can resurrect the body so that it can lift itself up.
As soon as a person would die one would make "dead man's paste" and would distribute it across the neighbourhood. Necessity to follow his departure into the other world with good deeds, in order to ease it, was pronounced before and during the funeral. That's why next to the head of the deceased one would place a bowl of flour, or wheat, with a few tallow candles stuck inside of it. On the next day the candles and the flour were given to the poor.
According to folk knowledge, the deceased should be buried as soon as possible. Depending on the case the funeral should be done the same day, and if death occurred at midnight or during the evening - then the next day. If the person died suddenly in his bed, and he wasn't lowered to the floor prior to that, to die there, then it is done once he has died. His head is tied with a bandana and his eyelids are squeezed, so he can have a nice face. The deceased is placed so that his body is straight, it used to be a habit to tie the thumbs on the legs in order for the body to keep that position, while a heavy object was placed on the stomach, such as a knife, or a piece of earth, out of fear that the dead body wouldn't bloat, since that was explained as him "prikazati" i.e. - becoming a lampir. This is the reason why the house cat was locked away until the funeral has passed, out of fear that the cat will cross the deceased' body.
Deceased is covered with a white sheet and positioned so that his right cheek is turned in the direction of the holly city Mecca. One of the inhabitants, using a straight stick, takes a measure of the deceased, which is called "unčija" or "ulčija" in order to know the length of ćefin, the cloth of the dead, and digging of the grave. When the deceased is taken from the house, to the outside then care is taken that a part of him doesn't get stuck by a door or wall, since if that happens, it is believed, that his spirit will come back to the house and will disturb the inhabitants.
Bosnian folk believe that the soul can return home up to 40 days after the funeral. That's why lights or candles were turned on in the room where he lie, for the entire period, among the more affluent families, while the poor families would practice this ritual for seven or three nights. Place where the deceased was bathed was passed with fire, so that the Jinn and devils don't gather, and the room in which he lie was sprayed with water or was washed "so that the soul doesn't return". If the room was swept after the body was taken out, then the broom would be thrown far from the house.
After the body of the deceased is washed and all present men and women forgive him, halaliti, the body is taken to the grave where it is buried with a prayer. It is believed that when the Imam leaves the graveyard, since he has uttered all the necessary verses and prayers, the soul stays in the community of the dead. An interesting belief is that during the Imam's question of the deceased: "Are you a Muslim?" - the deceased in the grave lifts his entire body on the small finger of his right hand and answers readily: "I am a Muslim!" He does so that he is received by the dead. It is evident that the soul, according to belief, can resurrect the body so that it can lift itself up.
Bridge for souls
Such belief confirms the belief that when the deceased is buried he is visited in the grave by angels, judges, Azrail and Džibrail. They question the deceased about his good deeds and sins, and if he is sinful they hit him and bury him into the ground. Folk claim that they can bury him up to 77 meters into the ground. In some parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina it is believed that the worst case scenario for the deceased is to be buried in the eve of Tuesday and Saturday, since then he will be visited by scary Jinn called suhaladžije, which beat the deceased until they break and shatter all his bones.
Road from this earthly world leads to heaven across a bridge called sirat bridge, which is according to belief "thinner than a hair, sharper than a sword, longer than thousand kilometres". Underneath the bridge is a scary chasm - hell. There a large and powerful hell fire for which it is claimed among the Bosnian people that it is so hot and strong that no earthly fire can compare to it "since our fire is washed by 99 waters". Apparently, when out of "spite" only one spark from hell fire would jump out the entire world would burn. That fire heats up a cauldron which contains a black mass "tar like", which is boiling and when sinners fal in it they are turning like bean beads in a boiling pot.
The soul of the deceased slowly crosses the bridge (thousand kilometres). That road could be cut shorter and the road could be crossed sooner if for Eid he would sacrifice his best, most healthy ram. The soul of the ram - kurban, will carry him across the bridge "like a horse", it is believed. Depending on the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Sandžak, the people have their beliefs on the movement of the soul. One part of the belief claims that the soul of the deceased leaves the earth after seven days, graveyards and the house and across the sirat bridge carrying the good and bad deeds tries to reach the blissful, eternal life. It is believed that the man, while crossing the sirat bridge, carries the good deeds in his right hand or right shoulder, and the bad deeds on his left shoulder or left hand which he is hiding behind his back, that's why he is walking sideways so that the judge (Allah) has a harder time seeing the sins. Similarly, it is believed that the head needs to be raised high, and eyes looking at the sky. So that the soul doesn't see where it is walking when crossing the bridge. Out of many other beliefs a very interesting one is that if the deceased had sexual intercourse with someone else's wife during his lifetime, her menstrual blood will drip into his mouth and he will fall into hell. A similar punishment will be given to the one who has denounced a woman, broke up a wedding or killed someone.
more: www.tana.bosnianforum.com
Road from this earthly world leads to heaven across a bridge called sirat bridge, which is according to belief "thinner than a hair, sharper than a sword, longer than thousand kilometres". Underneath the bridge is a scary chasm - hell. There a large and powerful hell fire for which it is claimed among the Bosnian people that it is so hot and strong that no earthly fire can compare to it "since our fire is washed by 99 waters". Apparently, when out of "spite" only one spark from hell fire would jump out the entire world would burn. That fire heats up a cauldron which contains a black mass "tar like", which is boiling and when sinners fal in it they are turning like bean beads in a boiling pot.
The soul of the deceased slowly crosses the bridge (thousand kilometres). That road could be cut shorter and the road could be crossed sooner if for Eid he would sacrifice his best, most healthy ram. The soul of the ram - kurban, will carry him across the bridge "like a horse", it is believed. Depending on the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Sandžak, the people have their beliefs on the movement of the soul. One part of the belief claims that the soul of the deceased leaves the earth after seven days, graveyards and the house and across the sirat bridge carrying the good and bad deeds tries to reach the blissful, eternal life. It is believed that the man, while crossing the sirat bridge, carries the good deeds in his right hand or right shoulder, and the bad deeds on his left shoulder or left hand which he is hiding behind his back, that's why he is walking sideways so that the judge (Allah) has a harder time seeing the sins. Similarly, it is believed that the head needs to be raised high, and eyes looking at the sky. So that the soul doesn't see where it is walking when crossing the bridge. Out of many other beliefs a very interesting one is that if the deceased had sexual intercourse with someone else's wife during his lifetime, her menstrual blood will drip into his mouth and he will fall into hell. A similar punishment will be given to the one who has denounced a woman, broke up a wedding or killed someone.
more: www.tana.bosnianforum.com
subota, 18. srpnja 2015.
Patuljak Perkman
Srebrenica je i postojbina rudarskog duha, patulja Perkmana, sjeverno-njemačkog mitološkog bića. Ostaci srednjovijekovnih rudokopa za koje se vjeruje da je pri njihovom kopanju pomagao veseli patuljak Perkman, vidljivi su i uz samo šetalište koje iz grada vodi prema banji.
subota, 4. srpnja 2015.
Bosanski lampiri
Vampir je bugarska riječ, koja dolazi od sjevernoturske riječi upir. Zbog toga se nameće logično pitanje – da li je uopće vjerovanje u vampire egzistiralo prije dolaska Osmanlija na Balkan?! A da je upravo tako svjedoči i izdanje Karadžić svesci iz 1900.godine gdje se opisuje narodna priče o tome kako se Muhamed povampirio jer „Turci nisu čuvali Muhameda, da ga neko ne ukrade, nego da ga nešto ne preskoči, jer su verovali u vampire".
Prvi poznati vampir na Balkanu je onaj iz Istre, Jure Grando, čije je postojanje dokumentirano 1689. Jure Grando iz mjestašca Kringa, nadaleko od Pazina, poginuo je 1656.godine kad mu je Stipan Milašić sjekirom otkinuo glavu. O Juri vampiru svjedoči legenda zapisana u djelu „Slava vojvodine Kranjske“ slovenskog istoričara Janeza Vajkarda Valvazora.
Kod Bošnjaka, kako u BiH tako i na Sandžaku, najrašireniji naziv za vampira je lampir. Prema etimologiji naziv lampir potječe od narodnog naziva za leptira – lepir, lampijer, što potvrđuje bosansko vjerovanje kako vampir izlazi iz mezara kroz malenu rupu na zemlji u obliku leptira. U Srbiji i Crnoj Gori lampir se najčešće naziva ukolak, zbog čega ponegdje u Bosni i Hercegovini susrećemo i naziv vukodlak, mada on nema stvarnu povezanost sa lampirom.
Među bosanskim narodom preovladava animističko mišljenje da je lampir „odmetnuti duh“ čovjeka koji je umro odnosno da je njegov duh na misteriozan način poprimio toliku moć da i bez duše može na određeno vrijeme oživiti mrtvo tijelo.
„Narodna mudrost tvrdi da je duh predstavnik boga zla a duša, čista i sveta, zastupa boga dobra u nama. Dok duh ima mogućnost da uglavnom noću, dok čovjek spava, iziđe iz tijela i putuje svijetom ali i izvodi neke čudne, često i loše stvari, i dovodi nas u razna iskušenja, duša je čvrsto fiksirana za ljudsko tijelo i nema mogućnost izlaska iz njega sve dok ne nastupi smrt.“ (Duša i smrt u bosanskoj tradiciji, R.Esmerović)
Lampiri su vrlo socijalno osvješteni. Oni se znaju vraćati u svoju kuću, voditi ljubav sa supružnicima ili uznemiravati susjede bacanjem kamenja na njihove krovove. Ni poslovanje im nije strano, naime, neki lampir, rodom iz Hercegovine, imao je svoj dućan u Sarajevu, gdje je prodavao svake robe na aršin, pa kad su ga proboli u rodnom mjestu, na silu su razlomili dućan, al' u dućanu nije bilo ništa do paučine i smeta. Kada ljudi doznaju, da se kogod u selu povampirio, onda ti donesu mnogo drva i nalože vatru na grobu onoga mrtvaca, pa ti zaoštre glogov kolac, da bi proboli u trbuh onoga mrtvaca. Kad je gotov jak kolac, onda će ti maljevima te udri, da ga ugone u mezar.
U opisima postupanja prema lampiru kod Bošnjaka nemoguće je ne primjetiti skoro identičan odnos prema duši i mrtvacu kakav imaju, prema bosanskoj mitologiji, meleci Azrail i Džibrail:
„Ovakvo shvatanje potvrđuje vjerovanje da kad se mejit sahrani njemu u kabur dolaze meleci sudije Azrail i Džibrail. Oni ispituju mrtvaca o dobrim djelima i grijehovima, pa ukoliko je griješan udaraju ga i utuku u zemlju. Narod kazuje kako ga oni mogu utući i utjerati u zemlju do 77 metara dubine. U nekim dijelovima Bosne i Hercegovine vjeruju da je za mejita najgori mogući scenario da bude zakopan u zemlju uoči utorka i subote, jer tada će ga obavezno posjetiti strašni džini zvani suhaladžije, koji mejita tuku i udaraju u mezaru sve dok mu ne smrve sve kosti.“
Paljenje vatre na mezaru očito je aludiranje na vatru džehenema koja prožima duše zlih i griješnih ljudi. Njome se mrtvac želi uplašiti, štoviše, zadati mu smrtni strah kako bi duh pobjegao iz tijela, koje će se onda probadanjem u stomak osakatiti i učiniti neupotrebljivim za korištenje.
Lampiri znaju biti vrlo agresivni. Prema dokumentiranom slučaju Ahmed Ramov Mujović iz Crne Gore potukao se sa ovim natprirodnim bićem. Vraćajući se jedno predvečerje sa oranja „nešto mu zaustavi volove i ne da mu naprijed“. Videći to on povikne: „Molim te, ako si ukolak, ali šejtan, ali čovjek, ukloni se, eto ti vjera e ću ti opet doć“. Zatim dođe kući, prinese sablju, uze dvije kubure i velju pušku, pa se vrati i stade vikati: „Kamo si oni što si me čeka?“ na to se pojavi ukolak. Tukli su se dok se ne začuše prvi pijetlovi. Sutradan Ahmed opet dođe na to mjesto i nađe da je to bio lampir. On pođe za tragom krvi i dođe u baštu Puranovića. Tu su ga našli u mezaru, te su ga izgorjeli klakom neugašenom i naboli crnim trnom.
www.tana.bosnianforum.com
Prvi poznati vampir na Balkanu je onaj iz Istre, Jure Grando, čije je postojanje dokumentirano 1689. Jure Grando iz mjestašca Kringa, nadaleko od Pazina, poginuo je 1656.godine kad mu je Stipan Milašić sjekirom otkinuo glavu. O Juri vampiru svjedoči legenda zapisana u djelu „Slava vojvodine Kranjske“ slovenskog istoričara Janeza Vajkarda Valvazora.
Kod Bošnjaka, kako u BiH tako i na Sandžaku, najrašireniji naziv za vampira je lampir. Prema etimologiji naziv lampir potječe od narodnog naziva za leptira – lepir, lampijer, što potvrđuje bosansko vjerovanje kako vampir izlazi iz mezara kroz malenu rupu na zemlji u obliku leptira. U Srbiji i Crnoj Gori lampir se najčešće naziva ukolak, zbog čega ponegdje u Bosni i Hercegovini susrećemo i naziv vukodlak, mada on nema stvarnu povezanost sa lampirom.
Među bosanskim narodom preovladava animističko mišljenje da je lampir „odmetnuti duh“ čovjeka koji je umro odnosno da je njegov duh na misteriozan način poprimio toliku moć da i bez duše može na određeno vrijeme oživiti mrtvo tijelo.
„Narodna mudrost tvrdi da je duh predstavnik boga zla a duša, čista i sveta, zastupa boga dobra u nama. Dok duh ima mogućnost da uglavnom noću, dok čovjek spava, iziđe iz tijela i putuje svijetom ali i izvodi neke čudne, često i loše stvari, i dovodi nas u razna iskušenja, duša je čvrsto fiksirana za ljudsko tijelo i nema mogućnost izlaska iz njega sve dok ne nastupi smrt.“ (Duša i smrt u bosanskoj tradiciji, R.Esmerović)
Lampiri su vrlo socijalno osvješteni. Oni se znaju vraćati u svoju kuću, voditi ljubav sa supružnicima ili uznemiravati susjede bacanjem kamenja na njihove krovove. Ni poslovanje im nije strano, naime, neki lampir, rodom iz Hercegovine, imao je svoj dućan u Sarajevu, gdje je prodavao svake robe na aršin, pa kad su ga proboli u rodnom mjestu, na silu su razlomili dućan, al' u dućanu nije bilo ništa do paučine i smeta. Kada ljudi doznaju, da se kogod u selu povampirio, onda ti donesu mnogo drva i nalože vatru na grobu onoga mrtvaca, pa ti zaoštre glogov kolac, da bi proboli u trbuh onoga mrtvaca. Kad je gotov jak kolac, onda će ti maljevima te udri, da ga ugone u mezar.
U opisima postupanja prema lampiru kod Bošnjaka nemoguće je ne primjetiti skoro identičan odnos prema duši i mrtvacu kakav imaju, prema bosanskoj mitologiji, meleci Azrail i Džibrail:
„Ovakvo shvatanje potvrđuje vjerovanje da kad se mejit sahrani njemu u kabur dolaze meleci sudije Azrail i Džibrail. Oni ispituju mrtvaca o dobrim djelima i grijehovima, pa ukoliko je griješan udaraju ga i utuku u zemlju. Narod kazuje kako ga oni mogu utući i utjerati u zemlju do 77 metara dubine. U nekim dijelovima Bosne i Hercegovine vjeruju da je za mejita najgori mogući scenario da bude zakopan u zemlju uoči utorka i subote, jer tada će ga obavezno posjetiti strašni džini zvani suhaladžije, koji mejita tuku i udaraju u mezaru sve dok mu ne smrve sve kosti.“
Paljenje vatre na mezaru očito je aludiranje na vatru džehenema koja prožima duše zlih i griješnih ljudi. Njome se mrtvac želi uplašiti, štoviše, zadati mu smrtni strah kako bi duh pobjegao iz tijela, koje će se onda probadanjem u stomak osakatiti i učiniti neupotrebljivim za korištenje.
Lampiri znaju biti vrlo agresivni. Prema dokumentiranom slučaju Ahmed Ramov Mujović iz Crne Gore potukao se sa ovim natprirodnim bićem. Vraćajući se jedno predvečerje sa oranja „nešto mu zaustavi volove i ne da mu naprijed“. Videći to on povikne: „Molim te, ako si ukolak, ali šejtan, ali čovjek, ukloni se, eto ti vjera e ću ti opet doć“. Zatim dođe kući, prinese sablju, uze dvije kubure i velju pušku, pa se vrati i stade vikati: „Kamo si oni što si me čeka?“ na to se pojavi ukolak. Tukli su se dok se ne začuše prvi pijetlovi. Sutradan Ahmed opet dođe na to mjesto i nađe da je to bio lampir. On pođe za tragom krvi i dođe u baštu Puranovića. Tu su ga našli u mezaru, te su ga izgorjeli klakom neugašenom i naboli crnim trnom.
www.tana.bosnianforum.com
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