Bosnian folk firmly believe in the power of magical formulas (basme),
which is perhaps best witnessed by the belief which claims that the entire
earth rests on a basma, which is a direct connection between Tur
and magical formula, and the "dark earth", i.e. surface of the earth
rests on the words from surah Ihlas. This is why these two segments are
inseparable and as such a perfect connection of paganism and monotheism.
Namely, before uttering any basma, as the old and wise Bosnian women
suggest, one must initially utter surah Ihlas a few times, in order to
summon god's strength, and only then one can utter a magical formula.
In parts of south-western Bosnia, still today one can hear how
allegedly, there is a mysterious magical formula of extreme power, which if
discovered and uttered by a man would allow him to rule over the world. This
belief entails the question: isn't Tur (who holds earth on his back) in
Bosnian mythology also the ruler of earth? Legends say that when Tur shakes
his ears an earthquake takes place, and on the day when he shakes his head it
will be the end of days. Such a mythological concept is not formed by accident
it is based on the belief that a man can rule over Tur, the one that
symbolises the strength of the earth but also destiny of the human race; only
if man can comprehend the greatest magical formula of all - magical words which
are the keys of destiny and also rulers of the underworld forces.
Connection of magical words and Tur can perhaps best be surmised
by this example. Namely, according to folk belief from Cazin and Velika Kladuša
earth is connected by human speech, which can be confirmed by this example;
when a person stutters and cannot pronounce a certain word his interlocutor
should stomp his foot on the ground and "free his speech" so he can
end the sentence or word. Or a girl at the end of a magical formula places her
palms on the surface of the earth and talks to her with these words: "Dark
earth, by god mother, help me..." Analysing such a beginning of the
formula, which follows physical contact with the earth, it is easy to conclude
that behind the term "dark earth" none other than Tur is
hidden or Garonja (black) and in the rest of the formula the goddess of
earth i.e. Grand Mother.
All in all, this magical representation is not an isolated case but one
of many examples from our tradition which perfectly testifies about the
segments of a very important cult of earth, primarily agriculture and animal
husbandry, whose strength is personified in the form of the gigantic bull Tur.
With his horns he is undoubtedly the symbol of pagan Bosnia, and one could
conclude the male principle of the Grand Mother. Besides, analysing the
indigenous beliefs we can conclude and understand religious-magical concept of
our forefathers which, as we see it, believed that one could appease heavenly
forces by mystical formulas and in the end rule over them. Such a fact makes
this investigative work, which constructively reveals the importance of magical
formulas and their mythological background in folk medicine, even more exciting
and informative.
