The World duck floated on the waters of the Milky Ocean, which had no end or edge. And the Duck raised the stone Alatyr from the bottom of the Ocean. It was so small that the Duck wanted to hide it in its beak. But Svarog saw that and said the cherished word. Alatyr began to grow, and became so heavy that the World Duck could not hold him and dropped him into the milky waters of the Ocean. And that stone continued to grow and it rose from the ocean waters by Mount Alatyrskaya. And the World Tree grew on that mountain. It reached the sky with its top, and rivers flowed from under its roots, which gave healing and food to all living things.
In ancient Slavic legends, Alatyr-stone is called the father of all stones. From him came mountains and rocks, gems and all other stones. Alatyr Mountain is the center of the Universe, and the World Tree embodies the axis of the universe. There are several linguistic, ethnographic, historical interpretations about the origin of the name of the stone and what it was.
Linguistic interpretation
There is another name for this mythical stone - white-flammable. Both names are often used in oral folklore. The origin of the word "alatyr" is explainedso:
- Derived from the Iranian al-atar, which literally translates as "white-flammable", a word that came into the Russian language through a long-dead Scythian-Sarmatian dialect, once related to Iranian.
- Analogue of the Zion stones, which were sacred and served as altars. Legends about their strength penetrated the poetic folklore of Russia. "Alatyr" is a derivative word from " altar".
- "Latygor" meant Latvian, Latygor - Latvian land (country), Latygor - Latvian stone, that is, amber. Gradually, the word was transformed into "alatyr".
Sea stone
According to one of the theories, the white stone Alatyr is nothing but amber. Merchants brought it to the lands of the Rus from the shores of the B altic Sea, it was very expensive not only as an ornament, but also as a powerful amulet. The smoke of ignited amber exhibits disinfectant properties. This was not known in those ancient times, but, fumigating rooms and people with amber smoke, they performed rites of purification from evil spirits and corruption.
Amber was a component of love, love, anti-aging potions and a remedy for the evil eye. They decorated the home altar with it, and under special circumstances burned it during prayers. During photoaging, the color of the stone changes from white to brown. Perhaps white amber was valued higher and used in rituals. In Russia it was called "Ilectr". This is just a shaky theory that he is Alatyr-stone. In the photo below you can see the color variety of amber.
Altar
Most researchers of Slavic mythology tend toconsider Alatyr as an altar stone. The historian and ethnographer V. Degtyarev, the author of the books "Secrets of Eurasia", interprets this theory somewhat unusually. He suggests that the very name - Bel-flammable, Alatyr-stone - speaks of the altar of the god Bel (Baal, Baal), on which fire was always burning, and whose altar complexes were located in special places of power.
The cult of the supreme god Bel was widespread in ancient Mesopotamia, then in Phoenicia. Bel was considered the founder of Babylon. And it is unlikely that such alien ritualism could become so important in ancient Slavic culture. Moreover, apart from the consonance of words, nothing else confirms this theory and does not indicate that Alatyr is a stone at which or on which fire was burning.
Source of strength
According to the legends, the alatyr is directly connected with the divine testament to people, set forth in the writings. The white-flammable stone is the center of not only the universe, but also the focus of spiritual strength and wisdom emanating into the Universe. Such a cosmic source of power several centuries ago required a specific image for the human imagination, which was embodied in the sacred stone.
At the top of the Alatyrskaya mountain lay the sacred Alatyr stone. And Svarog began to hit the stone with his staff, and Gods were born from the sparks with each blow. And that sacred stone lies on the top of Mount Alatyrskaya, streaked with the precepts of Svarog to his Russian children. And hidden under the stone is an unprecedented and inexhaustible power.
In one of the Spiritual verses of the Pigeon Book it is said that a huge book fell from the sky on the Alatyr mountain, inwhich is written about everything in the world. So this storehouse of wisdom is located on a white-flammable stone, and only the most wise and pure in soul can open and read it. There is another legend: on the Alatyr-stone, Kitovras, half-man-half-horse, built the temple of the Most High, in order to tie the mountain, heavenly and manifest worlds together. These kinds of parables speak of faith in the powerful spiritual power lurking in the mythical stone, and the wisdom emanating from it.
In a fairly large number of sources, a white-flammable stone is interpreted as an altar on which God sacrifices himself, since he himself is this stone. Such an interpretation indicates the belief of the authors of these legends that Alatyr-stone is the source of the divine principle and divine power.
Location & Description
The location of the white-combustible stone is most often mentioned in epics and incantations. True, it is completely impossible to understand from the texts where this shrine is located, since each source assigns its place to it. Most often this is Buyan Island, but even there the stone can be located at the roots of the World Tree or on the ocean. Also often appear: a pure field, a devilish swamp, the abyss of the sea, the Riphean Mountains, Mount Tabor, the Smorodina River. He also stands at the intersection of three worlds of being: people, the dead and gods (Reveal, Navi, Rule). Actually, the Smorodina River, similar to the mythical Styx, separates the world of the living and the dead, and the white-flammable stone on its bank marks the entrance to the world of Navi. According to other sources, Alatyr-stone is located in Iria (likeparadise), where, sitting on it, Perun gains strength - the god of military prowess, thunder and lightning.
Signs of the stone are described with even less specificity. It is dual: both light and heavy; both small and great; and hot and cold. It has qualities that are not characteristic of a material object: it unites all worlds; no one can take it away from the Earth.
Cult of the shrine
The meaning of the Alatyr-stone was so important in the culture and rituals of the Slavs that a holiday was dedicated to this shrine, which, according to the old style, was celebrated on September 14th. It was believed that after this day, the birds fly away to Iriy until spring, and the snakes crawl into underground caves, where they gather in balls and lick a white-flammable stone there.
Nine fires were kindled in the shrines: eight in a circle and one in the center. Three was the magic number of the Slavs, and nine became sacred, because nine is three times three. The central bonfire symbolized the center of the universe, that is, Alatyr-stone. Eight bonfires in a circle indicated the directions of light, like an eight-beam wind rose.
Delphic stone
In the religions and mythology of the peoples of the Earth, there were sacred stones like Alatyr. The legends of the ancient Greek civilization speak of the Omphalus stone, which was also considered the center of the universe. On sacred sites in Delphi, Omphala stones were found, which were copies in the world of people of the Great universal shrine. Rituals, sacrifices and divination were performed near them, you could touch them and make wishes. They were called the navels of the Earth. But the process of ritualism and its completethe symbolism is long lost to us.
Mention in oaths, spells, conspiracies
Most often, the white-combustible stone is mentioned in rural Russian charms and spells of sorcerers, epics and fairy tales. In their original form, many of these sources have survived to this day thanks to the historian and ethnographer-folklorist I. Sakharov. The rituals, songs, and legends he collected were published in several major folklore collections of the first half of the 19th century with repeated subsequent reprints.
The stone in spells and conspiracies is present as a kind of seal, amulet or shield that prevents troubles and injuries, helps in healing, protects from damage and enemies, testifies in an oath or promise, fastens the word, confirms love. They called for the strength and strength of the sacred stone to consolidate love feelings, protect the family hearth and child, protect them from injury in battle, avoid enemy attacks or defeat them.
Such spells are not a prayer to Alatyr-stone. According to reviews on numerous resources, girls even today believe and use love conspiracies in which the power of the sacred stone is invoked. And married women use spells with the name of the stone Alatyr to protect the he alth of the child or maintain the fidelity of her husband.
Symbol
Not everyone knew magic spells. They were owned by healers, grandmother-whisperers, sorcerers. But I certainly wanted to protect a loved one, a child, a house and a household. So the symbol of Alatyr-stone appeared. This is an eight-pointedstar. Eight rays emanate from the center, refract three times and converge again in the center. This means: everything from the beginning outgoing to the beginning and returns. When the sacred stone began to be embodied not only in a word, but also materialized in a symbol, it became a powerful amulet.
Charm
Symbols that store the hearth were carved or painted on huts, stoves, above windows and doors. To protect a person from misfortune and bring good luck to him, they were embroidered on shirts and headdresses. This is how a folk ornament appeared: a series of repeating amulets, combined into a rhythmic pattern. The symbolic drawing of the Alatyr-stone amulet is one of the most common elements of folk art. Most often, he appeared in woodcarving, embroideries, crafts made from straw. A single eight-pointed star or a chain of similar images can still be seen today on embroideries by needlewomen and on carved wooden items.
Talisman
Talismans with an eight-pointed star in the form of a pendant, a ring or a belt buckle were not common among the people. These items were worn by sorcerers, sorcerers, prophets, healers. Most often, the sorcerer made such a talisman himself, in exceptional cases he received from his teacher. These were mainly wooden items, since not every sorcerer or healer could afford an item made of silver.
Embroidered products are rarely worn now, but it has become customary to wear talismans as decorations. Therefore, today you can easily order or buy ready-made rings,pendants, hairpins, earrings and other jewelry with the image of an eight-pointed star. Silver is considered the most successful metal for such a talisman, but it can be made from any material. The talisman has the greatest power if it is made by its owner with his own hand. On your own, the easiest way is to cut a talisman out of wood, make it out of leather, weave, knit, embroider, it can even be a tattoo of the Alatyr-stone symbol or a photo.
The meaning of the talisman and amulet
White-flammable stone is the central source of unknown inexhaustible power, knowledge and wisdom. Talismans and amulets bring their owners a part of this treasure. They will help to concentrate, make the right decision, do the right thing in a difficult situation. Lovers will be helped to strengthen their feelings, and newlyweds - to protect the union. The symbol of the Alatyr-stone will protect the baby from illness, help him grow strong, strong and smart, concentrating magical powers around the little man. The talisman is able to strengthen spiritual and physical strength, especially if you remember how, sitting on a sacred stone, the god Perun restored strength. The amulet will protect the family hearth from misfortunes, that is, the house and all family members.
White-combustible stone is just a concretized image of the great power that the Universe is saturated with. When a person turns to her for help, it is much easier for him to do this by presenting an understandable symbol, object, face. Not the talisman itself becomes a talisman, but an unknown force in which people believe. Without faith, any object remains just an ornament oran insignificant character. This should be remembered before calling on the mighty powers of the Alatyr stone.
