Wednesday, March 25, 2026 · 天火 · tianmu.org
Udmurt
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Texts
Animal Tales from the Munkácsi CollectionFive Udmurt animal tales recorded by Bernát Munkácsi in 1885 — why the hare's ear-tips are black and his tail short, the hare and the fox's ice house, the fox's elaborate revenge on the wolf, the chain of strength from ice to cat, and the mosquito's conversation with the bumblebee — first English translations from the Udmurt original.Cosmogonic Myths from the Munkácsi CollectionSeven Udmurt cosmogonic myths recorded by Bernát Munkácsi in 1885 — the earth-diver creation, the Udmurt flood and origin of beer, the sin of man and woman, the disappearance of giants, the origin of the moon-maiden, and why only the bee has honey — first English translations from the Udmurt original.Incantations and Charms from the Munkácsi CollectionFive Udmurt incantation-spells (ráolvasó igék), eleven ritual curses, and a sacred oath formula from Munkácsi's 1887 fieldwork among the Votiak (Udmurt) people of the Volga-Ural region — counter-spells against sorcery, eye disease, the evil eye, and human harm, using the characteristic Uralic impossible-conditions form; plus curses invoking Inmar, Albasti, and the forest spirit, and an oath sworn by sun, moon, bread, fire, and the trampled earth. First English translations from the Udmurt via Hungarian.Munkácsi — Udmurt SuperstitionsOne hundred and seventy-five Udmurt folk superstitions on animals, weather, dreams, death, agriculture, and daily life, collected by Bernát Munkácsi from Votyak informants in Kazan, 1885. Translated from Hungarian.Prayers to Inmar from the Munkácsi CollectionUdmurt household prayers invoking Inmar, the sky god, recorded in 1885 from seven villages of the Kama basin by Munkácsi Bernát. First English translations from the Udmurt.Sacred Grove PrayersFourteen Udmurt ritual prayers from the sacred grove ceremonies of the Volga-Ural region — prayers to Inmar the sky god, to the earth mother, to the sun mother, and to the ancestors — covering the full ritual year from spring planting to autumn harvest to funeral rites. Recorded by Yrjo Wichmann among the Udmurt (Votiak) people in 1891-92. First English translation.Tales of the Water and Forest Spirits from the Munkácsi CollectionFour Udmurt tales of the Vu-murt (Water Spirit) and N'ulas-murt (Forest Man) recorded by Bernát Munkácsi in 1885 — the fool who tricks the Water Spirit's son with potatoes and gold, the rope-maker who outwits the Water Spirit through a bear and a horse and a hare, a woman who heals the Water Spirit's wife and gains the gift of spirit-sight, and the Forest Man who recruits a soldier to kill the Water Man with a cross — first English translations from the Udmurt original.The Akaska Festival from the Munkácsi CollectionA complete description of the Akaska — the greatest pre-Christian festival of the Udmurt people — as dictated by Ivan Mikhailov of Ulengurt village and recorded by Bernát Munkácsi in Kazan, 1885. Seven days of prayer to Inmar, rogoj-riding to drive out the Sajtan, goose-feasts, field-blessing, and horse races. First English translation from the Udmurt original.