Wood awa

Strictly monitors the state of water bodies: it is forbidden to drain the slop, wash clothes, arrange landfills near rivers , lakes, springs. Trees near water were never destroyed - they were considered to be especially loved by Wӱd-Av . This can be followed by the punishment of being deprived of all good luck in fishing . It can “hide” the water in the depths of the taiga: the lake disappeared, and in the same year, hunters found a new one in the forest. The goddess was represented as a naked woman with long hair, which she likes to comb with a golden comb. In small reservoirs it may be represented by the spirit-master of this particular place: Wӱd-Water .

In the myth of Shiypukyan Pampalch (Silverbird Pampalch), the heroine meets the mother of her fiance, Ad-Ava , who says she carries twelve mash-buckets and twelve beers. Hearing such a boastful statement, Sheipyang cannot help but laugh, and the pitch on her teeth falls off. Wad-Ava recognizes Shiipujan and chases after her. To escape from persecution, Sheipyan tried to climb the mountain to her older sister, but she did not succeed, and she climbs up the pine tree. In a hurry, she drops a silver hatchet with which Wӱd-Ava begins to cut pine. Feeling that Shiipӱyan is in danger, the animal helpers come running. With cunning they lure a silver hatchet from Ved-Av and throw it into the lake, but Ved-Av wakes the lake in one gulp and takes out a hatchet. Then, Shiipӱyan calls her older sister and asks three times to throw off the silk swing, but she answers that she has no time: then she plants bread in the oven, then takes bread out of the oven. Finally, she throws off the swing, and Shiipӱyan climbs up to her. After some time, Kuguvian returns from the hunt, and her sister hides Sheipyyan . Kuguviyan sniffs and asks his wife where the human spirit is from, but his wife calms him down, saying that there was no living person in their home. When the next day, Kuguviyan again goes on the hunt, his wife hides Shiipӱyan in a sack, covers them with cakes and in the evening asks her husband to take the hotel to the old fisherman. She punishes her sister: if her husband wants to try flat cakes, she should shout: “I see!” - and then Kuguviyan will not dare to look into the bag. So, Shiipӱyan safely returns home. The daughter of the mother of water, the Woo rr appeared in the form of a mermaid, a drowned woman who was alive in the guise of a naked girl with flowing hair. Sometimes the wedge, by the will of his mother, marries a Mari hero.

Usually, before drinking the water, they asked the Lord to clean it of all evil. Having gotten drunk, it was customary to thank the goddess by throwing two or three blades of grass into the water or leaves from the tree. In the event of a prolonged drought, Ad-Ava , public prayers were held during which residents gathered on the banks of the river and poured water on each other and on animals, especially black sheep and black chickens. In some places, as a gift to the goddess, they threw some “rain porridge” cooked on the beach. Elsewhere, a black bull or a black sheep was slaughtered. The bones and other parts of the animal left after the sacrificial feast were wrapped in the skin and lowered into the water. If, as a result of the ceremony, too much rain fell, the skin was taken out of the water and buried in the ground. In order to purify spring water, the Old Av was offering treats in the form of barley porridge, the grain for which each family allocated in the village. The bride, going to her husband's house, had to make an offering to Ad-Av before taking the water from the stream. Accompanied by an older friend who had already performed this rite, she came to the source, threw at him some coins or beads and asked Wad Av to be merciful to her every time she came for water. Since the fish was also under the jurisdiction of the goddess, the fishermen poured wine and threw the porridge into the water as a victim of the Ved-Av to ensure a rich catch. In some places, it was believed that fishing would be successful only if the goddess did not know about her, therefore the Ad-Awa not only did not pray and did not sacrifice, but also tried not to make noise so as not to give away their occupation. In general, during fishing it was impossible to shout and scold, otherwise you could drown or get boils on your arms and legs. The healer determined from which water reservoir a disease appeared and advised how to cajole Ved-Av . First of all, the sick made an offering, throwing barley, eggs into the water, asking for forgiveness and promising to make a proper sacrifice. Later, a goat, duck or other poultry were slaughtered on the shore of the reservoir, which was offended. Having prepared the meat, bones and small pieces of various parts of the animal were thrown into the water. Wad-Awa monitored the cleanliness of lakes and rivers and punished those who defiled them. She forbade washing in lakes, chopping down trees nearby. As a punishment, she could hide the water under the ground, move the lake to another place, and drown or deprive the culprit of good luck in fishing.

Her husband, Yomsho euer , in other sources - Ved-Yumo , Yer-Yumo, Iksa-Yumo. Wad Ava and Yomsho eyer have their own house, household proportional to the size of the reservoir. They have a daughter, Wid ӱdir , sons, the eldest of whom is the mountain spirit Kuguviyan (lit. "big strong"), the younger - Shemvемd (lit. "black water") and even grandchildren.

Common origin with Mordovian After-Av . Ved-Ava is represented as a Mari substrate in Chuvash mythology by the deity Vutash .