Kudawa

Kudava (M. Kud, E. Kudo “house”, M., E. Ava “woman”) - the pre-Christian deity of the Mordovians, the patroness of the house. It was believed that Kudawa lives under the stove, a threshold, underground, in the front corner of the house. Later, to designate the house with all the outbuildings, Moksha and part of the Erzi began to use the Turkic word "yurt" and the deity of the house called Yurtava. Along with this theonym, the term “K” also existed. During the construction of the dwelling, under the first logs on the poles dug into the ground, they put the wool of a horse, cow, sheep or goat so that the house was durable. At the same time, they set the table, put bread, salt, wine on it. The custom of putting animal hair and money in the base of the house indicates that in the old days there were not symbolic, but real sacrifices to the deity of the house. People believed that in this case Kudava would assist them in all matters and there would be prosperity in their home. Kudava is mentioned in conspiracies , prayers, wedding songs and lamentations . Often the so-called mistress of the house or matchmaker.