Dinka mythology is a traditional pagan belief of the Dinka people, along with Christianity and animism .
Content
Gods
The supreme god, Nyalich ( dinka Nhialac), the god of heaven, rain and fertility, created the world. He decides the fate of every person, plant or animal. Nyalich is also present in the beliefs of other nations, like nuer and shilluk .
The first people in the world are Garang and Abuk . Dengdit created them from fat [1] , and Nyalich cut the rope that connected heaven and earth. According to other sources, Dengdit himself did it. [2] [3]
Abuk is the goddess of gardening.
Dengdit has the appearance of a bull . He sends rain to the earth [1] .
Dengdit and his wife Allet had a son, Akol (“sun” [4] ).
The Prayer Process
First, the believer prays to Nyalich, and then to other gods. Mostly pray in average weather. The sacrifice, mainly of bulls, is offered to Nyalich. Then they read a prayer-praise.
Victims for Aliet are placed under the sacred Araida tree [5] .
Interesting
Dink also venerated noisy vipers as sacred animals.
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Tokarev, t . 1, p. 414
- ↑ Chattopadhyaya, p. 581
- ↑ Godfrey, p. 90-91
- ↑ Godfrey, p. 85
- ↑ Meletinsky, p. 183
Literature
- Kalinovskaya K.P. Dink // Peoples and religions of the world / Chapters. ed. V.A. Tishkov . M .: Big Russian Encyclopedia, 1999.
- Godfrey L. Divinity and Experience: The Religion of the Dinka , Oxford University Press (1988),
- " Myths of the peoples of the world: Encyclopedia in 2 volumes." / Ch. ed. S. A. Tokarev , Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1991
- Chattopadhyaya D. "Lokayata Darshan . " Ripol Classic , 2013
- Meletinsky E. M. , "Mythology" , M.: Big Russian Encyclopedia, 1998