Suila
Altai · numen · Altai traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
Suila is a guardian spirit of the upper world, described in Anokhin's materials as sent by Ülgen to watch over human beings. Possessed of far-reaching sight, likened to the eyes of a keen-eyed horse, he observes people from above and gives warning of approaching danger. In the ritual of ascent he is paired with his companion Karlyk, the two accompanying the kam on the journey through the heavenly layers. Together they belong to the intermediary powers that link Ülgen with humankind.
Domains
- guardianship
Powers
- watch over the living with far sight
Relations
- companion: ÜlgenA. V. Anokhin, Materialy po shamanstvu u altaitsev, Sbornik MAE IV(2), Leningrad: Izd. AN SSSR, 1924 (primary)
- companion: KarlykA. V. Anokhin, Materialy po shamanstvu u altaitsev, Sbornik MAE IV(2), Leningrad: Izd. AN SSSR, 1924 (primary)
Sources
- Suila is a guardian spirit sent by Ülgen who keeps watch over people with far-reaching sight and travels together with Karlyk during the shaman's ascent.: A. V. Anokhin, Materialy po shamanstvu u altaitsev, Sbornik MAE IV(2), Leningrad: Izd. AN SSSR, 1924 (primary); L. P. Potapov, Altaiskii shamanizm, Leningrad: Nauka, 1991 (secondary)