Wind-Mother of the Mari

Meadow Mari ⟨Мардеж Ава⟩ Mardež Ava (mardež 'wind' + ava 'mother'). The wind-god is attested as Mardež; the -ava form is the female element-mother, modelled exactly on the existing Tul-Ava entry. Completes the ava series with Mlande-Ava (earth) and Tul-Ava (fire).

Domains

• wind and air
• weather and storm

Powers

• raises the winds and lays them down again
• is propitiated for favourable winds and spared from storm-harm

Relations

• manifestation of: Great Sky-God of the Mari

Sources

• Sebeok, Thomas A., and Frances J. Ingemann. Studies in Cheremis: The Supernatural. Viking Fund, 1956 (the ava 'mother' deities of natural forces).
• Toidybekova, L. S. Mari Mythology: Encyclopedic Reference. Yoshkar-Ola, 2007 (Mardež; the -ava counterparts).
• Holmberg, Uno (Harva). Finno-Ugric and Siberian Mythology (The Mythology of All Races, Vol. IV). Marshall Jones, 1927, Cheremis sections.