Wind-Mother of the Mari
Mari · deity · mythic · Recorded classification
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 MariHierarchical hypostasis tie to Kugu Jumo, not a kin relation. The element-mothers are otherwise independent powers.Holmberg (Harva), Finno-Ugric and Siberian Mythology, 1927; in henotheistic Mari religion the element-powers are manifestations of the supreme god. (secondary)
Sources
- Mardezh-Ava ('Wind-Mother') is the Mari mother-spirit of the wind, the female -ava counterpart of the wind-god Mardež, one of the personified 'mother' (ava) deities of the natural elements alongside Tul-Ava, Mlande-Ava and Kudurcho-Ava.: Sebeok, Thomas A., and Frances J. Ingemann. Studies in Cheremis: The Supernatural. Viking Fund, 1956 (the ava 'mother' deities of natural forces). (secondary); Toidybekova, L. S. Mari Mythology: Encyclopedic Reference. Yoshkar-Ola, 2007 (Mardež; the -ava counterparts). (secondary); Holmberg, Uno (Harva). Finno-Ugric and Siberian Mythology (The Mythology of All Races, Vol. IV). Marshall Jones, 1927, Cheremis sections. (secondary)