Birth-Mother of the Mari
Mari · deity · mythic · Recorded classification
Meadow Mari ⟨Шочынава⟩ Šočyn Ava (šoč- 'to be born' + ava 'mother'). A solitary mother-power; her birth-tutelage complements the moon-god Tõlze's guardianship of marriage and birth. Part of the ava series with Mlande-Ava, Tul-Ava and Mardezh-Ava.
Domains
- birth and childbirth
- fertility and new life
Powers
- grants children and brings them safely to birth
- receives prayers and offerings from those seeking or expecting children
Relations
- manifestation of: Great Sky-God of the MariHierarchical hypostasis tie to Kugu Jumo, not a kin relation; she is otherwise an independent mother-power.Holmberg (Harva), Finno-Ugric and Siberian Mythology, 1927; the birth-mother is reckoned among the manifestations of the supreme god in henotheistic Mari religion. (secondary)
Sources
- Shochyn-Ava (Šočyn-Ava, 'Birth-Mother') is the Mari goddess of birth and childbirth, one of the most popular of the 'mother' (ava) deities, invoked for conception and safe delivery.: Toidybekova, L. S. Mari Mythology: Encyclopedic Reference. Yoshkar-Ola, 2007 (Shochyn-Ava). (secondary); Holmberg, Uno (Harva). Finno-Ugric and Siberian Mythology (The Mythology of All Races, Vol. IV). Marshall Jones, 1927, Cheremis sections. (secondary); Sebeok, Thomas A., and Frances J. Ingemann. Studies in Cheremis: The Supernatural. Viking Fund, 1956. (secondary)