The World duck floated on the waters of the Milk Ocean, which had no end, no edge. And Duck lifted Alatyr stone from the bottom of the Ocean. He was so small that Duck wanted to hide him in his beak. But then Svarog saw and uttered the cherished word. Alatyr began to grow, but it became so heavy that World Duck could not keep it and dropped it into the dairy waters of the Ocean. But the stone continued to grow, and it rose from the ocean waters by Alatyrskaya Mountain. And the World Tree grew on that mountain. It reached heaven on top, and rivers flowed from beneath its roots, giving all living things healing and nourishment.
In ancient Slavic traditions, Alatyr-stone is called the father of all stones. From it came mountains and rocks, gems and all other stones. Alatyr Mountain is the center of the Universe, and the World Tree embodies the axis of the universe. There are several linguistic, ethnographic, historical interpretations about the origin of the name of the stone and what it was.
Linguistic interpretation
There is another name for this mythical stone - white fuel. In oral folklore, both names are often used. The origin of the word "alatyr" is explained as follows:
- It came from the Iranian al-atar, which literally translates as “Bel-combustible”, a word that fell into Russian through a long-dead, Scythian-Sarmatian dialect, akin to the Iranian one.
- An analogue of the Zion stones, which were a shrine and served as altars. Legends about their strength penetrated into the poetic folklore of Russia. “Alatyr” is a derivative of the word “altar”.
- "Latigor" meant Latvian, Latigor - Latvian land (country), Latigor - Latvian stone, that is, amber. Gradually, the word was transformed into "Alatyr".
Sea stone
According to one theory, the white stone Alatyr is nothing but amber. Merchants brought him to the lands of the Rus from the shores of the Baltic Sea, he was very expensive not only as a decoration, but also as a powerful amulet. The smoke of the set amber is disinfecting. They didn’t know this in those ancient times, but, with amber smoke, they fumigated rooms and people, performed rituals of purification from evil spirits and damage.
Amber was a component of love, love spells, anti-aging potions and a remedy for the evil eye. They decorated the home altar, and under special circumstances they burned it during prayers. During photoaging, the color of the stone changes from white to brown. Perhaps white amber was valued higher and used in ceremonies. In Russia it was called "elektr". This is just a shaky theory that he is Alatyr-stone. In the photo below you can see the amber color variety.
Altar
Most scholars of Slavic mythology tend to consider Alatyr an altar stone. The historian and ethnographer V. Degtyarev, author of The Secrets of Eurasia, interprets this theory somewhat unusual. He suggests that the name itself - bel-combustible, Alatyr-stone - speaks of the altar of the god Bel (Baal, Baal), on which fire always burned, and whose altar complexes were located in special places of power.
The cult of the supreme god Bel was spread in ancient Mesopotamia, then in Phenicia. Bel was considered the founder of Babylon. And it is unlikely that such an alien ritual could become so important in the ancient Slavic culture. Moreover, besides the consonance of words, nothing else confirms this theory and does not indicate that Alatyr is a stone with or on which fire was burning.
Source of power
According to legends, the alatyr is directly connected with the divine covenant to the people set forth in the letters. The white-combustible stone is the center not only of the universe, but also the center of spiritual strength and wisdom that flows into the Universe. Such a cosmic source of power a few centuries ago required a specific image for the human imagination, which was embodied in a sacred stone.
On the top of Mount Alatyrska, a sacred Alatyr stone reclined. And Svarog began to hit the stone with his staff, and from the sparks with every blow of his Gods were born. And that sacred stone lies on the top of Alatyrskaya mountain, streaked with the covenants of Svarog to its Rusich children. And hiding under the stone, the power is unprecedented and inexhaustible.
In one of the Spiritual verses of the Pigeon Book it is said that a huge book fell on the Alatyr mountain from the sky, in which it is written about everything in the world. And this fount of wisdom is located on a white-burning stone, and only the most wise and purest of souls can open and read it. There is one more legend: on the Alatyr-stone Kitovras, a half-man half-horse, built the temple of the Most High so that the mountainous, heavenly and manifested world could be connected together. Such parables speak of faith in a powerful spiritual force lurking in a mythical stone, and wisdom emanating from it.
In a fairly large number of sources, a white-combustible stone is interpreted as an altar on which God sacrifices himself, since he himself is this stone. Such an interpretation indicates the belief of the authors of these tales that Alatyr-stone is a source of divine origin and divine power.
Location and Description
The location of the white-combustible stone in epics and plots is most often mentioned. True, from the texts it is completely impossible to understand where this shrine is located, since each source gives it its place. Most often this is Buyan Island, but even there the stone can be located at the roots of the World Tree or on the ocean. Also often featured: a pure field, a devilish swamp, a deep sea, the Riphean mountains, Mount Tabor, the river Currant. He also stands at the intersection of three worlds of being: people, the dead and the gods (Yavi, Navi, Pravi). Actually, the Smorodina River, similar to the mythical Styx, divides the world of the living and the dead, and the white-burning stone on its bank marks the entrance to the Navi world. According to other sources, Alatyr-stone is located in Iria (a kind of paradise), where, sitting on it, Perun gathers strength - the god of military valor, thunder and lightning.
The signs of the stone are described with even less specificity. It is twofold: both light and heavy; both small and large; both hot and cold. It has qualities not characteristic of a material object: it unites all worlds; no one can take it from the Earth.
Shrine cult
The value of Alatyr-stone was so important in the culture and ritualism of the Slavs that a feast was dedicated to this shrine, which was celebrated on September 14 in the old style. It was believed that after this day the birds fly away to Iry until spring, and the snakes crawl out into the underground caves, where they gather in balls and lick a white-combustible stone there.
Nine bonfires were lit in the sanctuaries: eight in a circle and one in the center. Three was the magic number of the Slavs, and nine became sacred, because nine is three times three. The central bonfire symbolized the center of the universe, that is, Alatyr-stone. Eight bonfires in a circle indicated the directions of the light, like eight ray-shaped rose winds.
Delphic stone
In religions and mythology of the peoples of the Earth, sacred stones like Alatyr existed. The legends of ancient Greek civilization speak of the stone Omphalus, which was also considered the center of the universe. On the sacred sites in Delphi, Omphaly stones were found, which were copies in the world of people of the Great Universal Shrine. Near them, rituals, sacrifices and fortune-telling were performed, they could be touched and made wishes. They were called the navels of the Earth. But the process of ritualism and its full symbolism have long been lost to us.
Mentioned in oaths, spells, conspiracies
Most often, white-combustible stone is mentioned in village Russian conspiracies and spells of sorcerers, epics and fairy tales. In its original form, many of these sources have survived thanks to the historian and ethnographer-folklorist I. Sakharov. The rites, songs, and legends he collected were published in several major folklore collections of the first half of the 19th century with repeated subsequent reprints.
The stone in spells and conspiracies is present as a certain seal, charm or shield that prevents troubles and injuries, helps in healing, protects from damage and enemies, testifies in an oath or promise, fastens the word confirming love. They called for the strength and fortress of the sacred stone in order to consolidate love feelings, protect the family hearth and the child, protect them from wounds in battle, avoid enemy attacks or defeat them.
Such spells are not a prayer to Alatyr-stone. According to reviews on numerous resources, girls even in our days believe and apply love plots in which the power of the sacred stone is invoked. And married women use spells with the name of the stone Alatyr to protect the health of the child or to remain faithful to her husband.
Symbol
Not everyone knew magic spells. They were owned by healers, grandmother-whisper, witches. But the loved one, the child, the house and the household certainly wanted to protect. So the symbol of Alatyr-stone appeared. This is an eight-pointed star. Eight rays emanate from the center, refract three times, and again converge in the center. This means: everything from the beginning proceeds to the beginning and returns. When the sacred stone began to be embodied not only in the word, but also materialized in the symbol, it became a powerful talisman.
Amulet
The symbols that store the hearth were carved or painted on huts, stoves, above windows and doors. In order to protect a person from trouble and attract good luck to him, they were embroidered on shirts and hats. So a folk ornament appeared: a series of repeating symbols, charms, combined into a rhythmic pattern. The symbolic drawing of the Alatyr-stone amulet is one of the most common elements of folk art. Most often, he figured in wood carvings, embroideries, and crafts made from straw. A single eight-pointed star or a chain of similar images can still be seen today on the embroideries of needlewomen and on carved wooden products.
Mascot
Talismans with an eight-pointed star in the form of a pendant, ring or belt buckle were not common among the people. These items were worn by sorcerers, sorcerers, things, healers. Most often, such a talisman was made by a sage himself; in exceptional cases, he received from his teacher. These were mainly wooden things, since not every sorcerer or healer could afford a silver item.
Embroidered items are less often worn, but it has become customary to wear talismans as jewelry. Therefore, today you can easily order or buy ready-made rings, pendants, hair clips, earrings and other jewelry with the image of an eight-pointed star. Silver is considered the most successful metal for such a talisman, but it can be made of any material. The talisman has the greatest power if it is personally made by its owner. It is the easiest way to carve the talisman on your own from wood, make it from leather, weave, tie, embroider, it can even be a tattoo of a symbol of Alatyr-stone or a photo.
The meaning of the talisman and amulet
White-combustible stone is the central source of the unknown inexhaustible strength, knowledge and wisdom. Talismans and charms carry their owners part of this treasure. They will help to concentrate, make the right decision, and act correctly in a difficult situation. Lovers will contribute to strengthen their feelings, and newlyweds - to protect the union. The symbol of Alatyr-stone will save the baby from the disease, help him grow strong, strong and smart, concentrating magical powers around the little man. The talisman is able to strengthen spiritual and physical strength, especially if you recall how, sitting on a sacred stone, the god Perun restored his strength. The amulet will protect the family hearth from misfortunes, that is, the house and all family members.
The white-burning stone is just a concretized image of that great power with which the Universe is saturated. When a person turns to her for help, it is much easier for him to do this, presenting an understandable symbol, object, face. Not the talisman itself becomes a talisman, but an unknown force that people believe in. Without faith, any item remains just an ornament or nothing insignificant symbol. This should be remembered before invoking the powerful forces of Alatyr stone.