*The Name Perkunas is associated with the word, Oak and wooded mountain.
*Perkunas is the Lithuanian God Of lightning, thunder and storms.
*Perkunas symbolises the creative forces (including vegetative), courage, success, the top of the world, the sky, rain, thunder, heavenly fire (lightning) and the all celestial elements.
*Perkunas is our greatest God.
One of Perkunas' main symbols is the Swastika. It is unfortunate that this symbol of Perkunas is widely misunderstood because of Hitler and his Nazi movement appropriated the global pagan symbol of the ancient Indo Europeans, the Swastika. The swastika was once a symbol of good luck, fortune, peace and happiness until it was demonised by the Nazi movement. Many people believe that the adherents of Romuva are Neo Nazi because we use this symbol to represent our greatest God, our Perkunas.
It is from this time in the cycle of nature, that Baltic peoples would listen for the first thunder of the Year. Perkunas comes as the young Jore and wakes up all nature from her winter slumber by shaking the earth with his thunder. The Cosmic Mother Goddess, Lada is reborn the young fair maiden to bless us once again with abundant harvest.Special Candles will be made and blessed in the name of Perkunas.
Perkunas Heavenly fire will be honoured by many burning candles.
Candle blessing and a drumming circle around the fire altar in honour of Perkunas.
Who is Perkunas?
Perkunas was the common Baltic god of thunder. Perkunas was one of the most important deities in the Baltic pantheon. In both Lithuanian and Latvian mythology, he is documented as the god of thunder, rain, mountains, oak trees and the sky. Perkunas is not part of Dievas, the Sky Gods, family. Perkunas has a mother, sons and daughters. Perkunas , Thunder from the east, west, north or south would denote one of his sons of that direction. In some areas Perkunas was believed to have seven sons corresponding to the seven days of the week, known as the brothers. Perkunas daughters are known as the various types of rain. Hard showers, soft rain and mist, were all daughters of Perkunas. Perkunas was prayed to in Oak groves when they needed rain. In mythology, Perkūnas possessed many weapons. They include an axe or sledgehammer, stones, a sword, lightning bolts, a bow and arrows, a club, and an iron or fiery knife. Perkūnas is the creator of the weapons (Akmeninis kalvis, "the stone smith") or he is helped by the heavenly smith Televelis (Kalvelis).
Other myths say that Perkūnas and one Laumė, (Faerie of the Rainbow,(her name is Vaiva, which means rainbow in Lithuanian). In some folktales, Perkūnas and a rainbow Fairy were supposed to get married on Thursday, but the bride was kidnapped by Velnias (devil). Perkūnas hunts for velnias ever since. Perkūnas pursues Velnias who hides in trees, under stones, or turns into various animals: a black cat, dog, pig, goat, lamb, pike, cow or a person. (all attributes of Perkūnas). Perkūnas pursues his opponent in the sky on a chariot, made from stone and fire (Lithuanian-ugnies ratai). Sometimes the chariot is made from red iron. It is harnessed by a pair (less often four or three) of red and white (or black and white) horses (sometimes goats). It is through this mythologized image of a chariot that we get the name of Didieji Grįžulo Ratai called the "Grand Wheels of Grįžulas" also known as Ursa Major.
In Samogitian myth, Perkūnas is a young, fair horseman on a fiery horse. When on his heavenly chariot Perkūnas appears in the shape of a gray-haired old man with a big beard of many colors, in white and black clothes, holding a goat on a cord in one hand and a horn or an axe in the other. The culmination of Perkūnas' hunt for his opponent is a thunder-storm; it not only clears the ground of evil spirits, but returns the stolen cattle or weapons.
Perkunas helps Dievas in the execution of Dievas punishment. Perkunas punishes dishonest people, murderers, adulterers and all those that broke the laws of the Sky God, Dievas. People have healthy fear of Perkunas and swearing by him is common everyday act. People often curse by saying
Lithuanians have an expression, “the eyes of Dievas.” meaning the Sun Goddess and the Moon God, who are the children of the Sky God, Dievas. Lithuanian/Baltic people felt the constant watchful eye of Dievas who held them to high moral. Lithuanians feared the Sun or the Moon informing to Dievas who may then send the wrath of Perkunas. This is why ancient Baltic peoples were always hospitable to travellers, the lonely and the poor, strangers and all, lest it may be Dievas disguised as a beggar and who may send Perkunas to punish any unkindness. Therefore Baltic peoples loved and endeared themselves to the Sky God,Dievas but feared Perkunas. In songs about a "heavenly wedding" Saulė (the Sun) cheats on Perkūnas with Mėnulis (the Moon); Perkūnas splits Mėnulis in half with a sword. According to another, more popular, version, Mėnulis cheats on the Sun with Aušrinė (the morning star) just after the wedding, and Perkūnas punishes him. However, he does not learn and repeats the adultery and is punished again every month. Other explanations say it is why the Sun shines during the day and the Moon at night. Though divorced, both want to see their daughter Žemyna (the Earth).The story of Jurate and Kestytis also show Perkunas role as Dievas helper in executing justice.
If on Thunder Day, there is still a lot of snow on roofs then there will be luxuriant meadows available during the summer, and a lot of good mowing hay. If the day is windy –there will be a late spring, and farmers may run out of food. If there are long icicles on the roof then farmers must sow the barley early. It is still winter, but spring on the heels of the Winter.
On the blessed Day of Perkunas, people bless flax, (linen), to be purified, white and plentiful. Festive candles were made called graudulinėmis. These were candles wrapped in linen thread. It is believed that if these candles were lit during a thunderstorm, the house will be protected from lightning strike. They are also used to strengthen a person against disease and ill health. These candles were also made to honour our ancestors and lit at funerals to light the way to Dausos (Paradise),for deceased souls.
The candle was lit in the house and watched: If the smoke remains inside the cottage - nobody will continue living in good health home and, if the haze extends toward the door, that someone from the household will die soon.
In some songs, Perkūnas, while on the way to wed Aušra (Goddess of dawn; Venus, the daughter of the Sun and Moon), strikes a golden oak, most likely in order to expel evil spirits - velnias or snakes - who usually hide below the roots of an oak. The oak is a tree of the Thunder God in the Baltic mythology. In Lithuanian, we call him, Perkūno ąžuolas and in Latvian he is called Pērkona ozols,and this term was still mentioned in sources dated to the first half of the 19th century. In English he is called, "oak of Perkūnas"
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So today, I have introduced you to Perkunas and we are here today to honour the
In Samogitian myth, Perkūnas is a young, fair horseman on a fiery horse. When on his heavenly chariot Perkūnas appears in the shape of a gray-haired old man with a big beard of many colors, in white and black clothes, holding a goat on a cord in one hand and a horn or an axe in the other. The culmination of Perkūnas' hunt for his opponent is a thunder-storm; it not only clears the ground of evil spirits, but returns the stolen cattle or weapons.
Perkunas helps Dievas in the execution of Dievas punishment. Perkunas punishes dishonest people, murderers, adulterers and all those that broke the laws of the Sky God, Dievas. People have healthy fear of Perkunas and swearing by him is common everyday act. People often curse by saying
“May Perkunas strike you down”.
Weather predictions on Thunder day
If on Thunder Day, there is still a lot of snow on roofs then there will be luxuriant meadows available during the summer, and a lot of good mowing hay. If the day is windy –there will be a late spring, and farmers may run out of food. If there are long icicles on the roof then farmers must sow the barley early. It is still winter, but spring on the heels of the Winter.
On the blessed Day of Perkunas, people bless flax, (linen), to be purified, white and plentiful. Festive candles were made called graudulinėmis. These were candles wrapped in linen thread. It is believed that if these candles were lit during a thunderstorm, the house will be protected from lightning strike. They are also used to strengthen a person against disease and ill health. These candles were also made to honour our ancestors and lit at funerals to light the way to Dausos (Paradise),for deceased souls.
The candle was lit in the house and watched: If the smoke remains inside the cottage - nobody will continue living in good health home and, if the haze extends toward the door, that someone from the household will die soon.
In some songs, Perkūnas, while on the way to wed Aušra (Goddess of dawn; Venus, the daughter of the Sun and Moon), strikes a golden oak, most likely in order to expel evil spirits - velnias or snakes - who usually hide below the roots of an oak. The oak is a tree of the Thunder God in the Baltic mythology. In Lithuanian, we call him, Perkūno ąžuolas and in Latvian he is called Pērkona ozols,and this term was still mentioned in sources dated to the first half of the 19th century. In English he is called, "oak of Perkūnas"
mighty Thunderer,Perkunas God!
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