Lithuanian Folk tale: Why the Sun shines in the day and the Moon shines at night-compiled and edited by Stepas Zobarskas

 

In olden times, when no human beings existed in the world, the Moon and the Sun lived in a pretty little house. They fell in love with each other and got married. When a daughter was born to them they named her Earth.

For many years the Moon and the Sun lived happily and in peace, but one day they began to quarrel.

"If you're so hot, I shall leave you forever," said the Moon.

"And if you remain as cold as you are now, I will not live with you any longer", answered the Sun.

"Alright. Let us seperate. But the daughter shall remain with me", said the Moon.

"No. I'm not going to leave my daughter with you. What, do you want my daughter to freeze to death with you?", Argued the Sun.

As they could not reach an agreement on who should keep the daughter, they went to the great God Thunder and asked him to be their judge. Thunder listened to both of them, then he reached a decision:

"Let it be this way: the Sun takes care of her daughter from morning till evening, and the Moon during the night."

To this day they obey Thunder's decision. The Sun takes care of the Earth from morning till evening and the Moon looks after it from evening till morning. Once in a great while, when the Moon has no time, her sisters, the Stars, give light to the earth.

Velnias- the Lithuanian Devil and God of the Underworld

 It's a bit of a taboo subject but I'd like to introduce an important Baltic Lithuanian deity named "Velnias" or "Velinas" who is the Lithuanian Devil but not to be confused with the the Christian Devil or Satan.

Lithuanians and other earth centred/Indigenous cultures of the world have been long accused by the Christian church as "Devil worshippers" and this assumption is partly correct.

The Lithuanian Devil was never worshipped. I don't believe that any Lithuanian Deity was traditionally worshipped" in the Christian sense of the word but veneration through sacrifice, honour in celebrations and respect was a general attitude towards the deities amongst Lithuanian peoples of the past. It is true though that the Devil God does feature in Lithuanian mythology and worldview as he does with other Earth centred/Indigenous cultures of the world so the Christian belief of the Devil does exist in the Indigenous cultures of the world but is not perceived as in the Christian mythology.

So let me introduce you to the Lithuanian Velnias (Devil)!

As VELnias name suggests, he is believed to be the caretaker and guardian of the "Vėlės"(Souls of the dead). Velnias is believed to protect the living from the dead.

Velnias is depicted in Lithuanian folklore aš

*A co creator of the world alongside Dievas the Sky God.

*a shapeshifter (could appear as a bird, animal or even a man)

*Clever but not too bright. Easily fooled.

* Adversary of Perkūnas the thunder God. Easy to escape him by saying, "look! There's Perkūnas!" and run away when he's not looking!

*Velnias is a Cthonic (earthly) Deity but loves swamps and bogs.

*Velnias is depicted as appearing as a horned giant with a tale and cloven feet which is the same image of the Devil character in the Christian mythology but not the same.

*Can be a helper or a hindrance to people.

*Sexually promiscuous and loves fornicating with women

*Loves music and loves to dance.

So you see the character of the Lithuanian Devil God is very different from the image portrayed by the Christian church and made even scarier by Holywood. Velnias is a God who is very important in the Lithuanian Pantheon and todays post only gives a brief glimpse into his character.

There is so much more to explore about Velnias and his connection with the necrocult in Lithuania!

Lithuanian myth: The Sovijus myth

 The Lithuanian myth of Sovijus is said to have established cremation as a funerary practice in the 13th Century in Lithuania. Previously, Earth burials were more common.

"Sovijus was a man who caught a wild boar and ripped out its nine spleens, which he gave to his sons to fry up. The sons ate them all and he became angry with them.

He then descended through the nine gates of hell, only finally making it through the ninth gate with the help of his youngest son.

The other brothers were angry with that son and they then resolved to bring their father back. As the youngest son was responsible, he agreed to go down to hell to find his father and bring him back for burial. He found his father and had dinner with him.

That night the son made a bed for his father underground, but Sovijus slept terribly because the next day he moaned that he had been eaten by worms all night.

On the second night a bed was prepared in the trunk of a tree, but Sovijus complained the next day that he was stung by bees and mosquitoes all night.

On the third night the son prepared a bed of fire and put his father in it. (Cremation)

The next morning he asked his father how he had slept; to which Sovijus’ reply was

“I slept like a log.”

Lithuanian folk tale: A musician at the Velnias' party- recorded in 1906 From Lithuanian mythological tales, compiled by Norbertas Veliius

 NB:Velnias= a devil and not as depicted as the embodiment of evil as portrayed in Christian mythology.

In olden times, when Velniases were still seen roaming the world, a musician was walking home at dusk. Night fell darkly. As he walked, he got lost and had no idea which way to go. He did not walk very far before he met a landlord in a carriage. The landlord said, "not far from here stands my manor. Tonight I am giving a feast, but I have no musician. Could you play for us?" The musician said, "why not, that's how I make my living." The landlord said, "then climb into my carriage. After he climbed in, he thought he hadn't gone very far when they drove up to a manor. When they arrived, no guests had come yet, but soon plenty of carriages with all sorts of nobles, ladies and maidens appeared. Presently the dancing began. After each dance they would pay him silver rubles. He noticed, however, that those dancing would take something from a little bowl and rub their eyes from time to time. He thought to himself, "what is that they keep rubbing their eyes with? And what for?" He took a chance to rub one eye. At once he saw with that eye that it was not at all a manor where he was playing, but a swamp. He was at a Velnias party and not sitting on a chair, but on a mound. He was seized with such fear, that he couldn't bear to look through that eye! They danced until the roosters crowed. Then they all disappeared and he remained sitting in that swamp until dawn. When day broke, he looked into his pockets to find white Birch bark there. He was sitting in a swamp. He could barely drag himself out that day. The Velnias had taken him so far away that he had to walk three days until he finally reached his home. In those days, musicians used to be great drunkards. So was this one- no sooner was he at home than he went straight to the tavern to pour his heart out about his adventures. As he approached the tavern, he heard a loud cry. Walking in, he found several men fighting. Among them he saw a Velnias whispering something into one man's ear and stepping on another's foot. As a result, the men were fighting furiously, their wounds bled and the roof tiles shook. Seeing the Velnias' dirty tricks, the musician took a stick and struck him on the head so hard that he rolled out of the tavern. As soon as the Velnias was gone, the men made up with each other. Some time later that Velnias cane to see the musician, and asked,. "which eye did you see me with?" He answered, " the right one." As soon as he spoke this, the Velnias put that eye out and disappeared. . From that time on, the musician never saw the Velnias again

Lithuanian folk tale: Twigs- recorded in 1898 from Lithuanian mythological tales by Norbertas Velius

Once a midwife and a mother, who had just given birth to a son were lighting a fire in the bathhouse, when they heard a voice exclaim, "until the twigs are burnt up!" The mother understood what this meant. She put out the fire and put the twigs in her wooden chest right away.

The son grew up. His mother died and left him her chest. He soon married. One time, his wife's mother came to visit. Mother and daughter opened the chest to rummage through the clothes and they found the twigs underneath at the very bottom. "What use are these?" They thought and put them in the fire. As the fire was dying, the man came home. They asked him, "Why were those twigs in the chest?" He told them and died.

Lithuanian folk tale: Werewolves in the drying barn-recorded in 1948

 

In olden times, they would tell stories of wedding parties on the road and how they were turned into werewolves. Back then they would heat the drying barn to dry the grain. Once a farmer went there,made a fire, and lay there. Just then, Werewolves came in. He thought, "what could that mean?" There were as many as 7. One of them took of his fur-he saw that it was a bridegroom with a flower. Another disrobed- it was the bride. Then he saw the bridesmaids take of their clothing and enjoyed the warmth. They talked like people too. Then that man asked, "what kind of people are you?" They said, "a wedding party." Then he said, "what do you mean, a wedding party with furs too?" "Oh", they said, "we've been turned into werewolves." Then they said, "We'll have to wear those furs for a long time to come." Then they put of those furs and ran away as werewolves. #lithuanianfolktales

Lithuanian folk tale: The origin of Witches aka The First Witch-recorded in 1935

Once a woman carrying a new basket went to the forest to gather mushrooms. As she was picking mushrooms, it started to pour. She took off all her clothes and tucked them under the basket. She herself stood under a tree until the rain stopped. Then she put on her dry clothes again and went on picking mushrooms. As she was mushrooming, she met a VELNIAS. The VELNIAS asked, "were you picking mushrooms during the rain?" She said, "I was". Then he asked, "How come you weren't drenched?" The woman said, "I know a certain secret and the rain has no effect on me." Then the VELNIAS started asking the woman to tell him her secret. The woman agreed to tell him under the condition that he would reveal all his devilish powers to her. The VELNIAS laid out all that he knew. Then the woman knew how to bewitch people and how to cure them again. It was from her that Witches spread. The woman said, "when you go to the woods, you must always bring along a new basket. When it starts raining, cover your clothes and they won't get wet." Then the VELNIAS spat on the ground and, flying away, he yelled out, "to hell with your secret!" And from then on, that woman remained a Witch.

Dega ugnelė song/prayer

This is one of the prayers that we sing in a Fire Rite. It can be modified for the occasion. The following are the words with translation! Dega Ugnelė tūta,tūta, (The Fire is burning, tūta, tūta) Dega Gabija, tūta, tūta, (Goddess Gabija is shining, tūta, tūta) Piliakalnely, tūta, tūta (On the mound/Castlehill, tūta, tūta) Aukštajam kalnely, tūta, tūta (On the high mountain/hill, tūta, tūta) Gabija Ugnelė, tūta, tūta (Fire Goddess Gabija, tūta, tūta) Užkurta žibėkie, tūta, tūta (Shine as lit, tūta, tūta) Užgobta gobėkie, tūta, tūta (Smolder as covered, tūta, tūta) Žemė Žemynele, tūta, tūta Goddess Žemynele, dear earth, tūta, tūta) Mes tavo vaikeliai, tūta, tūta (We are your children, tūta, tūta) Saulė motinėlė, tūta, tūta (Goddess Saulė -Sun dear mother, tūta, tūta) Mes tavo dukrelės, tūta, tūta (We are your daughter's, tūta, tūta) Mėnuo tėvali, tūta, tūta (God Mėnuo -Moon, dear father, tūta, tūta) Mes tavo suneliai, tūta, tūta (We are your son's, tūta, tūta) Žvaigždės sesulės, tūta, tūta (Stars, dear sisters, tūta, tūta) Mes jūsų sesiulės, tūta, tūta (We are your sisters, tūta, tūta) Gabija Ugnelė, tūta, tūta (Fire, Goddess Gabija, tūta, tūta) Sukurta žibėkie, tūta, tūta (Shine as lit, tūta, tūta) Sugobta gobėkie, tūta, tūta (Smoulder as covered, tūta, tūta) Stiprinki mumis, tūta, tūta (Strengthen us, tūta, tūta) Sujunkie mumis, tūta, tūta (Unite us, tūta, tūta) Žemė Žemynele, tūta, tūta (Goddess Žemynele -earth, tūta, tūta) Labinki mumis, tūta, tūta Help us prosper, tūta, tūta) Laimą lemejėla, tūta, tūta (Goddess Laima, destiny giver, tūta, tūta) Laiminki mumis, tūta, tūta (Bless us,(with good fortune), tūta, tūta)

Zemyna the Lithuanian Goddess of Earth

 The Earth has become a worldwide Deity and mother. Here are a list of the various names for the Earth Goddess from around the world:

Chinese folk religion - Houtu (Di Mu)

Meitei mythology and religion - Leimarel Sidabi, Panthoibi, Phouoibi

Ancient Greek religion - Gaia, Cybele, Demeter, Persephone, Rhea

Ancient Roman religion - Terra, Ceres, Ops, Proserpina

Slavic - Mat Zemlya

Andean (Inca, Aymara) - Pachamama

Native American - Spider Grandmother

Romanian - Muma Padurii, Mama Gaia

Mongolian and Turkic - Umay (Eje)

Old Norse religion - Sif and Jörð

Lithuanian mythology - Žemyna

Māori - Papatūānuku

Latvian mythology - Zemes māte and Māra

Vietnamese folk religion - Mẫu Địa

Tai folk religion - Phra Mae Thorani and Phra Nang Bhum Chaiya (พระนางภูมิไชยา - Bhummaso) , "Tutelary goddess of Earth and Land" in Thailand , Cambodia , Laos and myanmar

Mahayana and Vajrayana - Vasudhara

Historical Vedic religion - Prithvi

Australian Aboriginal peoples don't Revere the Earth as in other regions of the world but from Queensland, Australia, there is a belief in "Anjea who is a fertility goddess or spirit, in whom people's souls reside between their incarnations."

(Wikipedia)

This Goddess has the same functions of the Earth Goddess although there is no mention of the Earth.

So you can see that there many names for the Earth Goddess used across the globe but her essence and functions are the same. The Earth Goddess is the personification of Earth who has two main functions. She creates fertility in nature to make it bloom and flourish while at the same time carrying and caring for us in life but then She also receives our bodies in death to continue regeneration and reincarnation.

The Earth Goddess Žemyna is a very important Deity to adherents of Romuva and Baltic Faith. Many people have died for her as She also represents "freedom" and some would say that they are really nothing without their land.

There is a custom in Lithuania to kiss the earth to show respect, affection and love. This custom runs deep and even Pope John Paul ii practiced this custom. He was was Polish and part Lithuanian. His mother was Lithuanian and Polish which may explain his actions. Pope John Paul ii demonstrated the act of kissing the ground many times after getting off a plane! I saw this many times on tv as I was growing up and I just thought that it was a fear of flying thing but now I know that it was done as a returning greeting because he left the Mother Earth temporarily while he was in the sky.

Žemyna is close to the heart of Lithuanian peoples as She is for other indigenous cultures! Žemyna may be known by different names in different cultures but her gender, nature and functions are a constant throughout the world!

M.Gimbutiene, a well known Lithuanian archeologist says:

 "All that is alive - is a sign of the earth’s kindness. Every earth born object is full to the brim with life’s strength, granted by mother earth. Tree, flower, stone and man - all from the earth. They are all full of earth’s power, although in each, the power is of various shape and form."

Autumn Equinox in Lithuania of old

 The following is how Dagotuves/Rudens Lyge (Autumn Equinox) is traditionally observed by Lithuanians. This extract is from J.Trinkunas book titled, Baltu Tijejimas (Baltic beliefs/faith)

After September, after sowing, when the grain is already underground and begins to move and let the roots grow, Dagos - the feast of germination - is celebrated. Winter is coming, during which the rye will have to endure. The germination is consecrated and surrendered (offered) to Dievas, who has control of all that is going on "underground," and whose dominion envelops the entire world of winter and darkness. According to a well-known folktale, the roots belong to Velnias(the Devil)and only the stem belongs to humanity.

J. Dlugoš called this holiday *autumn sambari. *At the end of the autumn work, the most important thing is to take care of preserving the vitality of the harvest.

During the Spring Equinox, the extinguished hearth fire from the Autumnal Equinox is re-ignated.

In Jotvingiai area (western Lithuania), the fire was caged in a lantern - decorated with foliage and flowers. The fire is "fed". The fire itself changes. Gabija is now called Gabjauja or Jagaubis because she was fired in the jaja(drying barn).

Early winter forced people to perform the festive ceremonies, as Lasicius pointed out, in enclosed area. Meanwhile, in other parts such as Anakalnis (Vlinius area) celebrations would be organised along riverbanks.

Latvians are currently celebrating the Feast of Jumio; a harvest deity, ensuring courage, hapiness, prosperity. Jumis are the twins from whom the human race (the ancient Indian Yama) began.

Prussia celebrated Kurkio, a celebration of fertility and the harvest deities, and the end of the harvest.

This is also Baltic Unity Day. In which the Baltic States express their historical unity as 3 partner nations. More information on Baltic Unity Day:

The following is how Dagotuves/Rudens Lyge (Autumn Equinox) is traditionally observed by Lithuanians. This extract is from J.Trinkunas book titled, Baltu Tijejimas (Baltic beliefs/faith)

After September, after sowing, when the grain is already underground and begins to move and let the roots grow, Dagos - the feast of germination - is celebrated. Winter is coming, during which the rye will have to endure. The germination is consecrated and surrendered (offered) to Dievas, who has control of all that is going on "underground," and whose dominion envelops the entire world of winter and darkness. According to a well-known folktale, the roots belong to Velnias(the Devil)and only the stem belongs to humanity.

J. Dlugoš called this holiday *autumn sambari. *At the end of the autumn work, the most important thing is to take care of preserving the vitality of the harvest.

During the Spring Equinox, the extinguished hearth fire from the Autumnal Equinox is re-ignated.

In Jotvingiai area (western Lithuania), the fire was caged in a lantern - decorated with foliage and flowers. The fire is "fed". The fire itself changes. Gabija is now called Gabjauja or Jagaubis because she was fired in the jaja(drying barn).

Early winter forced people to perform the festive ceremonies, as Lasicius pointed out, in enclosed area. Meanwhile, in other parts such as Anakalnis (Vlinius area) celebrations would be organised along riverbanks.

Latvians are currently celebrating the Feast of Jumio; a harvest deity, ensuring courage, hapiness, prosperity. Jumis are the twins from whom the human race (the ancient Indian Yama) began.

Prussia celebrated Kurkio, a celebration of fertility and the harvest deities, and the end of the harvest.

This is also Baltic Unity Day. In which the Baltic States express their historical unity as 3 partner nations.

What is a Kulgrinda?

 Kūlgrinda is the name of one of my favourite Lithuanian folk groups who sing the traditional songs of our ancestors and who are led by Krivė and democratically elected High Priestess of Romuva in Lithuania, Inija Trinkuniene .

Kūlgrinda is also the Lithuanian word for a stone path which is hidden under water, only known by locals that leads to the safety of another village, castle fort or somewhere they can escape from Crusaders or invaders. There are 3 types of "grindas"(pathways) found throughout Lithuania,Latvia and Prussia with about 1/2 found in Samogitia/Žemaitiją. They can be made from stone, wood or earth called Kūlgrinda, Megrinda or Žemgrinda respectively. The Grindas are made by placing stones, wood or earth on top of the frozen swamp or lake in Winter which fall to the bottom as the the Spring thaw melts the ice. The process was repeated year after year until the path was fully established. I think that it's pretty ingenious! One of the longest and best known Kūlgrinda which still exists today in 3 parts is found in Sietuva swamps between Lūkštas lake and Paršežeris lake in Samogitia/Žemaitiją and connected the town's of Kaltinėnai and Tverai. The Kūlgrinda was still being used in the 19th century and it makes me wonder if my grandmother knew of it because she grew up in Varniai near Lūkštas lake! a link about Kūlgrinda and the photo is of people still interested in Kūlgrinda and travelling the path. I also believe that Kūlgrinda is a good metaphor to describe the path of Romuva which leads to a place where we feel safe and secure with our deities. I believe that even though the path may be hidden, it can be found by aligning yourself with Lithuanian locals to help others find their own path.

Lithuanian folktale-"Twigs"

 "Lithuanian Mythological Tales"

Compiled by Norbertas Vėlius Translated by Birutė Kiškytė Twigs Once a midwife and a mother, who had just given birth to a son were lighting a fire in the bathhouse, when they heard a voice exclaim, "until the twigs are burnt up!" The mother understood what this meant. She put out the fire and put the twigs in her wooden chest right away. The son grew up. His mother died and left him her chest. He soon married. One time, his wife's mother came to visit. Mother and daughter opened the chest to rummage through the clothes and they found the twigs underneath at the very bottom. "What use are these?" They thought and put them in the fire. As the fire was dying, the man came home. They asked him, "Why were those twigs in the chest?" He told them and died. (Recorded in 1898)

A Lithuanian folktale-Why the Sun shines in the day and the moon shines in the night

 Lithuanian folktale -compiled and edited by Stepas Zobarskas.

Why the Sun shines in the day and the Moon shines at night

In olden times, when no human beings existed in the world, the Moon and the Sun lived in a pretty little house. They fell in love with each other and got married. When a daughter was born to them they named her Earth.

For many years the Moon and the Sun lived happily and in peace, but one day they began to quarrel.

"If you're so hot, I shall leave you forever," said the Moon.

"And if you remain as cold as you are now, I will not live with you any longer", answered the Sun.

"Alright. Let us seperate. But the daughter shall remain with me", said the Moon.

"No. I'm not going to leave my daughter with you. What, do you want my daughter to freeze to death with you?", Argued the Sun.

As they could not reach an agreement on who should keep the daughter, they went to the great God Thunder and asked him to be their judge. Thunder listened to both of them, then he reached a decision:

"Let it be this way: the Sun takes care of her daughter from morning till evening, and the Moon during the night."

To this day they obey Thunder's decision. The Sun takes care of the Earth from morning till evening and the Moon looks after it from evening till morning. Once in a great while, when the Moon has no time, her sisters, the Stars, give light to the earth.

Song and prayer to Perkunas, our Thunderer. :Didysie mūsų:

Perkūnas- The main and greatest God of Baltic nations.

Perkūnas is the Thunderer and a celestial God of activity. Perkūnas is both helper to Dievas(Sky God) and also executes his will. Perkūnas supports order and justice in earth, participating in a constant struggle between harmonising cosmic powers and chaotic rudiments. The eternal battle of Perkūnas and Velnias represents this balancing feat. Perkūnas sanctifies the space which surrounds people. In Spring, Perkūnas appears as a young man name Jorė(pronounced "your-eh") who shakes the roots of trees , plants and all life with his mighty thunder and sends his Spring rains. Perkūnas as Jorė, induces fertility and vitality for all people and earth. This main Baltic God is addressed through a fire, an Oak Tree or on a mountain with the help of prayers, song and dance.

Perkūnas is depicted as riding across the sky in a chariot drawn by a pair of goats or horses. Red is the colour of the Thunder God and drums or bagpipes, especially those made with goat skin, are his instruments. Perkūnas armory includes an axe, arrows, hammer, sword and lightning bolts. Perkūnas is also depicted as a strong old man or a young man riding a fiery horse.

During the middle ages, Perkūnas temple was in the valley of Šventaragis in Vilnius. In it's place stands a Catholic cathedral but the remains of the altar can still be seen in the basement of the Cathedral. I find it amusing that the pulpit in the cathedral is said to be directly above the altar!

At the time when the temple to Perkūnas stood, Perkūnas was the God of Lithuania's Lords and soldiery. The temple of Perkūnas was described in the 16th century book, "Lithuanian history" by Rotundas:"in that place where the little river Vilija (Vilnelė) flows together with the great river (Neris), right next to the forest was a huge stone temple of thundering Jupiter -Perkunas, which was founded by Duke Gediminas in 1285. At the top it had no roof. The only entrance was from the side at the great river. By the wall in the front of the entrance was a chapel where all kinds of rarities and expensive sacred objects were kept. Under the chapel was a cellar where they kept sacred grass snakes, toads and so on. Protruding above the chapels wall was a high arbour (open Garrett). Standing in the arbour itself was a wooden idol of God. The temple measured 22.7 m × 22.4m. Leading up to the chapel was a square altar of 12 steps. On top of the altar was the eternal fire that burned day and night that was kept by special priests."

This temple was destroyed by Christians in 1387.

The following is a translation of one of our songs/prayers to Perkūnas:

Didysie mūsų

Didysie mūsų, Dievaitė mūsų

Our greatest, our God,

Didysie mūsų Perkūne mūsų,

Our greatest, our Thunderer(Perkūnas)

Savo stiprybe, savo galybe,

With your power and your might,

Sujunkie mumis, stiprinki mumis,

Unite us, strengthen us,

__________

Didysie mūsų, dievaitie mūsų,

Our greatest, our God,

Didysie mūsų, Perkūne mūsų,

Our greatest, our Thunder,

Ąžuolo jėgom, Ąžuolo galiom,

(With)The powers of the Oak Tree, the might of the Oak Tree,

Sujunki mumis, stiprinki mumis,

Unite us, strengthen us.

____________

Didysie mūsų, Dievaitė mūsų,

Our greatest, our God,

Didysie mūsų, Perkūne mūsų,

Our greatest, our Thunder,

Ugnies šviesybe, Ugnies galybe,

(With)The brightness of Fire, the power of fire,

Sujunkie mumis, stiprinki mumis.

Unite us, strengthen us.

The relief on the cathedral in Vilnius

I don't know how or why this relief was used to adorn the front of the Catholic cathedral that now stands on the temple of Perkunas but it made me smile when I saw it! This relief depicts the fire rite that was practiced here so many years ago!

The Lithuanian myth of Sovijus

The Lithuanian myth of Sovijus is said to have established cremation as a funerary practice in the 13th Century in Lithuania. Previously, Earth burials were more common.

"Sovijus was a man who caught a wild boar and ripped out its nine spleens, which he gave to his sons to fry up. The sons ate them all and he became angry with them.

He then descended through the nine gates of hell, only finally making it through the ninth gate with the help of his youngest son.

The other brothers were angry with that son and they then resolved to bring their father back. As the youngest son was responsible, he agreed to go down to hell to find his father and bring him back for burial. He found his father and had dinner with him.

That night the son made a bed for his father underground, but Sovijus slept terribly because the next day he moaned that he had been eaten by worms all night.

On the second night a bed was prepared in the trunk of a tree, but Sovijus complained the next day that he was stung by bees and mosquitoes all night.

On the third night the son prepared a bed of fire and put his father in it. (Cremation)

The next morning he asked his father how he had slept; to which Sovijus’ reply was

“I slept like a log.”