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!
No comments:
Post a Comment