19.08.2019 Views

Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

In order to write credibly and in detail about the cult of fertility of the Bosnian people, it is necessary to start from the beginning which goes back to the ancient times and speaks about our famous forefathers the Illyrians, and one of their most important deities - snake. Namely, Illyrian cult of the snake as a primary symbol of fertility in folk religion of the Bosnian people, is not only noticeable in the belief about the home snake - protector of the family, i.e. totem of the head of the family, usually a male, i.e. father, but also her sacred meaning.  The snake cult, on which the genesis of the grandfather of our forefathers is based on, has an even wider meaning and significance.


In order to write credibly and in detail about the cult of fertility of the Bosnian people, it is necessary to start from the beginning which goes back to the ancient times and speaks about our famous forefathers the Illyrians, and one of their most important deities - snake. Namely, Illyrian cult of the snake as a primary symbol of fertility in folk religion of the Bosnian people, is not only noticeable in the belief about the home snake - protector of the family, i.e. totem of the head of the family, usually a male, i.e. father, but also her sacred meaning.  The snake cult, on which the genesis of the grandfather of our forefathers is based on, has an even wider meaning and significance.

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

stretcher into <strong>the</strong> river, etc. We<br />

shouldn't foget to mention ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />

example from <strong>the</strong> spiritual science<br />

which states that <strong>the</strong> Jinn are<br />

trying to be born in human form<br />

through women i.e. trying to<br />

materialise <strong>the</strong>mselves, which is<br />

why, allegedly, mentally<br />

challenged children are being born,<br />

which is pro<strong>of</strong> that a symbiosis <strong>of</strong><br />

man and demons is not possible in<br />

some normal frameworks.<br />

Similarly, while <strong>the</strong> child is in<br />

its mo<strong>the</strong>r's womb, it is invisible<br />

to our material world, and<br />

obviously more connected to <strong>the</strong><br />

spiritual one. Pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> this can<br />

be sought in <strong>the</strong> belief <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>Bosnian</strong> people that Allah<br />

determines <strong>the</strong> child's entire<br />

destiny in its first 40 days from<br />

its conception in <strong>the</strong> stomach.<br />

Leaving <strong>the</strong> security <strong>of</strong> his<br />

mo<strong>the</strong>r's womb <strong>the</strong> child arrives in<br />

<strong>the</strong> human world, material one<br />

which causes anger and wrath <strong>among</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> supernatural beings which <strong>the</strong>n<br />

try in various ways to attack both<br />

him and his mo<strong>the</strong>r. And all this<br />

in <strong>the</strong> first 40 days, until <strong>the</strong><br />

mo<strong>the</strong>r's, and obviously <strong>the</strong><br />

child's, transformation isn't<br />

completed which <strong>the</strong>n breaks all<br />

ties with <strong>the</strong> previous<br />

state.<br />

Imam was widespread, <strong>the</strong>se amulets<br />

were placed under <strong>the</strong> child's<br />

pillow or were hung on <strong>the</strong> crib.<br />

But what is more interesting is<br />

<strong>the</strong> collective need <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

community to fend <strong>of</strong>f evil and<br />

disease from a new life. Namely,<br />

women weren't <strong>the</strong> only ones that<br />

participated in <strong>the</strong> defence <strong>of</strong> a<br />

new life by undertaking some<br />

defensive rituals, men were also<br />

active. Traditional custom <strong>of</strong> our<br />

people is that during <strong>the</strong> first<br />

visit to <strong>the</strong> child, especially if<br />

we are talking about men, is to<br />

give money as gift, it is said<br />

"place money on his forehead", i.e.<br />

"on <strong>the</strong> star", and which would<br />

consider himself extremely lucky<br />

and this money would be used to<br />

pay an amulet which was<br />

commissioned by an Imam. Along<br />

with an amulet caring mo<strong>the</strong>rs<br />

usually placed some additions such<br />

as rue leaves (Ruta graveolens),<br />

root <strong>of</strong> Elecampane (Inula),<br />

horseradish (Armoracia rusticana),<br />

yew (Taxus), etc. Also, all metal<br />

items such as scissors, nails,<br />

knife had a prophylactic function<br />

because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> belief that Jinn<br />

and devils run away from metal and<br />

<strong>the</strong>y were part <strong>of</strong> an apotropaic<br />

arsenal.<br />

That's why <strong>the</strong> practice <strong>of</strong> using<br />

amulets which were written by an<br />

Raif Esmerović<br />

27<br />

<strong>Cult</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>fertility</strong> <strong>among</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bosnian</strong> <strong>People</strong>

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!