Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shamanism
Mongol tribes have long believed in the spirit world as their shamans described it to
them. Their cosmic view of the universe did not differentiate between the worlds of the
living and dead nor did they consider themselves any greater than other creatures in this
or other worlds. Any imbalance between the human and natural world could cause
calamity.
Shamanism is based around the shaman - called a
bo
if a man or
udgan
if a woman -
who has special medical and religious powers (known as
udmyn
if inherited
; zlain
if the
powers become apparent after a sudden period of sickness and apparitions).
Two of a shaman's main functions are to cure sickness caused by the soul straying, and
to accompany souls of the dead to the other world. As intermediaries between the human
and spirit worlds, they communicate with spirits during trances, which can last up to six
hours.
Shamanist beliefs have done much to shape Mongolian culture and social practices.
For example, nomads today still fill in the holes left by their horse posts when they move
camp, inherited from an old shamanic custom of returning the land to its natural state.
The fact that Mongolia's landscape is being torn up in search of minerals is inexcusable
according to shamans, and may lead to retribution from the
tengers
(sky gods).
Ovoos
, the large piles of rocks found on mountain passes, are repositories of offerings
for local spirits. Upon arriving at an
ovoo
, walk around it clockwise three times, toss an
offering onto the pile (another rock should suffice) and make a wish.
Sky worship is another integral part of shamanism; you'll see Mongolians leaving blue
scarves (representing the sky) on
ovoos
. Sky gods are honoured by flicking droplets of
vodka in the air before drinking.
Shamanism has seen an explosion in popularity in recent years and hundreds of sham-
ans now offer their healing and consultation services in Ulaanbaatar and other cities. On
weekends, shamans gather south of the Tuul River, about 2km east of Zaisan Hill.
The word 'shaman' derives from the word 'saman' in the Evenk language, later passed
on to the Western world in the late 1600s by Dutch traveller Nicolaes Witsen, who came
into contact with Tungistic-speaking tribes of Siberia.
