Elena P. Martynova

Doctor of Science (History), Professor of the Department of the History and Archeology

Tula State Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University

(Tula, Russia)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22405/2712-8407-2022-1-13-22

Abstract.. Gift exchange, functioning on the basis of the principle of reciprocity, is one of the basic indicators of social life in traditional societies. It covers all spheres of life in such cultures, including relations with the otherworldly world. The article deals with various forms of manifestation of a reciprocity principle at contacts with spirits and deities on the basis of materials about religious rituals and cults at Ob Ugrians (Khanty and Mansi). The basic form of interaction with spirits in Ob-Ugric tradition is sacrifice during which the gift exchange with spirits and treating was carried out. Gifts were considered things (furs, clothes, fabrics, coins, utensils) which had a great value and acted as subjects of trade and exchange. Khanty and Mansi gifted deities and spirits of all ranks and categories: natural elements (water, forest, fire), supreme deities, spirits-owners of area, family and clan patrons. Patronage and help were expected from them as a reciprocal gift. Reciprocity in relations with spirits could be manifested not only in positive, but also in negative direction: display of unkindness caused negative reaction of spirits which could punish with sending illness or any misfortune. In case of non-observance by the extraterrestrial forces of reciprocity the spirits were punished. According to reciprocity in religious representations of Ob-Ugric, there were no clear signs of assignment of spirits to a category good or evil. Any deity could help in response to a gift or punish in response to its absence or lack. Reciprocity in contacts with representatives of the supernatural world "bound" the individual to a set of deities of different ranks and circles: supreme, spirits-hosts, spirits of wood, water, fire, etc. In turn, the connections "by deity" contributed to the unification of people. In the Ob-Ugric tradition "kinship by deity (spirit)" played an important role in cult-religious practices, regulation of marriage contacts as well as contributed to the awareness of common origin.
Keywords: Ob Ugri (Khanty and Mansi), reciprocity, gift exchange, worldview, deities and spirits, sacrifice, rituals.

Full text of the article (PDF)

For citation: Martynova, EP 2022, ‘“Give, and it will be given to you”: reciprocity in cult-religious practices of the Ob-Ugrians’, Tula Scientific Bulletin. History. Linguistics, issue 1 (9), pp. 13–22, https://doi.org/10.22405/2712-8407-2022-1-13-22 (in Russ.)

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