Shaman clothes Cap Hat Crown

Description

Shaman  iron
crown
(Buryatia, Russia)
Weight approximately 1,2 kg.
Diameter 21 cm.
Crown height 21 cm.
The length of the braid is 1 meter.
Execution time 3 weeks.
1 is available now.
Material
Iron.
Handmade. Manufacturer -
Shaman smith.
.
Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia, Russia.
Shaman crown.
The shaman's headdress is in the form of a metal crown (in Buryat - maikhabshi) with imitation of deer horns. The hoop with two intersecting arcs symbolizes the four directions of the world, the four winds, the four seasons. The hoop itself contains the idea of ​​a closed world of people. At the top of the cross, there is a plate with the ends bent in the form of deer horns, which symbolize the top of the world tree. Behind the caps a long pendant, which symbolizes a deer ridge, descends.
The Siberian shamans believed that the “Iron Crown” could only be gained by a “strong” shaman.
It is believed that dressed in a ritual costume, the shaman merges into one with the spirit-animal, which depicts clothing. Putting on a hat with horns, the shaman "if not completely turns into ..." celestial deer ", then in any case acquires the properties of the latter.
For example, Ket shamans of the late XIX - early XX century. mainly belonged to the category of "deer". Their ritual vestments symbolized the deer. Both the tambourine, the caftan, and the iron horned “crown” of the shaman were even called a deer. The shaman-deer was considered able to walk into the mythical heavenly world and into the land of evil spirits, where insidious Hosedam ruled. The chief patron saint of shamans and deer is the deity Bangrakhyp (Son of Earth), who lives in the second circle of the “upper” world.
The shaman's headdress - in the form of a metal crown (in Buryat - maikhabshi) with the image of deer horns - was previously widely used by many peoples of Siberia. Siberian shamans have nine degrees of initiation. The higher the level, the more complex rituals the shaman performs, the greater his “strength”. The “iron crown”, can get only a “strong” shaman. It is believed that traveling in other worlds, the shaman in case of danger turns into a deer and is protected by antlers from evil spirits.
Dedication of the Buryat shaman.
To take the seventh initiation, the shaman is released from the yurt through the chimney, after which he is put on white felt, washed with red horse and Arshan’s blood boiled on hot stones from Lake Baikal. On his head pours nine bottles of arch. After this procedure, he gains the right to initiate the shamans of beginners and call on Tengri. Maybhashi, a metal crown with horns, becomes its attribute.
Headdresses of shamans have a different appearance - it depends on the tradition in which the shaman kamlaet, on the preferences and instructions of his Spirits.
For example, the shaman's headdress of the Tuvans and Altaians is a ribbon, with eagle feathers stitched to the upper edge - 40 large and 20 small ones. The core of each feather was wrapped in a soft cloth and attached to the headband. For a particularly high flight, two long black feathers are attached in front of the eagle feathers; they help to overcome air resistance. The bandage is decorated with a small copper mask, beads or shells, representing the mouth, nose, eyes and ears. These ornaments personify the senses of the spirits that have entered the shaman. Eagle and owl feathers are inserted on top of the bandage. Sometimes the feathers of other birds can be added, depending on which birds the shaman is associated with. Eagle, Owl, and Crow are associated with all shamans, so their feathers are most often used in shamanic attire.
The eagle was directly connected with the Sun, the Upper World, as well as with the Thunder and Lightning in almost all Mongolian, Altai and Yakut, Buryat tribes. The indigenous people of Siberia from antiquity singled out and revered the Eagle, as well as trees with eagle nests. In the myths of the Yenisei Ostyaks, Teleuts, Orochs and other Siberian peoples, it is said that the first shaman was born from Orel or learned from him his art. Images of the eagle, eagle feathers are an indispensable part of the dress of the Siberian shamans. It is believed that the eagle is able to fly to the Sun, look at it, without blinking, and connect with it. Therefore, the eagle personifies the vision and the spiritual principle in man, which is able to soar towards Heaven.
But the image of this feathered predator occupies the most important place in the mythology and ideology of the Buryat people. According to many ethnographers, the Cult of the Eagle constitutes a very ancient stratum of Buryat beliefs, historically associated with the Baikal island of Olkhon, since the legends about it most often relate to its territory.
For example, one of them says that the White-headed Eagle is the native son of the “Master” of the Olkhon Island - the most formidable Baikal deity living in the Shaman cave on Burkhan Cape. According to another version of the legend, the identity of the eagle-eagle is considered sacred and inviolable, as a descendant of the legendary Ezhin (host) Father Olkhon - Uta Sagan and his wife Saksaga-Sagan Hatan, who, without having sons, adopted three golden eagles .... These eagles .... honored as deities who have descended from the sky, they regularly offer both tribal and individual sacrifices. " Another legend: “In order to save people from the wiles of evil deities, good deities sent Eagle to Earth. But people did not believe him. Then Eagle was allowed to communicate with the earthly woman. Only after that people believed that Orel was their protector from evil of this union, the first Buryat shaman, Mergen Hara or Bukheli Hara, was born "..
Great and white shamans of almost all these peoples wore eagle feather headdresses during ceremonies. Killing the Eagle was taboo, and anyone who killed an eagle for no reason should have died. Buryats prayed to this bird, offered sacrifices to it. The meat was hung on a tree, and the eagles ate it. Killing and simply harming the eagle, even scolding it, was forbidden. According to the ideas of the Buryats, the eagle is a force that is the source of the existence of all living beings and controls their fate. It is believed that the eagle can visit both the mountain world and the underground. It is he who gives consciousness along with life, and then selects at the time of death. The eagle is a symbol of a higher power; it is not perceived by ordinary senses. According to the Buryat shamans, only the seers are able to perceive the eagle, that is, people who have found the integrity of themselves.
In mythology, it is believed that the crow is a shaman bird and is endowed with supernatural properties, such as the gift of foresight and penetration into all worlds. The raven also entered the lower world. However, this bird is associated with all the elements. With the Sun (Fire), Water (Water), Earth (Earth), Sky (Air). From this we can conclude that the crow is a conductor in different worlds, able to penetrate into all spheres of the universe. It is an intermediate link between the predatory and herbivorous way of life. The raven exists between life and death, traveling to the lower world.
The headdress is the main attribute of the shaman, helping him to fly. The presence of bird elements in the shaman’s dress is also explained by the fact that they symbolize ease and freedom.
Before hoisting a hat on his head earlier, the shaman put on a bandage and tied it. This is a bandage with a fringe of silk, horsehair or ribbons, long enough to cover most of the face. The shaman wore it not all the time, but only when he was going to unite with the spirits. The fringe does not completely close the shaman’s visibility, but helps him to detach himself from reality when plunging into a frenzy. Now the headdress has been simplified and the fringe is sewn directly to the main cap.
The Buryat headdress is a prototype of the legendary Geser’s helmet. An iron cap, the top of which is formed by several iron rings and decorated with a pair of horns. Behind - an iron chain consisting of nine links; A piece of iron in the form of a spear's tip is attached to its lower end. On each side of this iron helmet, on the temples, there is one iron ring with three so-called flasks - iron strips twisted on the anvil on the anvil (about 44 mm long) that have the meaning of union, connection, unity of two. On the sides and back of the helmet are attached snake ribbons of silk, linen, fine cloth and fur of various wild and domestic animals, shaped like snakes. Together with them, pieces of fabrics cut in the form of a fringe, with the color of fur imitating squirrels, weasels and ermine, are tied. Such a headdress is called maykabchi - the “hat” is a headdress of a big shaman - orgatey boo. the shaman also has mayhobshi of 2 colors - blue and black. Mayhobshi of blue color means that the shaman can ascend to the Sky and travel around the middle world and kamlat, makes requests to these Spirits. Maihobshi of black color - the shaman rises into the "black" sky (space) and descend to the lower world. Also, a fringe of threads, strips of skin or beads covering the face to the nose or completely to the chin is sewn on mayhobshi. The eyecup has two main functions. In the first place in winter, in clear weather, it is very difficult to look at the snow, it reflects better than any mirror. Thus in the traditional society the eyecup served as dark glasses. Secondly, such an eyecup hides the shaman's face from adverse spirits, provides some protection. Although some believe that this protection is more likely for those around them, for it is better not to see the shaman’s eyes during the rite. Zaalma is a tassel of red silk threads, sewn into the center of the cap (on the top), a symbol of the sun, as well as protection from evil Spirits. it is believed that when the evil Spirit tries to enter the body of the shaman, he hits the silver plate in the center of the gall and slips along the thread to the bottom. for this reason, holes and knots on the threads are not allowed in the plate. Also on the cap are sewn eyes, through them see spirits. and this is a distinctive feature of the Tengrian shamans. There is a tradition during social sacrifices to tie a white khadak to a brush of a shaman's cap. This is done by representatives of the family or family in recognition of the shaman’s respect. For this, the shaman mentions their names in his prayers (stupas).