Hyperborean Radio (The Final Episodes)

Forwarded from Hyperborean Radio (The Final Episodes)

Veles, also known as Volos. Is the horned god, wandering trickster, and lord of the underworld for the slavs. He is a wildman and a wizard, a trickster and a gift giver. Next to or perhaps even surpassing Perun, Veles is one of the most widespread and honored gods of the Slavs. This is exemplified in how many saints were used to replace him. Not one, not two, but many saints were used in an attempt to cover up Veles. Including but not limited to: St. Vlasii, St Makarii, St. George, St. Blaise and even St. Nicholas. Veles is at times a contradictory god which is partly due to have many regional variants in his legends. With similar gods such as Berstuk, Leshy, Radegast, and Chernobog all at times being said to either be him or not. I tend to ere on the side of them all being different gods. Veles is in many ways the antithesis to Perun. Being earthy, wet, and beast like to the more heavenly Perun. A sort of Dionysus and Apollo differential.Though their relationship is much more volatile. With Veles and Perun often fighting to Veles' death though Veles arises again out of his corpse as a serpent. These fights vary with it being because he stole Dodola (Perun's Wife), Perun's son, or the heavenly cows (Clouds). It ends the same way with Veles defeated and the rain falling down. It is important to note that in this fight Veles takes the form of a dragon or serpent. An animal he is commonly associated with similar to the Cow and bear. In many fairy tales Veles turns into a dragon or is seen as a dragon. However he is most commonly with the exception of the southern slavs (In which he is associated with the wolf) with the bear. Which is known as the emperor of the forest. Tying into Veles' position as lord of the forest and wilderness. A king of beasts both great and small and capable of taking any of their forms.Veles is often considered a god associated with wetness especially the sea and bodies of water as the sea was seen as the passage to Nav the underworld of which Veles ruled over it. Though other tales give the lord of the underworld role to Chernobog as Veles travels between worlds too much to continuously rule over it. In this way Veles is a psychopomp a bringer of souls to their afterlife but he also brings ancestral souls to the surface to be reincarnated. Completing the cycle of death and rebirth. Veles is a bit of a womanizer or at the very least is attributed a different wife in each region. With Devana the goddess of the hunt (and possible bear mother of the slavs) being one such wife. Another is Morana the witch goddess that brings winter. Or Mokosh the matriarch and spinning goddess of the earth. But most famously is a tale that ties into his wandering and kingship of the underworld. That of his love for Baba Yaga. Baba yaga as a youth loved Veles but when she was poisoned by his mother Zemun the universe cow (essentially slavic Audhumbla) he bargained his life for her own and he became a wanderer between worlds. Baba Yaga lived but she grew old and due to Veles' act became a protector and mediator between worlds and grew bitter but never lacked for her wanting for Veles. Who despite his many children and supposed wives never let go of Baba Yaga in his heart.His position as a god closely tied to the afterlife is why one of his names is the Lord of Nav. With the Milky way being “Veles' hair” a reference to the hair that flows out of his stunning mane of hair. This is said to be one of the roads to the afterlife, Likewise the Pleadies is tied into the ancestors via it being a representation of Veles' daughters. Ursa Major is said to be where he keeps his hall. Tying back once again to his bear form that he is said to be often seen in. In comparison to his human form with bulls horns a reference to his mother.

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