Well Wishes, Praises and Incantations

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https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/253914

Well-wishes, or yoryal, are considered to be one of the most popular genres in Kalmyk ritual folklore. Like traditional praises (magtal) and incantations (tarni), they have an ancient origin and are closely connected with a belief in the magical power of uttered words.

Yoryals are expressions of warm feelings nourished by the utterer. They are uttered during celebrations, rituals and other important events. It is believed that the age of the utterer correlates with the power of the yoryal - the older the utterer, the more powerful the yoryal is. The Kalmyks start every important deed with a yoryal, be it a tea drinking ceremony, or before setting out on a journey, or while receiving guests, during present-giving ceremonies, name-giving ceremonies, weddings, funerals and national holidays.

Praises, or magtal, also belong to a genre of ancient poetry connected with magical rituals. Magtals have been uttered or sung to mythical heroes, clan ancestors, famous people and geological morphologies, such as mountains and hills. Examples of the latter are the 'Praise to the Altai Mountains' (Altain magtal) and the 'Praise to the Bogd Mountain' (Bogd uulyn magtal).

Tarni incantations are usually whispered. Some incantations consist of only spells, others have a performative side to them as well. In the latter case, the utterer of a tarni is supposed to perform both parts correctly for the incantation to have an effect.

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Open Access
Khargchin Koldzhieva, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2014-07-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Khabunova, Evdokia
Open Access
Ivan Modunkaev, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2014-12-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Seleeva, Tsagan
Open Access
Galina Suikieva, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2016-02-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumov, Anton; Churyumov, Anton; Kovaeva, Bair
Open Access
Galina Koldaeva, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-04-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Babaev, Andrei; Churyumov, Anton; Kovaeva, Bair
Open Access
Elza Badaeva, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2015-12-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumov, Anton; Churyumov, Anton; Kovaeva, Bair
Open Access
Badma Ochirova, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2015-12-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Babaev, Andrei; Kornyakova, Saglara; Shipeeva, Danara
Open Access
Anna Sangadzhi-Goryaeva, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2016-08-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Kovaeva, Bair; Babaev, Andrei
Open Access
Andrei Ochir-Goryaev, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2014-08-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Churyumova, Elvira
Open Access
Zinaida Lidzhieva, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2016-02-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumov, Anton; Okonov, Andzhur; Kovaeva, Bair
Open Access
Valentina Goryaeva, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2014-11-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Terbish, Baasanjav; Okonov, Andzhur; Seleeva, Tsagan
Open Access
Tatyana Dordzhieva, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2015-11-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumov, Anton; Gedeeva, Darina
Open Access
Rimma Badmaeva, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2016-02-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Babaev, Andrei
Open Access
Petr Tazaev, My well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2018-02-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Korneev, Gennadiy; Bembeev, Aleksandr; Sandzhiev, Artur
Open Access
Nina Sambueva, Zurgan Lidzhieva, Well wishes
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-04-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Babaev, Andrei; Churyumov, Anton; Kovaeva, Bair
Open Access
Andrei Boskhomdzhiev, Well wishes to the host
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-11-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Bembeev, Aleksandr; Korneev, Gennadiy; Bembeev, Aleksandr
Open Access
Tatyana Dordzhieva, well wishes (2018)
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2019-04-22) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Korneev, Gennadiy; Churyumov, Anton
Tatyana utters a well wish that people say during Tsagan Sar.
Open Access
Maria Pozharova, incantations, signs and prohibitions
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2019-06-11) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Korneev, Gennadiy; Churyumov, Anton
Maria says that every whirlwind has a shulm (evil spirit) sitting in the middle and spinning the wind around. When a whirlwind passes near you, throw a knife and sprinkle water into it, while saying the following incantation: ‘Shulm, shulm where are you going to? Don’t come to us!’ Hair that falls during combing should be destroyed in a fire. Otherwise, ‘dogam’ spirits may use the lost hair to influence the person to whom the hair locks belonged. Old clothes should be also disposed of by burning.
Open Access
Bosya Barzueva, a well wish
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2019-05-07) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Korneev, Gennadiy; Sandzhiev, Artur
Bosya wishes that Kalmykia develops, the coming year brings all people happiness, grass and crops grow well, all people have plenty to eat, and the Head of Kalmykia works for the wellbeing of the republic. She ends her well wish by asking Buddhas and ancestral spirits for protection.
Open Access
Vladimir Boldyrev, My Well Wish to Young Kalmyks
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2018-07-22) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Korneev, Gennadiy; Churyumov, Anton
Vladimir says that in the past Kalmyk elders were expected to give advice to young people. He utters a well-wish: ‘May all your actions be righteous. May land be gracious to you. May you and your relatives live in health and prosperity. May you live long and be happy!’ Vladimir also wishes that the Kalmyk youth do not forget their native tongue.
Open Access
Maria Mudzhikova, Anna Shurguchinova, A Well Wish for a Success in One's Work
(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2018-06-10) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Korneev, Gennadiy; Churyumov, Anton; Sandzhiev, Artur
Maria and Anna say a well-wish for a success in one’s work. ‘Let your life be long. May you grow well and develop. May you live long in peace and happiness. Let your needs be fulfilled and deities protect you. Let people not talk badly about you and dogs not bark. Let your words be valuable and your actions promising. May the deities protect you!’

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