Sanal Lidzhiev, About Mazan Baatr

Abstract

One day while grazing his horses, Mazan Baatr decided to stop at the yurt of a Tatar family. He was welcomed by the Tatars who gave him food and tea. When he was eating meat on the bone, a 3-year old boy crawled to Mazan Baatr, grabbed the bone and squeezed it with such force that fat dripped from the cracks. Mazan Baatr thought to himself: ‘What will happen to him when he grows up? While he is still young I’d better get rid of him, for he will not leave me in peace’. Everything happened as he predicted. When the Tatar boy reached 18 he stole Mazan Baatr’s horses. To defend his name and honor, Mazan Baatr’s chased the thief. Upon catching him Mazan Baatr pretended to look at the skies at which point the Tatar also looked up wondering what the Kalmyk was looking at. Mazan Baatr stabbed the unprotected neck of the Tatar and killed him. In many folk stories Mazan Baatr is depicted as a smart and immortal hero who outsmarts his enemies.