URAL-BATYR

URAL-BATYR, a monumental epic work of Bashkir literature. The basic version (has a combined poetic and prosaic form) was recorded in 1910 by M.A.Burangulov from Gabit­sesen and Kh.Kh.Almukhametov. The prosaic version of U.-b. was recorded by A.I.Kharisov. The events of this epic take place in the fantastic world, where the characters with superhuman abilities do great or bad deeds. The basis of the U.-b. theme is the life, death and immortality, which are deeply intertwined with the themes of good and evil. Compositionally, the epic consists of several parts that tell about the deeds done by the 3 generations of characters. The introductory part tells about the World Flood, the first people – Yanbirde and Yanbika, and the birth of their sons, U.-b. and Shulgan. The epic preserved echoes of twin archaic myths based on ancient people dualistic world-view. Shulgan and Ural are not twins, but their acts and actions are to a certain extent similar to the image and actions of twins from myths and epic tales of other peoples. Having learned that the Death is stronger than man, U.-b. and Shulgan go in search for the Yanshishma spring, water of which should make immortal both Man and Nature. The discord between the brothers, which had begun in the parental home, is further developed during the journey for the immortal water. The insidious Shulgan colludes with monsters and takes the side of Evil and Darkness, while Ural becomes the protector and master of the world of Light and Good, who with the help of Akbuzat and Khumay extracts the immortal water and gives Nature immortality. Philosophically, this epic expresses the idea that the death is both inevitable and necessary. The words of the elder, doomed to live forever, and the U.-b. mortal will reveal the true meaning of immortality: people are immortal not physically, but through their good deeds. The epic reflects the ancient ideas about the initial creation, the Universe cosmic model in its trichotomic version, including the celestial, terrestrial and underground (underwater) worlds, the world mountain, the role of cultural heroes in the world’s order, etc. Anthropomorphism is clearly pronounced: the Sun and the Moon are depicted as wives of the Samrau, bird lord, while his daughters, Khumay and Aykhylu, can change their appearance and turn into beautiful girls. Birds, animals and demons can speak human language. The motives of human sacrifices to the ancestral spirit Nebu-Tengri and other deities are deeply archaic (ref. Cult of ancestors, Tengrianism). Some motifs and images of U.-b. are found in other epics (Kara-yurga, Kungyr-buga, Idukay and Muradym, and Yulay and Salauat), while the Akbuzat epic is the U.-b. sequel. Many U.-b. images and motifs are consonant with images and motifs of epic tales of other peoples (Avesta, epic about Gilgamesh, etc). The typed text of the epic is stored in the Scientific Archive of the UFSRC RAS. This epic is translated into Russian, English, Abkhaz, Turkish, Chuvash, Yakut and Hebrew. Since 1997, the young epic performers Republican competition has been held. Based on this epic, the Puppet Theatre staged the play Song of the Sesen, the Bashkir State Academic Theatre – the play Ural‑batyr (staging by G.G.Shafikov), etc.