URAL-BATYR

URAL-BATYR is a character of Bashkir folklore. He is the younger son of Yanbirde and Yanbike in “Ural-batyr” epic (see First ancestor), the first human (mortal), the antagonist of his elder brother Shulgan. The image of U.-b. includes his different characteristics and actions. However, the positive behavior of U.-b. does not change (he follows his parents' advice, persuades his brother not to touch the blooded shell etc.) U.-b. is extremely strong. He is the creator of the world, a cultural hero, demiurge: he bent the horns, knocked out the upper tooth and torn apart a hoof of Katil’s bull so that the appearance of bulls was forever changed; he destroyed diyu and snakes so that the earth was freed of evil power, then he made mountains of their bodies and people who respected him as a Tengri-God settled at the root of the mountains; he purified the water. U.-b. destroyed Katil and Kakhkakha's kingdom, killed Azraka, fought Shulgan, who had gone to the dark side; he gained magical water from Yanshishma living spring (from Bashkir, literally – living spring), and sprinkled it around himself so that Nature became alive. As a result of Shulgan's evil deeds U.-b. died, but he did not vanish into thin air, but turned into the Uraltau ridge. The hero's nobility is shown in his different actions, but the brightest proof is the text which tells about the last great feat of the batyr – his death for the life of others and immortality of Nature.

U.-b. children Idel, Nugush, Yaik and his nephew Khakmar sustained the human race. According to the legend called “How the Moon and the Ural Mountains appeared” U.-b. destroyed the extra Sun, but created the Moon and the Ural Mountains. Along with Akbuzat, the image of U.-b. is the most common and one of the main aesthetic values for Bashkir culture.

F.A. Nadrshina