11 October 2010

Traditional ways for the water protection


By Erdenetuya Urtnast
The Mongols compare the water with the wish-granting jewel and count it as one of the three pure things: A growing juniper is a pure thing, burning incense is a pure thing and flowing water is a pure thing. They look up to the water and strive for maintaining its’ purity. Prohibition observances, religious rituals, laws and life conventions have played considerable roles for environmental protection.

Our ancestors have paid special attention to protect rivers, lakes and springs and basins. Because a water source provides soil humidity and fertility of the surrounding area and it gives chance to survive for animals and plants. The Mongols venerate holy waters and springs. Most of them are capable to cure and heal diseases, weariness and pains. Springs and mineral waters are found in beautiful places. Surrounding areas of springs and mineral waters can be considered places of ecological positive factors or sacred spaces.

They always take care on maintaining water purity, avoid dropping blood and milk to it and prohibit to urinating and pouring dirty water next to water sources. Besides those catching fish and minnows, killing insects and cutting trees and plants around water sources had been discouraged. These kinds of prohibitions were interpreted in connection with guardian spirits of the water. For instance, if anyone polluted the water and touched surrounding area then he or she would be harmed by the spirits of the water. The spirits of the water become angry and bring misfortunes, if rivers, lakes and springs are polluted, and this included bathing, washing and urinating in a water source, or throwing trash into the water. According to shamans’ view, guardian spirits (lords) of the water reside in springs and river beginnings. Therefore, the Mongols have offered sacrifices to the lords of the water, to make them happy.

It was prohibited to set fire next to rivers, lakes and springs, because of mutual contradiction of the fire and the water. After penetrating Buddhism in Mongolia, Buddhist prayer texts for water veneration ceremonies had been written and the lamas started to conduct the ceremony, but inner content of the ritual was not changed.
To worship springs and mineral water, a stone cairn decorated with willow and ribbons was erected near to the beginning of the water source. Mostly lamas, shamans, local intellectuals and some herders performed water worship ritual and they burned juniper and wormwood, prayed, offered dairy products and meat, sprinkled milk and vodka to stone cairn.

Since the four seasons of the year take turn in Mongolia, the growing season is over 4 months long, annual precipitation ranges from just 100 mm in the most arid regions to 500 mm in limited northern areas, and in much of the region is less than 350 mm. Predominant parts of the territory are steppe and desert areas lacking of ground and surface waters. So Mongolians have not only tried to protect water sources such as rivers, springs and lakes but also paid attention to dig wells and keep them clean.
Aside from protecting the environment and receiving natural bounty in proper ways, the Mongols had perceptively noticed laws of nature and lived in harmony with nature.

Human activities and actions impact on nature and environment, but to a greater extent humans and human culture and society exist under the influence of surrounding environment and it is inevitable to follow the law of nature. That is why, in certain days and months of the year they refrained from doing contrary actions against a rhythm and a frequency of natural phenomena. For example before the summer solstice it was not allowed to bath in a river and a lake. Because it was considered that if anyone disregarded this he or she become crippled or deformed.

Natural formation and its’ beauty would get lost and consequently human life and animal growth would be influenced negatively because of careless and harmful actions towards water sources. Therefore, in order to conserve the water, elderly people narrate various oral talks and stories about certain river, lake and spring and unlucky occurrences happened to someone by touching or polluting the water.