Šeivamedis, kadagys ir senovės baltų dievas Puškaitis

LTLietuvoje augantys augalai šeivamedis (Sambucus) ir kadagys (Juniperus communis) vartoti liaudies medicinoje, kulinarijoje, nuo seno naudoti metų ciklo švenčių ir kt. papročiuose, apeigose. Etnokultūriniu aspektu, šie augalai ypatingi tuo, kad jau XVI–XVII a., kaip liudija baltų religijos ir mitologijos šaltiniai, jie buvo susiję su senaisiais tikėjimais, mitologija. Šių šaltinių duomenimis, šeivamedžio ir kadagio samprata atsiskleidžia jų ryšį su baltų žemės, laukinės gamtos, miškų bei giraičių dievu Puškaičiu ir jam tarpininkaujančiomis gamtos dvasias primenančiomis būtybėmis, susijusiomis su požeminiu pasauliu, – vadinamaisiais barstukais ir markopoliais. Nelietuviška asmenvardžių rašyba atskiru sąrašu pateikta straipsnio gale. Reikšminiai žodžiai: šeivamedis, kadagys, dievas Puškaitis, barstukai, markopoliai, baltų religija ir mitologija, etnobotanika.

ENThe article analyses the elder (Sambucus) and juniper (Juniperus communis) plants growing in Lithuania and their relationship with the ancient Baltic god Puškaitis (Puschkayts, Puschkaytus) from an ethnocultural and, to some extent, ethnobotanical perspective. In folk medicine and culinary arts, these plants have long been used in the customs and ceremonies of the annual cycle of festivals and other celebrations. Sources from the 16th-17th century on the Baltic religion and mythology show they were connected to ancient beliefs and mythology. According to these sources, the elder tree and juniper are associated with the Baltic god of the earth, wildlife, forests and groves, Puškaitis, and with the underworld creatures resembling nature spirits, the so-called barstukai (Barstucke, Parstucken) and markopoliai (Markopole, Marakopullei), who provide their worshippers with earthly goods such as cereals and other resources for survival. There is no knowledge of the specific form of Puškaitis, and the barstukai and markopoliai a re d epicted as a nthropomorphic dwarf-like creatures. The elder tree has always been planted outside homes, not only as an ornamental plant but also as a plant associated with ancient Baltic beliefs. In 16th-century sources of Baltic religion and mythology, it is described as a sacred plant, a dwelling place of the gods, under which the god Puškaitis lives, taking care of the owners of the homesteads where the elder tree grows. Puškaitis and his helpers are also associated with the juniper tree, which was linked with a “journey” to an otherworldly realm, imagined to be in the underworld. The junipers connection with the dead and their journey to the other world, as well as that of some other conifers (spruce, cypress), is confirmed by the funeral customs of the 20th century and earlier centuries.