Tyushtya


Tyushtya IPA is a demigod in Moksha mythology, son of Atäm and a mortal girl. According to tradition, Tyushtya is able to turn into a white horse. Amid other beliefs, it is said that Tysushta is responsible for a good harvest. He was the first Moksha King chosen by clan elders. The first Moksha title for the king derives from his name IPA .

Epic

Epic based on three archaic runes first recorded by Heikki Paasonen in the beginning of the 20th century and printed posthumously in 1938–1981.

Archaic runes

He is a young lad during new moon, mature in the full moon, and old man during waning moon.
The Sun is on his forehead and the Moon is on the back of his head, star is on the tip of each hair. He was born with an iron heel, back of the head of stone, wire wrapped knees. Iron-beaked Seer Raven is among his helpers as well as White Horse, White Swan, and Queen Bee. He likes musicians. When he is in a good mood everyone sings and dances. He holds a stick in one hand and torama in another.
According to Variant 1 mythical tradition Tyshtya grows old and ascends to heaven to meet their parents leaving his torama that tells his will.

The basic plots

  • A. Being chosen as a King
  • B. Fighting a foreign enemy
  • C. Defeating divine birth opponents
  • D. Ascension to Heaven
  • E. Leading his people to new better lands.

    Later runes

He lives in his palace in the East. He is the reachest one in the whole world. He wears white shirt and golden clothes. In later runes' variants Queen Bee warns him he would be killed by a miraculously born child. His enemy is 70-years Erzya Widow's son born with an iron heel. He uses torama to call everyone to join the battle with the enemies who want to take the homeland. His torama's voice is like thunder, like the voice of the ancestors. In Variant B tradition he leads Mokshas to the East, away from Russian pressure. He parts the sea and let Mokshas to cross it. The Supreme God helps him. When he leads his people to the new lands the Supreme God feeds them, like it is said in the Bible. When Tyushtya grows old he asks his people where do they want them to die. They say they don't want to witness his death. He departs and leaves his torama they might use to call him with when the enemy comes. Then he returnes with his army and that will be the ultimate battle before the doomsday.

Tyushtya in Erzya epic tradition

The epic might be formed first among Mokshas and later borrowed by Erzyas. In Erzya mythology, Tyushtya is a Moon god, son of Nishke and mortal girl Litova. His age changes every month, following the phases of the Moon.

Tyshtya in erzya literature

Vasily Radayev compiled "Tyushtya" epic out of Moksha and Erzya epic songs in 1991. Aleksandr Sharonov compiled "Mastorava" epic out of Moksha and Erzya epic songs in 1994.

Indo-Iranian influence reflected in the epic

are known for wearing pendants with duck legs in Early Middle Ages. It reflects the Myth of the Great Bird. They wore as well animal style horse-shaped decorations and horse head-shaped ones with duck legs, like amulets and combs.

Horse cult and horse sacrifice

had the Horse cult from the ancient times. The Horse cult among Mordvin Tatars was described in 1591 by Giles Fletcher: In Tsna Moksha gravefields dated 13–14th c horse graves are often as well as amulets and combs with horse heads. Similar cults in Mokshas and Udmurts are identified as Indo-Iranian heritage

Divine twins

Zoroastrian customs

As per Mary Boyce Indo-Iranians lived like nomads stretching from Lower Volga to the North Kazakhstan yet around 1700 BC Traces of Indo-Iranians still can be found in Moksha language, for instance the word can be traced back to Iranian ahur in Ahura Mazda. The word and archaic are cognates with Ancient Indian bhagas 'happiness' and Avestan baγa 'God'. Even is tied with Aryan *агуа 'Arya'. Elements of Zoroastrianism can be found as well in wedding or burial rites and archaic fire cult.

In popular culture

  • In 2021, Ukrainian gothic folk-pop band Komu Vnyz recorded a song called "Appeal to Tyushtya", based on a poem written by Olyosh and set to music by Alina Podgornova.