Indian Antiquary Vol 12

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 95

MARCA, 1883.]
CHINGHIZ KHÅN AND HIS ANCESTORS.
83
ing as the sacred office is filled by men or women. obos, the Siberian tribes, including the Mongols, The bugoi maintain that they know better than erect heaps of stones on passes where a road other people how to deal with certain mischie- goes, and each traveller takes a stone or piece vous spirits, named by them Ongotui, at of wood from the foot of the mountain and the head of which is a spirit named Begdse, throws it on the heap, so that the mountain shall which dwells on the Mondorgon-ola, or the not be lessened in bulk by the wear and tear. volcanic mountain near the Irkut. The The Lamas also hang their shoulder-blades of promontory at the place where the Angara issues sheep with prayers upon them near mineral from Lake Baikal and the Island of Olkhon springs and baths, and they also hang rags, horseare also sacred places, where sacrifices are hair or pieces of skin on bushes." made to conciliate these spirits, and as proof of Timkofski tells us how near the river Iro, on their acceptance are carried off secretly by the the east of the road, there rises a perpendicular bugoi. The Buriats have been accustomed, rock, forming the extremity of a chain of mounfrom the oldest times, to celebrate yearly tains that stretches along the right bank of the festivals for the good spirits. Naked mountain- river. On the top of this mountain is ari obo: the tops are selected for that purpose, and the native raises such obos with solemn ceremonies, spots so chosen are marked by an obo, as it is according to the directions of a Lama, before called, or rude heap of stones. About midsum- which he prostrates himself in devotion to the mer, when the cattle of the steppes are in the Almighty spirit. In time of war, he implores his best condition, offerings are brought to these succour to conquer his enemy, and to defend his altars, and the solemn rites are followed by country; when diseases afflict his family or wrestling matches and other popular amuse- his cattle, and under all his other misfortunes ments. The Buddhist Lamas, we are further he begs mercy of the spirit of the mountains told, have recognized and sanctioned all these and the valleys. Every Mongol who rides past ancient usages in order that the Buriats may an obo alights from his horse, places himself regard the new religion only as an extension to the south of the obo, with his face to the or completing of the old. They have declared north, makes several prostrations, and lays the Begdse to be a true Burkhan, and in something upon the altar. "I most frequently," honour of him they allow their followers to says our traveller, “observed on the obos tufts celebrate a great popular festival every three of horse-hair, which are pledges of the prayers years near the temple of the Kutukhta at of the Nomads for the preservation of their Urga, on the mountain of Khan-ola.
animals, their inseparable companions." The Pallas describes the obos as erected both by obos serve also to point out the road, and to the Mongols and Kalmuks, and as being, like designate the frontiers." many Lamaist ceremonies, relics of the old In regard to the practice of fastening rags, &c. Shamanism. They are erected with consider- to bushes and trees, which prevails so widely in able ceremony, are repaired to by people to say Northern Asia, it is curious to turn to the history their prayers, and are also the rendezvous where of the famous Ilkhan, of Persia, Ghazan, and to the smaller feasts are held. They are generally read how, in 1302, when at Bendlejin, he went erected in very fertile places and on mountains, to pay a visit to a tree under which he had and are made of sand, earth, stones or wood, sheltered when hard pressed by the rebel Nuruz. raised into a mound, upon which are hung He now visited it with his amirs and wives, and prayer-banners, prayer-wheels and ribbons, and, like a good Musalman thanked heaven for his among the Mongols, shoulder-blades of sheep good fortune in a namaz of two rekats. After with Tibetan prayers upon them. They are exhorting his followers, we are told, they progenerally consecrated to the protecting spirit ceeded to attach ribbons to the tree, around of the earth. Each passer-by, who goes there which the amirs danced. Pulad Ching-sang, to pray, leaves some offering in the shape the Mongol prince to whom Rashidu'd-dîn of a piece of his clothing, some hair from confesses his indebtedness for much informahis horse's mane, &c. In addition to thesetion, then went on to relate a story how Chinghiz 1. Erdmann, vol. II, pp. 306-307.
* Timkofski, vol. I, pp. 25-26. " Pallas, Sami. Hist. Nach. vol. II, p. 336.