FROM the cradle to the grave, the Circassian native creed (фIэщхъуныгъэ), intertwined with the code of conduct, Adige Xabze (адыгэ хабзэ), dictated the way an individual behaved, formed his system of values, and certainly influenced the way he conceived the world. Religion and customs and traditions were the dual formers of the Circassian outlook on life and they meshed perfectly together. Rejecting one of these intimately associated components would have entailed forsaking the other, and ultimately compromising the essence of Circassianness (адыгагъэ). Nevertheless, religion and customs and traditions were two different entities. Considering the Adige Xabze as the traditional religion of the Circassians is a common mistake made even by the Circassians themselves. Whereas ancient religion regulated the spiritual and ritual domains, the Xabze regulated the day-to-day aspects of a Circassian’s life.
Religious beliefs had until the early part of the 19th century been centred round a backbone of polytheism, paganism and animism with some Christian and Muslim influences. It may be that the nature of their country and the set ways of the Circassians played a significant part in ingraining the native beliefs and marginalizing religious imports. Monotheistic religions have had little bearing on the Circassian way of life in the Caucasus and this explains the eclectic nature of the Circassian system of beliefs emphasised by outsiders. In the latter part of the Middle Ages the Circassians were caught in the middle of a power struggle between Orthodox Russia and Muslim Turkey. They switched their religious allegiance very readily, converting from Islam to Christianity and vice versa, as the circumstances demanded and for convenience. According to Chantal Lemercier-Quelquejay, ‘The co-existence in the same [Kabardian] family of Orthodox Christians and Muslims was practically a unique phenomenon in the history of Islam.’ (1992, p27). Shi’i Islam never penetrated into Circassian lands. Nevertheless, the Circassian slaves in Persia were converted to Shi’ism.
There was some resemblance between ancient Circassian priests and Celtic Druids. Both castes venerated trees, had sacred groves, and practised some form of human sacrifice. In addition, the Circassian Elders and Druids were the arbiters and judges in their respective societies.
The most substantive source of information on the Circassian beliefs and ritual ceremonies is the Nart Epos. Many aspects of the ancient religious life of the Circassians are embedded in the Nart tales. Sulht’an Khan-Girey’s works (1836, 1989) provide good references on native Circassian religion and beliefs. The Circassian pioneering scholar enjoyed the vantage-point of living at an age in which ancient religious rites were still practised, and thus he was able to preserve for posterity some of the native rituals and ceremonies. The first work was republished in Nalchik by the Elbrus Book Press in 1978. The section on religion can be found on pages 96-102. Shora Nogmov’s Istoriya adikheiskogo [adigeiskogo] naroda [History of the Circassian Nation] (1861) has interesting bits about ancient Circassian religious beliefs and practices.
This short thesis attempts to provide a skeletal account of the ancient native Circassian creeds and the later influences of Judeo-Christianity and Islam on the beliefs and ethos of the Circassians. The account is fleshed out with still extant prayers, chants, toasts, and other ancient manifestations of the archaic belief systems in Circassia. Pieces for which audio recordings are available are indicated by asterisks.
Time-line of Faith
Time-line of Faith
In order to appreciate the chronological dimension of the manifestations of religious beliefs and practices amongst the Circassians, a basic time-line of the progression of religious systems in Circassia is presented.
Animism
Animism is probably the most ancient religion of the Circassians, and it was prevalent among all peoples of the North Caucasus . Its origin probably dates back to the Palaeolithic Age, or the Old Stone Age, more than 10,000 years ago. The basic tenet of animism was the belief that a soul resided in every object, animate or inanimate, functioning as the motive force and guardian. In animistic thought nature was all alive. In a future state the spirit would exist as part of an immaterial soul. The spirit, therefore, was thought to be universal. Ghosts, demons, and deities inhabited almost all objects, rendering them subject to worship.
The Circassians, like most North Caucasians , used to worship trees and considered them as totems, believing that they housed invisible deities. Many ritual services were developed associated with particular trees and sacred groves were visited by supplicants in processions. Animals were sacrificed at the foot of trees and feasts held in celebration.
Totemism, defined as the intimate relation supposed to exist between an individual or a group of individuals and a class of natural objects, i. e. the totem, is at the root of primitive religion and is intimately related with animism.
Paganism
The path moved from animism and the associated totemism to paganism, the belief in the possession of some objects of nature of supernatural powers, and a primitive conception of deities and patrons. Perhaps paganism found origin in the Neolithic Age, more than seven millennia ago.
Polytheism
It is thought that some time after the fifth millennium BC, the Circassians started on the path of transition to polytheism. The transition to polytheism pre-supposes a civilizational stage of social development. Polytheism segmented the universe into manageable units, with each unit generally governed by an individual deity. As a rule, every natural phenomenon or heavenly body had its own god. The collective of deities, gods, and patrons, who were part of the natural world and controlled all its aspects in a collective manner, formed a Pantheon with a presiding god (Тхьэшхуэ (Theshxwe)=Supreme God). Special rites and ceremonies came to be associated with each deity for appeasement and supplication. Depending on the nature of the wish, offerings were made to this or that god, be it the god of sun, rain, war, love, or fertility.
Christianity
Christianity came to Western Circassia from Byzantium Circassia and churches were built on some mountainous locations, from which the native population was proselytized. The Georgian Bagratids subjected Eastern Circassians and converted them to Greek Orthodox Christianity in the 13th century. Churches were built, which were destroyed at the end of Georgian rule in the 15th century. Other sources state that in the 11th and 12th centuries the Russian princes of Tmutarakan and the kings of Georgia Circassia due to the influence of the Genoese, who constructed trading posts on the coastal regions. Some churches were erected in the area.
Islam
Islam started to make inroads in Circassia in the 18th and 19th centuries. Islam had little impact on the folklore and literary traditions of the Circassians. The only appreciable influence of the Muslim faith was the introduction of a new literary genre, ‘Mevlid’, associated with the celebration of the birth of Prophet Mohammad.
List of Circassian Deities
Амыщ, Амыш, Емыш (Amisch, Amish, Yemish) | Initially god of fauna, then god of sheep. |
Аушыджэр, Аущджэрджий, Даущджэрджий (Awishijer, Awischjerjiy, Dawischjerjiy) | God of courage and bravery. Circassian version of St. George. Later identified with Jesus Christ. |
Афы (Afi) | God of lightning. |
Ахын (Axin) | God of (large) cattle. |
Гуащэ (Gwasche) | Goddess, protectress, patroness. |
Гъуабжэгъуэщ (Ghwabzheghwesch) | Cosmological deity of righteousness and light. |
Джэдыпэ (Jedipe) | God of rivers and seas (literally: ‘hen’s beak’). |
Елэ, Еллэ (Yele, Yelle) | Prophet (St.) Elijah. Shared the godhead of lightning with Schible in the Christian era. |
Емыч (Yemich) | Demi-god. Had a day consecrated to his worship. |
Жыг гуащэ (Zhig Gwasche) | Goddess of trees. |
Жьэгупатхьэ (Zchegwpathe) | God of family hearth. |
Жьытхьэ (Zchithe) | God of wind. |
ЗекIуэтхьэ (Zeik'wethe) | God of campaigns (roads), later, also of horsemanship. He was not set into any particular form by popular tradition. |
Исп гуащэ (Yisp Gwasche) | Protectress of the Yisps (a race of pygmies mentioned in the Nart tales). |
Къуэдэс (Qwedes) | God of sea, in form of fish (literally: ‘living in a depression’). |
Лъэпщ (Lhepsch) | Patron of smiths, iron, weapons and fire. |
Мамыщ, Мамыш (Mamisch, Mamish) | Patron of fortunetellers, specifically of scapula readers. |
Мэзгуащэ, Мэз гуащэ (Mezgwasche, Mez Gwasche) | Goddess of forests and trees. |
Мэзытхьэ (Mezithe) | God of forests, trees, the hunt and beasts. He disposed of the fate of beasts. |
Мэрем, Мерэм (Mereim, Meirem) | Mother of Mighty God (Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ). |
Мэрысэ (Merise) | Protectress of bees; later associated with Mary, Mother of Christ. Her three sisters: patronesses of family life, warriors and peasants. |
Пэкъуэ (Peqwe) | 'False' demi-god - creator of the fields - debunked by Wezirmes. |
Псатхьэ (Psathe) | God of the soul or life. Also denotes icon of Christian Circassians (in Mozdok). |
Псытхьэ (Psithe) | God of water. |
Псытхьэгуащэ, Псыгуащэ (Psithegwasche, Psigwasche) | Goddess of water. Popular tradition had her portrayed as a beautiful maid. |
Псыхъуэгуащэ, Псыхъуэ гуащэ (Psix’wegwasche, Psix’we Gwasche) | Goddess of rivers (river valleys). |
Созэрэш, Созырэш, Созэрэщ, Созрэщ (Sozeresh, Sozeresch, Sozresch) | God of fertility, family hearth, well-being and illness. He was a great voyager and controlled the winds and waters. |
Сотрэш (Sotresh) | God of gaiety and holidays. |
Тэтэртуп (Tetertup) | God of war and bloodshed. Equivalent to Grecian Ares and to Roman Mars. |
Тхьэ (The) | God. |
Тхьэгуащэ, Тхьэ гуащэ (Thegwasche, The Gwasche) | Protectress of women (literally: ‘Matron of the gods’). |
ТхьэгъэгуфIэ шу (Theghegwf'e Shu) | God of good news (literally: ‘rider who brings joy to the gods’). |
Тхьэгъэлэдж (Theghelej) | God of fertility and plants. |
Тхьэгъуичу (Theghwiychu) | Protector of people. Intermediary between gods and people. |
Тхьэкъуафэшу (Theqwafeshu) | God’s herald. |
Тхьэшу (Theshu) | Protector of horsemen. |
Тхьэшхуэ (Theshxwe) | The Supreme God. |
Тхьэшырыпхъу (Theshiripx'w) | ------ |
Уащхъуэ (Waschx'we) | One of the supreme cosmic deities; god of the skies (literally: ‘blue sky’). |
Унэ гуащэ (Wine Gwasche) | Protectress of the domestic/family hearth. |
Утхъуей Къес-Къес (Witx'wey Qeis-Qeis) | God of rain and snow (Black Sea Shapsugh). |
Хадэ гуащ(э) (Xade Gwasch[e]) | Goddess of gardens. |
Хы гуащэ (Xi Gwasche) | Goddess of the seas. |
Хьэдрыхэ, Хьэдырых (Hedrixe, Hedirix) | Protector of the dead. |
Хьэдрыхэтхьэ (Hedrixethe) | God of the hereafter (Abzakh). |
Хьэкусташ (Hekwstash) | Patron of horsemanship. |
ХьэкIущтащхьэ, Хьэкущтыхъ (Hek'wschtaschhe, Hekwschtix') | Protector of oxen (Shapsugh). |
Хьэнцийгуащэ, Хьэнцэгуащэ (Hentsiygwasche, Hentsegwasche) | Goddess of rain. |
Хьэуц-Хьэш (Hewits-Hesh) | God of seas and demi-gods. |
Хьэхъ-Мохъ (Hex'-Mox') | God of cosmic bodies. |
Шуу-Муц (Shuu-Muts) | God of wild animals. |
Щыблэ (Schible) | God of sky, thunder(storms) and lightning; also of war and justice. Equivalent to Thor in Scandinavian mythology. |
Religion Today
The Circassians in the Caucasus are nominally Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi School North Ossetia . Special boards and councils supervise religious matters in the three NW Caucasian republics. The Spiritual Board of Muslims (established in 1989 and headed at the time of writing by Sheikh Shafiyh) and Council of Imams of Kabardino-Balkaria played a role in diffusing tensions arising following the declaration by the leaders of the Balkar nationalist movement of a separate Balkar republic in 1994. The Spiritual Board of the Muslims of the Karachai-Cherkess Republic
Northwest Caucasians are not known for their religious fervour, nor do they display fundamentalist tendencies. Islam in the Circassian Republics North Caucasus from the Middle East starting from the early 1990s found the Eastern North Caucasus a more fertile ground for their teachings. Wahhabiism, the dominant sect in Saudi Arabia Chechnya
In this respect, it is essential to emphasize the difference between the religious beliefs and practices of the Northeast and Northwest Caucasians . Islam forms an integral part of the social and spiritual life of the former. There has developed a synthesis of Islam and the old beliefs culminating in Sufism and the Tarikat. These ideas have never gained ground among the Circassians who see in them a threat to their traditions and ancient way of life.
Tenets of Polytheism
The dichotomy of good and evil was an integral concept of Circassian religion. It is possible to cull proto-religious ‘commandments’ that are scattered here and there in the Nart tales, and other folk sources, to make up a Circassian equivalent of the Hebrew/Christian Decalogue. Examples include: ‘one must not hanker after other people’s possessions’ and ‘One must ask before taking other people’s belongings.’
The Circassians had their own version of the redemption of the world in the legend of Tilale.[] This chained hero was supposed to break out of the irons and come into the world after the people had been stricken with famine. He then cleansed the world with the waters of the seas, and restored life to the lost world.
Beliefs & Cults
Dancing was believed to have locked powers that might be invoked to ensure success of an undertaking. Dance was initially a religious rite, a kind of spirited prayer. Later it turned into a form of festive celebration, keeping some of its ritual significance. Disease and injury were considered as the works of evil, so that the sick were blown upon to exorcise the malevolent spirit. Toasts were first uttered as magic invocations and incantations to unlock hidden powers. The wind was thought to have some evil power, hence the adoration of Zchithe (Жьытхьэ) and the rites of supplication associated with him.
Friends and relatives of a person with a bone fracture kept him company and kept him from sleeping by making loud clamour and chanting songs by his bedside. This curious custom, named sch’apsche (щIапщэ), was a relic of animist times, when evil spirits were believed to be waiting for the patient to fall asleep to take possession of his body. A practical benefit of this practice was to ensure that the break did not get worse by the injured assuming a wrong position in his sleep.
Imortality of the soul
Immortality of the soul was one of the basic beliefs of the Circassians. Upon death, the soul transmigrated to the world beyond, or hedrixe (хьэдрыхэ). To make it to the eternal abode, the deceased was in need of an ample supply of provisions, concomitant wares, and his personal weapons to sustain and protect himself on the perilous trek. One rite in the elaborate burial ceremonies had the kin of the deceased inhume these requirements, which were commensurate with the status of the deceased. Archaeological finds of victuals fit for lavish feasts and impressive arsenals have confirmed this thesis. Ancestor worship was a direct consequence of this credo. It is not clear whether women of the upper classes enjoyed the same exquisite funereal treatment.
Death & life after life
Central to the cult of death was the belief in hedrixe (хьэдрыхэ) or the afterlife, and in the immortality of the soul. The Circassians venerated their ancestors, and took good care of the ancient burial grounds and sepulchres, q’ezch (кхъэжь). Elaborate ceremonies of death were developed, which sometimes touched on the bizarre.
A wife mourned her husband in a wild manner, scratching her face and body until they were bloodied. A husband struck his face with a whip until it turned black and blue. The corpse underwent ceremonious washing, hedegheps-ch’ (хьэдэгъэпскI), on a special slab, hedegheps-ch’–px’ebghw (хьэдэгъэпскI-пхъэбгъу).
Dirges were chanted by the corpse of the deceased, and special prayers were said. The collective of laments over the dead was called ‘bzhe’ («бжэ»; literally: ‘door’). A couple of examples are presented (V. H. Bereghwn and Z. P’. Qardenghwsch’, 1980, p201; p202).
