Gvarashan

Gvarashan (Balak: Gvaracan Gvaraşan [ˈgvɑɾɑˌʃɑn]) is a folk character in Balak culture. Gvarashan is a malevolent supernatural being who leads a procession of harmful entities known as the Tevehjaza during the winter nights, and is closely associated with the howling winter winds in a Balak analogue to the Wild Hunt. Within Balakia he is most commonly known in the south of the country, where he originated, although the character has become ubiquitous throughout the Balak-speaking world.

Character

Description

Gvarashan is said to ride through the winter nights on horseback accompanied by a host of supernatural entities; depending on region this procession, known as the Tevehjaza (Balak: Tevehḑaza Tevehjaza [tɛˌvɛht͡ʃɑˈzɑ]), consists of either malevolent qumyen or the broken souls of cremated sinners destined never to reincarnate. In most traditions, Gvarashan's origin is described to be that of a condemned nobleman. The degree of Gvarashan's malevolance varies between regions, with Gvarashan variously described as an independent entity with full agency or a servant to Muhe. Gvarashan has a loyal companion named Shakan (Balak: Cakan Şakan [ʃɑˈkɑn]), variously described as either a falcon or a black wolf.

Seeing Gvarashan and his host is a bad omen thought to herald a catastrophe of some variety. Likewise, attracting the attention of the Tevehjaza is considered to be dangerous, and inflicts misfortune on those unwise enough to do so. There are several methods described for breaking this spell of misfortune, the most common of which being to offer a ritually prepared portion of the yield from one's hunting activities from that year (although in modern times any offering of meat is considered acceptable); this offering diverts Shakan's attention from the offender and sates his hunger, thereby protecting the target of his wrath from being killed and spirited away as part of the Tevehjaza.

Etymology

The name Gvarashan is thought to be a corruption of the Daikhra term quurhsyn "great wolf", used as an epithet for Utaar Daxalaa. The name of his companion Shakan is likewise transparently a rendition of the Daikhra word hsaxaan "falcon".

Origins and attestations

The most common theory by scholars is that the character of Gvarashan originated from a syncretism between the pre-Zarasaist Aneer god Xutane and a mythologisation of the historical figure Utaar Daxalaa.

Xutane is the Aneer god of hunting and herding, and is believed to be responsible for herding the souls of the dead and leading them into the afterlife. He is associated with the winter months, as this is when the herding of souls is said to take place, and his procession of souls is associated with the howling winter wind. Xutane is usually accompanied by two companions - a falcon and either a big cat or a hunting dog (the latter companion varying between local traditions) - who assist him in his capacities as hunter and herder respectively. The majority of Gvarashan's characterisation and traditions appear to have been derived from Xutane and his association with hunting. Xutane is also the source of a related folk character Kutay.

Utaar Daxalaa was a leader of the Aneer Daxalaa clan. He led the infamous Blackvest Revolt in the early 15th Century against Asharid leadership under the Great Horde. Most depictions of Utaar from this time illustrate him wearing black and gold traditional clothing and a wolf mask of the same colour scheme (whence his epithet Quurhsyn "great wolf"). The Blackvests attacked Vaniuan settlements primarily at night. Following the successful crushing of the rebellion, Emperor Shughshudara ordered Utaar, as well as nearly all other members of the Daxalaa clan, executed. The malevolent aspects of Gvarashan's character, as well as the common origin for the character as a nobleman, his specific association with nights, and the specific interpretation of his companion as being a black wolf, are primarily ascribed to a mythologisation of Utaar.