The Slavic sun god: origin, symbols, epics. Slavic sun god: name, photo
Yarilo is the god of the sun, warmth, spring and carnal love, distinguished by his bright temperament. According to legends, people originated from the union of this deity with Mother Raw Earth, which until then had been lifeless. Learn about the legends about Yaril, as well as the holiday dedicated to him.
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Yarilo - sun god among the Slavs
Yarilo is the sun god of the ancient Slavs, the youngest among the solar gods. He is considered to be the younger brother Khorsa and Dazhdbog, illegitimate son Dodol and Veles. However, the genealogies of the Slavic gods are so complicated that it is now extremely difficult to understand them - too little information has survived to this day. It is known that the god of the Slavs, Yarilo, belonged to the generation of sons or grandsons of gods.
Yarilo-Sun was also the deity of violent passion, childbirth, the flowering of man and nature, youth and carnal love. He was also called the god of spring or the embodiment of the spring sun. If the god Kolyada was identified with a young luminary, just born again after a cold winter, then Yarilo was presented to the Slavs as the sun that had already gained strength.
The distinctive features of this deity are sincerity, purity and fury, brightness of temperament. All “spring” character traits were traditionally considered inherent to him. The association of this god with spring is noticeable in the name of spring grain crops, which are planted closer to spring. Yarilo was depicted as a young and handsome guy with blue eyes. In most images he was naked to the waist.
Some believe that Yarilo is the god of love and the patron saint of lovers. This is not entirely correct, he is only responsible for the carnal component of the relationship. According to one of the old Slavic legends, the goddess Lelya fell in love with Yarilo and confessed it to him. He replied that he also loved her. And also Mara, Lada and all the other divine and earthly women. Yarilo acted as the patron of uncontrollable passion, but not of love or marriage.
Yarilin's Day - a sunny holiday
Yarilin's Day in the old days was celebrated in early June, if we keep in mind the modern calendar, the holiday fell on one of the days in the period from June 1 to June 5. However, the sun god was also honored on other holidays, for example, the vernal equinox, Magpies in early March, on Maslenitsa and. Worship of the sun was an invariable attribute of Slavic culture, so they tried to honor Yarila at every suitable occasion.
The Day of Yarila the Sun was a celebration of the end of spring and the beginning of summer. According to popular beliefs, on this day the evil spirit hides away - it is afraid of the sun even on ordinary days, not like on a holiday dedicated to the daylight. It was celebrated until the 18th century, at least in Voronezh and some other provinces.
In the old days, festive fairs with songs and dances were held on this day. There is such a stable expression - on this holiday all the saints fight with Yarila, but cannot overcome. Therefore, fist fights were also organized - Yarilo is not distinguished by a soft and flexible character, such activities are quite in the spirit of this deity. Often they held feasts in the fields with obligatory dishes - scrambled eggs, pies and sweets. There was never a holiday without a request for the idols of Yarila. Usually the victim was beer.
In the evenings, young people lit fires, around which they danced, sang songs and had fun. Girls and boys dressed in the best and brightest clothes, treated each other to sweets, and organized processions with drumbeats. Men dressed up in colorful dresses for fun, put on jester's caps, and decorated their outfits with ribbons and bells. Passers-by treated the mummers with pastries and sweets - meeting them promised good luck, harvest and happiness in their personal lives. Girls, as a rule, decorated themselves with flowers and wove wreaths.
Since Yarilo is the god not only of the sun, but also of carnal love, marriage games were encouraged. On this day, as on, relations between boys and girls were free, but everything remained within the bounds of decency. Marriages concluded on Yarila were recognized as legal, and children born after the holiday were considered born in wedlock. If the love was not reciprocal, they turned to, which on that day were more effective than usual.
Knowledgeable people tried not to miss Yarilin's day. It is believed that on this holiday, Mother Earth of Cheese is less careful about her secrets, so they can be unraveled. Before sunrise, sorcerers and healers went to remote places to “listen to treasures.” If the treasure wants to reveal itself, you can easily and quickly get rich. In the old days it was the most reliable means, because there were no special devices then.
Ordinary people also believed that on a solar holiday you could see other worlds. To do this, at noon they took strong birch branches and wove them into a braid. With this scythe they walked to the steep river bank and looked through them. Legends have been preserved that in this way you can see the spirits of deceased relatives and living loved ones who are located in a completely different place.
There was another tradition - which also celebrates Yarilin's Day. There is such a sign - if by the evening the treats disappear, happiness and prosperity will reign in the house, the brownie will be satisfied and happy to live with the owners of the house. They also left treats on the graves of relatives, visiting them and congratulating them on the sunny holiday.
Morning dew on the Yarilin holiday is considered healing, bestowing youth and beauty. They tried to collect dew for almost any holiday. They washed it, put it in small containers to give to seriously ill people, moistened the sheets and wrapped themselves in them. They did the same with medicinal herbs - as on most Slavic holidays, they gain strength. Medicinal teas are brewed from the herbs collected on this day, but to do this you need to know the properties of plants and understand traditional medicine.
Slavic myth about Yaril the Sun
The Slavic myth about Yaril the Sun tells about the love between the deity and Mother Earth. This is a legend about the origin of life on Earth, as well as the return of warmth after a long winter - every year Yarilo returns to his beloved, and spring comes, awakening the Earth from winter sleep.
Originally, Mother Cheese Earth was cold and empty. There was no movement, no sounds, no heat, no light - this is how Yarilo-Sun saw her. He wished to revive the Earth, but the other gods did not share his desire. Then he pierced her with his gaze, and where he fell, the sun appeared. The life-giving light of the daylight fell on the lifeless earth, filling it with warmth.
Under the light of the sun, Mother Cheese Earth began to wake up, like a bride on her wedding bed, she began to bloom. For reciprocity, Yarilo promised her to create seas, mountains, plants and, of course, animals and people. Cheese's mother Earth also fell in love with the sun god. From their union came all life on earth. And when the first man appeared, Yarilo hit him in the very crown with solar arrows-lightning. This is how people gained wisdom.
The veneration of the sun among the ancient Slavs is not in doubt. Without heat and light, life cannot exist; at the same time, the sun also has destructive power in the absence of basic safety rules.
The sun is the source of vital energy
The veneration of the heavenly sanctuary is reflected in ancient myths, tales, legends, fairy tales, prayers and conspiracies.
There are also solar (solar) symbols endowed with protective power.
Four faces of the sun god among the Slavs
The image of the sun can be found everywhere. On children's drawings, household items, bedding, clothing, amulets.
The Slavic sun god has 4 faces or hypostases corresponding to the seasons. Each season the sun represents a different god.
Each has its own character and specific image:
autumn - .
The ancient Slavs respected the commandments of each sun god and in honor of each of them there was their own day of honor (celebration).
God of the cold winter sun
God Horse personifies the winter sun. 
Image of Khors: a middle-aged man dressed in a sky (azure) colored cloak. He wore a shirt and trousers made of coarse woven fabric.
Time of the winter sun god: the time of Khors's influence is considered to be the period between the winter and spring solstice. The winter solstice occurs at the end of January, which is reflected in the celebration of the modern new year.
According to some sources, the sun god of winter is Kolyada.
And spring is observed in the twenties of March. The modern holiday of Maslenitsa is a farewell to winter. On this day, the god of the winter sun transfers rule to the young and hot Yarila.
Lord of the spring sun and fertility
Yarilo is the sun god among the Slavs, personifying the revival of nature after winter. The patron saint of the spring sun is rightfully considered the god of love and fertility.
Yarilo, the god of the spring sun among the Slavs
Image of Yarilo: A young fair-haired youth with blue eyes riding a fiery horse. The attribute of the windy god of the spring sun is a bow and arrows, with which he protects the earth from the cold.
The power of Yarilo: the power of the Slavic god of the spring sun extends to the awakening of nature and passionate wild love. The time of influence is from the spring equinox (March 22) to the summer solstice (June 20).
The honoring and celebration of Yarilo in modern times correlates with Maslenitsa. On the day of the summer solstice, games and dances were also held in honor of the god of the spring sun and fertility.
Yarovik - Symbol of the god Yarilo.
The symbol is vernal. The power of the Yaril sign lies in:
protection from evil
increase masculine strength,
restoration of harmony and expended energy
as a symbol of wealth and fertility (healthy and strong offspring).
Afterwards Dazhdbog comes into power.
Lord of the Summer Shrine
The god of the summer sun, Dazhdbog, occupied an important place in the pantheon of Slavic gods. The time of influence is from the summer solstice to the autumn solstice. During this period it is associated with suffering (work in the fields).
Dazhdbog time is midsummer.
Image of Dazhdbog. This pagan sun god was depicted in golden armor with a fiery shield in his hands. Among other gods, he stands out for his greatness and directness. The ancient Slavs believed that Dazhdbog moved across the sky on a magic chariot drawn by 4 winged golden-maned horses.
Strength: Dazhdbog’s power extended to the people under his protection. They turned to him at dawn with a request for a successful resolution of any matter.
The symbol of the pagan sun god is the solar square, which helps to achieve success.
Slavic god of the autumn sun
Svarog as the lord of the autumn sun.
Svarog is considered the patron saint of the autumn sun. The time of the first night frosts, the time of harvesting and preparation for winter. Svarog was the progenitor of the first gods, he created the firmament of the earth and taught people to plow the field, and gave a plow. Considered the patron saint of blacksmiths.
Image of Svarog. In Slavic mythology, Svarog is represented in the form of a blacksmith. During war, he is depicted as a warrior with a sword in his hands.
The time of the Svarog sun from the autumn to the winter solstice.
Slavic sun gods replace each other from one solstice to another and correspond to a specific season.
The sign of the sun in ancient times
In any ancient religion, the sun occupied an important place in human life. It symbolizes the future and the present, life and warmth are associated with it, it is an inexhaustible source of strength and goodness.
Thanks to observing the sun, people learned to predict the future, created a calendar, and learned to predict the weather and the elements.
Amulets with sun symbols are endowed with colossal protective energy and are available for everyone to wear.
AND The image of the sun is present in rock paintings, applied to tools, weapons, clothing, and jewelry. Images have varietyin the outline, however, the sacred meaning is always the same.
The symbol of the sun represents the naturalness and continuity of the flow of time in all cultures of the world. In addition to the general meaning, each culture has its own sacred meaning of solar signs.
What do the rays of the sun symbolize?
IN amulets often use the image of the rays of the sun, what do they mean: 
the closedness of the rays into a single circle personifies the continuity and cyclicity of life and existence.
4 rays symbolize fire as the source of life.
6 rays - the sign of the thunderer Perun.
8 - powerful energy of the sun.
When the rays are twisted clockwise or counterclockwise, it also has its own sacred interpretation in various amulets.
Ladinets
Feminine refers to solar symbols. It has powerful energy of protection from the evil eye and damage, helps women succeed in motherhood. A sign was given to protect women from illness, sadness, powerlessness and evil words. It is also a symbol of fertility.
Solar cross
The solar cross amulet can be made of wood or metal.
The Slavic amulet solar cross, personifying spiritual harmony and connection with ancestors, is a solar symbol. Also, the power of the amulet is aimed at transmitting the wisdom of ancestors to the future generation.
In ancient times, the “solar cross” sign was applied to the clothes and weapons of warriors; priests, magicians, and mentors in various sciences wore them as amulets. Wearing a talisman helps to reveal talent, transfer knowledge, and find harmony with the world around us.
You can make a talisman from ash or maple wood. More durable amulets can be created from silver or copper.
Suitable for people following the path of self-development and self-knowledge, as well as for everyone who, to one degree or another, teaches the younger generation (teachers).
The power of the amulet is important for those who want to restore the ancestral connection. Helps in finding ancestors and studying their way of life. Suitable for art historians, archaeologists, historians.
Kolovrat
The Kolovrat amulet belongs to the solar symbol and is a male talisman.
The Kolovrat amulet has significant power and has become widespread among men of our time. Appearance of the amulet: 8 rays closed in a circle. The symbol represents continuity of movement. Has great strength.
A talisman with the image of the Kolovrat sign attracts good luck, helps maintain health (mental and physical), promotes good luck in business and love, and is also a sign of fertility.
The solstice is a symbol of 3 gods of the Slavic sun: Yarilo, Dazhdbog and Khors.
If the rays are directed clockwise, the amulet is called a thunderstorm, and if the rays are directed clockwise, it is called a thunderstorm.
The thunderstorm personifies the summer solstice, and the winter solstice.
Solstice is one of the protective signs of warriors. Applied to weapons and clothing. Helped me survive in battle.
Currently, the symbols are also masculine and help achieve success in your goal. Suitable for men who defend the state and land (military, police, emergency services, firefighters) or businessmen.
Black Sun
The black sun amulet is a connection with the otherworldly.
The black sun amulet is a strong symbol that is a conductor between the waking world and the other world.
In ancient times, the sign of the black sun was used only by powerful magicians, priests and wise men. Wearing this sign thoughtlessly is not acceptable.
The Slavic sun god Yarilo is known to many. This is the god of the spring sun, a young god who appears before people in the guise of a young man with beautiful golden hair and deep blue eyes. A red fiery cloak develops behind his shoulders, and under it is a fiery red horse. His name is a derivative of words such as bright and ardent. They are the epithets of Yarila.
Yarilo is, along with three other sun gods, the guise of the god of the spring sun. The Slavs had beliefs and legends that every calendar cycle four solar gods come to earth, are born again, and then die. They personified the winter sun - Khors, the spring sun - Yarilo, the summer sun - Dazhdbog and the autumn sun - Svetovit or Svarog. Each of these gods is an embodiment and facet of one solar deity, but this separation was due to their different characteristics. Thus, the god of the winter sun is reserved, cold and even cruel. This cannot be said about Yaril - the spring deity, zealous and ardent, bringing light and warmth to people, plants and animals. Yarilo is unrestrained and unbridled, fiery arrows often appear in his hands, with which he pierces the cold winter skies, sending warmth to the earth. Under this warmth, everything comes to life and blossoms, which is why Yarila is associated with fertility, including human carnal love.
There is a legend according to which Yarila was asked if he could fall in love. And the young sun god answered that he always loves, because all mortal earthly women and all Slavic goddesses are dear to him. It was thanks to the love of Yarila and Mother Earth that so many living things were born. As soon as Yarilo was born, he saw the darkness and cold in which the Cheese Earth slept. And Yarilo fell in love with the Earth, and made a hole in the sky to send her his kisses in the form of sun rays. The earth, under such hot kisses, woke up and woke up from a long, cold oblivion. In those places where Yarila’s rays touched the Earth, grass and flowers, forests and rivers appeared. But Yarilo did not let up, continued to love and kiss the Earth, so fish appeared in the water, birds appeared in the sky, and animals and insects appeared on the surface. And from the most passionate kiss, the Earth gave birth to a man, into whom Yarilo instilled reason, as he considered him his beloved child.
There is such a scientific view on the appearance of the image of Yarila in Slavic mythology. At first, he acted exclusively as a ritual character, which reminded him of Kolyada and others. Yarilo symbolized the same spring sun, but in the guise of a stuffed animal or a small doll. The doll was revered during the period of its dominance - from the winter equinox to the spring equinox. When her period ended, Yarila was carried throughout the village in a coffin and sad songs were sung about the end of fertility both in nature and among rural men. After this, the doll was taken to the field, the coffin was nailed up and buried according to all customs. So the Slavs accompanied Yarila to sleep so that he could be reborn and wake up next spring and revive nature and everything around him. After a long transformation of the image, Yarila began to be deified along with other symbols of the calendar sun, adding to the pantheon of Slavic gods.
For the Slavs, the Sun has always had a special meaning. They noticed the dependence of the phase of the celestial body on the change of season, so a certain one was responsible for each season; in general, there were four of them. Each of them had its own characteristics that differed from each other. People worshiped each sun god and respected their commandments.
The Slavic god of the sun is Khors
He was revered from the winter solstice to the spring solstice. On the first day, the Slavs celebrated the beginning of the New Year. Khors is a middle-aged man who always has a blush on his face from the cold. He is dressed in a shirt, trousers and an azure-colored cloak. This God is always sad because he does not have enough strength to protect the earth on cold nights. Horse has the power to calm blizzards and blizzards, as well as slightly change the temperature. The Slavs also often associated this God with animals. Holidays dedicated to this Sun God among the Eastern Slavs always included swimming in an ice hole and round dances. By the way, Horse also has a dark incarnation, which, on the contrary, is responsible for severe frosts. The day of this God is Sunday, and his metal is red silver.
The Slavic sun god is Yarilo
He was responsible for the period from the spring solstice to the summer solstice. This God was depicted in the guise of a young guy with beautiful golden hair and blue eyes. He had a bright red cloak behind his back. Yarilo rode on a fiery horse. There are indications in myths that this God appeared with fiery arrows to drive away the cold. differed from other Gods in his purity and sincerity. The Slavs also called him the God of youth and carnal pleasure. The symbol is an equilateral five-pointed star or the Ud rune.
The sun god of the ancient Slavs is Dazhdbog
He came into power from the summer to the autumn solstice. The Slavs believed that Dazhdbog moved across the sky in a chariot drawn by four white horses with fiery manes and golden wings. The sun's light radiates from the shield that God holds in his hands. He stood out for his greatness and direct gaze. His golden hair flows in the wind. The Slavs mainly depicted this pagan Sun God in golden armor with a spear and shield. The idol of Dazhdbog was located in almost all ancient Russian cities. This God has his own rune, which is responsible for well-being in all directions of life. The rune also means success in any undertaking. The symbol of Dazhdbog is a solar square. People turned to him in the morning hours, when the sun was just appearing above the horizon.
The Slavic sun god Svarog
He was revered from the autumn solstice to the winter solstice. Svarog - God of fire and sky. He is the parent of many god-sons. Svarog taught people how to use fire, process metal, and make cottage cheese and cheese. He also gave them a plow, 
which made it possible for the Slavs to cultivate the land. Svarog is considered the old sun, which is cold and dark. Any forge or forge is considered the temple of this God. Next to the idol there must certainly be fire and metal.
The Slavic sun god is Ra
Many believe that Ra is an ancient Egyptian God, but in fact he only became such in the 28th century BC. Initially, he was a Slavic God who was born from the Creator of the Universe. According to existing legends, Ra drove a chariot on which the sun was located. His sons are considered to be Veles and Khors, who after the death of Ra took his place. The myths indicate that in old age Ra turned into a river, which in the modern world is called the Volga.
Before the adoption of Christianity, the Slavs were pagans. This means that in their view, man and nature were closely connected. They perceived the world as a living and wise being, having its own soul and living according to certain laws. This sense of the surrounding world contributed to the emergence of myths about gods and spirits that control human life.
Patron gods of the ancient Slavs
All Slavic people, in one way or another, acted as patrons of some kind of activity, or of a certain social group. Thus, Veles is considered the patron of animals and trade, Perun - of princes and warriors, Svarog - of fertility, the goddess Lada - the patroness of peace and harmony, Alive - of youth and love, Makosh - of fate and women's needlework, etc. This is due to the fact that each deity was responsible for a certain natural phenomenon and sphere of human activity, and therefore could contribute to success or failure in it.
To strengthen the connection with their patron, the Slavs made amulets with the symbols of the deity and carved idols. They also sent prayers to the Slavic gods.
Slavic sun gods
Slavic had four hypostases in accordance with the four seasons, as well as the cycles of human life:
- winter sun - Kolyada, newborn child;
- spring sun - Yarilo, a strong young man full of life;
- summer sun - Kupaila, a mature strong man;
- autumn sun - Sventovit, a wise, fading old man.
This understanding of the structure of the annual cycle embodies the pagan idea of the infinity of the cycle of birth and death. So, the old man - Sventovit - dies before and the next morning the newborn Kolyada appears.
Yarilo - sun god
Yarilo is the Slavic god of the spring sun, youthful strength, passion, and unbridled thirst for life. This god is distinguished by purity, sincerity and fury. Yarilo fired sun rays onto the earth, which in some cases are interpreted as love arrows. The Slavs imagined God as the life-giving force of the spring sun, which fills the earth with life and joy after a long winter, awakening it from hibernation.
The Slavic god Yarilo is considered the patron saint of people with kind, pure, bright and heartfelt thoughts. People turned to him for help in conceiving children. He was also responsible for fertility and was considered the embodiment of rage in the most sublime sense.
Yarilo could be called Yarila, Yarovit and Ruevit.
What does Yarilo look like?
Yarilo, the sun god, seemed to be an attractive young man. His hair was blond or reddish, his eyes were light blue, clear, and a red cloak fluttered behind his broad, powerful shoulders. Yarilo was seated on a fiery sun-horse. Many girls fell in love with the handsome young man. And God is ready to reciprocate each one. Appearing in childbirth, Yarilo also acts as the deity of bodily love between a man and a woman. This explains the fact that the Yarila doll was often made with a large phallus, which is the oldest symbol of fertility.
Attributes of God
Yarilo - the god of the sun - was endowed with such attributes as an arrow, a spear, a golden shield or a circle representing the sun. The god's stone is considered to be amber, the metal is gold and iron, and the day is Sunday. Also, all solar symbols can be identified with Yarila.
Holidays of Yarila
Yarilo, the sun god, was revered starting from March 21, a day that also coincided with Maslenitsa. From this day began the time of the spring sun god. And it lasted until June 21-22, when the moment of the longest day and shortest night of the year arrived.
Another day of Yarila is April 15th. At the festival, a bride was chosen for God - the most beautiful girl in the settlement. They called her Yarilikha or Yarila. Yarila's chosen one was dressed up, mounted on a white horse, a wreath of spring flowers was put on her head, the girl took ears of corn in her left hand, and in her right hand - an image of a severed human head - a symbol of death. The horse and the bride were led through the fields - it was believed that this ritual promoted fertility. This ritual has another variant, when a girl portraying Yarila is tied to a tree, and then round dances are performed around her with ritual songs.
Towards the middle of summer, Yarila was honored again. At this time, young men and women gathered at the “Yarilina pleshka” - a certain place outside the village. All day long people walked, sang, ate food, and danced. At this holiday, a young man (Yarila) and a girl (Yarilikha) were honored, dressed in white clothes and decorated with ribbons and bells.
As soon as night fell, bonfires called “Yarilin fires” were lit. Often the holiday ended with a symbolic funeral of the bride and groom - straw effigies in clay masks were thrown into the water or left in the fields. Thus, people seemed to say that it was time to stop having fun, it was time to work.
Myths about Yaril
Yarilo is the embodiment of youth and life, so in myths he often plays the role of a lover. Moreover, according to some signs, it becomes clear that God is in love with all women on earth and even the Earth itself.
The main myth about Yaril is the story of the creation of life. There is such a variant. For a long time, Mother Earth slept soundly, but somehow Yarilo appeared and began to wake her up with his caresses and passionate kisses. The kisses were as hot as sunlight, and the Earth, warmed by them, awakened. And in the place of the kisses, fields, forests, and meadows appeared. The sun god continued to kiss the Earth. And lakes, rivers, seas, oceans appeared on it. The earth became hot from Yarila’s caresses and gave birth to insects, fish, birds and animals. Man was the last to be born.
This is one of the options for paganism and the emergence of life.
