Esege Malan Babai
"Grandfather Bald Head." The god of the sky, the highest heaven itself. He is variously described as being the highest god or as a human who exchanged places with the gods.
In the beginning there were Esege Malan and his wife, Ehé Ureng Ibi. At first it was dark and silent; there was nothing to be heard or seen. Esege took up a handful of earth, squeezed moisture out of it, and made the sun of the water; he made the moon in the same way. Next he made all living things and plants. He divided the world into East and West, and gave it to the highest order of gods.
He had nine sons. The fifth, or middle, son, a hero and very powerful, was named Mahai Danjin. His son is Gesir Bogdo.
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References
Sources
- Curtin, Jeremiah. (1909). A Journey in Southern Siberia. Boston: Little, Brown, pp. 39, 46, 121.
- Krader, Lawrence. (1954). "Buryat Religion and Society." SJA 10 (3):322-351, pp. 328, 338-339.
- Róheim, Géza. (1954). Hungarian and Vogul Mythology. Locust Valley, New York: J. J. Augustin, p. 18.