«WHICH IS THE GLORY OF OUR NATION AND ITS LIFE-GIVER»…
The natural philosophers of the ancient world trained their senses to decipher the hidden mysteries of the universe, sharpened their ears «to distinguish from one another the sounds of atomic motions», to understand their meaning… And they glorified the power of the ray of the Sun, sang the praise of the one who bestows light, plenty and well-being on the Earth, blessed the Life born under the influence of its warmth and through the interaction of the other elements of Nature.
In the deeply mysterious past the wise Kurms spoke and communicated with Nature, and also «made speak» splendid Nature and the boundless Universe.
The ancient truths today enlighten mankind anew.
And the age-old feasts and rites, with the interpretations of the Kurms of the Haykian Brotherhood, rise again in their true meaning — each with its own particularities.
Man is a harmonious particle of Nature.
By the instinct of self-preservation he is inclined to secure his existence — avoiding all that threatens his life. Naturally, he prefers to develop his strength and well-being — as the guarantee of health and of the best living conditions.
Being a rational being — since time immemorial Man has tried to find explanations for interpreting the phenomena taking place in the world surrounding him.
The changes arising in the Universe, in Nature, as a result of the combination and decomposition of substances, the origin of Life, he tried to explain with natural, rational, logical foundations.
To see, to study, to know, to comprehend the essence of phenomena and the cause-and-effect connection of their changes and, in that chain, the place and role of Man — as virtuous, creating, producing good things…
The age-old rites and feasts are the manifestation of the unity and interconnectedness of Man and Nature; they sing the praise of the eternal cycles of Nature, and consequently of the perpetuation of Life.
The newly arriving, green-adorned, verdant spring announces the renewal — the restoration anew — of Nature wondrously blossoming «with new-budding plants and flowers».
The «verdure-bearing roots, plants, herbs» of the newly clad — newly sprouting, newly blossoming earth shoot up again, the seeds germinate, blossom — turn green and herald the coming fruitfulness of the soil — its flowering and prosperity.
«The many-coloured plants have turned green with life»,- the joyful glad tidings resound and are passed on from generation to generation…
Photo by: Arle
Strengthened by the wisdom of the Haykazuns, our Ancestors — «Men of hidden mind and deep thought», developed various means of bequeathing the Haykian value system to their generations.
«As treasures hidden away» they continued to immortalize «the guardian of the Armenian nation and of mankind», «the Spotless and Immaculate Goddess Anahit, who is the Glory and Life-giver of the land of the Armenians» — patroness of fertilization, of procreation, of agriculture, of animals and vegetation, of the Waters, and at the same time also patroness of War and of Armenian statehood.
The TEMPLE OF ANAHIT in Pteria
(photo — by Charles Texier , 1882)
Under the patronage of «the Great Lady» — Dits-Mother Anahit, during the feasts, the Kurms, the kings with their retinues, the many thousands of pilgrims stretching from various places of the world of the Armenians towards the sacred places of worship took part in the enthusiastic festivities around the richly treasured Anahitian temples…
According to the interpretation of the Kurms of the Haykian Brotherhood — under the patronage of Golden-mother — Gold-born and Gold-cast Dits-Mother Anahit are celebrated —
- the feast of Motherhood — on the day of Anahit of the month of Areg (on April 8),
- the feast of Mother Nature — on the day of Lusnak of the month of Ahekan (on May 13),
- the Blessing of the Grapes — on the day of Astghik of the month of Sahmi (on August 24),
- the Blessing of the Bread — on the day of Anahit of the month of Sahmi (on September 5):
«AS TREASURES HIDDEN AWAY» — today too in the heart of the present capital of the Armenians — in the mother-city Yerevan — in her image of defender of Armenian statehood, from a wondrous height, sword in hand, «MOTHER ARMENIA» watches over her children — with the majesty of DITS-MOTHER ANAHIT.
As the Goddess who ensures yield, abundant fruitfulness and well-being — holding in her hands the good things bestowed by the Armenian soil, she rises sublime in various places of the world of Armenia — for the glorification and for the perpetuation of the Haykian generation…
P.S. For the choice photos of the colourful flowers of the Armenian fields, of the wonderful high relief symbolizing the image of Dits-Mother Anahit and of K. Nurijanyan’s sculpture located in Dilijan, great thanks to the gifted author — Arle.
