There isn't much emphasis on the shaman journeying to other lands; instead, the role of the shaman is to communicate with spiritual beings and placate them with rituals. The exorcism of demons is a common rite.
Men and women can both be shamans, and little is said about any difference between them.
For the past 800 years, Mongolian shamanism has gotten mixed up with Buddhism. The more Buddhist sort of religion is called Yellow Shamanism, presumably because the Tibetan Buddhism that influenced it was called Yellow Buddhism. Shamans who reject Buddhist influence are called Black Shamans; some sources say this school formed in the 1700s as a reaction against Buddhist and Chinese influence.
Shamans recognize a variety of spiritual beings. The most important category is the 99 Tenger, or Tingri, which is sometimes translated "gods" but some aren't very powerful. The Tenger are divided into 55 associated with the color white and the east, who are generally well-disposed toward humans, and 44 associated with black and the west, who are generally hostile or at least grouchy. Some sources say that most shamans specialize and only communicate with one sort of Tenger, but others deny this.
Shamans also venerate the spirits of the ancestors. These are usually the ancestors of their own family or clan, perhaps even recently deceased people that the shaman knew; but on the other hand Genghis Khan is venerated as the great ancestor of all Mongols. Some sources indicate that Genghis Khan is particularly venerated by black shamans who oppose Chinese/Buddhist influence.
Plus there are lots of other, lesser beings: nature spirits, spirits of game animals, spirits of springs and streams, and so on. Living beings also have spirits that a shaman can access through arcane means.
Shamans venerate the vault of heaven, which makes sense for people living on the open steppes but also may reflect Chinese influence.
More recently, Mongolia was under Soviet domination, and many sources speak of a major revival in shamanism after the Soviet Union fell, as part of Mongolians asserting their national identity and trying to reclaim their traditions.
One of the most important rites is fire sacrifice, which is traditionally performed in mid-winter. This involves building fires, roasting several kinds of meat, and singing long songs; here is a snippet:We drop melted grease on
Your flame and pray for you;
We may stay in boundless ecstasy
By having numberless animals
By sanctifying this holy spirit of worship;
Let our animals increase
Let our life be longer
Let us live in incomparable rapture;
We beseech the offerings
From magnanimous mother-fire
Whose origins are from heaven
Whose birth was from earth. . . .
The rite is surrounded by taboos, for example:
- It is forbidden to stoke a fire with an iron poker within a week of the ceremony of worshiping fire (this is considered to be a period of the absence of the fire-god);
- Maternal nieces are forbidden to enter when the maternal uncle’s ceremony of worshiping fire is performed;
- It is forbidden to give dairy products and grains to somebody within three days of the ceremony of worshipping fire;
- Mothers who recently gave birth are forbidden to come near the burning fire;
- It is forbidden to burn anything that can defile a fire or make it dirty;
- It is forbidden to pour water on a fire.
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