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RAHID ESMEROVIĆ

CIRCLE OF LIFEREINCARNATION IN THE TRADITION OF THE BOSNIAN PEOPLE

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CIRCLE OF LIFE

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Bogomilsm was based on Persian dualism: the master of the spiritual world was god, and the

material, which was transitory, was ruled by the evil god Satan. The same principle is evident in

Christianity, Islam and Judaism where the principle of good and evil are clearly accentuated,

and that god for various reasons never managed to defeat Satan and that's why both of them

have their kingdoms and eternally opposed armies. The balance of power is equal with a

religious promise that Satan will be eventually beaten and destroyed.

The main element of the spiritual world was the soul, for which the Bogomils believed that with

migrations or metempsychosis it aims at eternal perfection or nirvana - final liberation.

According to Bogomil doctrine, it was forbidden to kill animals and birds, and even to destroy

their eggs, because in every animal there can be a human soul doing penance for the sin's a

man has done for his lifetime. That old Bogomil beliefs left a huge mark on the Bosnian people

is best witnessed by the still active belief from north-western Bosnia which claims that evilpeople turn into animals after death such as pigs, cows, horses,. in order to serve humans in

their new life and to pay for their sins.

One important record, which dates from the Ottoman occupation of BiH, named "From Bosnia

with pictures" speaks explicitly about the very widespread idea of reincarnation among the

Bosnian people. Author Clement Boži ć commented, like numerous other contemporary

observers, seeing packs of dogs moving freely around the neighbourhoods and streets of

Sarajevo: "Bosniaks take care of them (dogs), by giving them complete freedom; they say that

some of them may contain a human soul and if someone has a bad dream, in the morning they

buy bread and feed them to the dogs."

The only animal that cannot have a human soul is the snake, probably because of the Illyrian

legend according to which a snake has been created 40 years prior to any living being on this

planet. This mythological belief of the Bosnian people is completely analogous to the ancient

representation about the forefather of all Illyrians which was wrapped by a snake when he was

a baby. In many ways a snake has been officially given a favoured status and she had a special

place among the Bogomils which can be seen from numerous legends created throughout the

Middle Ages where this animal plays a major role.

To the Bogomils, unlike other Christian churches, the snake didn't represent the reincarnation of

evil since according to their doctrine the tree of knowledge of good and evil was a woman

(Eve), and Adam sinned for copulating with her, and that's why both of them were banished

from heaven. Thanks to this fact the existence of the cult of snake was never brought into

question throughout any period of Bosnian history, not even during the turbulent Middle Ages.

The answer to the question why was only the snake exempt from the karmic circle is that she as

a holly animal cannot be the bearer of a human's sinful soul, her task is to use her mystical

powers to protect every house and all souls living in them.

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CIRCLE OF LIFE

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Even though the Bogomils weren't inclined, according to their religious belief, to excessive

indulgement of earthly goods, they were, like all others, exposed to constant temptations which

ruled the evil material world which additionally made it harder for a soul to achieveenlightenment. According to Bogomil's conception the end of the reincarnation cycle was only

possible after receiving the sacrament at death with which the soul would achieve its spiritual

regeneration. It was only possible through this type of cleansing and after separation from the

material world which was under the control of evil. The final goal was to ensure the unification

of the soul with the good god. In a lawsuit in Torino in 1388 a claim mentioned that a soul which

doesn't receive consolamentum transfers into the first body to which it comes across to, either

human or animal; this continues on until it is blessed by its spiritual father on its deathbed.

When we summarise all that has been written so far we come to some sensational data which

reveals to us that in Bosnia and Herzegovina we find very clear and evident basic doctrines

about karma and reincarnation which can be considered to be rare, if not the only country in

this part of Europe, with such traditional concept which certainly didn't form in the Bogomil

religion, but it's appearance dates from ancient times. That's why this particularity deserves

special research.

Reincarnation as a term was well defined in Bhagavad Gita, authoritative writing of a Vedic

teacher which dates from the 5 th century BCE, defined as a cycle of birth and death in the circle

of samsara, and karma as causal effect according to which by our own actions, thoughts and

feelings we create our own destiny. The idea about reincarnation can be found on allcontinents. But, for us the most important data is that reincarnation as a thought was present

among the old Celts and Persians, two peoples which more or less had a defining influence on

the religious understanding of the Bosnian people, especially during ancient and middle ages.

Celtic dragon and goddess of moon

In order to get a more detailed understanding of the beginnings of the religious idea ofreincarnation in Bosnia and Herzegovina it is necessary to follow the snake (dragon) trail on the

unique symbol of ancient past of this country - tombstone. Even though the representation of a

dragon on a Bosnian tombstone such as the one in Boljuni or on the famous tombstone from

Donje Zgoš ć e accidentally or on purpose didn't stimulate interest for serious observations, but

was interpreted in a simpler way, as heraldic motifs without any deeper background meaning, it

can be a road sign to any serious researcher when it comes to discovering religious and

cultural heritage of the Bosnian people.

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Luckily today we know that depictions of dragons are not accidental nor in the form of an

ornament without meaning, but they represent, among others, proof of deep symbiosis of Celts

and Illyrians, through cultural and religious practice. Namely, on some tombstones there aredepictions of two-headed dragons which is the same as the Celtic symbol of the two-headed

dragon. The similarity of the Celtic and Bosnian (Illyrian) tradition doesn't end there, but it gets its

full meaning through depictions of the Celtic moon goddess Arianhrod on one of the

tombstones which brings us to recent evidence about the dominant influence of the cult of the

Grand Mother and dragon as symbol of fertility - new life.

Celtic-Gaul depiction of a two headed dragon. The symbol of a two headed dragon on Bosnian tombstones.

Arianhod is known under several names: "High Fruitful Mother", "Silver Wheel", "Silver Circle",

"Sky Goddess", etc. In etymology it is considered that her name comes from the Welsh word

"silver" or "ariawyn" - "silver woman". The origin of the name is also brought into connectionwith Ariadne or Aradia, Greek lunar goddess, which is connected to the cult of the growing

moon. Ariana, whose meaning is "one very holly", is a familiar Illyrian name and is very present

today on the territory of Albania, Kosovo and BiH. Other variations of this name are also in use

such as Ilirijana or Ilirija.

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Celtic goddess of moon Arianrhod. Celtic goddess of moon Arianrhod on a Bosnian tombstone.

Celtic religious influence on Illyrian tribes left a relatively deep mark especially on the cult of the

Grand Mother. Namely, according to Celtic legend, Arianhrod takes care of warriors and their

souls which perfectly fits into the legend about Mujo Hrnjica and the Mountain faery. In the

same manner, Arianhrod is the goddess of reincarnation, new life, with which she represents

unrivalled mother of life. Notion of reincarnation i.e. resurrection and new life was not foreign to

the Illyrians, on the contrary, all that symbology was represented by the snake, their totem,

which personified the unbroken circle of life by shedding its skin.

In accordance with everything said so far, we can conclude that reincarnation notion was

inseparable part of the cult of fertility and the Grand Mother and that as such it was part of the

tradition of our people throughout all centuries, in a smaller or larger extent. That's why we can

find it in the Bogomil tradition but also during middle Ages in folk religion.

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