On One of the Traditions related to Illness

(According to Ethnographic Data of Khevsureti)

Abstract

Illness played significant role in the history of various peoples, in the process of formation and development of culture. On the other hand, culture itself influenced illness; the traditions related to it and provided the peculiarities of rites. All religious systems viewed disease as the category of evil and a negative event, and blamed evil spirits for it.

Beginning from the ancient civilisations until nowadays, one of the main causes of the outbreaks of the disease were related to the kind forces of the universe - God, divinities, saints (sometimes), who took care of the well being of the people and also acted as judges. Disease acquired function of social control and in many cases it was regarded as a sanction or punishment for the sins which were conducted by people for various reasons. This opinion was widespread in Georgia.

In Khevsureti, one of the mountainous regions of Georgia, locals thought the disease was caused due to the anger of the sanctuary and its punishment. According to local residents, the anger of the sanctuary was caused by: a false oath (a lie during the oath), the pride that caused the crime, disobedience to the rules and laws of the sanctuary. To atone for the crime, to complete the punishment and to cure the disease, the patient or his / her lord made a vow; he / she took responsibility, which meant sacrificing prayer during the holiday or doing some work for the sanctuary. Interpolation of repentance, motives of pride and some other elements can be considered as the influence of Christianity. In my opinion, we have a case of giving a vow similar to Christian tradition, which corresponds to the local Khevsur traditional lifestyle.

Most cases, where the cause of the disease was not obvious, Khevsurs considered as a result of the wrath of the deity. However, a person who violated traditional religious laws, regardless of his / her personality, could be affected by a sense of sinfulness; therefore, the realization that he / she committed a sin could be caused by an illness, mainly a mental illness, which was truly cured through repentance and confession of sins.