SHAMANIC HEALING AMONG THE BURYATS: THE RITE OF «OBYERTIVANIE BARANOM» («WRAPPING BODY IN SHEEP’S VISCERA»)

Abstract

In course of the expedition the author took part in the «obyertivanie baranom» rite («wrapping body in sheep’s viscera») held by a buryat neoshaman Valentin Khagdaev near his house in Yelantsy village. The rite was aimed to help a woman suffering from consequences of chemotherapy. The purpose of the rite was to heal woman from constant pain, infirmity and illnesses, aggravated after chemotherapy. Participants of the expedition took up roles of shaman’s assistants, they helped him to slaughter the sacrificial animal and butcher its carcass. The article represents the description of the rite, based on field data collected during the expedition. To preserve privacy of clients of Valentin Khagdaev, their names are not mentioned in the text.