APIFantasy | Myth and Folklore Anthology

Afghani Mythology - Gods and Goddesses

Afghanistan is located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Human habitation in this land-locked country dates back to the Middle Paleolithic era, and it has been at the center of history because of its strategic position. The ancient history of Afghanistan, also referred to as the pre-Islamic period of Afghanistan, dates back to the prehistoric era and the Indus Valley civilization around 3300–1300 BCE. Present-day Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and China. Kabul is its largest city and serves as the capital.

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SUPREME DEITIES

Gods

Imra - a god who was believed to be the creator of the earth. It was also believed that he created three other supreme deities with his breath; Bagisht, Mon, and Gish.

Munjem Malik/ Munjen Malik - earth god who appeared as a rival and possible predecessor of the god Imra. His realm was in the earth rather than the sky. Imra controlled mountains and high pastures. Munjem Malik ruled the valleys and presided over the council of gods. Believed to be the son of god Mon, in legends he killed his father.

Bagishi/Bagisht or Bagishi Kafir - Supreme god of flood waters and posterity.

Gish/Giwish - the god of war, partly modeled on the Aryan (Vedic) god Indra. It was believed that his mother was named Utr, and his consort was the goddess Sanju. It was believed that he slaughtered with great efficiency, but lacked grace and intellect, emerging in a generally boorish light. The Rainbow was thought to be a sling with which he carried his quiver. People used to sacrifice hornless oxen to him prior to combat. And feasted in his honor if the outcome was successful.

Mon (also known as Mahandeo or Mandi) - a warrior god and also a hero from prehistoric origins. It was believed that he defended mankind against demons and giants. He is the first offspring of the creator god Imra. He is also a weather god who controls clouds and mist. Mon is perceived as a deity of vast size and vigor who creates glaciers with his footprints. He is also a god of flowing water. Some legends place him as a creator of mankind and law-giver, but only mirroring the actions of the supreme creator Imra. He was considered a mediator between heaven and earth.

Dagan or Dagon - god of crop fertility and legendary inventor of the plow. He was extensively worshiped throughout the Middle East.

Indr or Inder - was a tutelary and weather god and was considered to be the brother of Gish and father of Disani and Pano. He was probably derived from the more widely recognized Aryan god Indra. It is generally åśśumed that he was ousted from major importance by the god Imra. Indr was also associated with wine rituals.

Maramalik - god of the underworld.

Panao - a creator god. It is also a generic title for deities controlling the natural world, who lived in the mountains. These deities include Lutkari Panao (fertility), Saramun Panao (health), Plossa (or Passamun) Panao (rain and good health), Indermun Panao (fruit and wine), and Malek Panao (nut trees). These gods were generally worshiped in sacred open spaces where their wooden images were regularly drenched with blood sacrifices.

Shomde, Wushum, or Usum - Creator god of localized observance and regarded either as equating or senior to the more generally recognized god Imra. It is believed that he provided gold, silver, and silk as well as butter, cheese, cream, and flour.

Goddesses

Disani or Disni - fertility and mother goddess. According to beliefs, she appears as a woman with a golden garland. People offered milk and milk products at her altar on the hillside.

Kshumai/Kemi or Kshumai Kafir - a beneficent fertility goddess who appears in the guise of a goat. Legend has it that either she or her eldest daughter is the mother of the god Mon. She is said to have given mankind the boon of goats, grapes, other fruit, and vegetation in general. She was called upon in times of sickness. She is depicted in wooden statues with prominent long breasts and a vulva.

Zhiwud/Zhuwut - messenger goddess connected, and possibly syncretizing, with the goddess Disani. According to legend, she carried vital messages to the heroic god Mon during a primordial battle between gods and giants. Mon lived by a lake surrounded by fire, and the goddess's wings (a solitary inference that she could appear in the form of a bird) were scorched in the process until Mon healed them. In some variations, Mon lived in the form of a bull that breathed fire.

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MINOR GODS AND GODDESSES

Arom - god of contractual agreements

Dogumrik - warrior and the guardian god

Duzhi - god of uncertain affinities

Gujo - tutelary guardian deity. He might have been a local consort of the messenger goddess Zhiwu.

Immat - a demonic god. Legend has it that Immat carried off twenty virgin daughters every year.

Lunang or Lunang Kafir - The patron goddess of the Prasun river. Lunang was perceived as a young and capricious girl, reflecting the turbulent moods of the river, and ruled over the watermills.

Nirmali or Shuwi - birth goddess. Her sacred animal is the ram. There is an argument that she was, in fact, a manifestation of the goddess Disani rather than a distinct deity.

Nong or Zuzum - god of Winter and cold weather who lived in a glacier.

Paneu, Paradik, or Purron - a collective term for seven divine brother gods. The Divine brothers are cast as the hunters and henchmen of the supreme goddess Disani. Each is equipped with a golden bow and quiver. They are generally portrayed as merciless and malignant forces.

Poloknalai or Poloknalai Kafir - a goddess of animals

Prakde - a local deity and perhaps one of the seven Paradik brothers

Sanju, Sulmech, or Sanu - harvest goddess who was the consort of the war god Gish.

Sudrem - weather god created from the breath of the god Imra.

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Check out the next few chapters for Afghani mythical creatures.