Šarkos įvaizdis lietuvių ir kitų Europos tautų pasaulėžiūroje

LTStraipsnis skirtas šarkos vaizdinio analizei lietuvių pasaulėžiūroje, atsižvelgiant į Europos kultūrinį kontekstą. Tam pasitelkiami folkloro, istoriniai bei kalbiniai duomenys ir įvairios kultūrinės detalės. Straipsnio autorės nuomone, šarkos įvaizdis lietuvių ir Europos gyventojų pasaulėžiūroje turėjo ir tebeturi gana neigiamą atspalvį, kuriame galima išskirti keletą aspektų. Aiškiausiai išreikšta ir populiariausia šarkos pasirodymo žmogaus gyvenamojoje aplinkoje prasmė yra netolimos ateities ženklas. Mėgstamiausias ir iki šiol išlikęs aiškinimas – būsimi svečiai, žinia. Šis traktavimas turi senas kultūrines ištakas. Nemaloniu krykštimu ginantis savo teritorijos ribas, šis paukštis riksmu pranešdavo žmonėms apie besiartinančius plėšrūnus, o vėliau – ir priešus. Palengva šarka tapo geros ar blogos ateities pranaše. Dalyje tikėjimų šarkos traktuojamos teigiamai – jos pranašauja būsimas piršlybas, vestuves. Tačiau šarka taip pat laikyta ir artėjančios mirties skelbėja. Ši prasmė šarkos įvaizdžiui iš dalies suteikta dėl jos artimumo kitam paukščiui, liaudies tradicijoje glaudžiai siejamam su mirties simbolika – varnai / varnui. Šarka neretai traktuota kaip zoomorfinis piktųjų jėgų įsikūnijimas. Dažniausiai ji laikyta raganos / raganiaus persikūnijimu. Raganiškas šarkos vaizdinys, kaip manoma, susiformavo viduriniais amžiais, kai imta persekioti asmenis, laikytus piktųjų jėgų atstovais. Tikėta, neva tokie žmonės galintys pasiversti šarkomis. Toks šarkų tapatinimas su raganomis – senesnio pasaulėžiūrinio sluoksnio transformacija.Reikšminiai žodžiai: šarka; Paukštis; Ragana; Moteris; Pranašiškas ženklas; Mirtis; Anapusinis pasaulis; Magpie; Bird; witch; woman; Predictive sign; Death; šarkos vaizdinys; Other world; Simbolika; Raiška; Interpretacija; Magpie image; Symbolic view; Signification; Interpretation.

ENAlong with feng shui ideas spreading from China and becoming increasingly popular in Lithuania, worldviews and symbols from remote countries are promoted as well. A vivid example of such process is popularization of the magpie image, i.e. people being encouraged to place magpie figurines in order to ensure good luck. In China, magpie is until nowadays considered a harbinger of joy, happiness, and festive mood, while its cry is believed to signify arrival of guests or good news. Positive aspects of the magpie image can be found in other countries too. For the North American peoples, magpie embodies endurance, because it remains in the same place both in heat and cold, instead of flying away. The Indians regard this bird as a cultural hero as well. However, what about its image in Lithuania and Europe? Does this bird traditionally bring happiness to Lithuanians as well? The magpie image is more or less common for the whole of Europe. Here, it is associated with mischief and loss. Such attitude was shaped by Christian principles propagating ideas of modesty and conscientiousness, while typical magpie bearing is seen as allegory of clatter and pilferage. In Christian tradition, magpie is an embodiment of devil, vanity and dissolute life. Therefore evil persons, e.g. witches and sorcerers, especially favor the magpie image. One testimony from the 17th century Lithuanian witch-trial presents evidence of an accused female having confessed in leaving her body and turning into a magpie, and flying to a certain mountain together with her companions.Similar stories are found in the folk belief legends as well, describing an occasional witness observing some girls turning into magpies and flying somewhere. Magpie is often regarded as a messenger: according to its appearance and behavior, the weather changes can be predicted. Magpie appearance can also mean certain events, most popularly, arrival of guests or news. Magpie predicts the imminent wedding too. But it can likewise bring mischief or scandal. This attitude seems to have deep cultural roots. This bird is typically watchful of any transgressions of its territory, and it used its piercing cry to inform people of the approaching predators or subsequently, enemies. Thus magpie has eventually acquired status of the messenger. Magpie is closely related to death. Its appearance can be regarded as omen of death of a family member or the livestock. There are numerous metaphoric expressions to describe death, in which magpie is mentioned. Partly, magpie was endowed with this connotation because of its close similarity to another bird, which is considered to be an outstanding symbol of death in the folk tradition, namely, the crow or raven. On the other hand, different birds use to be traditionally related to underworld by many peoples. Thus it may be concluded, that magpie is characterized by more negative than positive connotations in Lithuanian beliefs and those of other European peoples, although there is certain evidence of its possibly more favorable treatment in the pre-Christian worldview. [From the publication]