Eggsquisitely Mythical #1: Afghanistan
- Dr. Fizza Younis
- Mar 20
- 7 min read
Hello, fellow eggs and mythology lovers!
For our first Eggsquisitely Mythical issue, we are doing a deep dive on the myths and legends of Afghanistan.
BACKGROUND
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.
SUPREME DEITIES
Gods
Imra is 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 also spelled as Munjen Malik is an 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 also called Bagishi Kafir is the supreme god of flood waters and posterity.
Gish also called Giwish is 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 also 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 is 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 also spelled as Dagon - god of crop fertility and legendary inventor of the plow. He was extensively worshiped throughout the Middle East.
Indr or Inder is a tutelary and weather god and is considered to be the brother of Gish and father of Disani and Pano. He's probably derived from the more widely recognized Aryan god Indra. It is generally assumed that he was ousted from major importance by the god Imra. Indr was also associated with wine rituals.
Maramalik is the god of the underworld.
Panao is 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 is a 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 also known as Disni is a 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 also known as Kshumai Kafir is 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.
Zhiwud/Zhuwut is a 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.
MINOR DEITIES
Arom is the god of contractual agreements.
Dogumrik is a warrior and the guardian god.
Duzhi is the god of uncertain affinities.
Gujo is a tutelary guardian deity. He might have been a local consort of the messenger goddess Zhiwu.
Immat is a demonic god. Legend has it that Immat carried off twenty virgin daughters every year.
Lunang or Lunang Kafir is 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 is a 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 is the god of winter and cold weather who lived in a glacier.
Paneu, Paradik, or Purron is 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 is a goddess of animals.
Prakde is a local deity and perhaps one of the seven Paradik brothers.
Sanju, Sulmech, or Sanu is a harvest goddess who was the consort of the war god Gish.
Sudrem is a weather god created from the breath of the god Imra.
MYTHICAL CREATURES
Demons & Monsters
Div or Dev is also known as Daeva (gods that are to be rejected) in Zoroastrian mythology. They are often depicted as large beings with enormous heads on their shoulders. In Afghan folklore, they are equivalent to ogres, and a personification of every imaginable evil.
Ghor Baba or Baba Ghori's stories are popular among adults in villages. They would scare kids with stories of Ghor Baba. He is a monster with lightning powers, that would take naughty kids away from their parents to a place called Ghori Baibani.
Xāl are demons of childbirth, interfering with human reproduction. Various other names include Alk in Armenian and Kurdish, Ol and Hāl in Tajik, Almasti or Albasti in Central Asian Turkic-speaking countries, and Halmasti among the Dards. The Afghan description of this creature is that of an evil feminine-like being with sharp talon-like claws that easily tear through human flesh and help with extracting and devouring fetuses.
Mythical Animals
Karkadann are described as creatures much like unicorns, but violently strong and aggressive. They are believed to be ferocious towards other animals and easily subdued by virgins. The horn of Karkadann is believed to be an antidote to poison and a cure for any illness.
Sirānis is the name is derived from the Greek siren, from which the creature evolved into a musical carnivore being found in ancient Kabul. It was said to have 12 orifices in its snout and when it breathed, pleasant musical sounds were created like that of mizmar (a double-reed wind instrument).
The Buraq or Al-Buraq is a creature with the body of a horse, the tail of a peacock, wings, and the head of a beautiful woman. It has its origin in Islamic mythology; believed to be the creature Prophet Muhammad rode to visit the heavens. Sometimes, it is also described as half-mule half-donkey with wings and the face of a woman.
Simurgh or Simorgh is a benevolent, mythical bird of great wisdom with its origin in Persian mythology. Later, came to be known as Huma and sometimes, Quqnus (i.e. equivalent to Phoenix).
Lore of Djinn
Pai Girdak is a jinn with round-shaped feet, that would frequent public bathhouses in the early hours. As long as you don't stare at their feet, they will leave you alone.
Qareen or Hamzaad is a jinn that is a double of human. It is believed that everyone is born with their own Qareen. Some belief it to be part of the human that causes them to do bad things and evil. People also believe that Qareen can be captured and controlled by their humans. Qareen can give you information about any person in the world and find lost things. They also have the power to cure illnesses and can control others' Qareen to make them do their bidding.
Hinn and Sila are shapeshifter jinn and like to take the form of animals, especially dogs and snakes.
Ifrit are jinn who frequent and protect burial grounds.
Marid are the most powerful jinn that have the ability to grant wishes.
Vetala and Palis are vampire-like jinn who drink the blood of corpses through the soles of their feet. They can also possess human corpses preventing them from decay.
Nakhro or Shopaira are beautiful women who lose their minds after being abducted by the jinns.
That concludes today's discussion about Afghan Mythology. We hoped you found this informative and consider incorporating some of these wondrous mythical creatures in your story!
Check out these other articles written by former team members:
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