Kazakh mythology. Part 75

Owner of the house Basically, the Turks preferred to start building their dwellings in the spring.  This was due not only to practicality, after a cold winter, but also to the fact that in the Turkic tradition, spring was the starting point of the annual cycle. The place for the house was chosen during the period of the new moon - the most favorable moment in time. Places where cold wind blew was considered unlucky. The house was endowed with the same properties as the Universe as a whole. The opposition of the upper and lower worlds largely determined the organization of the vertical structure of the dwelling. The roof of the yurt correlated with the celestial sphere. In the middle sphere, the space was divided into left (women) and right (men) sides. Usually, the southern right side of the entrance was considered male, the opposite - female. The dwelling was filled with men's and women's things, in accordance with its division. There was a hearth in the middle. Two more important elements were the door - in the east, the windows and the "corner of honor" - төр, located behind the hearth. This part was intended only for the owners and honored guests. The walls were the border, protecting the inhabitants of the house. Some people, trying to avert trouble from home, did not let envious people and intriguers go beyond the threshold. Moreover, they were sometimes not allowed into the house at all. The guest, who crossed the border of the house, fell into a new world and, after an exchange of greetings, was temporarily included in this world. Ii tue (wedding of the house) - this was the name of the end of construction, if the house was built from new logs. By the appointed hour, neighbors and relatives were gathering. Before that, the kam (shaman), accompanied by the owner, walked around the house, smudged it, treating all the good spirits. The guests brought gifts. Thus, the house was included in the system of connections of the human collective. With the construction of a new house, the “owner” of the house settled there. Since he lived directly with the person, they often came into contact with him. Everyone wanted to live in harmony with each other. In Turkic mythologies, the owner of the house looked differently for different nations. Not only among different people, but even each person saw him in their own way. But there was an image, which in some way had similarities among all people and nations. The owner of the house had the appearance of a man in years, round-shouldered, small in stature, with a "kind" face. He usually lived on stoves.  In the dwelling with a cellar, he slept during the day, and at night, after everyone fell asleep, he began his work. He walked around the house, went out into the yard, looked into the barns and stables. Having bypassed his possessions, he drove out evil spirits from the house, tried to protect the living from terrible diseases, sometimes he began to wash dishes, knead the dough, liked to comb the manes of horses, etc. In case of danger in the form of a fire, he made all sorts of noises to wake people up. The owner of the house was picky about the animals living in his possession. Each owner had their favorite colors and character of animals. In order to live in harmony with him, people brought him offerings in the form of kumis, milk, etc., while mentioning him with a sign of gratitude, asking for health, happiness and prosperity for the residents of the house. But there was also an owner who lived in abandoned houses. In Turkic mythologies, he looked like an "angry" man, uncombed hair, and a gloomy expression. Accustomed to silence, he did not like strangers in his domain. He tried to scare them and force them to leave. Illust: abylgazzy