The Social Significance of Shamanism

The significance of shamanism and its value for understanding the evolution of human thought in Mongolia and elsewhere deserves our careful consideration. In various societies shaman have a unique social status and responsibility within their respective cultures. They are responsible for the perpetuation of local beliefs, the recording of history, and perhaps more importantly, the performance of various rituals designed to enhance the well being of members of their group. These unique people are priests, soothsayers and conjurors of the original religion of nature.

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In Mongolia for example the curing of the sick through shamanistic ritual sometimes involves banishing evil spirits that are considered responsible for the onset of the illness. Elaborate rituals involving effigies or the use of sacrificial animals were used to annihilate the evil force. It was believed that as the effigy or animal was part of the evil spirit within the body, banishing this evil spirit would allow the person to become free from the source of their illness. The fascinating Mongolian book Nukh Boglokh Sudar ( The Sutra to Block a Hole), describes the practice of banishing the spirit cause of the sickness. An effigy or sacrificed animal is placed into a hole in the earth, and the book relates how " the hole is then pressed down with a pebble". It is believed that the illness of the person and other bad luck will vanish soon thereafter.