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The Mari native religion (Mari: Чимарий йӱла, ''Čimarij jüla''), or Mari Paganism, is the ethnic religion of the Mari people, a Volga Finnic ethnic group based in the republic of Mari El, in Russia. The religion has undergone changes over time, particularly under the influence of neighbouring monotheisms. In the last few decades, while keeping its traditional features in the countryside, an organised Neopagan-kind revival has taken place.〔Vladimir Napolskikh. ''(Notes at the Margins: Neopaganism in Eurasia )''. // Eurasian Journal / Acta Eurasica. Number 1. Moscow, 2002.〕 The Mari religion is based on the worship of the forces of nature, which man must honour and respect. Before the spread of monotheistic teachings amongst the Mari, they worshipped many gods (the ''jumo'', a word cognate to the Finnish ''Jumala''), while recognising the primacy of a "Great God", ''Kugu Jumo''. In the 19th century, influenced by monotheism, the Pagan beliefs altered and the image of a ''Osh Kugu Jumo'', literally "Great God of Light", was strengthened. Subject to persecution in the Soviet Union, the faith has been granted official status since the 1990s by the government of Mari El, where it is recognized as one of the three traditional faiths along with Orthodox Christianity and Islam. Some activists claim that the Mari native religion believers are subject to pressure by Russian authorities as part of a wider campaign to Russify Mari culture. Vitaly Tanakov, an adherent of the faith, was charged with inciting religious, national, social and linguistic hatred after publishing the book ''The Priest Speaks''.〔Alexander Verkhovsky. ''(Anti-Extremist Legislation and Its Enforcement )''. SOVA, 2007.〕 ==Organisation== Followers of the Mari native religion perform public rituals, mass prayers, conduct charitable, cultural and educational activities. They train and educate the younger generation, publish and distribute religious literature. Currently, there are four regional Mari native religion organizations. Prayer meetings and mass prayers are held in accordance with the traditional calendar; it always takes into account the position of the Moon and Sun. Public prayers are held, usually in the sacred groves (küsoto). Ceremonies are held by a rank of priests. There is a significant discrepancy between the pantheons of the Lowlands Mari, who worship roughly 140 gods, and Highlands Mari, who worship about 70 gods.〔Yakovlev, G. ''Religious Rites of the Cheremis''. Kazan, 1887.〕 However most of these deities are different forms of other gods. Nine deities are the most important ones, and these are often said to be hypostases of the high god Osh Kugu Jumo. The Mari native religion comprehends tree worship and animal sacrifices. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mari native religion」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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