The institution of the oracles (of the prophets) kadagi kadagi among the highlanders of Eastern Georgia

Abstract

The article discusses the original area of Georgian traditional religious culture - the institution of kadagi (prophet). The research is based on the materials of the mountainous regions of Eastern Georgia. A special development of the institution of kadagi received in Khevsureti. Kadagi (male or female) was called a person, who according to the folk religious belief, was specially chosen by a deity from the community in order to inform people of his/her will. Kada-gi informed people about the reasons of the deity’s discontent and about how to mitigate the wrath of the deity, kadagi predicted the future (illness, death, harvest, weather), revived the forgotten religious rituals, adjusted social and daily problems. There were observed two forms of prophecy - prophecy at the sanctuary and in the home. Of particular interest is djvart ena - the language of deity. According to popular belief it was the sacred language of deities by which kadagi told the people the commandments of the deity.