Thread of Lizdeika in Lithuanian spiritual tradition

Straipsnyje nagrinėjami legendiniai duomenys apie vyriausiąjį karaliaus Gedimino žynį Lizdeiką, sankcionavusį sprendimą Vilniuje įsteigti Lietuvos sostinę. Jie gretinami tiek su kai kuriais kitų tradicijų atitinkamais duomenimis, tiek su vėlesniais lietuviškaisiais, užtinkamais lietuvių religijos ir mitologijos šaltiniuose, tautosakoje ir autorinėje literatūroje. Atskirai aptariami keturi simboliškai reikšmingi paukščio požymiai: atsiradimas lizde, dvigubas gimimas (pirma paukštė padeda kiaušinį, paskui iš jo išsirita paukštytis), sugebėjimas skristi ir giedojimas.Lizdeika in the 14th c. was the chief priest of Gediminas. He was the one to explain the Lithuanian king’s prophetic dream about founding of the capital in Vilnius. Both the name Lizdeika (from lizdas – ‘nest’), and legends about his origin (found in an eagle’s nest or a cradle hanging from a tree) show the bird-like nature of Lizdeika. There are analogies to these mythical views in not only the traditions of Siberian shamans, but also in Lithuanian folklore of the past century. Here a child could be found not only in a nest, but also hatched from an egg. Hatching from an egg generally symbolises a ‘second birth’ (initiation), thus the legend of Lizdeika can also be understood by noting that he is ‘twiceborn’ – initiated into spiritual life. Meanwhile, spiritual life is generally characterised with images of flight, wings, feathers. They are widespread throughout Lithuania: both in historical sources (such as court cases against witches), and the folklore of previous ages, poetry. Another common characteristic of a bird and a priest, poet, bard is singing. All these features of birds can be found in Lithuanian spiritual culture, from mythology to literature, so it can be considered as a sort of ‘Lizdeika thread’ within it