Rituals and Burial Masks in Shamanism Belief

The masks are artificial faces and helmets made of different materials and put on face and head for the purposes such as protection, not being recognized, appearing beautiful. The meaning and function of masks depend on the binding. And they are categorized in two: ritual and burial masks. While ritual masks are made for livings, burial ones are made for deaths. Thanks to the scientific studies made in Siberia, Altai and especially in Yenisei region, a good number of masks, bust, puppet and masks carved on the rocks as well as animal-figure drawings have been found. In this context in rituals and ceremonies performed by the Shaman(Kam)to gain the mercy of the spirits and gods who govern nature and to be pleasant to them, the shaman, who govern the ritual, wears the appropriate mask and helmet. It is known that the mask worn by Hakas or Yakut shamans in the ritual symbolizes the animal or entity to which he or she belongs. Masks called burials and busts were applied to the skulls of the large and final burials made in a few years. Here are some purposes. Burial masks are to prevent and disguise any deformation of the head of death, to deny surrendering to the death and to recognize bodies in huge burial. The body of the deceased person shall be kept in temporary place until the final burial by the family and community of which he is a member. Dummy-mannequins were built as a place to find the spiritual soul of the deceased, and the ashes of the burnt corpse were placed in this puppet. The burial masks and bustings were made of plaster stone clay in general; the burial mannequins were prepared from animal skins. The society tries its best to prepare the deaths for the ultimate burial and does not cease its spiritual contact with the past, which has their own cultural memory. The spiritual bond with which the people are trying to protect is the foundation of their future