Who is azazel in mythology. Azazel - who is it? Legends and religious traditions

  - An interesting science, if you can call it that. She gathered all the information about evil spirits and their appearance, tasks and sins.

As part of demonology, there are several classifications of demons, their hierarchy and history of occurrence. Many of the names of demons are familiar to us thanks to world literature, poems, songs, stories, and, of course, cinema.

There are demons whose names are often heard, but few know what they mean. That is, we hear the name of the demon, but do not attach any importance to it and do not understand what it is about.

It is worth understanding what these terrible creatures are. For example, take the demon Azazel. What is associated with this name? The hero of the famous novel by Mikhail Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita" Azazello.

If you recall, then Woland is the Devil himself, and his minions - Azazello and the cat Hippo are directly demons. So who is the demon Azazel?

Demon story

This creature is the personification of cunning and meanness. He knows how to fine-tune various events, do nasty things, build intrigues and in every way harm a person and not only.

Initially, the name Azazel is translated as “absolution” and an interesting story is associated with it. The Jewish people annually sent a goat to the desert, on which all the sins of the inhabitants were hung. The notion of a scapegoat, familiar to everyone, originates from this very story.

Before releasing the goat, one red rag was torn in two: half tied to the goat, the other half tied near the temple. When the goat left the city, the fabric at the temple should have changed its color from red to white - only then did the Israelites repentance of their sins be considered sincere and pure.

In addition, on this day a sacrifice was made in the form of a second goat, who was killed in the name of absolution. Some historians believe that demon azazel   appeared as a result of regular sacrifice and took the appropriate name and appearance.

The appearance of the demon

The appearance of Azazel is significantly different from other demons. If they look intimidating and creepy, Azazel has an ordinary human body, a goat beard and horns.

No hooves, hair on the body and a terrible muzzle - everything is much simpler. Often he is portrayed as an old man who walks with a black goat. Some sources say that this is all fiction, and the real appearance of the demon is completely different: it is a huge worm that lives in the underworld, and in the desert.

What can the demon Azazel give

This evil spirit is known for its meanness and mastery of deception and cunning, and therefore it is called for the appropriate purposes. In exchange for the soul and eternal torment in Hell, the demon is ready to help solve any problems that require cunning, meanness and deception.

He will help to achieve incredible success in any field. However, it is worth remembering that summoning a demon is not so easy. First, the clerk must be firmly confident and determined.

Secondly, I must prepare my questions and speech in advance in order to get down to business immediately. In addition, the demon is not so easy to call - he may simply refuse to come. It is also important to stock up on all the necessary attributes that can protect the creature from the wrath and prevent it from going beyond the altar and drawing.

This demon is not supreme, does not enter the top ruling in Hell, and does not have great strength and power. Despite this, thanks to his cunning, he lives quite well and does his dirty deeds without the participation of more powerful brothers.

Moreover, if we study the references to this demon, we can conclude that it is much younger than other evil spirits, which means that it loses to them in power.

The demon Azazel is one of the adherents of hell very famous in the popular culture, who is distinguished by his cunning and ability to plot. He was known from ancient times, and the ability to summon Azazel with a spell will allow you to achieve any vital heights. Unless, of course, you can control this cunning creature.

In the article:

Demon Azazel - when he appeared

Initially, Azazel was not called a demon, but gave this name to the famous scapegoat - a ritual animal, which the Jews sent annually to the desert, hanging on him all the sins of the people of Israel. During the Yom Kippur festival during the time of the Jerusalem Temple, one goat was ritually burned, and the other was taken to the desert. According to the legend, then a miracle happened - before taking the goat away, the cohen (priest) tore in two a piece of red cloth. One was attached near the Temple, and the second was hung on the neck of a goat. If the Israelites repented of their sins was sincere, then after this scapegoat was brought out of the city, the flag near the Temple changed its color from red to white. The meaning of the name Azazel was originally nothing more than a remission.

It was from this image that subsequently, after the final destruction of the Temple, the appearance of Azazel was formed. The demon Azazel is mentioned in one of the apocrypha - the famous book of Enoch. Many modern esotericists and demonologists believe that the demon itself is nothing more than received as a result of such massive sacrifices. And it was precisely because of them that the archetypal image of various demons and even the devil himself with a goat head arose for the European peoples.

In general, the first records of the personification of Azazel as a fallen angel and a demon responsible for all the deserts on Earth arose around the 3rd century BC.

The story of the fall of Azazel includes several different episodes. Some commentators considered it to be his snake-tempter, who seduced Eve by the forbidden fruit, but now, according to the established tradition, he stayed in this image. According to a well-established opinion, Azazel is still the one who gave men the art of handling weapons, and taught women how to create various drugs and use cosmetics. In addition, some consider him the patron of theft and theft of good fortune.

The image of Azazel - a fallen angel among other nations and its appearance

It is believed that Azazel has a very close to human appearance, in contrast to, for example. So, he was traditionally depicted as an old man with a beard and goat horns, who always walked with a black crowned goat. Other, more ancient Canaanic legends, identified Azazel with a huge worm living in the depths of the desert sands.

Speaking about the beliefs of other nations, many common features can be traced to Azazel with the Egyptian god Seth. He was also the patron saint of the desert, in ancient times - the protector of the power of the pharaohs, and later - the enemy of other Egyptian gods and one of the main personifications of evil. In addition, both Azazel among the Jews, and Seth among the Egyptians, patronized various foreign peoples, who, in their opinion, are far beyond the borders of deserts.

In addition, according to the tradition established in Judaism and Christianity, Azazel was at one time defeated by the angel Raphael. The archangel cast him into a dark hole in the middle of the desert and crushed him with a huge stone. Azazel himself is only waiting for the moment when he can again see the light. And this moment will come, according to legend, during the Last Judgment, when the traitor angel will be destroyed in the cleansing flame. Among Muslims, the name of this demon is a synonym for Iblis - the main traitor who refused to bow to Adam, for which he was overthrown by Allah.

Of particular note is the interpretation of the image of this demon by the famous Bulgakov. The name Azazello, transformed in the Spanish way, as well as its patron status of the waterless desert, clearly say that this character is the ancient Jewish demon. All of its attributes - mirrors, iron weapons, steel armor - were also mentioned in one way or another in legends and cultural traditions. In "The Master and Margarita," Azazello still performs in two guises - a seducer and a murderer.

How to summon Azazel - spell and summon rule

If you want to know the spell of Azazel's summoning, then, first of all, you should pay attention to the fact that this demon is the standard bearer of all Hell. So, he is unlikely to obey the weak and inexperienced magician. Therefore, the only ritual now preserved in demonology, dedicated to the call and submission of Azazel, requires thirteen participants.

13-ray star

Each of them is supposed to fast for thirteen days after the full moon. On the last day before the new moon, you need to do without even water. Fasting includes not only the rejection of meat food, but also from any kind of entertainment and sexual contact. After the fast is observed, exactly on the day of the new moon, you should come to a large wasteland, prepare thirteen black uninitiated wax candles and bring a black goat with you. Candles should be lit, and waxed on the ground. thirteen-pointed star in a circle. Each of the summoners should stand clearly on the basis of each beam, holding a candle in their hands.

After that, the goat should be tied in the center of this circle, and a crown of plants growing in the wasteland should be laid on its head. Best if the crown will consist of thorns and dried branches. Next, the spell is cast in chorus:

In cornu caput, Azazel!
  Cadens coram eis.
  Glorificamus te ignem,
  Gratias agimus tibi lux a flamma.
  Prope nos in conspectu eius,
  Præcipitate vincula tua disrumpam.
  Vitae - plurimi,
  Noster - quod est in potentia.
  Tollite hircum, qui sanctas
  Suum atrum res.
  Veni in corpore
  Illa revelat nobis mysteria sua.
  Ave, Azazel.
  Amen. Amen. Amen.

If everything was done correctly, and during the reading no one stumbled and made no mistakes, the spirit of the fallen angel will inhabit the goat and gain a body. Then he looks around each of those present. At that moment, when the demon will turn to the participants of the ritual, you should bow your head and not look into his eyes. At the same time, one must conceive and mentally pronounce the innermost desire. It will be fulfilled no later than by the full moon, but for its performance you will have to give something that is most dear to you. That is why they rarely resort to this ritual.

In general, the figure of this demon cannot boast of such great importance as the demon Gaap or Samael. But still, it is an important part of both ancient Jewish mythology and medieval and modern demonology. It is up to you to decide whether to appeal to the power of this mighty spirit.

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  Azazel - AZAZEL - The second-order demon, the Main Banner Bearer of the infernal army (I. Vier). Lord of the desert, akin to the Canaanite god of the scorching sun Asiz and the Egyptian Set. Azazel is a fallen Cherub, one of the leaders of the Observer angels who married women of the earth (Book of Enoch, c. 2 century BC). He taught men the weapons art, and women - the use of precious stones, jewelry and the art of face painting (cosmetics). Offspring from angels and mortal women - a race of giants - Azazel inspired in rebellion against God. For this, by order of the Almighty, he was chained by the archangel Raphael to the sharp rocks in the Dudail desert and covered in darkness until Judgment Day, when he will be cast into eternal flame. Ancient Jews once a year (on the festival of atonement Yom Kippur) sent to the desert as a sacrifice to black Azazel a goat , on which all the sins of the Jewish people were blamed on that day - this rite is described in the Bible (Leviticus 16, 10; in the synodal translation the word "Azazel" is translated as "absolution"). Azazel appears in the apocryphal "Testament of Abraham" (1st century), where he is depicted as an "unclean bird" sitting on a sacrifice made by Abraham (13, 4-9); identified with Hell   (sinners burn in the womb of the "evil worm of Azazel" 14, 5-6; 31, 5) and with the Serpent who seduced Eve ("a dragon with human arms and legs, having six wings on the shoulders on the right and six on the left," 23, 7) . Origen (3rd century) identified him with Satan. Rabbi of the 13th century Moses bin Namen writes: “The Lord ordered us to send the goat on Yom Kippur to the lord, whose possessions are in deserted places. The emanation of his power brings destruction and death ... He is connected with the planet Mars ... and his share among animals is a goat. Demons enter his possessions are called in the Scriptures seirim. " Seirim - the goat-like demons of the desert, repeatedly mentioned in the Bible (Leviticus, 17, 7; 2 Chronicles. 11, 15; Isaiah 34, 14) have long been considered subordinates of Azazel; perhaps his cult (the sacrifice of a goat) developed among the Jews under the influence of the ancient Semitic worship of seirim. According to magicians, Azazel appears as a bearded man with horns, leading a black goat in the crown. He can take things away and make sure no one ever finds them. It has great power in matters of destruction and damage. He must be conjured at least 6 times (which testifies to his power), but they say that the magicians who had meetings with him disappeared without a trace.    With Azazel, one can identify Azael (Asael, Azael, Azzael) - also one of the fallen angels who cohabited with earthly women, which is mentioned in the 6th chapter of the Book of Enoch, the Kabbalistic book "Zohar" and Talmudic texts. It is claimed that he taught people witchcraft, allowing the sun, moon, and stars to "descend from heaven" to make them closer objects of worship instead of God.
Also known in Muslim traditions, where Azazel is the name of Iblis (the devil), who refused to bow Adam , when he was an angel.

References in the literature:

* J. Milton "Paradise Lost" (1658-1667): Azaziel - one of the angels who fell with Satan, the standard bearer of Hell ("... He [Satan] ordered to raise his mighty banner. Azaziel - the giant Cherub - defends the right to unfold it ... ").

* M.A. Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita" (1929-1940): Azazello (the Italianized form of the Hebrew name) is one of the demons in Woland's retinue ("Azazello flew to the side of everyone, shining with steel armor. The moon changed his face. It disappeared. completely ridiculous ugly fang, and crooked-eyed turned out to be false. Both Azazello’s eyes were the same, empty and black, and his face was white and cold. Now Azazello flew in its present form, like a demon of a waterless desert, a killer demon ")

Azazel, Azazel is a negative character in Jewish mythology, a demonic creature.

Mention of Azazel can be found in the Bible, in the chapter describing the ritual of the "day of atonement." It was believed that on this day it was necessary to make two sacrifices as a sign of redemption: one to Yahweh, the other to Azazel. For this purpose, two goats were chosen on which the people, as it were, shifted their sins. That animal, which was intended as a sacrifice to the demon, was taken to the desert, where, according to legend, Azazel lived. In the Book of Enoch, Azazel is depicted in the guise of a tempter demon. According to the text of the book, the angel betrayed his god and was expelled from heaven. Having descended to the ground, he taught men how to make weapons and fight, and women how to apply paint on the face and etch the fruit.

Through his deeds, Azazel angered God, who ordered the archangel Raphael to chain the demon. On the Day of Judgment, Azazel will be thrown into the fire. Sometimes this demon is identified with Azael and Uza, who were considered fallen angels who had connections with earthly women. In some legends, the name Azazel is called Satan. Azazel is the traditional name of the demon, which can be found on the pages of literary works.

The legend of Azazel as one of the fallen angels arose quite late (not earlier than the 3rd century BC) in Jewish folklore and is recorded, in particular, in the famous apocryphal Book of Enoch. In the Book of Enoch, Azazel is the leader of the antediluvian giants who rebelled against God. He invented weapons and cosmetics, taught men to fight, and women - the art of deception, seduced people into godlessness and taught them debauchery.

Azazel is a second-order demon, the main standard bearer of the infernal army. Lord of the desert, akin to the Canaanite god of the scorching sun Asiz and the Egyptian Set. Azazel is a fallen Cherub, one of the leaders of the Observer angels who married women of the earth (Book of Enoch, c. 2 century BC). He taught men the weapons art, and women - the use of precious stones, jewelry and the art of face painting (cosmetics). Offspring from angels and mortal women - a race of giants - Azazel inspired in rebellion against God. For this, by order of the Almighty, he was chained by the archangel Raphael to the sharp rocks in the Dudail desert and covered in darkness until Judgment Day, when he will be cast into eternal flame. Once a year, the ancient Jews sent a black goat to Azazel as a sacrifice to Azazel, to the wilderness of Yom Kippur, on which all the sins of the Jewish people were blamed on that day - this rite is described in the Bible (Leviticus 16, 10; in the synodal translation the word "Azazel" "transmitted as" absolution "). Azazel appears in the apocryphal "Testament of Abraham" (1st century), where he is depicted as an "unclean bird" sitting on a sacrifice made by Abraham (13, 4-9); (sinners burn in the womb of the "evil worm of Azazel" 14, 5-6; 31, 5) is identified with the Serpent, who seduced Eve ("a dragon with human arms and legs, with six wings on the shoulders on the right and six on the left," 23, 7) . Origen (3rd century) identified him with Satan. Rabbi of the 13th century Moses bin Namen writes: “The Lord ordered us to send the goat on Yom Kippur to the lord, whose possessions are in deserted places. The emanation of his power brings destruction and death ... He is connected with the planet Mars ... and his share among animals is a goat. Demons enter his possessions are called in the Scriptures seirim. " Seirim - the goat-like demons of the desert, repeatedly mentioned in the Bible (Leviticus, 17, 7; 2 Chronicles. 11, 15; Isaiah 34, 14) have long been considered subordinates of Azazel.

According to magicians, Azazel appears as a bearded man with horns, leading a black goat in the crown. He can take things away and make sure no one ever finds them. It has great power in matters of destruction and damage. He must be conjured at least 6 times (which testifies to his power), but they say that the magicians who had meetings with him disappeared without a trace.

With Azazel, one can identify Azael (Asael, Azael, Azzael) - also one of the fallen angels who cohabited with earthly women, which is mentioned in the 6th chapter of the Book of Enoch, the Kabbalistic book "The Zohar" and Talmudic texts. It is claimed that he taught people witchcraft, allowing the sun, moon, and stars to "descend from heaven" to make them closer objects of worship instead of God.
It is also known in Muslim traditions, where Azazel is the name of Iblis (the devil), who refused to bow to Adam, when he was an angel.

According to legend, Aza and Azael (Azazel) are connected by an iron chain somewhere in the mountains of the East, all the great wizards and magicians of eastern civilizations studied with them. Bilam (Balaam), a man with an open eye, the great-grandson of Laban, the spiritual antipode of Moses, went to Aza and Azael in Ararai Kedem to study. Angel Azazel taught people how to make swords and different types of weapons, and how to mine metals, and use precious stones ...

Azazel is mentioned in the Torah: “And Aron will draw lots for two goats: one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for Azazel” (Vaikra, 16: 8)

The fate of Azazeel is surprisingly similar to the fate of one of the characters in the Greek epic - the titan Prometheus. Prometheus translated from Greek - seer. Prometheus was chained to a rock, in the mountains on the edge of the earth in the country of the Scythians, for the fact that he taught cruel, antediluvian people of the Copper Age (opposing the will of Zeus) crafts and arts. He gave them knowledge, stole fire for them from Hephaestus, humbled the bull and horse for the carts and chariots of a man, discovered the power of medicines for people, built the first ship.

Strictly speaking, this fallen angel cannot be considered a demon, because it was originally created for the benefit of people. But it so happened that AZAZEL performed a demonic function.

Azazel was originally an angel. But then he turned away from God and, not afraid of his anger, rebelled against him. He joined the other fallen angels and began to fight against God. The archangels were ordered to destroy him, but Azazel was very strong. The archangels could not cope with it.

Angel who lost wings

God, seeing that this fallen angel cannot be destroyed, ordered one of his favorite heroes - Archangel Raphael to chop off his wings, and then throw the oath-criminal to Hell. Azazel ended up in Hell, but there he continued to fight against the "tyranny of God."

This is stated in the Bible, and it describes scenes of the life and fall of this angel. It tells about the hunt for him, moreover, in more detail. Of course, it is not a fact that this historical person really existed on our planet, but this myth from somewhere became known to many ancient inhabitants of the Earth.

In addition to the Bible, the name Azazel is mentioned in other sources. In some texts he is called Nahasha or the snake-tempter. In ancient Greek mythology, he is Prometheus, who gave fire to people. Among other nations, he is referred to as Mutu - the god who personifies the underworld.

The name of Seth is also known, he is also attributed to this fallen angel. The name is translated from Arabic and Aramaic as a "scapegoat" or a demon of the desert. Azazel is able to seduce a person, lead him along, but this path is false and, as a rule, sinful.

Scapegoat

Judea is a country that really existed in antiquity, and a rite associated with the name of Azazel was adopted there. It was called the day of "scapegoat." But usually they sacrificed a calf and two goats. One goat was killed as a sacrifice for sins, and the second was sent "to the desert to Azazel."

That animal that went to the fallen angel could even survive, because where the hell was, none of the people knew. The goat was taken out into the desert and thrown there. The animal could return to its former owners and those, as a rule, were silent about this.

Those animals that were killed for the remission of sins were burned. But not only the goats were sacrificed, but they could also kill in the name of Azazel a ram, a goat, a dove or a dove. They also burned a small portion of flour and grain. Incidentally, this rite was also adopted by the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt, as well as the inhabitants of Ancient Asia. The rite was not very aesthetic and was abandoned already in the Middle Ages.

Some sources say that Azazel is the one who "must be sent out." In other manuscripts it is said that this was the name of the rock, from where they threw themselves into the abyss of the sacrificial goat. In the books of the Torah, it is reported that this word also refers to "sub-options" of spiritual forces. These powers are used by God to punish people for their crimes.

Of course, the image of Azazel was used in the literature. Recall, for example, Azazello by Mikhail Bulgakov in the novel “The Master and Margarita”, the novel “Azazel” by Boris Akunin. Azazel is also found in the American subculture, namely in comics, in films about X-Men. This character is found among the Japanese, the British and other peoples.