Slavic Mythology part III: How Chernobog wanted to capture the universe

Despite the different names, "the devil" is a dark figure in many modern and ancient religions. No matter how you call its persona - Satan, Iblis, Ravana, Apep, etc. - evil is part of many religions and even a part of life itself.

When it comes to Slavic Mythology, they also had a more sadistic figure associated with misfortune. This deity was called Czernobog, more commonly referred to as Chernobog. Due to the lack of written information, It's unclear whether or not this deity was really worshipped or merely offered a personification of bad fate or bad luck.

So, let us go back to the ancient times when Slavic gods still roamed the lands.

Once upon a time, many centuries ago, gloomy thoughts and injustice dominated the mind of the lord of darkness, Chernobog. So much so, that he yielded to the temptations of the world and planned to conquer it's beautiful lands, brave people and magnificent creatures.

So, one day, on a particular clement and sunlit day, he turned into a black serpent and crawled out of his lair. The soft grass stroked his steps yet he did not appreciate it. He wanted more. He wanted to corrupt the men of this world and turn them evil, based on his own image.

Rod, the creator of the world, sensed something was wrong. Something evil has descended on the soil of his pure creation. He knew something was to be done. So, on his throne in Irij, with the assistance of Lada, the goddess of love, he used the force of his mighty fiery hammer and forged more deities to help him look after his creation and the humans who wandered on its soil. The first to be born out of the forge fire was Perun, the supreme deity of lightning and thunder and next followed Dazhbog, the great god of the sun. Next came Dazhbog's 3 horses; silver, gold and diamond. The next descended Stribog, the powerful deity of winds, sky and air. Svarozhits, the deity of fire climbed out of the fire with bright eyes. Other deities followed until Rod knew their force was not to be reckoned with.

While Rod was busy creating the deities, the black serpent crawled upon the land to corrupt the pure-hearted men and women who lived upon it. He was determined to succeed and start something big, no one ever managed to do.

After the gods were created, Rod asked Perun and Dazhbog to descend to the land of humans to see what was happening. Upon realisation that Czernobog has succeeded in corrupting too many and a war between good and evil was about to start, they quickly returned to Irij to inform Rod of the course of events.

Rod heard them and quickly, he began striking his celestial forge to arm up his army, because to defeat Chernobog he had to fight with luminous intensity.

Yet, Chernobog was a step ahead already and as all evil, he was quick to spread. He corrupted the humans so much that he and his evil world forces eventually fought their way into the heavenly palace on top of the Axis Mundi tree. In their madness, they started to invade Rod's world forge itself.

Luckily, Rod seemed to be ahead of Chernobog already and created a magical chest. As soon as the evil appeared in the forge's doorway, Rod called for the aid of his children Gods and together they overcame the serpent and captured Chernobog in the chest.

The lord of darkness was defeated.

In his misery, he asked one favour from Rod. He asked him to spare his evil offspring, the corrupted humans of the world.

Rod agreed yet under one condition. He told Chernobog that never again could the world be controlled by darkness as a whole, and Chernobog had to agree.

The world of men was restored and half of the world again was covered in daylight shining from the Svarog's fiery forge, while the other half stayed in darkness, this is how the night and day cycle came onto the world of men.