The narrator: sacred tradition and Geseriada

In the Buryat ethnic and cultural tradition, the epic “Geser” was perceived as a tale of divine origin due to the significant role of Tengri-celestials. Therefore, the epic was performed by those who authentically knew Tengri mythology, genealogy of shamanistic deities, ancient rites and sacred texts. Many of Baikal Region uliger-shins were hereditary shamans. The shamanic formula of the electiveness was extended to the performers of heroic epic as well. The performance of “Geser” had a sacral and iconic character because the hero image as an expression of the Buryat bards’ uranic representations of the epic hero - the son of the heaven - was the legend core.