Nyyrikki- Finnish GodDeity"Son of Tapio"
Description
When Finnish hunters entered the forest, they sang to Nyyrikki, son of the forest king Tapio and the young god of the chase, asking him to drive game from the thickets and guide their arrows true. Without his favor, the forest yielded nothing.
Mythology & Lore
Son of the Forest King
Nyyrikki was the son of Tapio, king of the forest, and Mielikki, its honey-rich mistress. His sister Tuulikki tended the animals in their woodland clearings. Among Tapiola's divine family, Nyyrikki governed the forest's hidden paths, the trails that animals traveled, the routes through bog and thicket that only the forest gods could reveal. Young and quick where his father was ancient and still, he was the god of the chase.
The Hunter's Prayer
Hunters called on Nyyrikki before entering the forest, asking him to rouse game from hiding, drive animals toward their position, and guide arrows to the mark. The prayers were direct: not vague appeals for luck but requests to a god who decided where the elk walked and whether the hare broke from cover.
A hunter who spoke the words well and meant them would find game along the trails Nyyrikki had opened. A hunter who entered the woods in careless silence might wander all day and sight nothing. Every kill was a gift from Nyyrikki's keeping, and the meat could not be wasted. The forest had to be respected.
Relationships
- Family