#goddess of rain

marlingra:

Slavic mythological figures [4/?]  
↳ Perún, Dodola 

 Perún (often compared to Thor of the Norse mythological world), was considered the highest of all gods and was one of Svarog’s three sons. Perun was seen to be the creator and master of rain, lightning, and thunder.Perun is described as a rugged man with a copper beard. He rides in a chariot pulled by a goat buck and carries a mighty axe, or sometimes a hammer. The axe is hurled at evil people and spirits and will always return to his hand. 

 Diva-Dodola or Perúnica, Perperúna,  Preperuša is the Slavic goddess of rain, and the wife of the supreme god Perun. Slavs believed that when Dodola milks her heavenly cows, the clouds, it rains on earth. Each spring Dodola is said to fly over woods and fields, and spread vernal greenery, decorating the trees with blossoms.

     — When Perun walked in the garden of Iriy, he happened across Diva-Dodola, daughter of Dy, the god of the Starry Sky and thunder and Diviya, goddess of the moon. Perun was awstruck, and he eventually asked her to marry him. But the maiden was fearful of the thunderer and burst into tears as she ran away.Perun followed quickly behind her. He came to the house of Dy and asked for his approval and to appease him, so that he may win the hand of his daughter. He invited Perun in to converse over dinner. As they spoke, a great beast arose from the Black Sea, a three-headed snake. The snake began to wreak havoc, destroying all in it’s path and kidnapping Diva.

Hearing the monster’s roars, Dy and Perun came out of the palace to rescue Diva. As they approached, the snake remained at it’s golden chariot, pulled by eight half-horse/half- crow creatures. As the snake watched the gods approach, Diva was able to escape and proclaimed “I would have been glad to walk on the sea, but I walk across the sky, with thunder in the clouds I play!”. This angered the snake and darkness began to engulf the garden of Iriy, one of the snake’s heads began to spew sparks, while the second exhaled an icy wind. Finally the third head spoke, in a bellowing voice, “Return to me Diva-Dodola at once!” Ignoring this, Perun and Dy transformed into eagles and at once attacked the snake, striking it with thunder and lightning. Defeated, the monster was plunged back into it’s home at the bottom of the black sea. Victory had yet again been achieved by Perun. This battle had gained the approval of Dy, and soon he allowed Perun and Diva to marry, Diva had now become the Perúna – wife of Perun.