A STUDY FOR THE IDEAS OF EVIL SPIRITS IN MODERN FOLKLORE OF THE TATARS

The article is devoted to the study of one of the most common characters of evil spirits djen in modern mythological representations of the Tatars. The paper analyzes the mythological ideas about djen (devil), its genesis, appearance, specific functions and plots associated with the implementation of its characteristics, rituals performed to prevent or get rid of its harmful effects.In the course of the study, the plot motives of replacing a child, going to a widow in the image of a deceased husband, sending an illness, confusing a person out of the way, introducing into a person, characteristic of this character, are considered. The author comes to the conclusion that the concept of djen, having penetrated the era of the spread of Islam, has changed in accordance with the worldview of the host culture, and at the present stage, along with a set of relatively stable own characters, this character has received a new interpretation as a substitute character for the evil spirit in general. The field recordings collected for the first time by the author of this article primarily in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2006-2018 are introduced for the first time in the article.