Dievas (Lithuanian god)
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Dievas (sometimes Praamžius or Okopirmas in folklore) is the god of the sky, lightness, peace and friendship in Lithuanian mythology. He is the prompter of vegetation. His animals are horses, stags, bulls and small birds. His sacred trees are birches, ryes and other deciduous trees. He is also the creator in the Lithuanian sagas. He awards good people and punishes hunks. Dievas is sometimes similar to Dievas Senelis, but he has great creative power. One saga tells how Dievas was washing his face, when one dirty drop dropped on the ground and became a human. Dievas often goes with his brother (or creation) Velnias (Velinas, Patulas). Velnias is always trying imitate or stymie Dievas, but his works become evil and snags.
Dievas is said to have created the ground. He sent Velnias to the bottom of the primeval ocean and told him to bring up some dirt. Velnias was diving three times, but the water swilled the dirt from his hands. Then Dievas found some dirt under Velnias' nails. Dievas formed a seed of the dirt, and dropped it into the water. The seed became a small bit of earth. Dievas spent the night with Velnias on the bit. Velnias execrated Dievas and wanted to drown him, while he was sleeping. He took Dievas and started to pull him towards the water. Where Dievas glided, the earth grew.
Dievas' wife is called Dievų Motė or Lada.
Alternative: Deivas, Okopirmas, Deiwas (Prussian), Dievs (Latvian), Praamžius, Dyvas
See also: Dyaus Pita (Vedic), Odin (Norse), Dyeus, etc.