Dazhbog and Lada

The sea god, Tsar Mora, had nine beautiful daughters who lived in grottoes in the blue-green depths of the sea. His favourite child of all was Lada. She was fair of face and her tresses were long and golden. Every day she would row on the sea and out to the ocean in a golden boat with silver oars. The great whales and dancing porpoises kept her company and listened in wonder to the mysterious, captivating songs that welled up from the depths of her soul.

One day, Dazhbog the sun god was crossing the heavens in his gleaming chariot drawn by twelve fire-breathing horses with golden manes. As he passed, he leaned out to gaze upon the lovely siren whose sad notes had reached his ears. Lada looked up and playfully splashed some water at him, and immediately the sun god fell deeply in love with her. He descended on a sunbeam to the seashore and called for Tsar Mora, imploring him to allow his daughter to join him in the Golden Palace of the East. The sea god became angry: 'Give up my precious daughter--Lada? It's unthinkable!' He ordered his giant sea horses to thrash and trample upon Dazhbog until he fell senseless under their feet.

But Dazhbog's father, the diving tsar of the sky, Svarog the all-powerful god, heard the cries of his child, and caused a black cloud to blo out the rays of the sun. In the darkness, Dazhbog was able to escape from the power of the Tsar Mora, but he resolved to win Lada despite her father's opposition to the marriage.

Together with his faithful brother, Svarozhich the fire god, who knew the weaknesses of women, Dazhbog devised a plan. Along the seashore they spread out a collection of glamorous dresses and a pair of wonderful green slippers. Then they hid behind a nearby oak tree. The young goddess saw these lovely things from her boat, and they so took her fancy that she rowed quickly to admire and to take them. As her boat touched the sand Svarozhich leaped out, snatched her away, and carried her to his brother. When he learned of this, Tsar Mora raged with fury. He raised up mighty storms whose waves smashed angrily against the cliffs. But Lada was never to return to her watery home. She married Dazhbog and because of her radiant beauty she was given charge of spring, the season of light, life and growth. In due time she bore Dazhbog a son, who was named Iarilo.

A Russian Folktale, retold by Charles Downing, called:

The Frost, the Sun, and the Wind

 A peasant was walking along a country road when he met the Frost, the Sun, and the Wind journeying together in the opposite direction.

 'Greetings!' said the peasant, and went his way.

 'Which one of us did the peasant greet?' asked the Frost, after a while.

 'Me, of course,' said the Sun, 'so that I should not burn him up.'

 'Nonsense!' said the Frost. 'He greeted me, for none is so feared by mortal man as I.'

 'You are both wrong,' said the Wind. 'It was I he greeted.'

 They quarrelled and argued and almost came to blows, but they could reach no decision.

 'Since there is such dissension between us,' they said, 'let us catch the peasant up and ask him.'

 This they did.

 'Whom did you greet, brother?' they asked.

 'The Wind,' replied the peasant.

 'You shall not forget me, my fine peasant friend!' said the Sun. 'I shall broil you and cook you with my rays!'

 'Have no fear, friend,' said the Wind. 'I shall blow on you and cool you with my soft breezes.'

'I shall freeze you into a block of ice, peasant!' threatened the Frost.

 'Have no fear, brother,' said the Wind. 'There is no Frost, if I do not blow.'