한국과 인도의 천연두신의 존재양상과 의미 -서울 왕십리 아기씨와 인도 벵갈루루 안남마를 중심으로-

Abstract

This study studied the patterns and meanings of smallpox disease being deified in different regions. Since faith is also a historical and cultural product, different natural environments and socio-cultural backgrounds recognize disease equally or differently. We studied how smallpox diarrhea is recognized in India, where smallpox occurred, and in Korea, where smallpox was transmitted. For this purpose, the same goddess and local village god in Annamma, Bengaluru, India, and A-gi-ssi in Wangsibri, Korea, were targeted. Even though smallpox was recognized as a female deity in both places, it appeared as a mother deity in India and a young woman without children in Korea. Indian smallpox gods were indigenous, land-mother and grand mother. Smallpox was a disease that occurred in India, and it was an inevitable problem that existed from the beginning like nature. The best cure for this disease was to get sick and pass immunity. Therefore, as if immunity can be obtained from a mother with smallpox immunity, we tried to obtain immunity through encounter with Annamma who is smallpox god and mother god. In Korea, smallpox was a disease that was introduced from the outside and the purpose was to treat it well. These qualities were perceived as coming from outside and not settling in the community, and were like the situation of a young woman who had no offspring in the past. In Korea, female smallpox gods appeared to be young women with no offspring. In India, smallpox gods were enshrined in the center of the village and existed as a temple. On the other hand, in Korea, it was not common to serve as a village god. In the case of Wangsibri, who served as the village god, he was trying to imprison the disease and death of the area in the late Joseon period. The reason why there are several ‘A-gi-ssi-dang’ in Wangsibri is also due to the expansion of regional issues.