The Three Worlds
Cosmic Structure
Cosmic Details
- Type: Cosmological Myth
- Culture: Pan-Slavic
- Similar to: Yggdrasil, Axis Mundi
- Main Elements: World Tree
- Themes: Cosmic Order
The Three Realms
- Prav - Heavenly realm
- Yav - Earthly realm
- Nav - Underworld
- Connected by World Tree
- Shamanic journeys between
The Cosmic Order
Slavic cosmology divided the universe into three realms connected by the World Tree (usually an oak or ash):
- Prav - The heavenly realm of gods, order, and light
- Yav - The earthly realm of humans and visible reality
- Nav - The underworld of spirits, ancestors, and chaos
The World Tree's roots reached into Nav, its trunk stood in Yav, and its branches touched Prav. Birds perched in its branches, while snakes coiled around its roots.
Spiritual Significance
Shamans and heroes could travel between worlds by climbing the World Tree. This concept appears in folk tales where heroes descend to Nav to rescue souls or gain wisdom.
The three realms reflect the Slavic tripartite worldview seen in their social structure, with priests/rulers (Prav), warriors (Yav), and farmers/craftsmen (Nav).
After Christianization, Prav became associated with heaven, Yav with earth, and Nav with hell, though some pagan elements persisted in folk beliefs.