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What sacred objects were kept in an Udmurt kuala?
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In the Udmurt kuala, a small log shrine used for ancestral worship, the primary sacred object kept is the voršud.12
The voršud is a container, typically made of birchbark, that serves as a receptacle for offerings and is believed to house the spirit of the "luck protector" who watches over the family's welfare. This sacred case is placed on a shelf located on the back wall of the shrine, resting upon a bed of deciduous and coniferous tree branches that are renewed during ceremonies.3412
In addition to the container itself, the voršud may contain an image or representation of the ancestral spirit, which could be fashioned from materials such as metal, clay, wood, or dough.3