Kultapyörä

Väinölä

Names:	Suvanto Ulakkala Ulakkola Ulappala Unnukkala Väinälä Väinölä

Väinölä and Ulappala are place names which appear in runosongs. Sometimes, they are synonymous with Pohjola; this explains why the dog, which is called the "blind one of Ulappala", is sometimes described as having been born from the "blind maiden/wife of Pohjola" and sometimes from "Väinölä's blind old man" (Väinämöinen, see ukko "old man" vs uppo- "completely; sinking", and impi "maiden" vs umpi- "closed; completely").

The names also appear as the home of Väinämöinen, who is called Väinälän vasikka "the calf of Väinälä", ukko Väinölän sokea "Väinölä's blind old man", and Ulappalan umpisilmä "the closed eye of Ulappala". These seem to be some of the factors which cause confusion in the incantations of the origin of the dog: the mixing of Pohjola and Väinölä, and of Louhi and Väinämöinen. In 1789, Christfrid Ganander did not seem to understand this discrepancy either and called "Ulappala" the "mother of dogs".

All names associated with Väinölä are related to water, which is further supported by Karelian runosongs which use Väinölä as a term referring to the underwater world of water maidens. However, according to Forest Finnish beliefs, Väinämöinen's home is located in the stars.

Etymology

Väinölä, variants	From väinä "stream pool".
Ulappala, variants	From ulappa "open water".
Suvanto	From suvanto "stream pool".
-la, -lä	Denotes a place.

Runosongs of interest

Only in Finnish, sorry. This is the source material.

• SKVR XII2 7806, the dog is called the blind one of Ulappala.
• SKVR XII2 8003, Väinämöinen is called the blind one of Ulappala.
• SKVR XV 326, Louhi is called the blind one of Ulappala.
• SKVR XV 325, Louhi is impregnated by wind and gives birth to the dog (in another runosong of the same origin, the same words are used to refer to a maiden so this can't be a reference to a male figure giving birth).
• SKVR IX4 1524, Väinämöinen is called the blind one of Ulappala and then asked to make a dog silent.