Where does the word “Shaman” originate?
The word shaman is the English translation of the word saman, which is Tungus, and mean’s “to know.” The Tungus are an indigenous people of Altai Mountains in Siberia. The word shaman in Tungus designates the shamanic way of life, experiences and beliefs rather then a religion. There is some debate as too where the word saman may even have come from, Eliade devotes a chapter on that subject. It appears as if the word saman is a derivative of the Tibetan word for Buddhist monk, samana. The word Shaman has since come to represent all those, outside of the original Siberian culture, who practice shaman like techniques. These include Witchdoctors, medicine men, Dreamwalker, and diviners. Although the shaman goes by many names in many cultures, it is a generally accepted term, to describe some one who fits the known description. Though there is no universal Native American word for shaman: there never the less were shamans. According to John Swanton author of Shamans and Priests: Handbook o
