VELU MATE

[Latvian] Velu mate ("mother of veli") is the goddess of death and ruler of the realm of the dead. She receives the dead, but the living always try to deceive her in order to stay in this world for longer. The veli are supposed to be her children, although they are more likely the souls of the dead. She might be taken as a synonym to the Sun in this world (the parallels are between "si saule" - 'this sun, this world' and "vinsaule" or "aizsaule" - 'that world, the world behind', which is the realm of Velu Mate).