Zmijar is a name for a person which has power over snakes and knows the secrets of curing snake bites. It is interesting to note that a zmijari is always a man and that there are no records of a woman ever being one. Because of their extraordinary and supernatural characteristics a zmijar represented all that which designated a priest or a shaman during Illyrian times, he knew all the secrets of the world of snakes, primarily the way in which to communicate with them. Since a snake was considered to be a supreme deity to which various gifts were offered, especially food, which is a part of religious practice which existed among the Bosnian people until the last century in the form of leaving food for a snake - house keeper. According to snake's movements, its life habits and reproductive cycle the Illyrians determined time for religious practice but also of social practices tied to fertility such as a wedding. Tattooing motifs of a snake on one's skin, especially hands and face, the Illyrians wanted to provide close contact with their deity but also to connect to all their ancestors. That's why tattooing had a special significance in their tradition.
The thing that all zmijar had to have is nobleness and courage, also they were not allowed to kill any living beings, even if it was a spider or ant. Snakes had their special language, that is not like any language that exists among the humans.
Dautović Velaga better known under his nickname Velija from Marjanovac, was during his lifetime the best known zmijar in Velika Kladuša. He was always called for interventions when an invasion of snakes took place or when one would enter a house. His power over snakes was gained accidentally. During WWII he found a sheet of paper with magical formulas in a pocket of a dead solider, uttering these formulas he gained mysterious powers over snakes. He didn't trust the secret communication with snakes to anyone, and he took it to his grave. However, more mystery was caused when a jar was unearthed from his yard which contained an amulet containing Arabic script and a completely parched snake?! Still, the most important details of his ability was the fact that Velija communicated with the snakes using telepathy so that he was able to chase snakes out of a house which was thirty kilometres away from him, while he was lying in his bed.
Hajrudin Keran from Jajce is the second zmijar who gained his powers of contact with snakes during childhood. According to legends snakes saved him from his father's constant abuse. -On one occasion while I was looking after a heard of sheep in the mountains, my father came furious and for no reason he started beating me savagely. Hajrudin, then a boy eight years old, managed to somehow escape from him and all scared and tearful he ran into the woods. While running he asked god for help. According to his words all of a sudden snakes appeared in front of him and covered him with their bodies. - I'm shaking, I was looking at my father as he searched for me, but he didn't see me. On that occasion he spent a few days with the snakes which fed and took care of him. After that, Hajrudin gained the ability to communicate with the snakes by which he gained knowledge of numerous secrets of nature. He never misused his power and he was always ready to help in case a snake had to be chased out of the house or property. Hajrudin did it in his own way, with respect towards the snake.
