<P> However, Mircea Eliade noted that the Sanskrit word śramaṇa, designating a wandering monastic or holy figure, has spread to many Central Asian languages along with Buddhism and could be the ultimate origin of the Tungusic word . This proposal has been thoroughly critiqued since 1917 . Ethnolinguist Juha Janhunen regards it as an "anachronism" and an "impossibility" that is nothing more than a "far - fetched etymology ." </P> <P> 21st - century anthropologist and archeologist Silvia Tomaskova argues that by the mid-1600s, many Europeans applied the Arabic term shaitan, meaning "devil," to the non-Christian practices and beliefs of indigenous peoples beyond the Ural Mountains . She suggests that shaman may have entered the various Tungus dialects as a corruption of this term, and then been told to Christian missionaries, explorers, soldiers and colonial administrators with whom the people had increasing contact for centuries . Ethnolinguists did not develop as a discipline nor achieve contact with these communities until the late 19th century, and may have mistakenly "read backward" in time for the origin of this word . </P> <P> There is no single agreed - upon definition for the word "shamanism" among anthropologists . The English historian Ronald Hutton noted that by the dawn of the 21st century, there were four separate definitions of the term which appeared to be in use . The first of these uses the term to refer to "anybody who contacts a spirit world while in an altered state of consciousness ." The second definition limits the term to refer to those who contact a spirit world while in an altered state of consciousness at the behest of others . The third definition attempts to distinguish shamans from other magico - religious specialists who are believed to contact spirits, such as "mediums", "witch doctors", "spiritual healers" or "prophets," by claiming that shamans undertake some particular technique not used by the others . Problematically, scholars advocating the third view have failed to agree on what the defining technique should be . The fourth definition identified by Hutton uses "shamanism" to refer to the indigenous religions of Siberia and neighboring parts of Asia . According to the Golomt Center for Shamanic Studies, a Mongolian organisation of shamans, the Evenk word shaman would more accurately be translated as "priest". </P> <P> Shamans may be called through dreams or signs . However, shamanic powers may be inherited . In traditional societies shamanic training varies in length, but generally takes years . </P>

Across the globe the role of a shaman is considered to be