More on Tengrism
In our initial exploration of Tatar mythology, we introduced Təñre (Tengri), Umay, and Cir-Su as the prominent deities, stemming from the universal Turkic beliefs rooted in Tengrism.
Tengrist cosmology depicts a division into three worlds: the upper realms (heaven), Earth, and the underworld, each inhabited by diverse beings influencing one another. Legend tells of the Tree of Life, planted by Qayra Khan, connecting the underworld, sky, and earth. Its branches uphold the heavens, while its roots reach the depths of the earth's layers. According to folklore, the nine Turkic tribes trace their lineage to its branches.
The celestial and subterranean layers host beings with distinct souls, shamans, and nature spirits. The heavenly world, pure and bright, is home to righteous souls and protective deities, accessible to shamans on spiritual journeys. In contrast, the underworld harbors wicked souls, devils, and evil deities.
Deities
Let’s learn more about the Tengrist entities that inhabit the celestial layers.
Qayra, the god of the highest sky, space, atmosphere, light, and life, and a son of Kök Tengri. Qayra Khan has four sons: Ülgen, Erlik, Mergen, and Kızağan. As a deity of great power, he encompasses both masculine and feminine aspects, representing a neutral and encompassing force in the universe.
"Erlik ve köpek" by Bartu Bölükbaşı
Erlik Khan, a son of Qayra, governs the underworld, overseeing souls awaiting rebirth. Descriptions of Erlik portray him as an aged figure with black, thick, curly hair, a large black mustache, and a knee-length beard. He dresses in seven bear skins and sleeps on seven black beavers. He is appeased through sacrifices to avert disasters. People avoid saying his name, calling him Qara Nama (“something dark”) instead. Erlik's realm, guided by him and his sons, encompasses lakes, rivers, and seas. Kams (shamans) negotiate with Erlik to revive the sick, with failure resulting in death.
Nighttime sacrifices, involving weak or sick animals animals, were conducted to please him. Erlik has nine sons, collectively known as the Black Sons, who guide shamans in their subterranean journeys. Erlik’s nine daughters, referred to as the Black Girls, attempt to seduce and distract the shamans during their ceremonies.
Ülgen, the oldest son of Qayra and Umay (also known as the Guiding Spirits) and Erlik’s biggest enemy, is a god of mercy and forgiveness, influencing lives based on spontaneous acts of kindness.
"Bay Ülgen" by Bartu Bölükbaşı
"Bay Mergen" by Bartu Bölükbaşı
Mergen, another son of Qayra, embodies reason and wisdom, often depicted holding a bow and arrow. Mergen resides on the seventh sky floor. He is portrayed as a powerful, helmeted young man on a white horse.
Kızağan, a Turkic war deity, is often portrayed with a sword or bow and a horn, holding a rainbow wand. Depicted as a strong, helmeted young man on a red horse, he's a powerful god associated with strength and invincibility. The youngest of the Qayra's sons, he lives on the ninth sky floor. He aids commanders in winning battles and protecting warriors.
The philosophy of Tengrism
Tengrism revolves around the worship of nature, and its followers seek harmony with the natural world. Ancestor worship is a crucial aspect, as Tengrists believe in maintaining a deep connection with the dead ones, honoring their wisdom and guidance. Moreover, a woman’s role in the Tengrist Turkic societies was quite prominent, with a lot of female diplomats, generals, and governors.
The cosmic worldview of Tengrism involves the spiritual significance of various elements, including celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars, as well as earthly components such as mountains, rivers, and trees. This interconnectedness underscores the very nature of Tengrism, where both the spiritual and physical realms are intertwined in a harmonious balance. Tengrism advocates for the responsible use of resources like the earth and animals, limiting it to bare necessities; for instance, hunting is permitted only until the family's needs are met. Exploitation and greed have no place in Tengrism. There is no sacred book that tells you how to live your life: you should figure it out yourself. Tengrism doesn’t exclude: its elements are seamlessly integrated into our modern religions, and even followers of other religions who have lived a good and honest life, are believed to be rewarded by Tengri.
Even though there are a lot of fantastical elements in Tengrism, the respect for nature, animals and other people is as down-to-earth of a concept as it gets. Over time, the polytheistic nature of Tengrism lost its significance, with believers acknowledging Tengri as a supreme god and the most important entity who rules over all people. Rituals and ceremonies often center around maintaining balance, seeking blessings from Tengri, and expressing gratitude to the spirits that inhabit the natural world.
Regardless of your religious beliefs or lack thereof, do you think there are lessons that we can learn from our ancestor’s beliefs and values?
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