Ülgen

Bai-Ülgen or Ülgen (Old Turkic: 𐰈𐰞𐰏𐰅𐰣; Cyrillic: Үлгэн) is a Turkic creator-deity, usually distinct from Tengri but sometimes identified with him in the same manner as Helios and Apollo. His name is from Old Turkic bay, "rich", and ülgen, "magnificent". Ülgen is believed to be without either beginning or end.

For the village, see Ülgen, Hazro.
Ülgen
Planets, Stars, and Shamans
AbodeSky
SymbolPleiades
Ethnic groupTurkic peoples
Personal information
ParentsKayra
SiblingsUmay
Erlik
Koyash
Ay Tanrı

Features

In Tengrism, the birch tree, regarded as a cosmic axis between earth and sky, was regarded as sacred to him, as was the horse (horse-sacrifice was a part of his worship).[1] Ülgen symbolizes goodness, welfare, abundance, plentiness of food, water, etc. Furthermore, he created earth, heaven and all living beings. In addition, he controls the atmospheric events and movements of stars.[2] He creates land for people to live on, the heads of both humans and animals and the rainbow. He was regarded as the patron god of shamans and the source of their knowledge.

It is believed that Ülgen has been created from Kayra (Tengere Kayra Khan). He is the highest deity after Tengri in the pantheon. Often, Ülgen is compared with Tengri and at times they are thought to be on par, or even the same. In some sayings, the name/function of Ülgen may be (partially) interchangeable with that of Tengri.

Ülgen is described as the enemy of Erlik who is the god of evil and darkness. Ülgen assumes the protectorship of humankind against him.

Bai-Ülgen lives on the sixteenth floor of the sky above the stars, sun and moon in a golden house. Mere humans may never reach him, only shamans and kams who possess astral powers can. Animals are used for sacrifice in worship of him, especially horses. Once in every third, sixth, ninth, or twelfth year, a shaman may sacrifice a white horse as the first step of reaching Ülgen. Then he must ride its soul, penetrate through all the layers of heaven until he reaches Ülgen. Firstly, the kam (shaman) meets Yayık who is the servant of Ülgen. This entity informs the kam whether or not the offering has been accepted. If the sacrificial rite has been successful, the shaman is able to learn from the omniscient Ülgen of impending dangers, such as bad harvests.

Children of Ülgen

Ülgen has seven sons, the Ak oğlanlar (White Boys) or Kıyatlar:

Ak oğlanlar – Kıyatlar
the seven sons of Ülgen
   Khagan name    Han name    Role
1Karshyt KhaganKarşıt HanThe god of purity.
2Bura KhaganPura HanThe god of horses.
3Burcha KhaganBurça HanThe god of prosperity.
4Yashyl KhaganYaşıl HanThe god of nature.
5Karakush KhaganKarakuş HanThe god of birds.
6Kanym KhaganEr KanımThe god of confidence.
7Bakhty KhaganBaktı HanThe god of blessing

Ülgen also has nine daughters,[3][4][5] called Akkızlar or Kıyanlar, but no one knows their names. His daughters are source of inspiration for shamans.[6]

References
  1. Horse Sacrifice and The Shaman's Ascent to The Sky, Adapted from: Mircea Eliade
  2. Altay ve Şor Mitolojisinde Ülgen Tanrısı
  3. Türk mitosları ve Anadolu efsanelerinin izsürümü, Zühre İndirkaş, Can Göknil, 2007
  4. Türk mitolojisi, Murat Uraz, Page 86
  5. Mitolojiden efsaneye: Türk mitolojisinin Türkiye'deki efsanelerde izleri, Muharrem Kaya
  6. Türk Söylence Sözlüğü (Turkish Mythological Dictionary), Deniz Karakurt, e-Book (OTRS: CC BY-SA 3.0)

Bibliography
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