Tengrism (also known as Tengriism, Tengerism, or Tengrianism) is an ethnic and old state Turko-Mongolic
religion originating in the Eurasian steppes,
based on folk shamanism, animism and generally centered around the titular sky god Tengri.[1] Tengri was not
considered a deity in the usual sense,
but a personification of the universe.[2] The purpose of life is, according to the Tengris view, to live in
harmony with the universe.[3]
Peak of Khan Tengri at sunset.
It was the prevailing religion of the Turks, Mongols, Bulgars, Xiongnu, Huns and possibly the Hungarians, and
the state religion of several medieval
states: First Turkic Khaganate, Western Turkic Khaganate, Eastern Turkic Khaganate, Old Great Bulgaria, First
Bulgarian Empire, Volga Bulgaria, and
Eastern Tourkia (Khazaria), Mongol Empire. In Irk Bitig, a ninth century manuscript on divination, Tengri is
mentioned as Türük Tängrisi (God of Turks).
[4] According to many academics, Tengrism was a predominantly polytheistic religion based on shamanistic
concept of animism, and during the imperial period,
especially by the 12th–13th centuries, Tengrism was mostly monotheistic.[5] Abdulkadir Inan argues that Yakut
and Altai shamanism are not entirely equal to
the ancient Turkic religion.[6]
The term also describes several contemporary Turko-Mongolic native religious movements and teachings. All
modern adherents of "political" Tengrism
are monotheists.[7]
Tengrism has been advocated in intellectual circles of the Turkic nations of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan with
Kazakhstan) and Russia (Tatarstan,
Bashkortostan) since the dissolution of the Soviet Union during the 1990s. Still practiced, it is undergoing
an organized revival in Buryatia,
Sakha (Yakutia), Khakassia, Tuva and other Turkic nations in Siberia. Altaian Burkhanism and Chuvash Vattisen
Yaly are movements similar to Tengrism.
Tengri can either refer to the sky deity or refer also to other deities (compare this with the concept of
Kami).
Tengrism is centered on the worship of the tngri (gods), with Tengri (Heaven, God of Heaven) being one of
them. In the Mongolian folk religion,
Genghis Khan is considered one of the embodiments, if not the main embodiment, of Tengri's will.[8]
Tengrists view their existence as sustained by the eternal blue sky (Tengri), the fertile mother-earth spirit
(Eje) and a ruler regarded as
the chosen one by the holy spirit of the sky. Heaven, earth, spirits of nature and ancestors provide for every
need and protect all humans.
By living an upright, respectful life, a human will keep his world in balance and perfect his personal Wind
Horse, or spirit. The Huns of the
northern Caucasus reportedly believed in two gods: Tangri Han (or Tengri Khan), considered identical to the
Persian Esfandiyār and for whom horses
were sacrificed, and Kuar (whose victims are struck by lightning).[52]
Tengrism is centered on the worship of the Tengri (gods) and the sky deity Tengri (Heaven, God of Heaven). [8]
This is similar to Taoism and Tengri is often linked to the Chinese Tian. Kök Tengri (Blue Sky) is the sky
deity and often considered as the highest god, father of gods, similar to Susanoo. It is known as Tangara to
the Yakut.[94]
Other deities include:[95]
Umay (The Turkic root umāy originally meant 'placenta, afterbirth') is the goddess of fertility and virginity.
Umay resembles earth-mother goddesses found in various other world religions and is the daughter of Tengri.
Öd Tengri is the god of time being not well-known, as it states in the Orkhon stones, "Öd tengri is the ruler
of time" and a son of Kök Tengri.
Boz Tengri, like Öd Tengri, is not known much. He is seen as the god of the grounds and steppes and is a son
of Kök Tengri.
Kayra is the Spirit of God. Primordial god of highest sky, upper air, space, atmosphere, light, life and son
of Kök Tengri.
Ülgen is the son of Kayra and Umay and is the god of goodness. The Aruğ (Arı) denotes "good spirits" in Turkic
and Altaic mythology. They are under the order of Ülgen and do good things on earth.[96]
Mergen is the son of Kayra and the brother of Ülgen. He represents mind and intelligence. He sits on the
seventh floor of the sky. Since he knows everything, he can afford everything.
Erlik is the god of death and the underworld, known as Tamag.
Ay Dede is the moon god.
The highest group in the pantheon consisted of 99 tngri (55 of them benevolent or "white" and 44 terrifying or
"black"); 77 "earth-spirits";
and others. The tngri were called upon only by leaders and great shamans and were common to all the clans.
After these, three groups of ancestral
spirits dominated. The "Lord-Spirits" were the souls of clan leaders to whom any member of a clan could appeal
for physical or spiritual help. The
"Protector-Spirits" included the souls of great shamans and shamanesses. The "Guardian-Spirits" were made up
of the souls of smaller shamans and
shamanesses and were associated with a specific locality (including mountains, rivers, etc.) in the clan's
territory.[97]
Tengrism (also known as Tengriism, Tengerism, or Tengrianism) is an ethnic and old state Turko-Mongolic
religion originating in the Eurasian steppes,
based on folk shamanism, animism and generally centered around the titular sky god Tengri.[1] Tengri was not
considered a deity in the usual sense,
but a personification of the universe.[2] The purpose of life is, according to the Tengris view, to live in
harmony with the universe.[3]
Peak of Khan Tengri at sunset.
It was the prevailing religion of the Turks, Mongols, Bulgars, Xiongnu, Huns and possibly the Hungarians, and
the state religion of several medieval
states: First Turkic Khaganate, Western Turkic Khaganate, Eastern Turkic Khaganate, Old Great Bulgaria, First
Bulgarian Empire, Volga Bulgaria, and
Eastern Tourkia (Khazaria), Mongol Empire. In Irk Bitig, a ninth century manuscript on divination, Tengri is
mentioned as Türük Tängrisi (God of Turks).
[4] According to many academics, Tengrism was a predominantly polytheistic religion based on shamanistic
concept of animism, and during the imperial period,
especially by the 12th–13th centuries, Tengrism was mostly monotheistic.[5] Abdulkadir Inan argues that Yakut
and Altai shamanism are not entirely equal to
the ancient Turkic religion.[6]
The term also describes several contemporary Turko-Mongolic native religious movements and teachings. All
modern adherents of "political" Tengrism
are monotheists.[7]
Tengrism has been advocated in intellectual circles of the Turkic nations of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan with
Kazakhstan) and Russia (Tatarstan,
Bashkortostan) since the dissolution of the Soviet Union during the 1990s. Still practiced, it is undergoing
an organized revival in Buryatia,
Sakha (Yakutia), Khakassia, Tuva and other Turkic nations in Siberia. Altaian Burkhanism and Chuvash Vattisen
Yaly are movements similar to Tengrism.
Tengri can either refer to the sky deity or refer also to other deities (compare this with the concept of
Kami).
Tengrism is centered on the worship of the tngri (gods), with Tengri (Heaven, God of Heaven) being one of
them. In the Mongolian folk religion,
Genghis Khan is considered one of the embodiments, if not the main embodiment, of Tengri's will.[8]
Tengrists view their existence as sustained by the eternal blue sky (Tengri), the fertile mother-earth spirit
(Eje) and a ruler regarded as
the chosen one by the holy spirit of the sky. Heaven, earth, spirits of nature and ancestors provide for every
need and protect all humans.
By living an upright, respectful life, a human will keep his world in balance and perfect his personal Wind
Horse, or spirit. The Huns of the
northern Caucasus reportedly believed in two gods: Tangri Han (or Tengri Khan), considered identical to the
Persian Esfandiyār and for whom horses
were sacrificed, and Kuar (whose victims are struck by lightning).[52]
Tengrism is centered on the worship of the Tengri (gods) and the sky deity Tengri (Heaven, God of Heaven). [8]
This is similar to Taoism and Tengri is often linked to the Chinese Tian. Kök Tengri (Blue Sky) is the sky
deity and often considered as the highest god, father of gods, similar to Susanoo. It is known as Tangara to
the Yakut.[94]
Other deities include:[95]
Umay (The Turkic root umāy originally meant 'placenta, afterbirth') is the goddess of fertility and virginity.
Umay resembles earth-mother goddesses found in various other world religions and is the daughter of Tengri.
Öd Tengri is the god of time being not well-known, as it states in the Orkhon stones, "Öd tengri is the ruler
of time" and a son of Kök Tengri.
Boz Tengri, like Öd Tengri, is not known much. He is seen as the god of the grounds and steppes and is a son
of Kök Tengri.
Kayra is the Spirit of God. Primordial god of highest sky, upper air, space, atmosphere, light, life and son
of Kök Tengri.
Ülgen is the son of Kayra and Umay and is the god of goodness. The Aruğ (Arı) denotes "good spirits" in Turkic
and Altaic mythology. They are under the order of Ülgen and do good things on earth.[96]
Mergen is the son of Kayra and the brother of Ülgen. He represents mind and intelligence. He sits on the
seventh floor of the sky. Since he knows everything, he can afford everything.
Erlik is the god of death and the underworld, known as Tamag.
Ay Dede is the moon god.
The highest group in the pantheon consisted of 99 tngri (55 of them benevolent or "white" and 44 terrifying or
"black"); 77 "earth-spirits";
and others. The tngri were called upon only by leaders and great shamans and were common to all the clans.
After these, three groups of ancestral
spirits dominated. The "Lord-Spirits" were the souls of clan leaders to whom any member of a clan could appeal
for physical or spiritual help. The
"Protector-Spirits" included the souls of great shamans and shamanesses. The "Guardian-Spirits" were made up
of the souls of smaller shamans and
shamanesses and were associated with a specific locality (including mountains, rivers, etc.) in the clan's
territory.[97]
