Tengrism Episode 3: Mythology of the Turkic Peoples

Connected with Tengrism, the ancient and original religion of the Turkic peoples, is Turkic mythology. In the course of milllenia, certain concepts were developed by which the Turks tried to explain nature and the mechanisms of their surroundings. Complimentary to their cosmology are the many god-like entities of the Turks. Whether Ülgen, protector of the earth, Erlik, guardian of the underworld or Mergen, the god of wisdom Turkic mythology offers a unique look into the train of thought of the ancient Turks. Then again, there are also many similiarities between these mythical creatures and those of other nearby cultures.
In Episode 3, we take a last look at this very interesting and yet hardly-known aspect of the religion of the Turks and conclude with a summary of Tengrism.
Special thanks to Adrian von Ziegler and Kazagan for parts of the soundtrack.

[@KhansDen]

It’s finally out! Thanks for watching. Can’t wait for your feedback. Also, you can now purchase the Paperback version of my first book about the Gokturks on Amazon: www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09XZ2SZ6F/ Links to Apple Books and Google Play Books to follow.

[@isademira.k.a_godofanimation]

as a turkish i glad to see someone who explains our mythology , so thnx. Also, some of us in turkey call this religion gök (sky) tengrism.

[@isademira.k.a_godofanimation]

​@Рен Ак i know but this video explaining also mythological objects or items so i just was thanks for this and as you can see i called religion at the end

[@i-eat-leaf-mold]

I'm also Turkish :)

[@ozlemaktas6446]

Also a Turk here. I found this video interesting too.

[@ozlemaktas6446]

Also a Turk here. I found this video interesting too.

[@middleeastrenwarriormen1017]

Alpamish ? Erlik Khagan ?

[@celestialdusk]

As a Afghan Pashtun I've been researching the ethnic origins of various historical Afghan Pashtun leaders. I found evidence that some of their tribes are descended from the White Turks who ruled Bactria (which included what is today Afghanistan). This has led to me researching pre-Islamic practices among these peoples which seems to have been a blend of Tengriism, Hellenism, Zoroastrianism, the Sumerian religion, and Buddhism. The evidence that Tengriism had a significant role in the history of the people can still be found today in Nuristan where the people there practice animist beliefs and believe in a sky god. So I thank you for this fantastic video series!

[@sigma_wolfpack]

it is rigvedic paktah tribe

[@dr.j5642]

In Mongolia it's understood by some that the Turks, Mongolians, other Steppe peoples throughout the ages, Siberians, and even the Koreans and Japanese were once in the very distant past a confederation of related peoples, an ancient prehistoric empire of sorts that stretched across a vast realm, larger than the Gokturk domain at its height.

[@user-cg2tw8pw7j]

Indo-European peoples: Brother, I live in western Mongolia, do not come near my land

[@kadircanyldran1849]

@@user-cg2tw8pw7j as Türkish let me say that we were not sellin döner kebab infront of vienne venice door in 15th 16th century and yes if u ask indo-eu people even the first photons and masses were greek or indo-eu..

[@kaloyanpetrov7863]

As a bulgarian I'm happy to learn more about the religion the Bulgarians practiced before becoming a Christians.

[@CoksadebirTurk2]

the ancestors of bulgarians are volga bulgars which was turkic but the more time past bulgarians has been integrated into the slavic culture and stuff so now u guys are more slavs than turkic

[@taaanichka]

We are not turks or slavs ....You got it all wrong

[@1mehemmedMemmedov1Videolari]

​@@taaanichkabulgar bir Türk boyudur!

[@artukludevleti589]

@@CoksadebirTurk2 ne alaka ya? bulgarlar bildiğin türktür. yalnızca günümüz bulgaristanı hristiyanlaştığı için kendilerini türk saymazlar o kadar.

[@alibaba-wl8jb]

Sorry darling bukgars arevfurkic.. Ae even studied itbin Paris Sorbonne ​@@taaanichka

[@bunnie.004]

out of the all the videos on Turk mythology and religion this is the best the others are cringy and disrespectful, you did an amazing job! Love it, I had to share it with my mum, as a Turk it makes me proud of the Asena blood through my veins.

[@user-su4jm1zs1i]

Hello from Kazakhstan 🇰🇿

[@deviprayer]

한국에서 오랜기간 신앙하는 종교의 원형이 tengri 로부터 이어져 왔으며 현재도 깊이 신앙 되고 있습니다. 또한 이러한 고대사 하고 연결하려는 시도를 많이 하고 있습니다. Umay=삼신할머니와

[@KingKalas]

As all Transeurasian People (Altaic (Turkic+Tungusic+Mongolic)+Koreanic+Japonic) share a common root, it is no wonder that there might also be a common religious background. Japanese Shinto, old Korean Muism and Altaic Tengrism definitely share many aspects. The root of the religion must have been a polytheistic religion. As Judaism somehow "evolved" into different schools, Christianity and Islam, the proto-religion of the transeurasian people must have also evolved into different branches! It's also interesting that Tengrist shamans were called Kam. Kam means bear, which is Kuma in Japanese, gom(곰)in Korean and something similar in the Ainu language. Btw Korean people live the closest to the Transeurasian ancestral lands!

[@aflacseacatafeoxsokoya2529]

Turkishness is beauty.

[@G-KHANX]

Loll facts

[@panboi7490]

Turkicness*

[@fumomofumosarum5893]

(non turkish here) - I liked this, it's very interesting. I am always interesting in mythology of foreign cultures and I think I learned something new today. Much love !

[@benzcrazy]

Very interesting and similar to Viking and Native American religions

[@sezerims]

Thanks for the great video! Here's some bonus info based on my limited knowledge on this topic: Kayra (of Altay Turks) is considered by some to be the Gök Tanrı (Tengri) himself. His counterpart in Yakut Turks is Ürüng Ayığ Toyon. Both Kayra and Ürüng Ayığ Toyon are also referred to as Ayığ Han. Ülgen and Erlik are considered to be Kayra's son (meaning they are brothers). Even though not explicitly stated, Umay Ana & Ayızıt are the same being from what I can tell. Umay Ana coming from Altay Turks & Ayızıt coming from Yakut Turks. The 9th level of the sky on which Kızagan lives is associated with Mars. He is indeed very similar to Mars/Ares imo. Unpopular opinion: The lore of DOOM is inspired from Kızagan 😶 P.S. The concept of "Çor" with the parallel universe with which humans cannot interact and vice versa sounds quite similar to the "Cin"s in Islam. In fact a lot of similarities can be drawn between Tengriism and Islam as well as other Abrahamic religions such as Adam & Eve (Törüngey & Ece), Lilith (Albıs), Noah's flood, the Apocalypse, etc.

[@---vs1hh]

Thank you . Spirit of T E N G R Y !!! ТӘҢІР ЖАРЫЛҚАП , АРУАҚТАР ҚОЛДАСЫН !!! ҰЛЫ ДАЛА , ҰЛЫ МЕКЕН - ҚАЗАҚ ЕЛІ .

[@robertomassa731]

TNGR is the God of TURAN 🐺🦅👍🏻

[@Cak500]

🙏👍

[@turkyilmazz1]

Açıkçası mitoloji hakkında çok fazla video bulamıyordum detaylı ve geniş anlatımın için teşekkürler

[@Elmasdrakosinfenixov]

As a Bosnian, I grew up with Islamic beliefs as well as residual slavic pagan beliefs and it fascinates me how Tengrism connects these 2 separates world and I have no doubt that they left influences in Islam or perhaps adopted Islamic beliefs or perhaps pre-Islamic beliefs from religions like Zoroastrianism that may have inspired both. It's fascinating to see the parallells and nuances and to try to connect the dots

[@elidaleguizamon6352]

Muy bueno! Justo lo que he estado buscando, me encantaría que hicieras otros videos dando más detalles del tengrismo, gracias.

[@user-qy2yv5pi9k]

very good. i have been looking for this. I am going find what happens other videos for more details of tengrism thank you.

[@kursaddokme8171]

perfect video. waiting for more

[@literalnobody7921]

Great video, thank you

[@devrimzahir2840]

Emre I love the idea of a book, I would definitely be a purchaser

[@ghostof711]

Beautiful episode & soundtrack! It's interesting to hear about these delimitations between shamanic earlier practice and the religion of Tengrism

[@AlexOnLine1000]

Очень познавательное видео!

[@heaven.123]

Tengrisum is ancient Turkic religion. It's the worship of tengri(sky). This religion is official and culture religion of Genghis Khan and all Mongolian tribes. Even the Mongolian yuan dynasty of china follow Tengrisum. Tengrisum is followed by tatar and jurchen of north east china. Ancient Turk in Siberian mongol in Mongolia used to follow t tengrisum in central Asia tengrisum is majority and rest of turk follow Mahayana Buddhism. After 10 century Turkic tribe of central Asia left tengrisum and started to follow Islam. Islam is now historical cultural religion of all Turkic people. Tengrisum exist between of all people from Altai region. Shaminism is also part of tengrisum but it introduced this own concept. Ancient Korean are also linked to turk so Korean have some type of tengrisum in ancient time.

[@Meta-trope]

I would definitely read your book on Tengrism 🧡

[@astolfosobrelaluna.3099]

They had the idea of a pararell dimension... That's amazing 🌈🔥

[@michaelcaine3097]

Cok degerli bir video, emeginize saglik. Bu konuda guzel bir poster hazirlayabilirseniz size soz en az 5 tane ben siparis veririm.

[@user-qy2yv5pi9k]

ı was thinking about the same thing

[@ivrindagardens1048]

nézd meg mégegyszer az eredetit, és pontosíts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@gaetanfaik]

I'll buy the book ❤

[@zhansayabulegenova358]

We have a mountain called Khan Tengri ❤

[@jimijimbow2830]

The background selfawareness of the universe was called as GITAY or QUDAY. Its the same god we call in our 💕 hearsts..

[@Cak500]

Тәнірім жарылқасын! Аруақтар қолдасын!

[@ancientreligions4638]

love it.long live Khan den .love and respect from iranian azeri turks

[@YilongMa_]

Praise to the Tengri 🤲

[@lemuelpureman7711]

I'm kindda in polytheist ideology, and in my opinion, there're every Gods in an other dimension, and they're chilling and saying one of them to others "oh look today, I took one thoughsand five hundred twenty-eight people to my side. So how much did you take?" and after we die, we'll be in law of God who we've choosen, if we couldn't belong to one of them, we'll born again in an other human body, and thus, we'll be belong somewhere and its law. I believe that; and I call this religion/believing as "dimensionism", I'm calling my self that, I'm a dimensinst

[@siyacer]

interesting

[@anilalaf7482]

17:16 You mentioned that elements of this belief system survived till this day in Anatolia. Are you referencing Alevism here which merged with Shiism? Is it somewhat clear that Alevism roots in Tengrism and if not, is there information about what Religion the peoples in that area were part of before Alevism? Greetings from a Turkish German Fellow :)

[@KhansDen]

Thanks for your comment, and Grüße zurück! Indeed that is what I was referenced here. However, Alevism of today is quite different from the last actual "original" Alevi movements of, let's say, the 15th century which were heavily influenced by the Türkmen tribes (think Ak Koyunlu, Kara Koyunlu and Kizilbash). It's a controversial topic, but I would indeed not equate Alevism with Shia Islam, rather being influenced by it.

[@orka6848]

As a Turkish Tengrist whose family roots to Alevi (More like Kızılbaş) Begdilli and Kayı tribes, I can confirm Alevi and Kızılbaş ceremonies, mindset and characterizations are copycat or even I can say that Alevis are just masking their Tengrism with ceremonial similiarities. We are drinking raki after sacrificing a sheep in Cem ceremonies to the only One who came before threes, sevens, twelves, fourties etc... Imagine it drinking Kımız for the sake of Kayra khan during some Kam ceremony.

[@a.thales7641]

@@KhansDen What can you tell us about original alevism? or maybe bektasizm.

[@aergul9556]

TULPAR is the horse with the wings.

[@KhansDen]

Didn't know that, thanks!

[@user-ri1ti6go7s]

Many similarities to taoism beliefs,,,, harmony between humans, animals and universe

[@Native_love]

The Tibetans, Mongols, and the Turks are related. The Native Americans are very simular to the Tibetan and Mongol beliefs. We even look the same. Mother Earth is the same to the Turks, the Mongols, and the Tibetan people. We are one in the same despite the politics of today.

[@hun2591]

We don't look same turks are turanid mongols are mongoloid our culture similar

[@user-cg2tw8pw7j]

​@@hun2591You are Greeks, not indigenous Turks

[@hun2591]

@@user-cg2tw8pw7j greeks look like middle eastern not like eastern europen or asian like turkish people

[@user-cg2tw8pw7j]

@@hun2591 Because of the indigenous people who lived in Turkey, such as the Hittites, Gauls, and Slav slaves who were greened by the Romans and Ottomans.

[@hun2591]

@@user-cg2tw8pw7j you are really so ignorant then turks founded many satets in many places all world is turkic🤣🤣

[@archiedemir4168]

Real Civilization belongs to Turanians!

[@derhutchenspieler2838]

👍🏼💯

[@attilamert6973]

Huns and scythian?

[@murtzaakkoyunlu7410]

Kanalınız için neden Byaındır logosunu seçtiniz?

[@salihagokova5948]

logo değil tamga denir

[@shah.w]

Tangry

[@Neverdyingpride]

it says erlek:khan

[@feridunyildirim8008]

Allah aşkına Türkçe altyazılı çokmu zor 😔

[@yas32811]

kk git türkçe izle

[@aflacseacatafeoxsokoya2529]

Scythians,Huns,Sakhas,Etruscans,Kenger,Turukku, Vikings were all prototurks. Denying these facts are just prejudice which based on ''aryanist'' approach. Turanians had great civilizations. That's why Turks have established more than 16 khanagetes..

[@hahhahaa5526]

Ppl like you are the reason why others don’t take us seriously

[@Tenzin_editzz]

Praise to The Lion King Gesar

[@youtubetube366]

Tengrism stil lives quietly inside the Alevi people.. sadly lot of people don’t understand that Alevism isn’t a part of Islam and a Turkic background religion

[@salihagokova5948]

Alavitism is an offshoot of islam. After all, there are also Alavi Arabs. Alevitism has absolutely nothing to do with Tengrism, the religion of all Turkic tribes. The faith of the Turks was Tengrism/Shamanism and not Alavistism. Alavitism is a denomination (arab Ali, cousin of arab Mohamed, but Turks are not arabs), that originated from arabic islam, but which was mixed with Tengrism by Turkish Alavis.

[@youtubetube366]

@@salihagokova5948 don’t talk about something you never read about had a research about.. Alawis has nothing todo with Alevis! Alawis are originally called nusayri and they got this name by a student of imam Hussein! Alawis exist since 9.th century and the Alevis since 13-14th century ! We have shamanistic elements in our religion and just got in touch with Islam because of all our neighbors who got killed from the Arabs and had to convert into Islam !

[@salihagokova5948]

@@youtubetube366 I give a f.ck for your alevis or alawis or your arab ali, arab mohamed or your f.cking arab imam hussein, Turks are not arab.

[@seyce6267]

Nusayriler ve Arap" Aleviliği" Alevilikle aynı şey değil. Alevilerde olmazsa olmaz cemlerde bağlama çalıp deyiş, semah,söylemek semah dönmek var. Ayrıca birçok kaidesi var. Kendilerine Arap Alevi İ diyen insanlarda bunları görmedim

[@user-ew8yj9qm1g]

ترجمه فارسی نداره این ویدیو

[@The_TURK.]

🐺🤘🧿

[@arikanmetselfactori]

SELAMUNALEYKUM TURKIC BROTHERS OFF ME

[@enkushodsuren2105]

Tengri is sky in Mongolian. Lot of the words you use are still used in Mongolian vocabulary

[@user-cg2tw8pw7j]

You mean Chinese? 😂😂

[@zera_61]

Interesting. We have "Tanrı" (comes from tengri) in turkish. But it really means God. Our word for sky is "Gök" which also can mean blue btw. Barely anyone uses it for blue tho. We also use "Yaratan" (meaning "creator") for God.

[@hoolidii]

​@zera_61 yeah khokh or khokhe is blue in mongolian too

[@volkanozturkmen6245]

Tengri Turkic not mongol Tengri=Tanrı God

[@mmmmm9138]

У шумеров Боги переводятся как Дингиры. Авраамистские религии, тоже имели основу политеистическую, наряду с Яхве существовали и другие "Или",т.е Боги с семитского, типа Мардука или Иштары. В Тенгризме гораздо меньше фантастических существ, типа джиннов, ангелов, архангелов, т.е эволюционно Тенгризм стал еще более монотеистическим. И еще это доказывает, что тюрки (туранцы или позже их начали называть татары) еще более древние народы, так как туранские слова встречаются задолго до саков, у шумеров. Да и имена сакских ханов явно туранские, например Мади хан, Алабұһа и т.д. Одним словом, т.н.ираноязычие саков или кангюев или кого там еще, не состоятельно. Наоборот,это в персидских языках много туранских заимствований, например Құдай, у них Худо, или слово Стан. Откуда у тувинцев или малых народов сибири есть это же слово, они говорят мы живем в среднем мире Үч ҚұрбыСтана. Құрбы это труба, трубка. Типа "Ютуб")). Т.е существуют три Торообразных мира, каждый со своими тремя пространственными измерениями, плюс одно временное и плюс т.н. Байтерек, который соединяет все три мира. Не напоминает ли это "теорию 11 струн"? Более того, открытые ладони кверху, это из Тенгризма, а семиты его заимствовали, как христиане которые заимствовали крест - Икстус, и концепцию привратника ворот Рая. Апостол Петр имеет ключи от врат, и пропускает туда только легкие души. Эту функцию в Тенгризме выполняет Үлкен. Получается что, до Петра и его учителя Иешуа, рая не было? Арабқұлам просьба не писать и не спорить. Это просто мой личный и холодный взгляд на историю. Ничьи религиозные чувства я задевать не собирался.

[@mmmmm9138]

The Sumerian Gods are translated as Dingirs. The Abrahamic religions also had a polytheistic basis, along with Yahve there were other "Illi's", i.e. Gods from Semitic, such as Marduk or Ishtar. There are much fewer fantastic creatures in Tengrism, such as jinns, angels, archangels, i.e. evolutionarily Tengrism has become even more monotheistic. And it also proves that the Turks (Turanians or later they began to be called Tatars) even more ancient peoples, since Turanian words are found long before the Saks, among the Sumerians. And the names of the Saka khans are clearly Turanian, for example Madi Khan, Alabukha, etc. In a word, the so-called Iranian language of the Saks or Kangyu or whoever else, is not consistent. On the contrary, there are a lot of Turanian borrowings in the Persian languages, for example, Kudai(God) they have Hudo, or the word Stan. From where the Tuvans or the small peoples of Siberia have the same word, they say we live in the middle world of Uch Kurbistan. Kurby is a Tube, Like "KZbin")). Ie, there are three Torus-shaped worlds, each with its own three spatial dimensions, plus one temporal and plus the so-called Baiterek, which connects all three worlds. Doesn't this remind you of the "11 string theory"? Moreover, open palms up, this is from Tengrism, and the Semites borrowed it, like Christians who borrowed the cross - Ixtus, and the concept of the gatekeeper of the gates of Paradise. The Apostle Peter has the keys to the gate, and lets only light souls in there. Ulken performs this function in Tengrism. It turns out that there was no paradise before Peter and his teacher Jesus? Arabholics please do not write and do not argue. This is just my personal and cold view of history. I wasn't going to hurt anyone's religious feelings.

[@mmmmm9138]

Безличностный Великий и Вечный Көк Тәңір, где здесь политеизм? Богоподобных существ гораздо больше в Авраамистских религиях. Всякие джины (Олимпийской вере аналоги - Титаны), великаны, ангелов целая армия. А вот в Тенгризме всего три богоподобных существа это Умай, Үлкен и Жерлік. Все! Йер-суб (Жер-Су), это силы природы, это не божества. А в роли ангелов, души великих и праведных людей - Аруахи. Так что, Тенгризм еще более монотеистическая религия. И концепция трех миров была заимствована или из Тенгризма, или из древних семитских и египетских учений.

[@HVIR6669]

Imagine God of War base on Turkic mythology 😳

[@yas32811]

kratos atlayışı yapan erlik 😳

[@panboi7490]

it isn't popular enough.

[@Kul-tegin]

What is Kratos going to do? Kill the sky?

[@Neverdyingpride]

does this guy even know the difference between shamanism and tengerism both have shamans

[@KhansDen]

Yes, and this "guy" who graduated in history has stressed time and time again that Tengrism is not FOCUSED around Shamans. The Göktürk Khagans did not NEED the Shamans to legitimize their rule. In ancient Shamanist societies, on the other hand, the Shaman was an influential political figure.

[@Neverdyingpride]

@@KhansDen hahaha yet here we are having wrong ideas, shamans call out for ancestors or wandering spirits, tengrists shamans call out only for servants of tengri thats the difference usually its the ancestors of that shaman have servitude under the sky god himself, so thats why there aren’t many tengrists today but load crap of shamans

[@KAAN_TR]

Alevi or Alevism or Alawism.

[@oguztribesmen294]

?

[@OsmanOsmanHan]

?

[@KhansDen]

Alevism is not the same as Al-A-wism. Anyway, what about it?

[@G-KHANX]

Çok alakasiz moruk

[@kaantengrikut6633]

It is extremely ignorant and insulting to call Kök Tengri a religion, let alone mythology. It is a way of life, called töre.

[@King7afiz]

I am originally ozbek Turk and I can speak also hindi it’s so similar to hindu religion but this all fake and false religion god is one god has no parthner god is alone

[@eden55272]

Small eyes nomadic Moğol turk 🦃 Gobi desert Mongolia

[@sbd03]

cry

[@ezraoz3904]

TÜRK, not Mongolian. The whole world is going to learn the word TÜRK.

[@gizemak8885]

are you from belgium

[@zera_61]

Tf?

[@hoolidii]

Okay, what's wrong with having small eyes. Native Americans and native people of green land and ice land have small eyes, too. You know it's just an evolutionary thing. Did you even go to school to talk about this common sense knowledge?

[@ozgurturkoz7792]

Hayırdır , yeni şeyler ortayacçıkıyor , bi dinleyelim şans verelim ingliş anlatımına , ona göre yorum yazarız. Yeni şeylerin Çıkmazı tabiki hoş görüyle karşılarız, düzgün anlatıma benziyor TENGRİ DEDİ , İYİ BAŞLANGIÇ.

[@ozgurturkoz7792]

iyi anlatıyor , ı harfini damgasını bile doğru seslendiriyor ,izinleri doğru okuyor. , ORİJİNAL YA OSMANLI DİNLE SANA BU GÜÇ EKSİZ ONUN İÇŞN GELDİM TÜRKİYEYE GERÇEK GÜÇÜ ORİJŞNAL TÜRK GÜÇÜ #ANKARA