THE RELIGION OF THE TURKS

THE RELIGION OF THE TURKS
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Tengriism (Tengerism, Tengrianism, Tengrianizm) was the major belief of the Turkic peoples and Mongols before the vast majority joined the established world religions. It focuses around the sky deity Tengri (also Tangri, Tangra, Tanrı, etc.) and incorporates elements of shamanism, animism, totemism and ancestor worship. In modern Turkey Tengriism is sometimes called Göktanrı religion by some scholars. Even though there is insufficient research, Tengriism is thought to heavily influence the Alevi belief system. Today, there are still a large number of Tengriist people living in inner Asia, such as the Hakas and Tuvans.

In Tengriism, the meaning of life is seen as living in harmony with the surrounding world. Tengriist believers view their existence as sustained by the eternal blue Sky, Tengri, the fertile Mother-Earth, spirit Eje, and a ruler who is regarded as the holy spirit of the Sky. Heaven, Earth, the spirits of nature and the ancestors provide every need and protect all humans. By living an upright and respectful life, a human being will keep his world in balance and maximize his personal power Wind Horse. Shamans play an important role in restoring balance when it is thrown off by disaster or spirit interference.

It is likely that Tengriism was the religion of the Huns, Eurasian Avars, early Hungarians, and of the early Bulgars who brought it to Europe. It is still actively practised in Sakha, Buryatia, Tuva, and Mongolia, in parallel with Tibetan Buddhism and Burkhanism. TENGRIISM