Erlik

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In Turkic shamanism, the god of death and evil.

The word “Erlik” derives from “Erklig” which means “strong”.

According to Siberian mythology, Erlik was the first creation of Tengri or Ulgan, the creator god, but Erlik's pride led to friction between the two, and he was banished to the underworld.

In the myths of the Altaic peoples, Erlik was involved in the creation of humanity. He slew the messenger-god Maidere and is a teacher of sin. He is sometimes represented by a totemic bear.

In Turkic mythology, Erlik was the deity of evil, darkness, lord of the lower world and judge of the dead. Surely, he is known as a first mankind created by Ulgen. However he wants to become equal with Ulgen and had been a position degraded to Ulgen. Then he wants to make his own land and sent to the prison at the 9th layer of the earth and became opposed to the upper world, the realm of light.

The evil spirits created by Erlik cause misfortune, sickness and death to the mankind. These spirits are imagined as Erlik’s assistant. Besides his 9 sons and daughters help their father in the way of evil. Erlik’s daughters especiallytry to change shaman’s mind while he is attempting to reach Ulgen with their beauties. Erlik gives all kinds of sickness and wants sacrifices from the people. If they not he catches the dead body of the people that he killed and take them away to this place then make them his slaves. So, especially in Altays when the sickness appear people scared of Erlik and sacrifice him a lot of animals.

In the prayers of shamans’ Erlik is defined as a monster. In addition, he is an old man with a well-built body. He has black eyes, eye brows and mustache. His face and teeth are like pigs.