Umay

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Umay (also known as Eje) is the goddess of the earth and fertility in Turkic shamanism. Umay is similar in many ways to earth-mother goddesses found in various other world religions.

Umay and Eje (Ece) are rarely used female names in the Republic of Turkey.

In Turkic mythology, Umay is the female goddess whose name means placenta in ancient Turkish. However, it has been discussed whether she is goddess or a spirit. According to researchers, she must be a spirit as a feature of Turkic mythology.

Umay symbolizes fertility and protector of children. The oldest evidence is seen in Orkhon monuments. From these it is understood that Umay was accepted as a mother and a guide. Also, Khagans were thought to represent Kök Tengri. Khagan wives, katuns or hatuns, were thought as Umays, too. With the help of the Umay, Katuns have babies and these babies were the guarantee of the empire. It is clear that Umay is a female spirit related with the women, mothers and children.

According to Divanü Lügat’it-Türk, when women worship Umay, they have male babies.

Today, Umay is defined as a protector of women and children. These belief is seen in Tungusic peoples, Southern Siberia and in Altaic Turks. Umay is always together with child, with rare exceptions. Then when Umay leaves child for a long time, the child gets ill and shamans are involved to call Umay. The smiling of a sleeping baby shows Umay is near it; unlike smiling, crying means that Umay has left.

In the view of Kyrgyz people, Umay do not preserve only children but also Turkic communities around the world. At the same time Umay help people in the way of supplying more food, goods and give them luck.

Generally, the major point in living things lives, the sun is associated with Umay. Because of the sun’s yellow colour Umay is called “Sarı Kız” and yellow is the symbol of Umay.

Turkic women tie strings attached with small cradles to will a baby from Umay. This custom belonged the cult of Umay before Islam.

In Central Asia, in handcrafts can be seen in different figures.