Creation Epic

Try to imagine a time when nothing existed—no trees, no animals, no humans—only an infinite expanse of water. This is how the ancestors of the ancient Turks described the origin of the world. This story is not merely a fairy tale; it is also a guide reflecting humanity’s attempts to understand the universe, goodness, and evil.

This epic whispers to us from thousands of years ago, revealing the imagination and wisdom of our ancestors. Are you ready to witness, through their eyes, the birth of the universe and of humankind? Let us dive together into these mysterious and profound waters.

Before anything else, there was neither earth nor sky—only an endless mass of water. Above this infinite ocean floated Kayra Han, the supreme creator god, gliding like a goose. He was alone and weary of his solitude. As he pondered what to do, he heard a voice rising from within the water.

The voice said, “Create!” The source of this voice was Ak Ana (Ak Ene), the spirit of the waters. Inspired by these words, Kayra Han resolved to create the world and all its beings. A new era in the universe was about to begin. After speaking, Ak Ana vanished once more into the depths of the waters.

Kayra Han created a being similar to himself but not himself, and named it “Kişi.” Together, they continued flying above the water like two black geese. Yet within Kişi there stirred a desire for rebellion. He wished to rise higher than Kayra Han and tried to surpass him. Because of this pride, he lost his ability to fly and began sinking into the depths of the water.

As he was about to drown, he realized his mistake and begged Kayra Han for help. Kayra Han rescued him and ordered him to bring soil from the very bottom of the water. Kişi dove beneath the surface and returned to the surface with a handful of soil in his mouth. But he secretly kept a portion of the soil for himself. When Kayra Han commanded the soil he brought to “Grow,” the earth began to form. At the same moment, the soil in Kişi’s mouth also expanded, threatening to choke him. When Kayra Han ordered him to spit out the soil, the uneven and swampy regions of the earth were created.

Kayra Han was furious at Kişi’s actions. Seeing his greed and disobedience, he renamed him “Erlik.” Erlik became the embodiment of evil and the ruler of the underworld. Kayra Han prepared a place for himself at the highest level of the sky and withdrew there. He entrusted the governance of the heavens and the earth to other gods.

The god who represented goodness and resided in the sixteenth layer of the sky was named Ülgen. Ülgen was charged with beautifying the world, protecting humanity, and guiding them. Erlik Han was banished to the underworld and became its master. Thus, a balance was established in the universe between good and evil, light and darkness.

Kayra Han caused a nine-branched pine tree to grow upon the earth. This tree, known as Uluğ Kayın or the Tree of Life, stretched its branches all the way to the sky. Then Kayra Han fashioned the first seven humans from earth and clay. Their bones were made of reeds, their bodies of soil. He breathed life into them by blowing a soul into their forms.

But Erlik grew jealous of this creation and sought to deceive the humans. He told them to eat the fruit of the tree that Kayra Han had forbidden. Törüngey and his wife Eje, among the first humans, listened to Erlik and ate the forbidden fruit. As punishment for their disobedience, they lost their feathers, became mortal, and learned shame. Kayra Han was saddened by this and left humanity to their own devices, but appointed Ülgen to watch over and protect them.