Erlik Han

Erlik Han is a divine figure in Turkic mythology, ruler of the underworld, leader of malevolent beings, and associated with death. In the cosmogony of creation, Erlik Han, together with the Sky God Ülgen, represents the opposing poles of cosmic order, embodying evil and chaos. According to mythological narratives, Erlik Han was appointed by Ülgen to govern the underworld, but was cast down from the heavens and banished to the underworld due to his arrogance and rebellion.

Ruling over a nine-layered underworld, Erlik Han receives the souls of the dead and ensures they are punished according to the sins they committed in life. Alongside his sons and the malevolent spirits in his service, he holds a crucial role in maintaining the balance between good and evil in the cosmos. Stories about Erlik Han form fundamental elements of Turkic folk belief, shaping views on death, morality, and cosmology.

Erlik Han and the Underworld Army (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)

Origins and Cosmogonic Context

According to Altai myths, during the creation of the universe, the gods Ülgen and Erlik Han emerged as creative forces representing two opposing poles. Initially regarded as Ülgen’s brother, Erlik gradually entered into competition with him, asserting claims to supremacy. As a result of this rebellion, Erlik Han was cast down to the underworld, where he established his own cosmic domain. This domain consists of nine layers, each inhabited by malevolent spirits and sons descended from Erlik. Erlik’s underworld army functions not merely as a military force but as a cosmic mechanism that enforces moral order.

The Underworld and Hierarchical Structure

In shamanistic cosmology, the underworld, alongside the sky and the earth, constitutes one of the three primary realms of the universe. The underworld is the domain of darkness, death, and punishment. Each of its nine layers is associated with a spiritual power or one of Erlik Han’s sons. Erlik’s children rule these layers and serve as the enforcers of the trials souls must undergo after death. Malevolent spirits and demonic entities, positioned within this hierarchy, are tasked with punishing sinful souls. This army, by mediating between the earthly and underworld realms, plays an active role in determining the fate of souls.

Malevolent Spirits and Their Functions

Among the members of Erlik Han’s underworld army, demonic entities, devilish creatures, and especially his nine sons stand out. These beings are responsible for measuring human sins and administering punishment. According to Altai mythological accounts, evil spirits torment souls after death, subject them to various trials, and determine their place in the underworld. These entities are also regarded as the sources of disease, famine, and disaster on earth. However, they represent not absolute evil but functional evil as an integral component of cosmic order. Thus, the underworld army serves not only a mythological function but also a didactic one, warning individuals to live righteously and encouraging moral conduct.

Cosmological Meaning and Balance

According to the dualistic structure of Turkic mythology, good and evil are two fundamental elements of universal order. While Ülgen represents the sky and goodness, Erlik Han embodies the underworld and evil. Yet this evil is not seen as something to be eradicated, but as a necessary component that sustains cosmic balance. In this context, the underworld army plays an active role in preserving cosmic order, giving meaning to goodness, and testing mortal life. Souls are judged according to their moral character under the supervision of this army, forming one of the foundational pillars of belief in the afterlife.

Comparative Mythological Structures

Erlik Han’s underworld army shares similarities with the demonic entities serving Nergal in Mesopotamian mythology. Nergal, too, is accompanied by auxiliary demons who oversee death, disease, and punishment. In both cultures, evil spirits occupy lower ranks within the divine hierarchy and play a central role in maintaining order after death. This resemblance demonstrates that malevolent figures are not conceived merely as personal adversaries but as integral components of cosmic order.

Erlik Han’s Underworld Army

Erlik Han’s underworld army is a collective of spiritual beings in Turkic mythology entrusted with the functions of evil, death, and punishment. This army, subordinate to Erlik Han, the sovereign of the underworld, represents the dark aspect of cosmic order. In Altai creation myths, it is said that Erlik, created by the god Ülgen, became arrogant and rebelled against him, leading to his banishment to the underworld, where he established his own dominion. Each of the nine layers of the underworld is governed by malevolent spirits and servants, who are Erlik’s children. This structure plays a central role in the process of judging and punishing souls after death.