Tengrism is an ancient ethnic and provincial Turkish-Mongolian religion that originated in the Eurasian grasslands. It is based on folk shamanism and is monotheistic religion at the imperial level and is generally centered on the sky deity Tengri. The term also refers to some modern Turko-Mongol indigenous religious movements and teachings. Tengri can refer to either the Sky God or any other God! The Tengrism focuses on the worship of the Tngri (Gods),one of which is Tengri (Heaven, the God of Heaven). According to many scholars, Tengrism is a polytheistic religion, primarily based on the concept of animist shamanism, and during the imperial era, especially during the 12th and 13th centuries it was mostly monotheistic. All modern supporters of the "political" Tengrism are monotheists. Like most ancient beliefs, the Tengrism has a a "celestial world", the ground and an "underworld". The only connection between these areas is the "Tree of the World" in the center of the worlds. The heavenly and underground worlds are divided into seven layers (sometimes nine layers in the underground world and 17 layers in the heavenly world). Shamans can recognize entries to move to these realms. Tengrism was the dominant religion of the Turks, Mongols, Bulgars, Xiongnu, Huns and possibly the Hungarians, and the state religion of several medieval states: First Turkic Khaganate, Western Turkic Khaganate, Eastern Turkic Khaganate, Old Great Bulgaria, First Bulgarian Empire, Volga Bulgaria, and Eastern Tourkia (Khazaria). Tengrism is undergoing an organized revival in Buryatia, Sakha (Yakutia), Khakassia, Tuva and other Turkic nations in Siberia. (Credit: Tengrism, Wiki) [Image: 1: Peak of Khan Tengri at sunset. 2. White Sülde Tngri temple in the town of Uxin Banner in Inner Mongolia, China. 3. The earliest known depiction of a Siberian shaman, drawn by the Dutch explorer Nicolaes Witsen 4. Shangrak—top of the yurt—symbol of Tengrism ]
Religions of the World
