Who is Umay?
Umay (Old Turkic: π°π°’π°), one of the most important figures in Turkic mythology, is a goddess associated with abundance, protection, birth and fertility. Imay is also known as Imay Ece and Umay Ana (Mother Umay). In some sources, she is mentioned as the daughter of the chief god Tengri, but it is also said that she is the sister of Erlik and Γlgen. Since Erlik and Γlgen are the children of Kayra, in this case Umay should also be accepted as the daughter of Kayra. This confusion can be explained by the fact that the creator god Kayra has replaced the chief god Tengri in some Turkic communities over time.
According to mythological sources, the birth of Umay symbolizes the meeting of heavenly fertility with the earth. As mentioned in the first sentence, Umay is not only a goddess who distributes fertility, but also a protective force that appears at times of birth and trouble.
The Role of Umay in Turkic Mythology
Umay plays an important role in Turkic mythology as a goddess of abundance and fertility. Her most obvious role is to determine the souls of the children to be born and to take on their protection. During birth, Umay comes from her home in the sky and gives life to the newborn baby by giving him/her milk from the magical milk lake in the sky. This sacred intervention not only allows the childβs soul to enter his/her body, but also protects him/her from evil spirits and bad fate.
Umayβs sacred duty is not limited to children. She also protects mothers, pregnant women and baby animals. Her compassion and protectiveness are blended with the symbolism of fertility. For this reason, she plays a major role in birth and the life cycle. It is believed that children who are not under Umayβs protection will often get sick, and may even be eaten by AlkarΔ±sΔ± and die. For this reason, it is common among ancient Turkic communities for women who do not have children or whose children do not live long to offer sacrifices to Umay and want to have children with her help. Umayβs role in this regard is so important that in homes where child deaths occur, she is addressed with reproach as βKara Umayβ. (βKaraβ means dark, black and evil in Turkish.)
Umayβs enemies are generally evil beings and spirits from the underworld. The evil spirits of the god of the underworld Erlik and the servants of AlkarΔ±sΔ±, a kind of malevolent witch, are constantly looking for an opportunity to harm children and pregnant women. However, Umay drives these beings away with her wings and secures the children to be born.
Physical Description of Umay
In Turkic mythology, Umay is depicted as a celestial feminine being. She is usually depicted in a white dress with silver hair that reaches to the ground. The length and whiteness of her hair is not only an aesthetic feature, but also a symbol of fertility and spiritual protection.
Umayβs physical appearance resembles that of a middle-aged woman. She is neither young nor old. This middle-aged appearance implies that she is both wise and powerful. Her most characteristic feature is that she is depicted with three horns or a three-lobed crown. Although it is not clear what the number three symbolizes, some assumptions have been put forward:
Three Main Phases of Time: Past, present and future. Emphasizes that Umay is a protective figure covering all time periods.
Three Sacred Functions: The interconnectedness of nature, humans and the spirit world.
Life Cycle: Birth, life and death. A cycle that shows that Umay is present in every stage of life.
Three Layers of the Earth: Underground, earth and sky. A message that abundance and goodness will prevail everywhere.
Three Main Feminine Powers: Abundance, protection and healing. May refer to Umayβs fertility and life forces.
Nature Elements: Represents the balance between the elements of fire, water and earth.
Moon Phases: New moon, full moon and crescent. A reference to Umayβs relationship with time cycles.
Fertility in Turkic Mythology
In Turkic mythology, one of Umayβs most important duties is to distribute abundance. This sacred being who lives in the sky descends to the earth and brings abundance to both people and the land.
Umay controls the welfare and abundance of not only people but also animals. For nomadic Turkic communities, abundance and prosperity are indispensable elements for the continuity of life. Therefore, Umayβs role is of vital importance.
Umayβs blessing hands bring healing and abundance to every corner of nature. Her protective hands relieve the pain of mothers during childbirth and ensure that children are born healthy. At the same time, it is possible for animal herds to increase and for animals to be productive with her power. If you were a farmer who wanted a fruitful harvest season or a shepherd who wanted to increase his herd, the only god you would call upon would be Umay.
Another important aspect of Umayβs association with abundance is that she was believed to bring rain from the sky. Although Γlgen was concerned with weather conditions, it was believed that Umay could also be effective in this regard due to her association with abundance.
Similar Goddesses in Other Mythologies
The equivalent of Umay in Turkic mythology is Freyja in Scandinavian mythology. Similar to Umay, Freyja is the goddess of fertility, love and war, and is a figure very close to Umay in terms of her warrior aspect. Because both represent not only fertility but also protection and warfare. However, Umayβs ability to give souls to newborn babies has a more spiritual dimension compared to Freyjaβs relationship with warrior spirits.
In Slavic mythology, the goddess equivalent to Umay is Mokosh. Mokosh, who plays a similar role to Umay as the goddess of fertility and abundance, is known in local beliefs as the protector of the land, harvest, and women. Both goddesses are important feminine beings associated with fertility, but Umayβs ties between the sky and the underworld make her different from Mokosh.
In Greek mythology, Demeter is one of the closest figures to Umay as the goddess of fertility and abundance. Demeter is a goddess who ensures the fertility of the soil, guides the growth of plants and controls the life cycle of humans. It is known that Umay similarly controls the fertility of the soil and nature, and affects the fertility processes of humans and animals. While the abduction of Demeterβs daughter Persephone to the underworld and her return symbolizes the cycle of life and death in Greek mythology, Umayβs struggle with the beings of the underworld and bringing souls from the heavens parallel this cycle.
In Irish mythology, the goddess who shares similar characteristics with Umay is Brigid. Brigid is known as both the goddess of fertility and the goddess of poetry, medicine, and fire in Irish mythology. Brigidβs influence on fertility is related to her ability to make the soil fertile and support agricultural production. In this respect, she shares similarities with Umay. Because Umay also brings fertility to both people and nature. However, Brigidβs connection with fire and poetry has a different dimension than Umay. Brigid is not limited to fertility alone, but has a wide area of ββinfluence that also includes art and wisdom.