Bai-ÃÂlgen or ÃÂlgen (Old Turkic: ð°Âð°Âð°Âð° ð°£; Cyrillic: îûóÃÂý) is a Turkic creator-deity, usually distinct from Tengri but sometimes identified with him in the same manner as Helios and Apollo. His name is from Old Turkic bay, "rich", and ülgen, "magnificent". ÃÂlgen is believed to be without either beginning or end.
In Tengrism, the Ulukayñn, regarded as a cosmic axis between earth and sky, was regarded as sacred to him, as was the horse (horse-sacrifice was a part of his worship). ÃÂlgen symbolizes goodness, welfare, abundance, plentiness of food, water, etc. Furthermore, he created earth, heaven and all living beings. In addition, he controls the atmospheric events and movements of stars. He creates land for people to live on, the heads of both humans and animals and the rainbow. He was regarded as the patron god of shamans and the source of their knowledge.
It is believed that ÃÂlgen has been created from Kayra (Tengere Kayra Khan). He is the highest deity after Tengri in the pantheon. Often, ÃÂlgen is compared with Tengri and at times they are thought to be on par, or even the same. In some sayings, the name/function of ÃÂlgen may be (partially) interchangeable with that of Tengri.
ÃÂlgen is described as the enemy of Erlik who is the god of evil and darkness. ÃÂlgen assumes the protectorship of humankind against him.
Bai-ÃÂlgen lives on the sixteenth floor of the sky above the stars, sun and moon in a golden house. Mere humans may never reach him, only shamans and kams who possess astral powers can. Animals are used for sacrifice in worship of him, especially horses. Once in every third, sixth, ninth, or twelfth year, a shaman may sacrifice a white horse as the first step of reaching ÃÂlgen. Then he must ride its soul, penetrate through all the layers of heaven until he reaches ÃÂlgen. Firstly, the kam (shaman) meets Yayñk who is the servant of ÃÂlgen. This entity informs the kam whether or not the offering has been accepted. If the sacrificial rite has been successful, the shaman is able to learn from the omniscient ÃÂlgen of impending dangers, such as bad harvests.
ÃÂlgen has seven sons, the Ak oÃÂlanlar (White Boys) or Kñyatlar:
ÃÂlgen also has nine daughters, called Akkñzlar or Kñyanlar, but no one knows their names. His daughters are source of inspiration for shamans.