Alaz

Alaz (Turkish: Alaz, Azerbaijanese: Alaz) is god of fire in Turkic mythology. Also known as Alas-Batyr or sometimes Alaz Khan. He is an important deity in folk beliefs.

Description

Alaz Khan is depicted as an old man with a torch in his hand. He lives in Ulugh Od (Turkish; Uluğ Od, means “Great Fire”). His dress is flames. Alaz Khan has all power of fire. If became angry, makes and causes by fires on the earth. All of the harths and stoves are in the command of Alaz Khan. He send spirits to all hearths. Every fire or hearth has an İye (protector spirit or deitiy). The Turkic concept of the god seems to associate him both to the destructive and the purifier powers of fire.

Fire worship in Turkish culture

According to ancient Turkic traditions and opinions fire is a sacred phenomenon, and can purify all things, even spirits or souls. The people obliged to respect the fire in family or in social life. In fire sits and lives a protector spirit (familiar spirit). If he was angry, then can be harmfull to humans. Because of this disrespectful behavior, fire may be extinguished. Therefore, Turkic or Mongolian traditional, oral narratives told horrible stories of irreverence to fire. Great Law of Genghis Han (Dead Law) has serious penalties, when anyone disrespect to fire.

Etymology

The word Alaz (or Yalaz) means fire or blame in Turkic languages. The root of word is “Al”. This root contains the meaning of red color and capture anything. Turkish tradition maintained that it was related to Persian words connected to blaze (Alaw, Alav, Alev), which in turn was thought of as related to flames.

Other names of Fire God

All of these names refers to fire or flame: Yalın (Yalgın, Yalkın), Andar (Andır), Cahın (Çahın, Çakın), Gal (Qal, Xal), Kalçan, Sahaday.

External links

• Sibirya Türklerinde Ateş İnançları, İbrahim Dilek