The Basic Teaching of Tengriism

 

THE BASIC TEACHING OF TENGRIISM

 

 

            These three fundamental beliefs lie at the heart of Tengricism; the source of all power is the eternal Gök Tengri, the mediator of His power Nature, the Ancestors that make man exist.

         Tengriists agree on these three focuses. This trilogy is not a 'trinity' as in the Christian faith. Tengri; It is the uniqueness behind the multitude, defined by infinity and symbolized by the sky. The Forces of Nature are essentially the only reality that Tengri communicates with us. In this context, Nature; It is an image of Tengri. Ensuring our harmony with nature and the world of spirits constitutes the rituals part of Tengriism.

 

         We have no doubt that if we are breathing now, we owe it to our ancestors. Respecting them and strengthening their souls are also an essential strand of Tengriist teaching.

 

A. TENGRİ (GÖK TANRI)

 

            Tengriism is the first and national belief system of Turkic societies. It is based on the life experience of the Turk and reflects the traces of this in every teaching.

 

            It changed in time under the pressure of the religions accepted by the Turks; Tengriism is a teaching with forgotten parts. But fortunately, it was not completely forgotten, it survived in the common mind of the nation.

 

Teachings	Definition and Function
Atalar Kültü	It is the section that covers the "human" element from three trivets and the role of "human" in life.
Doğa Güçleri (Yer-Su)	It is a set of beliefs in which non-human elements and nature take place in reaching Tengri from human.
Tengri	Infinite power that always exists, derives from itself and diversifies. Absolute unity reached by every being.

           

            We are talking about the three main pillars of Tengriism. Tengri; no doubt this is the basic concept of belief.

 

            The name of eternity is Tengri and it has been identified with the 'sky'. The Sky God is not a transcendent from nature, but an inherent being, which differs from the understanding of God in other Semitic religions. You cannot measure Tengri with numbers such as one, two, three, four. You cannot count things like "God is one, God is two, and three."

            Tengri is a single concept, but this concept; represents the uniqueness behind the multitude. Do not be confused. Such an energy and integrity that; an entity that derives from itself and belongs to us with its transformative power. How do our cells multiply and develop without our conscious command? This is how close an image of Tengri is.

 

            She is not a ruler who created the world in six days; an entity that has personally shared its creative power with nature. What we are talking about is an energy that moves actively in human, water, sun and moon.

 

            The creation process has not ended; existing matter constantly changes form. New worlds are created every day on all beings. This is how Tengri made the law. I called him Tengri; every society can know it differently.

 

            As you can see, Tengriism is a belief built on human - nature - Tengri.

 

            Infinite power of Tengri spreading in a wave; I have (human) as first person. This inner power must be in harmony with nature outside of man and external power. According to the state of health of the human-nature relationship, Tengri's kut (good energies) will be upon us..

 

            The great power that we call Tengri is considered to be "sustaining" energy rather than "creative". Based on the idea that existence always exists, comes from infinity and goes to eternity, it is believed that Tengri does not create matter from nothing, it is with matter itself and is the driving force of continuous change and development.

 

            We know with certainty from the old inscriptions that Tengri is "eternal". The being will not disappear, but will constantly change form. Tengri is also the source of energy for this change.

 

            Why did I log in like this? Undoubtedly, for the children of our nation who grew up in the shadow of the Abrahamic religions, such a depiction of Tengri would be very difficult to accept. The more these depictions you encounter, the better it will be for your spiritual world; because "while the human gods die, Tengri is being rediscovered ..."

 

            It would be a mistake to think of Tengri as the god of the Abrahamic religions. The place where we can feel the power of Tengri best is first our own body and then nature. For this reason, Tengri; it is not a being separate from nature. He is not in a position of rulers and preoccupations with prayers. It is not a force to be sacrificed, interested in human relations.

            Tengri made her most vital move by expanding and diversifying his own existence with us. We are looking for traces of Tengri in our own body and nature. We also use our ancestral spirits as a tool to reach Tengri and benefit from Her infinite power.

 

            Tengriists praying to beings such as the Sun, Moon, tree, and water, and asking for something from Tengri by mediating the souls of great people in shrines are seen as shirk by the Abrahamic religions. However, it is believed that this is the order in Tengriism. Because we do not think of the dying soul, the forces in nature apart from Tengri!

 

            Tengri, on the other hand, shows the following features in summary according to our definition:

 

• Tengri is endless.

Tengri is with nature. It is not detached from matter and manifests itself in every being.

• Does not interfere with animals, plants, human relationships.

• Does not talk to anyone privately. Tengri is not worshiped. No sacrifice is made in the name of Tengri. Tengri never wanted and did not need such things.

• There is no war on behalf of Tengri. The Tengri religion is not preached. No pressure is ever put on anyone to be a Tengrician. Unless the person requests it, one cannot talk about religion and be persuaded.

• You can communicate with Tengri through nature. Today we need science to understand the forces of nature. That is why it is important for Tengrians to follow scientific progress. Since there is no revelation, access to Tengri knowledge takes place through nature. Understanding nature is best with natural sciences.

• In Tengri level, men and women, animal-human, plant-soil, all beings are equal. Because every being has a piece of spirit (loam) from Tengri.

• It is not a sin to deny Tengri. Tengri doesn't care about that. Nobody is persecuted for not believing in Tengri.

• Tengianism is learned in nature. Everyone discovers their own strength through their own life. In this sense, he is free and can reach Tengri through improvised means.

 

Let's summarize this understanding of the Sky God in one sentence: "Tengricism speaks of the ultimate Oneness behind the multitude, the unity of all that is known and unknown."

 

Excerpts from historical documents about the belief in the Sky God:

 

Georgian History: "Their religion is nothing but worship of an immortal God."

 

Syrian Mikhael: "They worship one God, which they call Gog Tengri, this name means the celestial blue God. They actually believe that the sky is God.

 

Hayton: "Tatars believe in God and know him as immortal."

 

Ricold de Monte Croce "They believe in the supreme being in the world that they define as God above all."

 

Cami al-Tavarih, the words of a Muslim addressing Tatars: "The Qur'an recommends killing polytheists. But you cannot be included in this class because you put God's name before all your commandments."

 

Makdisi: "The Turks say a tengri, that is, God is one ... Some claim that Tengri is a name for the blue of the Sky ... others claim that it is the Sky itself." 1

 

1- Jean Paul Roux - Excerpt from the Ancient Religion of the Turks and Mongols.