Alaz

Alaz (Turkish: Alaz, Azerbaijani: Alaz) is the god of fire in Turkic mythology. Also known as Alas-Batyr[1] or sometimes Alaz Khan. He is an important deity in folk beliefs and son of Kayra.

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 hearths and stoves are in the command of Alaz Khan. He sends spirits to all hearths. Every fire or hearth has an İye (protector spirit or deity). 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 harmful 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 Khan (Dead Law) has serious penalties, when anyone shows disrespect to fire.

Etymology

The origin of the name is very clear. The word Alaz (or Yalaz) means fire or flame 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.

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References
  1. Eski Tanrı ve Tanrıça İsimleri Alas-Batır (in Turkish)
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