Umay

Umay (in Old Turkic: ) is the goddess of fertility and virginity in Turkic mythology and Tengriism and as such related to women, mothers and children. Umay resembles earth-mother goddesses found in various other world religions. Literally in the Mongolian language, "eje" or "eej" means "mother." In Mongolian "Umai" means womb or uterus. The earth was considered a "mother" symbolically.

In Turkic mythology, Umay is a goddess whose name means placenta in ancient Turkish. However, it has been discussed whether she is a goddess or a spirit. According to researchers, she must be a spirit as a feature of Turkic mythology.

Umay is a protector of women and children. The oldest evidence is seen in Orkhon monuments. From these it is understood that Umay was accepted as a mother and a guide. Also, Khagans were thought to represent Kök Tengri. Khagan wives, katuns or hatuns, were considered Umays, too. With the help of the Umay, Katuns had babies and these babies were the guarantee of the empire. According to Divanü Lügat’it-Türk, when women worship Umay, they have male babies. Turkic women tie strings attached with small cradles to will a baby from Umay. This belief can be seen with the Tungusic peoples in Southern Siberia and the Altay people. Umay is always depicted together with a child. There are only rare exceptions to this. It is believed that when Umay leaves a child for a long time, the child gets ill and shamans are...
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