Jaiyk, also known as Cayık or sometimes Jayık Khan (), is the god of rivers in
Tengrism
Tengrism (also known as Tengriism, Tengerism, or Tengrianism) is a belief-system originating in the Eurasian steppes, based on shamanism and animism. It generally involves the titular sky god Tengri. According to some scholars, adherents of ...
. He is an important deity in folk beliefs.
Jaiyk was previously known as Dayık in
Altai mythology. He was originally the patron god of humanity and son of
Kayra
Kayra or Kaira (Old Turkic: 𐰴𐰖𐰺𐰀) is the creator god in Turkic mythology. He is the god who planted the tree of life called Ulukayın. Kayra is described as both father and mother, and resides in the 17th layer of heaven.
Kayra is ...
, but later the influence of his cult spread throughout
Central Asian
Central Asia is a region of Asia consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The countries as a group are also colloquially referred to as the "-stans" as all have names ending with the Persian language, Pers ...
cultures. He was the deity of rivers, water, and lake water.
Jaiyk is depicted as a young man with a
scourge
A scourge is a whip or lash, especially a multi-thong type, used to inflict severe corporal punishment or self-mortification. It is usually made of leather.
Etymology
The word is most commonly considered to be derived from Old French ''escorgie ...
in his hand. He lives at the junction of 17 rivers. Jaiyk has all the power of water and can make storms on the water. If he becomes angry, he makes and causes by floods on the Earth. All of the rivers and lakes are in the command of Jaiyk.
[Türk Mitolojisi Ansiklopedik Sözlük, Celal Beydili, Yurt Yayınevi (Page 603)] He sends spirits to all rivers. Every river or creek has an İye (protector spirit or deity). The Tengrist concept of the god seems to associate him both to the destructive and the purifier powers of water.
Rivers in folklore
According to ancient traditions and opinions, water and rivers are a sacred phenomenon and can purify all things. The people used to be obliged to respect the water in family or in social life. In the water sits and lives a protector spirit (familiar spirit). If he is angry, then he can be harmful to humans. Because of this disrespectful behavior, water may also become dry. Therefore,
Tengrist writings and oral narratives tell cautionary tales and stories of irreverence to water. The
Great Law of Genghis Khan (Yassa) has serious penalties when anyone pollutes water or rivers.
Etymology
Gerard Clauson
Sir Gerard Leslie Makins Clauson (28 April 1891 – 1 May 1974) was an English civil servant, businessman, and Orientalist best known for his studies of the Turkic languages. He was born in Malta.
The eldest son of Major Sir John Eugene Clauso ...
(1972) traces
Southwestern Turkic ''yayık'' "a churn; spread out; flood water" to root *''yay-'' "'shaking' or the like, used
metaph. for 'unstable, fickle'."
[Clauson, Gerard (1972) ''An Etymological Dictionary of Pre-Thirteenth-century Turkish''. p. 981, entry "yayığ"]
See also
*
Ural River
The Ural, also known as the Yaik , is a river flowing through Russia and Kazakhstan in the continental border between Europe and Asia. It originates in the southern Ural Mountains and discharges into the Caspian Sea. At , it is the third-longes ...
, originally named Yayıq
References
Notes
External links
Yayık HanŞamanizmTürk Folklorunda Ölüm, Özlem Ölmez
{{Turkic Deities
Turkic gods
Sea and river gods
Water gods