Erlik

Accounts vary across Turkic and Mongolic traditions. In several creation narratives Erlik functions as the challenger, cast-out, or rival to heavenly creators (Ülgen, Kayra/Tengri) — in some versions he claimed divinity and was expelled, in others he slew a messenger-god (Maidere/Maydere) and became the teacher of sin. One variant records that a figure named Erlik becomes associated with the first human after being cast from the heavens for retaining earth from the primordial sea. Other tales hold that people summoned Erlik to introduce mortality when the world became overpopulated; after Erlik entered the world, death appeared. These variants show Erlik occupying a consistent role as the origin-agent of death, evil spirits, and underworld rulership rather than a single canonical origin myth.

Shamanic prayers describe Erlik as monstrous: in those prayers he is depicted with a pig-like face and teeth combined with a human body, otherwise as an old but well-built man with black eyes, eyebrows and mustache. Certain legends associate him with totemic imagery (for example, a bear representation in some tales). Traditions such as the Khakas place him in a cosmically visualized residence—a copper palace with gold furniture—emphasizing his chthonic royal status rather than a single universal corporeal form.

Erlik brings death and plague into the world, creates or commands evil spirits (İye) that cause misfortune, sickness and death, and receives and judges souls in his lower realm. He sends agents called kormos to seize souls at death; simultaneously a heaven-sent spirit may try to carry the soul upward, and which side wins depends on the soul's alignment. Erlik demands sacrifices — failure to propitiate him is said to allow him to seize dead bodies and make them slaves. He is also said to have produced nine sons (the Karaoğlanlar) and nine daughters (Karakızlar) who assist his work, each son holding portfolios such as darkness, chaos, iron/mining, disaster, informants and discord.