THEOGONIC SEMANTICS OF THE IMAGE AND CONCEPT OF TANRI IN TURKISH FOLKLORE

Abstract

The study of the system of theogonic images in Azerbaijani folklore is a very difficult problem. According to the study, the word "Allah", which is associated with Islam, is the name of a specific creature, so it is incorrect to use it in mythology as the name of images representing different elements. In this sense, the word "god" is more appropriate. The mythological root of the image of God/Tengri is the image (archetype) of the owner of the sky. It was based on ancient animistic ideas about verses and owners. Just as the verses are the owners of various natural objects, so Tengri is the owner of the sky. Over time, as the epochs and verses replaced each other, the image of Tengri / God developed, and even began to be used in the same sense as God. The images of gods, grandfathers are different names for the same archetype. In Turkish mythology, the ancestors, representing nature, were the first gods. In order to determine the theogonic origin of any image in folklore, it is necessary first of all to establish a connection between this image and its theogonic root, its archetype. If such a connection is possible, then this image can be considered a folklorized paradigm (derivative) of the theogonic archetype. Images belonging to a single divine origin belong to a common divine root. The heroes of the archaic saga have the status of "sons of God". Although these heroes are people, God participated in their creation: these images are the children of God in people. The motif of the "son of God" can be observed in Azerbaijani epics about heroism and love in a somewhat transformed form.