In the ancient times when the universe did not yet exist, and neither the sun, the moon, nor the stars shone, there was only an endless expanse of water and God Kayra Han gliding through this void. While Kayra Han grew weary of the silence and solitude, “Ak Ana” (the White Mother) rose from the depths of the water like a beam of light and, reminding him of his creative power, called out: “Create!” Inspired by this sacred command, Kayra Han first created “Kishi” (the Human) to be his companion. However, this first being would later take the name Erlik and become the representative of darkness and pride.
To bring the world into existence, Kayra Han sent Erlik into the depths of the water and commanded him to bring up soil. Erlik dived to the bottom of the sea and surfaced with a handful of earth. But fueled by the jealousy and the desire to rule awakening within him, he secretly hid a portion of the soil in his mouth; his intention was to create a hidden realm of his own. When Kayra Han scattered the soil upon the water and said, “Expand!”, the earth began to spread like a vast, flat plain. Yet, the soil in Erlik’s mouth began to grow with that same miracle. As Erlik began to suffocate, unable to breathe, he sought refuge in Kayra Han’s mercy. When God commanded, “Spit!”, the pieces of soil and mud that burst from Erlik’s mouth formed the steep mountains, impassable obstacles, and marshes we see on earth today; thus, the smooth purity of the world was altered.
After the world took its shape, Kayra Han created the layers of the sky and planted a massive tree with nine branches at the center of the earth. Beneath each branch of this tree, he allowed a different race of humanity to flourish. Erlik, witnessing this miracle of creation, was consumed by his own ambition and began planning deceptions to pull people to his side. Ultimately, Erlik’s endless malice and his attempts to challenge God became unbearable. Kayra Han banished him entirely from the luminous heavens, condemning him to the underworld of darkness. As Erlik departed, he took the spirits of evil with him. From 그날 (that day) onward, the world transformed into an eternal battlefield between the forces of good in the sky and the powers of darkness below—a struggle between the light of Kayra Han and the shadow of Erlik. Humanity, meanwhile, began its existence between these two worlds, striving to determine its own destiny under the shade of the nine branches.
—Turkish Epic—
