HISTORIOGRAPHY OF THE ISSUE OF WORSHIPING UMYAI-ENE AMONG THE KYRGYZ

Abstract

The article reflects the historical aspects of the worship of Umyai-Ene among the Kyrgyz people and its study during the Soviet period. It is dedicated to a broad ethnographic, historical, and religious understanding, as well as the research of scholars studying the ancient worldview and religious concepts of our people. The worship of Umyai-Ene is part of the ancient religions of the Kyrgyz people, as well as other Turkic peoples of Central Asia, and is associated with fertility, childbirth, and is considered a symbol of domestic well-being. In Soviet research, under the influence of atheistic views, the worship of Umyai-Ene and other remnants of ancient religious beliefs were considered in the context of the struggle against socialist ideology. However, these studies ultimately revealed the deep religious concepts of the Kyrgyz and other Turkic peoples. Significant attention in these studies was given to the works of scholars such as S.M. Abramzon, V.N. Basilev, and V.V. Bartold. They deeply explored the philosophical, ethnographic, and religious aspects of worshipping Umyai-Ene, Tengri, and other ancient religious concepts. Umyai-Ene was typically regarded as the protector of family, children, and harvests. The research also actively utilized archaeological materials, including monuments and images from the regions of Suttu-Bulak, Kuyruk-Tobe, and Altai, which helped form new understandings of the ways of worshiping Umyai-Ene and Tengri. These historical and ethnographic studies help understand the roots of the ancient religions of the Kyrgyz people and their influence on contemporary religious beliefs.