İye

İye (sometimes İne or Eğe; Ийӗ, İyĕ; Ия, İyä; Иччи, İççi; Eýe, Эе; Ээ, Ee; Ega, Эга; اي or ٳي; Ийе, Ije) is a spirit in Turkic mythology who is a tutelary deity of a place, person, lineage, nation, natural assets or an animal. Although such spirits are called "masters" or "possessors", they are not necessarily subject to worship. They may be revered as sacred essence of things without being deified or even personified. The term means owner, master, lord, possessor in Turkic languages. Ezen (familiar spirit, protector spirit) has the same meaning (owner, possessor) in the Mongolian language. An İye guides, helps, or protects animals, individuals, lineages, nations, and even inanimates assets such as mountains or rivers. According to the shamanic worldview, everything is alive, bearing an inherent virtue and power. In this context power animals represent a person's connection to all life, their qualities of character, and their power. They are the helping or ministering spirit or familiar which empowers individuals and is essential for success in any venture undertaken. It is believed that most persons have power animals, or tutelary spirits, which empower and protect them from harm – this is comparable to tutelary deities. In these traditions, the İye may also lend the wisdom or attributes of its kind to those under its protection. Also each town or city had one or more İye, whose protection was considered particularly vital in time of war and siege. An İye is a spirit who is regarded as the tutelary spirit or protector of a nation, place, clan, family, or person. In Azerbaijani mythology, they are usually described as benevolent towards mankind. Aynur Gazanfargizi states that, according to Tengrism, God (Tengri) created the İye and give them dominion other a specific place. They would have been similar to that of angels in Abrahamic religions. However, often only their negative impact is remembered and thus have often been demonized.