Ötüken (Old Turkic: , Ötüken yïš, "Mount Ötüken"; , Ötüken jer, "Land of Ötüken"), is a legendary capital city in Turkic mythology and Tengrism. Otukan (Ötüken) is also one of the names given to Mother Earth.
Otukan and nature
According to this ancient belief, the mood of the Yer-sub and Ötüken could be seen in the trees’ condition. If the trees are healthy and strong and are bearing a lot of fruit, it is believed that Ötüken is satisfied with humans. A prayer dedicated to Ötüken was once directed to a grand tree.
Otugan existed in the middle of the Universe and her residence was in Central Asia on Khangan Plateau. This place was called "The Otuken (Ötüken) Homeland".
Mountain
The word was used to describe the sacred mountain of the ancient Turks. It was mentioned by Bilge Qaghan in the Orkhon inscriptions as, "the place from where the tribes can be controlled." A force called qut was believed to emanate from this mountain, granting the local potentate the divine right to rule all the Turkic tribes.