Erlik is the god of death and the underworld in Turkic and Mongolic mythology. He is said to bring death, plague, and evil spirits up from below to torment the living and to claim their souls. In shamanic descriptions he has the face and teeth of a pig set on a human body, yet keeps human features — black eyes, eyebrows, and a mustache — appearing as an older man of muscular build.
Erlik was created by the supreme god Kayra and is a brother of Ülgen, who rules the upper world of light. In one account he desired to be Ülgen’s equal and was sent to a prison at the ninth layer of the earth, set in opposition to the realm of light above. Shamans who venerate him are called Black Shamans and negotiate with demonic spirits; the Buryats and other Siberian peoples offered him sacrifices to ward off disease or to secure a favorable place in his underground realm.
Erlik is attended by nine sons known as the Karaoğlanlar, the dark sons: Karash Khan (darkness), Matyr Khan (bravery), Shyngay Khan (chaos), Komur Khan (evil), Badysh Khan (disaster), Yabash Khan (defeat), Temir Khan (iron), Uchar Khan (informants), and Kerey Khan (discord); he is also said to have nine daughters whose names are not recorded. In Mongolian he is called Erleg or Yerleg. Across the shamanic cosmology of Central and Inner Asia he stands where death, darkness, and malice toward humankind converge.