Umay

Umay was protector of women, mothers and children. The word umay meant the placenta. She lived in heaven, unseen, and kept the souls of unborn babies on a mount called Ymay-tas. When she left a child for long it fell ill, and shamans called her back.

The Kül Tigin inscription of the eighth century compares the khagan’s mother to her, and the khagans’ wives were themselves called Umay. She is especially honoured by the Khakas.