The understanding of "Homeland" and "independence" in Turkish epics before Islam

Turks have enshrined their homeland since ancient times. As the Turks belive in natural properties, land water cult has been among their beliefs. With the cult of land water it has been believed that the land, ground, tree, forest and stone have soul and these properties have been enshrined. With the time of Gokturks land-water cult growingly converted into sense of homeland. Their loyalty to Ötüken, capital of pre İslamic Turkish states, and thought of sticking arount here are the finest characteristics of their understanding of homeland. On Orkhon Inscriptions it is mentioned that Turk's viability goes on and their state lasts forever as long as they live in Ötüken. Turks, buying into the idea that God sent the Turks to run the world, acknowledged the whole universe as their homeland and had conquerings for this reason. The understanding of independence which is a part of Turk's characteristics provided them to be fighters. They never hold off from fighting for their independency. However, they had to leave their homeland when they exposed to the danger of losing their independency. Homeland and independency understanding of Turks is seen in Turkish epics. The heroes in epics went for expeditions and fight for establishing sovereignty on new lands. Alp Er Tonga and Oğuz Kağan are legendary Turkish Khans. Particularyi the fame of these two Khans are related to their loyalty for their homeland.