Albasta

A demonic character in the mythology of the Turkic and some neighboring peoples.

It has many names: in the mythology of the Turks, Kazan, Crimean and West Siberian Tatars, Kazakhs, Bashkirs, Tuvans, Altaians, Uzbeks (Albasts, Alvasts), Turkmens (al, Albasses), Kirghiz (Albarsts), Karakalpaks, Nogais (Albasly), Azerbaijanis (Hal, Halanas), Kumyks (Albasly katyn), sbalkartsev and karachayevtsev (almaety) an evil demon associated with the water element.  The Turks also called al, al-ana, al-Kara, al-kuzy, Tuvinians and Altaians - a l would, Kazakhs, Karakalpaks, Kirghiz, Uzbeks - martu (martuu, martuv, martuk), Uzbeks of the Zeravshan valley - Sary kyz ("yellow maiden"), of the West Siberian Tatars - Sary chech ["yellow-haired (maiden)"].

A character of the Turkic-Tatar mythology; an evil spirit associated with the water element. It comes from the Turkic el – hand or al – front, front and basmak – to press, to press.

It is usually presented in the form of an ugly naked woman of high stature with long loose yellow hair and sagging breasts. Sometimes the image of albasta was complemented by a third eye and long claws. Less often, the creature looked like a man with a long beard. Although Albasts can also take the form of animals or individual inanimate objects.

Sometimes it was identified with a swamp, a water snake, a leshach, a mermaid, a devil. 

According to Bashkir beliefs, Albasts are the wandering soul of a person who died as a result of an accident and martyrdom, or was buried without observing funeral rites. For example, he may be a lost soul or the soul of a drowned man.

According to the ideas of most peoples, A. lives near rivers or other water sources and usually appears to people on the shore, combing their hair. It was believed that A. it can cause illness, nightmares, but especially harms women in labor and newborns.

The usual attributes of albasta are a magic book, a comb, a coin. According to legend, having taken possession of his comb, a person can force albasts to serve him and help.