The Altai-Eezi, "the master of the Altai," is the spirit-owner of the homeland as a whole and of its sacred mountains, passes, and waters, the greatest of the eeler (place-masters) that inhabit every valley, peak, and spring. Belonging to the class of jer-suu, the powers of earth and water, he bestows grace, happiness, and increase upon herds and children, and is honored by tying kyira ribbons at mountain passes and by libations of milk. In shamanic texts recorded by Anokhin he is invoked as Altai-Kudai, "Altai-God"; under the Burkhanist "white faith" of the early twentieth century this figure rose to the position of highest deity in place of Ülgen. He appears in the heroic epics as the nurturing spirit of the land who fosters the young hero.