Author: Abdulloyev, Shuxratjon Boboismoilovich

Annotation: On the basis of historical and linguistic materials, the article analyzes the term "dev", which is of great importance in the beliefs of the ancient peoples of Central Asia. The word "dev" has different interpretations due to its historical antiquity and wide distribution. The term "dev" is a divine image found mainly in the mythology of Indo-European peoples. This term is commonly used to mean god, sky, light, radiance, light, vision, or kindness. The term "dev" is also notable in Central Asia and its environs as an image that changed from "god" to "devil". The article puts forward ideas that are different from the traditional ideas about "virgins". It is emphasized that the formation and evolution of the image of the virgin is associated with socio-political processes in the life of the ancient peoples of Central Asia. Studying the image of the virgins, one can see the formation of the image of multifunctional gods in the beliefs of the peoples of Central Asia from the worship of primitive cults of nature. The negative image of the Devas is associated with the reform of Zarathustra and the activities of his followers. Nevertheless, the positive views associated with the term "virgins" in the religious beliefs and folklore of the peoples of Central Asia have survived, although to a lesser extent. The study proved that the image of the virgins was a god formed by the peoples of Central Asia in the period before the spread of Zoroastrianism.

Keywords: virgins, daeva, daiva, Avesta, Aryans, Indo-Europeans, Indo-Iranians, Zoroastrianism, god, devil.