THE SACRED POWER OF MAUSOLEUMS: THE CASE OF THE HODJA YUSUF HEMEDÂNÎ MAUSOLEUM IN THE KHWARAZM REGION

Abstract

Hodja Yusuf Hemedânî is a prominent Sufi who played a significant role in the spread of Islam in Central Asia. Hemedânî, also known as the “Master of Weavers”, “Lokman Hekim” and the “Great Saint” is recognized for his influential role in the development of the Yesevi and Nakshbandi Sufi orders. Thus, he is considered a pioneering figure in the Central Asian Sufi tradition. In numerous scientific studies, it is stated that the mausoleum of Yusuf Hemedânî is located within the borders of Turkmenistan, specifically in Merv. In fact, Yusuf Hemedânî does not have a single mausoleum. There is also a mausoleum attributed to Hemedânî in the Khwarazm region of Uzbekistan. Based on the data obtained from the fieldwork I conducted in the region, the current study aims to provide information about the Yusuf Hemedânî mausoleum and the practices and beliefs that have emerged around it and will explore the possible sources of the sacred power attributed to the mausoleums of saints, using the case of the Yusuf Hemedânî mausoleum.



Keywords

Uzbekistan, Khwarazm region, Yusuf Hemedânî, mausoleum, visit.


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