Bitig Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi

Abstract

Abstract The Muğla province of the Aegean Region which has been the cradle of dozens of civilizations throughout history and contains countless historical artifacts, also has an important places in terms of Mevlevî. The Afyonkarahisar Mevlâna Dervish Lodge which is of second degree importance after the Konya Mevlâna Dervish Lodge was spread in the Aegean Region through the post of Divâne Mehmed Çelebi (d.1544?) and was adopted by the broad masses in the Muğla province and its surroundings by Çelebi’s disciple Muğlalı İbrahim Şâhidî (d.1550). Research has been conducted within the frameworkof the support of the Ottoman Dynasty and the activities of Şâhidî in the introduction of the Mevlevî to the Aegean Region. In the research, topography of the journeys of Şâhidî and his ancestors in the Aegean Region Mevlevî during the fifteen hundred years they were active was examined and the article included their dates and sources. In the contuniation, it was tried to understand and explain why Şâhidî Dede made these journeys. As a wandering sufi, he mapped the villages, towns and cities of every geographical region he stepped into including the current borders of Western Anatolia, Inner Aegean, Marmara; Menteşeoğulları, Osmanlı Beyliği, Aydınoğulları and Germiyanoğulları Beyliği with references. In our three years study, we tried to translate Persian lines under the light of Şâhidî’s Gülşen-i Esrâr and benefited from faundation records and Works of state archives. Selçuk University Mevlâna Research Institute Directotare, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Literature Faculty members, Uludağ University History Faculty members, Aydın Adnan Menderes University Art History Faculty members, İzmir Katip Çelebi University History Faculty members, İzmir Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Theology Dean’s Office, Manisa Mevlâna Though Research Association, Konya Mevlâna Museum Directorate Specialized Library Experts, Konya Manuscripts konya Region Presidency, Milet Museum Directorate, Beçin Castle Archaeological Excavation Directorate, Ayasuluk-Ephesus Archaeological Excavation Directorate, Tire Municipality City Archive Directorate, Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Culture Department Directorate, afyonkarahisâr Sultan Divâne Mevlevi Lodge Directorate, Sultan Divâne and Mevlevî experts in Afyonkarahisar, Aydın monuments Board officials were brought together on site and sources were reached by correspondence and interviews with some of them. The traces of Şâhidî’s travels to more than 10 points were followed 18 times and it was possible to reach 13 of them. In order to follow the traces of Şâhidî Dede actual studies were carried out in İstanbul, Muğla, Afyonkarahisâr, Aydın, Söke-Balat-Milet Ancient City, Ayasuluk, Beçin, Şenköy, Ula-Milas, Denizli, Tire provinces and districts. In order the confirm the sources obtained, the studies we conducted in the field were recorded with their visuals. When viewed from the perspective of the first physical and spiritual aspects of the activities of Muğlalı İbrahim Şâhidî in the Western Anatolian Mevlevi Order in the geography of the principalities in the 115th-16th centuries, it was though that the findings would add value to Mevlevi studies. I would like to express my gratitude to my Master’s advisor, Selçuk University Mevlâna Research Institute Director Prof. Dr. Nuri Şimşekler who recommended the study topic to me and whose academic knowledge and field related studies I benefited from during the preparation of the article during my research, for the support he gave.