مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - CAMEL IN TURKMEN CULTURE AND VEYIS BABA, THE SAGE OF CAMELS

Abstract :

Two animals are very important in Turkmenstan and in life of Turkmens who were distributed to various places of the world. One of them is horse and the other is camel. Turkmens who mainly have a nomadic life use camels as it is useful for this culture, as it is resistant and multifunctional. Camel which is an important support and source of nutrition in their lives, has become a subject to tales, epics, myths and proverbs just like it is in the common culture of Turkish tribes. There are also many beliefs about camel which is a sign of productiveness in Turkmen culture. The sage of camel which be counted also a mythological animal, is Vey-is Baba in Turkmen culture. Actually Veyis Baba is a historical person who is also known as Veysel Karani, the Muslum camel shepherd from Yemen. Veysel Karani who was famous with his love to Prophet Mohammad among Turkish tribes who chose Islam, received great interest and was considered to be proprietor of the camels as he was a camel shepherd. Veysel Karani name which was considered with his proprietor function among many Turkish tribes, is used as Veyis Baba by Turkmens, Oysul Ata by Kirgiz and Oysıl Qara by Kazakhs. The name and function of Veyis Baba, who is the protector of camels, is same in Turkish world. However there are some partial differences within their own cultural circle due to geographical differences. In this study, the names of camel which was used in Turkmens and other Turkish tribes and the proprietor names of camels were mentioned first and then the place of camel in culture was evaluated especially through the Turkmen proverbs and myths.