8AIGINE CULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER SACRED SITES OF YSYK-KÖL: SPIRITUAL POWER, PILGRIMAGE, AND ART Editors: Gulnara Aitpaeva Aida Egemberdieva Bishkek-2009 © 2009 Aigine Cultural Research Center 93 Toktogul st., Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 720040 The research and this publication were supported by The Christensen Fund, 394 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA This book has been reviewed in the Department of Archeology and Ethnography of the Jusup Balasagyn Kyrgyz National University. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without the authors‘ permission. Chief Editor of the Project: Gulnara Aitpaeva Editors: Gulnara Aitpaeva, Doctor of Philology Aida Egemberdieva, Candidate of Philology The English version of the book was prepared by: Izabella Mier-Jędrzejowicz, Guljan Kudabaeva, Aida Alymbaeva Based on the Kyrgyz version: Ысык-Кµлдµг‰ ыйык жерлер: касиет, зыярат, µнµр; and Russian version: Святые места Иссык-Куля: паломничество, дар, мастерство. MB Sacred Sites of Ysyk-Köl: Spiritual Power, Pilgrimage, and Art. ISBN Kyrgyzstan Book House codes: UDK BBK M M CONTENTS NOTE FROM THE EDITORS....................................................................7 FOREWORD.................................................................................................9 PART I..........................................................................................................14 CHAPTER 1. SACRED SITES OF THE YSYK-KÖL............................14 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................14 DESCRIPTION OF SACRED SITES OF THE YSYK-KÖL OBLAST......17 Ak-Suu Raiyon..............................................................................................17 Jeti-Ögüz Raiyon...........................................................................................24 Tüp Raiyon....................................................................................................32 Ysyk-Köl Raiyon...........................................................................................36 Tong Raiyon...................................................................................................39 CHAPTER 2. SECRETS OF YSYK-KÖL AND MANASCHYLYK.........42 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................42 ALMABEKOV Kubanychbek: As long as you respect the earth and water, they will give you their blessing ......................................................................................................46 ASANOV Tilek: Manaschylyk has its own world, secret and universe....................................50 ISMAILOV Ulan: Ayan from the mazar .....................................................................................55 KASMAMBETOV Saparbek: I received a blessing from Shapak manaschy ...............................................65 MAMBETALIEV Urkash: What is this force that gives me strength? What is this dream that lets me see?.............................................................................................69 MAMBETOV Kasymbek: My father Mambet was the guardian of Manjyly-Ata mazar.........................74 SYDYKOV Döölöt: Before something happens in reality, it will be seen in a dream....................79 CHAPTER 3: PEOPLE AND EARTH ARE KIN....................................85 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................85 AITPAEV Aman: Bel-Kara-Suu and Tulpar-Tash in the world of the Kyrgyz people................87 ASANALIEV Usönbek: The eldest among akes is Karga Ake.............................................................90 BEREJNOY Sergeiy: The lake that cleanses....................................................................................96 Sartkalmaks...................................................................................................98 NESTEREVA Natalya: How I died and then returned to life............................................................100 PARHUTA Yuliya: The Ysyk-Köl is called the third eye of the world........................................101 SARMANBETOV Aiydarbek: The journey through the universe starts at mazars......................................104 SEIYDAHMATOVA Chynara: Hornness – the sacred power of the Ysyk-Köl.............................................113 CHAPTER 4: KUT: ABUNDANCE OF THE LAND AND TALENT OF THE PEOPLE......................................................................................125 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................125 AKMATOV Kazat: The Ysyk-Köl lake is depicted in all of my works........................................128 KEREKSIZOV Tashkul: Aalam-Ordo is the center of spirituality and science..................................131 KERIM kyzy Maiyra: Ysyk-Köl is a life-giving chalice..................................................................133 MURATALIEV Akylbek: Mankind should not be divided by religion instead should be united by the internal faith of humanity..................................................................137 URALIEV Namazbek: My ancestors told me to always carry my komuz with me...........................150 CHAPTER 5: SACRED MANJYLY-ATA...............................................155 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................155 ABDULLAEVA Tamara: I have seen the mystery of Manjyly-Ata many times....................................158 AIYTIKEEV Kengeshbek: One of the Ysyk-Köl‟s miracles....................................................................165 JAKYPOV Kadyrbek: It is not by chance that God brought me from Darhan to Manjyly-Ata.......166 CHAPTER 6: MODERN FORMS OF ANCIENT KYRGYZCHYLYK......................................................................................171 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................171 ABDYVALIEVA Baktygul: I suffered because I could not find the way to enlightment................174 AJYBAIY uulu Ergeshbaiy: My hands would continue to write not letting me stop and stand up...........177 ARYKBAEV Malik: We have to be careful in what we think, what we say and what we do........182 MOLOKOEV Kadyrakun (Dervish Ata): It is not easy to be a dervish, only the hardy endure...................................184 CHAPTER 7: MASTER AND APPRENTICE.......................................189 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................189 AMANDYK kyzy Maiyram: Apprentices of mine.....................................................................................191 AKJOLTOEV M.: I believe in kasiet of Eje..............................................................................194 MONGOLDOROV Kubanychbek: Taking a sacred site seriously......................................................................195 TURDALIEVA Gulmira: Who is Kubanychbek?.................................................................................200 MUKTAROVA Gulnara: Only when the apprentice is ready he will meet the master.........................204 DEIYNEKO Tatiana: Through the ayats of the Qur‟an, my master has been returning her apprentices to their source....................................................................208 CHAPTER 8: SACRED CAPACITY AND MEDICINE.......................209 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................209 ALMABEKOV Kubanychbek: I have taken the oath of Hippocrates...........................................................210 KERIM kyzy Maiyra: If you have cancer, do not let it sap you......................................................213 MAMAKEEV Mambet: I have my own koldoochu............................................................................219 PART II. ACADEMIC PAPERS..............................................................224 AITPAEVA Gulnara: The dispute on pilgrimage to sacred sites among Kyrgyz Muslims.............224 ALDAKEEVA Gulmira: The role of spirits in Kyrgyz culture............................................................237 ALMASHEV Chagat, ERLENBAEVA Maya: Sacred sites and objects of the peoples of Altai Republic, the Russian Federation.................................................................................................................245 BAKCHIEV Talantaaly: Sacred sites and manachys..........................................................................253 MAMYEV Danil: The sacred land concept based on an example of the Karakol Nature and Ethno Park “Uch Enmek”, Altai Republic, the Russian Federation.......................258 OROZOBEKOVA Jyldyz: Ysyk-Köl and manaschy (From the story of how Shaabaiy Azizov‟s “Manas” reciting was recorded).................................................................................271 SCHUBEL Vernon: Islam‟s diverse paths: Seeking the “real Islam” in Central Asia................279 TABALDIEV Kubat: Ancient sacred sites in Ysyk-Köl and bordering regions.............................289 TULEBAEVA Baktygul: Belief and knowledge in healing practices..................................................299 PART III. ABOUT AIGINE......................................................................310 SPHERES OF ACTIVITIES.......................................................................310 KEY EVENTS.............................................................................................317