Water, Fire, Sacrifice and Tree Cults of Alevis by Pir(i) Davut Shrine

Abstract

As well-known, water, fire, sacrifice and tree have an important place for Turks. There are a lot of beliefs about these four cults around the places that Alevis' habitations. Our communique is about the beliefs that appeared according as Pir(i) Davut Shrine in Ulupinar village in Elazig Keban and Baspinar river near the Shrine. It is spoken that Pir(i) Davut came from Imam Cafer's generation from twelve Imam. His Shrine is thought as a backing center for Alevis live around it. A harvest sacrifice ceremony in the last week of July and a Guz/Okuz-Autumn/Ox-sacrifice ceremony in October is prepared according as this Shrine. Except from these collective sacrifice ceremonies, also unaccompanied and dateless visits and making mows are other beliefs. Wows that is made as tying cloths to trees around the Shrine is depend on the tree cult. Baspinar River is a blessed place. We sight that people firing candles and wishing requests nearby this river. In our communique, we will explicate the cults that we use in our title.