"Menaqib-i Ahi Cihan-i Nasreddin Ahi Evrn" the unkown source on ahi evrn's legendary life [Ahi evrn'in menkabevi hayatina dair bilinmeyen bir eser: "Menâkib-i Ahî Cihân-i nasreddîn ahi evrn"]

Abstract

Mystic or epic legends (menqabes) are crucial works in determining the cultural and belief history of a society. The works containing several menakibs are called "menaqib" or "menaqibname". While some menaqibs mention wonders of the legendary personalities, there are also some others containing mostly biographical information about them. As it is known many sources including Haci Bektash Velayetname have addressed the life of Ahi Evran-i Veli who is the founder of futuwwatnamah institution in Anatolia. To date, two primary sources writen in mathnawi genre and mentioning Ahi Evran's legends have been known. However, in this article the third one that contains different legends than the previous ones will be presented. Furthermore, as far as it is determined, this source is never known and used before. This is a 16-page treatise writen in prose form by an unknown author, and it is entitled as Menaqib-i Ahi Cihan-i Nasreddin Ahi Evran. This treatise that contains valuable information cannot be found in other sources such as Ahi Evran's biographical or legendary life but it can be found at the end of the Burgazi Futuwwatnamah registered in Yapi Kredi Bank Library. After touching shortly upon the concept of mankabe and mentioning the secondary sources on the subject, the treatise will be presented and full text of it will be given in this article.