Mevlevi order and dervish education

It was founded by his son Sultan Veled, his student Çelebi Hüsameddin and his grandson Ulu Arif Çelebi in order to pass on the teachings of Mevlana to future generations, and later it was administered by Makam Çelebi, who was chosen from among the Çelebis from that lineage.

We can evaluate the followers of the Mevlevi Sect in three groups.

• In the first group, ‘Can’, who successfully completed the 1001-day training period and suffered, was given the title of ‘Dede’ in a special ceremony. He was either given a cell in that Mevlevi lodge or was sent to another one.

• In the second group, there are those who do not make a ‘difficulty’, but follow the customs and traditions of the Mevlevi and fulfill the duties of ‘Dervish’.

• In the third group, there were the Muhibbans who attended some lessons in the Mevlevi lodges and who came to listen to the conversations and watch or learn the Semâh ceremonies, as well as those who performed the whirling.In summary, Mevlevi lodges have been schools where Mevlana’s thoughts are taught and which provide art education, such as conservatories and academies, as well as religious and literary knowledge. Especially the Mevlevi lodges in Istanbul played an important role in the training of Turkish music masters.

Mevlevi Mausoleum and Mevlevi Lodge in Konya were accepted as authorities. Makam Çelebis resided here. This first Mevlevi Lodge built around the tomb was called ‘Âsitâne-i Âliyye’. Mevlevi lodges are of two types: Asitane, which can provide 1001 days of education, and Zaviyahs, which are smaller than these and do not have an educational organization. Asitane were more centralized than the others and had a more organized structure. ‘Dedes’ were trained only in Asitane, and the architectural section called Matbah-ı Şerîf, where the 1001-day ordeal took place, was only found in Asitane. The Postnishins in the Asitane had a higher status than the Postnishins in the Lodges. Lodges were established in many cities and even villages of the Ottoman Empire. Until the 17th century, Zawiyahs had spread within the expanding borders of the Empire and served a wider segment. There were nearly 140 Mevlevi lodges within the borders of the Ottoman Empire.

Islamic Sufi education was more difficult than traditional madrasah education. This spiritual education, which is called Seyrü Suluk, should also have been a self-discipline. The person who wanted to enter the Mevlevi education had to have the consent of the parents, to be of age and single. The difficulties of the road were told to the ‘talib’(student), who was determined to be morally correct. Those who insisted on his decision would sit in the Matbah-ı Şerîf (in the kitchen) for three days at the place called Saka Postu and watch the life in the Mevlevi lodge. They would give him food and water, but no one would talk to him so as not to impress him. If he thought he wouldn’t fit into the life he was following, he could just walk out of there without telling anyone. If he stayed, he would be taken to Sheikh Efendi by Cook Dede. Sikke-i Şerîf (the felt hat worn by the Mevlevîs on their heads) was accepted into the Mevlevi order with a dressing ceremony and was handed over to a dede for his education. However, a trial period of 18 days was allowed and he would be served with his own clothes during this period. Nev-niyâz (the person who had just entered Mevlevi education) had to stay in the Mevlevi lodge during the 1001-day training period. During this time, he served 18 services such as washing dishes, bed making, table service, cleaning, washing clothes, shopping, and finally toilet cleaning, which were required for self-discipline and supervised by different dedes. During this intensive training period, in addition to basic religious courses such as reading, writing, Arabic enough to read the Qur’an, hadith and fiqh, Persian and Turkish literature lessons were given enough to read Mesnevi. He could learn to use an instrument or sing a ritual according to his ability. During his education, he was encouraged to learn one of the branches of art such as calligraphy, illumination, miniature and bookbinding.