The Most Special Guests of Meram
Meram has a very special place in the life and memories of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the friend of God and the sultan of hearts. Many Mevlana friends, comrades, friends and students such as Sadreddin Konevi, Ateşbaz-ı Veli, Tavusbaba, Fahrünnisa Hatun in Meram, which keep the memories of Mevlana in every inch of it, are waiting for their visitors in their tombs today.
Meram has a very special place in the verses of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the Sultan of Hearts. That great Lover of God would often come to Meram with his friends and students, had conversations and semah assemblies, and wrote his most enthusiastic poems here. In Çelebi Hüsameddin's vineyard, he used to have popular conversations with his dear friends, discussing the most beautiful topics of love, meaning, decency and the divine, and watched the semah of dervishes who spread their wings to the sky with enthusiasm. Here are just a few of the enamored Mevlana friends and students in Meram, which has an important place in Mevlana's life, in the foundation and development of Mevleviyeh...
THE COOK THAT PERFORMS WITH LOVE IN MEVLANA'S KITCHEN : ÂTEŞ- BAZ
His name is Şemseddin Yusuf, son of İzzeddin. Ateşbaz-ı Veli, one of those who came and settled in Konya with the blessed convoy of Sultanu'l-Ulema, prepared their meals with love in the kitchen of the Mevlana Lodge. He had not only cooked the food with the fire of love, but also protected the kitchen order of the dervish lodge for years. 'Âteş-bâz' means 'one who is busy or plays with fire in Persian. As it is known, Mevlevi cuisine is not only a place where meals are prepared, but a school of education in itself. Generally, there are plain, modest table and one-pot meals. Two meals a day; one is mid-morning, one is late afternoon. On important days, there is a little sweet. In Mevlevism, the kitchen is a matbah. While the food is being cooked in the kitchen, the nevniyaz is cooked and matures in the “Saka Hide”. But the kitchen has a very important and great task. The spiritual merit of those who fell in love with the Mevlevi order is tested and measured by Âteş-bâz Velî here. The Tomb of Âteşbâz-ı Veli is on the street that bears his name in Meram. Although not the district, the name of the district is also very meaningful; 'Aşkan' which means 'Lovers.'
A Man who raised Rumi by playing on his shoulders: Cemal Ali Dede
He was originally from Transoxiana. He was Mevlana's tutor and caretaker. He dedicated his life to the Sultan. He migrated to Konya with Sultanu'l-Ulema. He was the epitome of humility, selflessness and altruism. He was known as "Cemel Ali Dede" because he carried Mevlana on his back by pretending as a "camel (cemel)" in his childhood. It had an independent place and value in the life of Mevlana, in the culture of the Mevleviyeh, and among the dervishes in Meram. His mausoleum is parallel to Yeni Meram Road and on the Dere Road. It is in Turut province. There is a mosque adjacent to the tomb. It is estimated that one of the seven sarcophagi in the tomb belongs to Cemel Ali Dede, and the others belong to people who were sheikhs in the zawiyah. The masjid and tomb in this region, which was one of the regions where Mevlâna frequently visited in Meram, has recently been restored in accordance with its original form and its garden has been arranged.
The Great Scholar that Rumi wanted him to pray at his funeral: Sadreddin Konevi
His real name was Eb’ül Me’ali Muhammed bin İshak. His father, İshak Efendi, was a great scholar like himself and a respected and positioned person during the Anatolian Seljuks period. He was also a close friend of the famous sufi Muhyiddin Arabi. After his father’s death at a young age, young Sadreddin entered under the discipline and education of Sheikh'ul-Akbar Muhyiddin-i Arabi and received a good education. He went to Aleppo and Damascus with Muhyiddin-i Arabi and constantly followed his lessons. Sadreddin-i Konevi, who settled in Konya after the pilgrimage, resided in the place where his current tomb is located. In addition to thousands of students, he trained many people of wisdom and mysticism in Konya. It is rumored that Mevlana also drew inspiration from him. Ahmet Eflaki, in his work called Menakıb'ül-Arifin, relates many legends of the relationship and friendship between him and Mevlana. Mevlana had willed that the funeral prayer be performed by Sadreddin-i Konevi. When Sheikh Sadreddin-i Konevi, in accordance with his will, went in front of the coffin to lead the funeral prayer, he started to sob out of grief, he felt like he was going to faint. They took his arms and pulled him back. Instead, Kadi Sirajuddin led the prayer.
A woman at Rumi’s Conversations: Fahrünnisa Hatun
Fahrü'n- Nisa Hatun, was a female scholar who lived in Konya during the time of Mevlana. This lady, whose real name was Nizam Hatun, was one of the female students of Mevlana. She was a pious and very devoted lady. She was the Rabia of the time. The greats of the world and the wise sages were the devotees of the aforementioned. She was always present in the conversation of Mevlana. Mevlana used to go to see her many times. Fahrü'n- Nisa Hatun lived in a modest house on a street named after her in the current Çaybaşı neighborhood and died there. It is estimated that she had a lodge next to her house, where she chatted with the ladies and hosted the guests. Her tomb is also here.
A disciple full of mysteries and secrets: Tavusbaba
Who is Tavusbaba? Is he a sheikh or a woman saint? It is still not fully known. It is very likely that Tavus Baba was one of the 'Hatamu Dede Zaviye' sheikhs. Tavus Baba's real name was Mehmet, his hometown was India. He lived during the reigns of Rükneddin Süleyman and Alaeddin Keykubat, who were the sultans of the Anatolian Seljuks. He is a sheikh of that period. He came to Konya and settled in Konya because of the respect that the Seljuk sultans showed to the people of culture and mysticism. His dates of birth and death are unknown. Tavus Mehmet El-Hindi is written on the inscription in the Tavus Baba Tomb. Although it is known as the Tavus Baba Tomb, it is not known whether the person lying in it is a woman or a man. Mevlana used to be in various districts of Meram on hot summer nights and busy with conversation and dhikr on Meram Hill. Again, on one of these nights, the sound of the rebab, which spreads every night, became inaudible. Mevlana, on the other hand, was wondering why the sound was cut off and sent a few people there. Those who went there saw nothing but just a pile of peacock feathers in the open hut. After that, no one could understand what was going on. Mevlana ordered a shrine to be built on the site of the hut. According to the legend, it is known that she was a woman, but the name of the tomb remained as Tavus Baba Tomb because Bektashis called her Tavus Baba.
The Scientist that Rumicalled “Sea of knowledge”: Hoca Ahmet Fakih
He was among the saints who migrated from Khorasan to Konya. When Ahmed Fakih was younger, Mevlana used to refer to himself as "the sea of knowledge" was coming when he saw him on the road. This is described as a miracle of Mevlana. Ahmed Fakih, known as Hoca Ahmed Fakih or Sultan Hoca Fakih, was a Sufi poet. His name was Ahmed Fakih because he dealt with the science of fiqh and took fiqh lessons from Mevlana's father, Bahaaddin Veled.
Of course, the traces of Mevlana and Mevleviyeh in Meram are not limited to these. Again, among the Meram mansions, the most beautiful were those of the Mevlevi Çelebi. In the summer, the rites and conversations held at the “Celebi vineyard” in Meram were extremely popular. The mansions where the Çelebis stayed were in the vicinity of Cemel Ali Dede Ma'muresi and Tavus Baba, where the Çelebi vineyard is located, on Eskiyol, on the banks of the Meram Stream. Facing green and water; Vineyard, Yildiz Mansion with garden and Koycegiz mansion are the most famous ones. Meram, the witness of those unforgettable days, awaits its visitors with these tombs.
