Shevlan Baba

Among the impressive sights of the Sumbar Valley, there is a legendary place where people constantly come with the sincere hope of enthusiastically fulfilling their cherished dreams. It is recognized far beyond the Balkan Territory — it is Shibli Baba or Shevlan — a whole ritual complex formed at the foot of Mount Syunt Khasar, just 10 kilometers north-east of the village of Makhtumkuli. This picturesque corner of the divine nature of the Western Kopetdag can be called wonderful and magical powers. This is clearly evidenced by the visible objects left by the pilgrims on the branches of sacred trees and bushes: colorful bandages - signs of made wishes, toy bows — direct requests for a son-heir, children's clothes — a prayer for the healing of an ill child.

But no matter how merciful Shibli Baba is to the suffering, this sacred land is equally wonderful for its uniquely beautiful landscape. Thanks to the harmonious combination of natural view with folk architecture, the "genius of the place" is visible - that subtle substance creates a special aura even in the very ordinary space. The prominent feature of Shevlan is a high mountain slope hanging over it, completely overgrown with dark lichens. This distinguishing feature of its flora influenced the birth of the historical legends associated with the name of Shibli Baba. According to one of them, he was a wandering dervish, searching for God for many years, but never finding Him. Stopping at this place at the end of his journey, Shibli Baba sighed bitterly, and a flame escaped from his lips and scorched the surroundings. From this fiery sigh, the mountain turned black. Granting to another legend, young Shevlan once saw an attractive woman and instantly ran after her, but she miraculously disappeared. Next, he asked his peer-mentor, where did she go? The teacher replied that the lady had gone to paradise flying over the mountain. From despair, Shevlan sighed heavily, and from his exhalation the magnificent mountain caught fire. Since then, nothing has grown thereon, and the stones have turned black from the fire. However, conferring on to the Russian ethnographer and religious scholar S.M. Demidov, it is exposed that the burial in the local Mazar is conditional and it is connected with the name of the famous medieval mystic, the Sufi sheikh ash-Shibli Khorasani, who lived in the second half of the 9th - the first half of the 10th century and was buried in Baghdad, where his grave is revered to this day. This place indeed helps the people mentally and heals the soul.

The British call such reserved corners the phrase "places of the soul" - the location where the soul dwells.

In the nutshell, if you genuinely want to explore the mysterious spot and make wishes at the same time, then Shevlan baba is a wonderful place to visit.

Lunar mountains

 

Interesting view of this landscape