Mevlana Museum – Konya
Sane Mind Turkey

Mevlana Museum – Konya

Certain special places exist in the world, but we may not know anything about them. In my case, Mevlana Museum was one of them. When I included Konya in my travel itinerary, I knew that it was an important Ottoman city. So, it made sense for me to go there because one of the reasons for my travel across Turkey was to explore Ottoman heritage.

I remember reading about Konya on the beach in Antalya, because I wanted to find out in more detail about its history and historic sites. I learnt that Konya was the capital city of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. Certainly, I didn’t know anything about the Seljuk civilisation. Additionally, I didn’t know anything about Mevlana.

 

 

WHO WAS MEVLANA?

 

Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi or Mevlana was the 13th century Persian poet, spiritual leader, philosopher and Sufi mystic. He may not be very well known in the western world, but the Islamic word greatly appreciates and cherishes his spiritual legacy. In terms of poems and his other literary work, he stands equal to Dante and Shakespeare. Rumi’s poetry speaks of love that permeates the world.

He was a transcendental Islamic philosopher that passionately believed in the use of music, poetry and dance as the way to reach God. Although, the depth of his spiritual vision reached beyond the confines of religion. He was a poet of universal love. His teachings were the base for the Mevlevi order, established by his son Sultan Walad. Additionally, his ideas gave birth to the Whirling Dervishes practice.

There is already a lot of information about Rumi on the internet, if you want to learn more about this extraordinary person. But I had to say a word about him, as an introduction to the Mevlana Museum.

 

 

MEVLANA MUSEUM

 

When I read about Mevlana Museum in Konya, I imagined a modern day building, although I couldn’t envisage what would be inside. In fact, I didn’t really want to know too much in advance. Rather, I wanted to personally discover and explore the museum and its exhibits.

I vividly remember arriving to the big square that you can see in the photo below. There were two mosques in front of me. I immediately identified the front building as an Ottoman mosque. It certainly looked like all other Ottoman mosques, although I didn’t know which one it was exactly.

So, I looked around to find the Mevlana Museum. But no building that I could see looked like a museum, until I clicked. It was right there in front of me, the other mosque in the square with a green dome. Perhaps, you can imagine my surprise when I realised that the Mevlana Museum was a much more important place than I had originally thought. The same as Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, only significant and greatly important historic structures are museums.

 

Selimiye Camii &  Mevlana Museum
Selimiye Mosque &  Mevlana Museum

 

The Mevlana Museum is in fact Rumi’s mausoleum. Rumi died in December 1273. Hüsamettin Çelebi, Mevlana’s successor, decided to build a mausoleum over his master’s grave in 1274. It was also a dervish lodge of the Mevlevi order, more popularly known as Whirling Dervishes.

 

Mevlana Museum - Konya
Mevlana Museum

 

Apparently, this is the Turkey’s most visited museum, with over 2.5 million visitors annually. However, what you can’t see in these photos are many people that were there at the same time when I was there.

In fact, there were busloads of tourists in the museum, transported from other destinations in Turkey, most likely on a day excursion. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that they would only visit this museum and the Selimiye Mosque and nothing else.

I didn’t see any tourists at any other of Konya’s equally important historic sites, such as the Aziziye and Alaeddin Mosques. But I liked the fact that all other sites were quiet. I had them almost exclusively for myself.

 

Mevlana Museum - Konya
Mevlana Museum

 

 

MAUSOLEUM

 

As I’ve already mentioned, the museum is the Rumi’s mausoleum.

 

Rumi Mausoleum
Mausoleum

 

Rumi Mausoleum
Mausoleum

 

But there are other people buried there, they where dervishes who accompanied Rumi and his family to Konya. There are also his family members and high-ranking members of the Mevlevi order.

 

Rumi Mausoleum - Konya
Mausoleum

 

Certainly, the most important is the Rumi’s tomb, it occupies the central part of the mausoleum. It is located directly beneath the green dome.

 

Rumi's Tomb - Konya
Mevlana

 

 

RUMI’S LOVE POEMS

 

A moment of happiness

you and I sitting on the veranda,

apparently two, but one in soul, you and I.

We feel the flowing water of life here,

you and I, with the garden’s beauty

and the birds singing.

 

Rumi Mausoleum - Konya
Mausoleum

 

The stars will be watching us, 

and we will show them

what it is to be a thin crescent moon.

 

Rumi's Mausoleum - Konya
Mausoleum

 

You and I unselfed, will be together, 

indifferent to idle speculation, you and I.

The parrots of heaven will be cracking sugar

as we laugh together, you and I.

 

Rumi's Mausoleum - Konya
Mausoleum

 

In one form upon this earth, 

and in another form in a timeless sweet land

Kulliyat-e Shams, 2114

 

Mevlana Museum - Konya
Mevlana Museum

 

Lovers

O lovers, lovers it is time

to set out from the world.

I hear a drum in my soul’s ear

coming from the depths of the stars.

Our camel driver is at work;

the caravan is being readied.

 

Rumi's Museum - Konya
Mevlana Museum

 

He asks that we forgive him 

for the disturbance he has caused us,

He asks why we travellers are asleep. 

 

Rumi's Museum - Konya
Mevlana Museum

 

Everywhere the murmur of departure;

the stars, like candles thrust at us from behind blue veils,

and as if to make the invisible pain,

a wondrous people have come forth.

The Divani Shamsi Tabriz XXXVI

 

Rumi's Museum - Konya
Mevlana Museum

 

These were two of Rumi’s love poems.

 

Mevlana Museum - Konya
Mevlana Museum

 

I’m glad that I visited this museum. It inspired me to learn about Rumi, the Mevlevi Order and Whirling Dervishes. Basically, things that I knew nothing about before I went to Konya.

If the Mevlana Museum was the only thing to see in Konya, it would be worth a visit. It’s a magnificent place, especially when you fully understand its history and symbolic meaning. Or I should say, Rumi’s spiritual significance.

I also think that everyone who happens to be close to Konya should inevitably make an effort and visit this precious place.

 

 

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02 Comments

  1. Sharon

    This is a lovely website. I was on a tour of turkey in January 2001. We went to Mevlana and I had no idea what it was. I walked in and saw the tombs. An overwhelming feeling of unconditional love come over me and burst into tears of joy. My husband thought I had gone mad. I think Rumi has a place in my spiritual heart and soul, way beyond this life. Bless you for sharing these lovely photos and information. I trust it will inspire others to visit.

    October 2, 2020 Reply
    • Vitko Ignjatovic

      Hi Sharon

      Thank you for your message. The same as you, I didn’t know very much about Rumi when I went there, but I also felt the spirituality and the positive energy of that place. Afterwards, I read and learnt about Rumi and the Mevlana order, it’s all very fascinating. I don’t think that many people outside of the Islam world know about him and his philosophy.

      But, I hope that at least some people will be inspired to go to Konya and see that fascinating city and Rumi’s magical resting place.

      October 4, 2020 Reply

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