Memorial complex of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi

Memorial complex of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi

The memorial complex of Khoja Bakhouddin Naqshbandi, located 12 km from Bukhara, is the most important Muslim shrine. This is one of the most important religious places of Bukhara, which pilgrims from different countries visit to ask for the fulfillment of desires and aversions of sins. It is called also the Central Asian Mecca, and three walking tours from Bukhara to the necropolis are equaled to one hajj.

Khoja Bakhouddin Naqshbandi was a famous Sufi philosopher of the East, became the founder of the order, later named in his honor – the Sufi order of Naqshbandiya. Also Bahouddin Naqshbandi was the spiritual instructor of Amir Temur and performed hajj to Mecca 2 times. His philosophy has become life-affirming for many figures of the East, and today his teaching remains relevant, attracting a huge number of pilgrims of all ages from various places every year. He urged people to be modest, rejected luxury. The basic principle of his philosophy is characterized by the well-known phrase: “Dil ba yeru dast ba kor” – “Heart with God, and hands in work,” and the order symbol represents a heart with the inscribed word “Allah”.

Bakhauddin Naqshbandi died in 1389 and was buried near Bukhara, in the place Kasri Orifon, which was famous for its pagan customs and holidays. At the place of the tomb was once a pagan temple of fire worshipers.

In 1544, Khan Abdualaziz built a crypt and surrounding buildings over his grave. In the XVIII century. the mother of the ruler of Abulfaz-khan ordered to build a mosque with two aivans (terraces) at his own expense, in 1720 a minaret was built, and in the 19th century the vizier of Nasrullah Khan Khakim Kushbegi added one more mosque to the complex.Inside the walls of the mausoleum lies a fallen ancient mulberry, which, according to legend, grew out of the staff of Bakhauddin. It is believed that if you crawl under it, the desire will come true. In 1993, in honor of the 675th anniversary of Bakhauddin Naqshband, the shrine was restored. In 2003, a lot of work was done on the improvement of the complex: a Darvazakhan (entrance) with a high dome was constructed, richly decorated aivans – terraces were recreated. The vast garden combined into a single composition the sacred burial of Hazrat Bakhauddin and the burial place of his mother. Dakhmai Shokhon (Necropolis of the rulers) was restored, where the remains of some rulers from the dynasties of the Timurids, Sheybanids, Ashtarkhanids and Mangits are buried.

At the complex there is a museum where the true information about Sufis and Sufism in general is stored: Sufi clothing, books, boilers, in which food was prepared, and many other exhibits.