Balım Sultan (d. circa 1517/1519) was a Turcoman[1]Bektashisufi who established and codified the Bektashi Order at the beginning of the 16th century. The mystical practices and rituals of the Bektashi were systematized and structured by Balım, after which many of the order's distinct practices and beliefs took shape. He is considered the primary personality in the Bektashi Order after Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli(Haji Bektash) and is regarded as the “Second Pir” (pīr-e ṯānī or second elder).
Overviewedit
Balım Sultan was born in 1457 in the town of Dimetoka in Rumelia to a Shia Muslim mother. The genealogy of Balïm is a contested matter, but most versions seek to link him to the miraculously begotten sons of Ḥājī Bektāš, Ḥabīb and Ḵeżr Lāla, as a reinforcement of his spiritual descent from the founding elder of the order. It is also widely suggested that his father was Mursel Baba and his mother was an Iranian/Persian princess.[2]
He was a follower of a Bektashi convent in northeastern Greece before being appointed by sultan Bayezid II to the Pīr Evi, the mother tekke in Sulucakarahöyük (near Kırşehir) in 1501. The convents, which spread in town and villages, were centralized during his appointment. The order was also institutionalized through ceremonies and religious functions under Balïm.[3] He died between 1517 and 1519. His tomb is located in the Haci Bektashi Veli Complex in Nevşehir Province, Turkey.[4]
Impact on the Bektashi Orderedit
Balïm is credited as initiating the use of twelve candles and associated paraphernalia in rituals and ceremonies; introduction of the Palihenk, a large symbolic stone with twelve flutings worn around the neck; and the fixing of a rank hierarchy led by a celibate dervish (mücerred). From the time of Balïm onward, the Bektāšīya consisted of two mutually antagonistic branches; the Mücerred or Babagan branch, founded by Balïm and presided over by a celibate dervish; and the Çelebî branch, led by other presumed descendants of Ḥabīb and Ḵeżr Lāla. The Mücerred branch was generally dominant, and from the time of Sersem-ʿAlī Sultan (d. 1569-70), all Bektāšī tekkas were under the control of a supreme celibate elder resident at the central shrine (pirevi) in the hamlet of Hacıbektaş near Kırşehir in central Anatolia.[5]
Ranks in the hierarchy established to Balïm were the following: ʿāšeq, moḥebb, darvīš, bābā, ḵalīfa, and mojarrad. The ʿāšeq was the aspirant to entry; once accepted, he was termed a moḥebb. If he advanced to the rank of darvīš, he would be told to let his beard grow, be given the Bektāšī tāj to wear, and be assigned one of several menial tasks in the tekka. The oldest Bektāšī tekkas often had land attached to them, so working the land was among the tasks performed by darvīš. The bābā was the Bektāšī equivalent of shaykh, responsible for the welfare of the tekka residents. The rank of bābā was awarded by a ḵalīfa to a darvīš selected by him or, occasionally, to a moḥebb. Although the chief function of the bābā was to train darvīšes and moḥebbs for further advancement, he could not himself promote them to the rank of bābā, this being the prerogative of the ḵalīfa.[6]
balım, sultan, circa, 1517, 1519, turcoman, bektashi, sufi, established, codified, bektashi, order, beginning, 16th, century, mystical, practices, rituals, bektashi, were, systematized, structured, balım, after, which, many, order, distinct, practices, beliefs. Balim Sultan d circa 1517 1519 was a Turcoman 1 Bektashi sufi who established and codified the Bektashi Order at the beginning of the 16th century The mystical practices and rituals of the Bektashi were systematized and structured by Balim after which many of the order s distinct practices and beliefs took shape He is considered the primary personality in the Bektashi Order after Haci Bektas i Veli Haji Bektash and is regarded as the Second Pir pir e ṯani or second elder Overview editBalim Sultan was born in 1457 in the town of Dimetoka in Rumelia to a Shia Muslim mother The genealogy of Balim is a contested matter but most versions seek to link him to the miraculously begotten sons of Ḥaji Bektas Ḥabib and Ḵezr Lala as a reinforcement of his spiritual descent from the founding elder of the order It is also widely suggested that his father was Mursel Baba and his mother was an Iranian Persian princess 2 He was a follower of a Bektashi convent in northeastern Greece before being appointed by sultan Bayezid II to the Pir Evi the mother tekke in Sulucakarahoyuk near Kirsehir in 1501 The convents which spread in town and villages were centralized during his appointment The order was also institutionalized through ceremonies and religious functions under Balim 3 He died between 1517 and 1519 His tomb is located in the Haci Bektashi Veli Complex in Nevsehir Province Turkey 4 Impact on the Bektashi Order editBalim is credited as initiating the use of twelve candles and associated paraphernalia in rituals and ceremonies introduction of the Palihenk a large symbolic stone with twelve flutings worn around the neck and the fixing of a rank hierarchy led by a celibate dervish mucerred From the time of Balim onward the Bektasiya consisted of two mutually antagonistic branches the Mucerred or Babagan branch founded by Balim and presided over by a celibate dervish and the Celebi branch led by other presumed descendants of Ḥabib and Ḵezr Lala The Mucerred branch was generally dominant and from the time of Sersem ʿAli Sultan d 1569 70 all Bektasi tekkas were under the control of a supreme celibate elder resident at the central shrine pirevi in the hamlet of Hacibektas near Kirsehir in central Anatolia 5 Ranks in the hierarchy established to Balim were the following ʿaseq moḥebb darvis baba ḵalifa and mojarrad The ʿaseq was the aspirant to entry once accepted he was termed a moḥebb If he advanced to the rank of darvis he would be told to let his beard grow be given the Bektasi taj to wear and be assigned one of several menial tasks in the tekka The oldest Bektasi tekkas often had land attached to them so working the land was among the tasks performed by darvis The baba was the Bektasi equivalent of shaykh responsible for the welfare of the tekka residents The rank of baba was awarded by a ḵalifa to a darvis selected by him or occasionally to a moḥebb Although the chief function of the baba was to train darvises and moḥebbs for further advancement he could not himself promote them to the rank of baba this being the prerogative of the ḵalifa 6 Notes edit Balim Sultan Moosa Matti 1988 Extremist Shiites The Ghulat Sects Syracuse University Press ISBN 0 8156 2411 5 Trimingham J Spencer 1971 The Sufi Orders in Islam Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 512058 2 Egresi Istvan 2016 Alternative Tourism in Turkey Role Potential Development and Sustainability GeoJournal Library ISBN 978 3 319 47535 6 J K Birge 1937 The Bektashi Order of Dervishes London Algar Hamid 1989 Bektasiya Encyclopaedia Iranica available online http www iranicaonline org articles bektasiya Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Balim Sultan amp oldid 1206213808, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
