Abstract
A STUDY ON DEDE KORKUT STORIES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE “HOLY MAN” PHENOMENON
The concept of the holy or the holy is found in every society. Holy things attract people's interest and arouse their curiosity. Power draws support from the holy and is thus reinforced. The concepts of “holy time” and “holy place” are phenomenologically established, but the concept of the “holy man” does not yet appear to be firmly established. The “cult of the saint” represents, in a way, a part of the concept of the “holy man”. This is because it requires a certain time and belief practices to take the form of a cult and for its legends to spread. Dede Korkut lives on in people's minds, just as he lived in his stories, and his “sainthood” is seen to reinforce his wise personality. However, because he is a person connected to holiness and spirituality and does not stray from the truth, he always comes to the fore with his wise personality. This study attempts to find answers to the reasons why Dede Korkut is seen as a “holy man” in Oğuz society.
Keywords
Holy, Holy Man, Dede Korkut, Veli