ARYSTAN BABA MAUSOLEUM

stan-Baba Mausoleum is an architectural monument of XII-XIV centuries, located near the ruins of ancient Otyrar in South-Kazakhstan Oblast. The mausoleum was built on the grave of famous religious mystic Arystan Baba who lived in XII century.

Saint Arystan Baba was a legendary figure. According to the legend he was the follower of Mukhammed which was a batyr and gardener and learnt Arystan-Baba to cultivate gardens.

According to legends Arystan-Baba was the teacher of Khodzha Akhmed Jassavi. As the legends said Arystan-Baba was buried in Otyrar suburbs in XII century.

According to the point of view of some researchers the mausoleum passed evolution analogical to Sairam mausoleums.

A new building was constructed instead of the ruined construction in XIV century under the order of Timur.

Now there is a mausoleum over the grave of Arystan-Baba in area 35х12 m, made from burnt brick.

The preserved building was built in the first decade of XX century. It is the complex consisting of two parts: a two-chambered table-tomb (gurkhana) and commemoration mosque combined with a big vaulted corridor. The gurkhana is covered by two equal high cupolas. There is a headstone of Arystan-Baba in its first room whereas in the second one - the headstones of his followers and students as Hermet-Azyra, Karga-Baba and Lashyn-Baba.

According to historical data the mausoleum was reconstructed in XII-XVIII centuries several times.

At present the mausoleum is one of the Muslim sanctuaries of the Central Asia.

Since 1982 the mausoleum is under the protection of the state.

Source: Kazakhstan, National Encyclopedia, Volume 1.