Khwajagan
Encyclopedia
Khwājagān is a Persian
title for "the Master". Khwajagan is a word often used to refer to a chain of Central Asia
n Naqshbandi
Sufi Masters from the 10th to the 16th century. In Firdowsi's Shahnama the word is used many times for some rulers and heroes of ancient Iran
.
Interest in the Khwajagan was revived in the 20th century with the publication in Turkey
of "Hacegan Hanedani", by Hasan Lutfi Shushud, (Istanbul
, 1958).His sources included
Buhari'dir, Istanbul A.H. 1328.
A short translation of Shushud's work by J. G. Bennett was published in “Systematics
” Volume 6, No. 4 March 1969, Muhter Holland's full length translation "Masters of Wisdom of Central Asia" was published by Coombe Springs press in 1983. J. G. Bennett also wrote a full length work loosely based on Shushud's original.
Some authors such as Idries Shah
and John Godolphin Bennett maintain that George Ivanovich Gurdjieff's 'Fourth Way' originated with the Khwajagan.
Prominent Central Asian Khwajagan included:
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
title for "the Master". Khwajagan is a word often used to refer to a chain of Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
n Naqshbandi
Naqshbandi
Naqshbandi is one of the major Sufi spiritual orders of Sufi Islam. It is considered to be a "Potent" order.The Naqshbandi order is over 1,300 years old, and is active today...
Sufi Masters from the 10th to the 16th century. In Firdowsi's Shahnama the word is used many times for some rulers and heroes of ancient Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Interest in the Khwajagan was revived in the 20th century with the publication in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
of "Hacegan Hanedani", by Hasan Lutfi Shushud, (Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, 1958).His sources included
- Resahat'i Ayn'el Hayat, compiled by Mevlana Ali Bin Huseyin Safi'dir, A.H. 993.
- Nefahat'el Uns min Hazerat'el Kuds, A.H. 1289, by Abdurrahman Cami A.H. 881.
- Risale'i Bahaiyye, by Rif'at Bey.
- Semerat'el Fuad, by Sari Abdullah.Makamat'i Muhammed Bahaeddin Naqshibend, by Salahaddin Ibn'i Mubarek'el
Buhari'dir, Istanbul A.H. 1328.
A short translation of Shushud's work by J. G. Bennett was published in “Systematics
Systematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
” Volume 6, No. 4 March 1969, Muhter Holland's full length translation "Masters of Wisdom of Central Asia" was published by Coombe Springs press in 1983. J. G. Bennett also wrote a full length work loosely based on Shushud's original.
Some authors such as Idries Shah
Idries Shah
Idries Shah , also known as Idris Shah, né Sayed Idries el-Hashimi , was an author and teacher in the Sufi tradition who wrote over three dozen critically acclaimed books on topics ranging from psychology and spirituality to travelogues and culture studies.Born in India, the descendant of a...
and John Godolphin Bennett maintain that George Ivanovich Gurdjieff's 'Fourth Way' originated with the Khwajagan.
Prominent Central Asian Khwajagan included:
- Yusuf HamdaniYusuf HamdaniHadrat Abu Yaqub Yusuf Hamdani is the first of the group of Central Asian Sufi teachers known simply as Khwajagan of the Naqshbandi order.-Life:...
- Khwaja Ahmad Yasavi
- Abdul Khaliq GajadwaniAbdul Khaliq GajadwaniAbdul Khaliq Gajadwani was one of a group of Central Asian Sufi teachers known simply as Khwajagan of the Naqshbandi order....
- Baha-ud-Din Naqshband BukhariBaha-ud-Din Naqshband BukhariBaha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari was the founder of what would become the Naqshbandi. He was born in Bukhara which is located in Uzbekistan...
- Amir KulalAmir KulalShams ud-Din renowned as Amir Kulal was born in Bukhara, Uzbekistan to the well known scholar Saif ud-Din Hamza a descendant of Nabi Muhammad. Saif ud Din Hamza was also Amir of Tribe of Kulal , hence the title Amir...
- Nur ad-Din Abd ar-Rahman JamiJamiNur ad-Dīn Abd ar-Rahmān Jāmī also known as DJāmī, Mawlanā Nūr al-Dīn 'Abd al-Rahmān or Abd-Al-Rahmān Nur-Al-Din Muhammad Dashti who is commonly known as Jami , is known for his achievements as a scholar, mystic, writer, composer of numerous lyrics and idylls, historian, and one of the greatest...