Mevlana Museum – Konya

Mevlana Museum – Konya

The Mevlana Museum is located in the Mevlana Dervish Lodge (Mevlana Dergâhı) in the Karatay district of Konya, Turkey. Following the proclamation of the Republic, the dervish lodge was opened to the public in 1926 under the name “Konya Museum of Antiquities (Konya Asâr-ı Atîka Müzesi)”. After a new arrangement in 1954, it was officially renamed the Mevlana Museum.

The museum stands on the former rose garden of the Seljuk Palace, which was gifted by Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad to Sultan al-ʿUlamāʾ Bahaeddin Veled, the father of Mevlana Jalal al-Din Rumi. When Bahaeddin Veled passed away in 1231, he was buried at this location. Although his followers wished to build a mausoleum over his grave, Mevlana rejected the idea, saying, “What could be a better tomb than the sky itself?” However, after Mevlana’s death in 1273, his son Sultan Veled accepted the requests, and the mausoleum known as the Kubbe-i Hadra (Green Dome) was constructed in 1274 by the architect Bedreddin of Tabriz, resting on four massive pillars.

The core structure of the Mevlana Museum is the tomb of Mevlana Jalal al-Din Rumi.

Museum Complex and Architecture

The museum courtyard is entered through the Dervişân Gate. Along the north and west sides of the courtyard are the dervish cells. To the south, after the kitchen (matbah) and the Hürrem Paşa Mausoleum, the courtyard ends at the Hâmûşân (Gate of the Silent Ones), which opens onto the Üçler Cemetery. On the eastern side, the main complex includes the mausoleums of Sinan Paşa, Fatma Hatun, and Hasan Paşa, as well as the semahane (ritual hall), mosque, and the main building housing the tombs of Mevlana and his family members.

Within the courtyard are a covered fountain (şadırvan) commissioned by Sultan Selim I in 1512, the Şeb-i Arûs Pool, and a fountain known as the selsebil on the northern side.
Today, together with the surrounding rose gardens, the museum complex covers an area of approximately 18,000 square meters.

Collections and Treasures of the Museum

The museum exhibits valuable objects related to Mevlana and the Mevlevi Order, including manuscripts, calligraphic panels, oil lamps, and musical instruments.

Specialized Library

The Specialized Library, founded in 1854 by Postnişin Mehmed Said Hemdem Çelebi, houses over 4,000 handwritten manuscripts bound in 2,756 volumes, dating from the Seljuk, Karamanid, and Ottoman periods.

Notable Artifacts

Mevlana’s Sarcophagus

Mevlana’s wooden sarcophagus was crafted in 1274 from kiln-dried walnut wood by Hümameddin Mehmed of Konya and Architect Abdülvahid, son of Selimoğlu of Tabriz. The two turbaned sarcophagi at the front belong to Mevlana and his son Sultan Veled, while the single turbaned sarcophagus behind them is attributed to Bahaeddin Veled, although sources differ on this matter.

The surface of the sarcophagus is decorated with geometric and vegetal motifs and calligraphic bands featuring verses from the Masnavi and Divan-i Kabir. An inscription at the foot reads:

“Whoever visits this grave shall surely be blessed and fortunate. This is the resting place of Mevlana Muhammad, son of Muhammad, son of Husayn of Balkh. He is the sultan of scholars in the East and the West.”

Puşide (Mevlana’s Tomb Cover)

Commissioned by Sultan Abdülhamid II in 1895, the original puşide was made of satin fabric over leather. Due to wear, it was replaced in 2021, and the original 126-year-old puşide has been placed under protection.

The new cover, made of green velvet with Rumi-style motifs, was designed by Architect and Illuminator Muammer Semih İrteş, while the calligraphy and the basmala were executed by Master Calligrapher Hüseyin Kutlu.

Masnavi

The Masnavi manuscript, written five years after Mevlana’s death, is regarded as one of the oldest copies (nüsha-i kadim). It contains all six volumes together and was copied in 1278 during the Seljuk period by Mehmed bin Abdullah of Konya in naskh script.

Nisan Bowl

The Nisan Bowl was commissioned in 1327 by Ilkhanid ruler Abu Saʿid Bahadur Khan using bronze with silver and gold inlay and presented to the Mevlana Lodge. Rainwater collected in the bowl during April (Nisan) was distributed to visitors for healing purposes, giving the object its name.

Life of Mevlana Jalal al-Din Rumi

Born as Muhammad Jalal al-Din on 30 September 1207 in Balkh (in present-day Afghanistan), Mevlana was the son of the renowned scholar Bahaeddin Veled and Mümine Hatun. Following migration from Balkh, the family traveled through Damascus and Aleppo before settling in Larende (Karaman) in 1222.

Mevlana married Gevher Hatun in 1225, with whom he had two sons, Sultan Veled and Alaeddin Çelebi. After her death, he married Kerra Hatun, and they had two children, Emir Âlim Çelebi and Melike Hatun.

Upon the invitation of Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad, the family moved to Konya, the Seljuk capital. Mevlana taught for many years at the Altun Aba (İplikçi) Madrasa. He passed away in Konya on 17 December 1273, at the age of 66.

Encounter with Shams of Tabriz

A turning point in Mevlana’s life was his meeting with Shams-i Tabrizi in 1244 or 1245. This encounter profoundly transformed Mevlana’s spiritual path. His close bond with Shams caused discomfort among his followers, eventually leading to Shams’s departure. Mevlana dedicated his Divan to Shams.

Works of Mevlana

• Divan-i Kabir (The Great Divan): A collection of ghazals and quatrains, mostly written after Mevlana’s meeting with Shams.
• Masnavi: A six-volume Persian masterpiece of approximately 25,700 couplets, regarded as one of the most important works of Islamic mystical literature.
• Fihi Ma Fih: A compilation of Mevlana’s discourses recorded by his disciples.
• Majalis-i Sabʿa (Seven Sermons): Texts based on his sermons.
• Maktubat (Letters): A collection of letters written to various individuals for different purposes.

Şeb-i Arûs (The Wedding Night)

Şeb-i Arûs, meaning “the wedding night,” symbolizes Mevlana’s union with the Divine Beloved and refers to the night of his passing. Each year around 17 December, International Commemoration Ceremonies of Vuslat (Union) are held in Konya to mark this occasion.