Underground mosque
In the Mangistau region, 57 km from the city of Fort Shevchenko, near the Gulf of Sarytas, there is an underground mosque. It was created in the XII-XIII centuries by the Sufi preacher Sultan-upi. This mosque was not a place of mass worship, it became a haven for wandering preachers and hermits. In 1993, the ancient structure was taken under state protection.
The mosque is built inside the rock. The construction consists of 11 rooms, in one of them is the tomb of the Sultan-upi.
A well stands 6 meters from the mosque on a steep cliff. Its feature is that it is located at a 30-meter height. The well was built in the 19th century by locals who believed in the magical power of this place.
Who was the Sultan-upi
According to ancient legends, the real name of the Sultan-upi is Hubby. He was the youngest son of a Sufi preacher Suleimen Bakyrgani, who was an outstanding student of Akhmet Yassaui. According to legend, Hubby managed to temporarily transfer the Muslim shrine, the Kaaba, to Central Asia. For this, Hubby was counted among the saints. He is also credited with the ability to revive the dead.
There are several versions of why the Hubby began to be called the Sultan-upi. Some say that “upi” means a Sufi. Other researchers noted that the Iranian word “about” is the basis of the name Sultan-upi. Residents of Southern Kazakhstan consider the Sultan-upi the spirit of Ubyu.
According to the legends of the Turkmens, if you turn to the holy Sultan-upi for help, he will come out of the water and reach out his hand. He was also asked for flood protection.
Father curse
According to legend, Hubby especially revered his father. However, Suleimen Bakyrgani envied his abilities and therefore constantly subjected his son to trials. Once, my father ordered 10 bulls to be slaughtered and cooked. But he did not leave a single piece of meat to his youngest son. Hubby, remembering all his grievances, left home. The enraged father cursed his son and wished for forty years to flood his grave. However, this curse turned against Suleimen Bakyrgani. When he died, the Amu Darya river changed its course and flooded the grave of the preacher.
