"The Business Card" of the City of Osh
When narrating the life of the Alaï queen, one cannot overlook the "pearl" of the Kokand Khanate - Osh. This city is closely connected to the matriarch, especially during the years of her brilliant political career.
If a theater, as they say, begins with a coat rack, then it is best to start telling about the attractions of the "southern capital" with Sulaiman-Too. This mountain has always been a symbol of the ancient city. It is inseparably linked to its history, much like the Kremlin is part of Moscow or Big Ben is the "business card" of London. The only difference is that the sanctuary of Sulaiman is much older than them.
For more than three thousand years, this remarkable elevation has served as a sanctuary for the local inhabitants. Initially a Zoroastrian site, and many centuries later - a place of worship for Muslims. With the spread of Islam in the territory of Kyrgyzstan, the mountain received the name of the prophet Sulaiman and is still referred to as the "Mecca" of Central Asia. Pilgrims from various corners of the Muslim world constantly flock here. The rock paintings and petroglyphs made by ancient artists provide rich information about the history and religious beliefs of the ancient inhabitants of the Osh oasis and the entire Fergana Valley. The people of Osh believe in the tales of the miraculous power of Sulaiman-Too, and they remember a whole series of legends, myths, and stories about it. Every day, hundreds of people ascend to the summit of Sulaiman-Too to perform traditional ceremonies and feel the grandeur of nature.
It is also worth noting that the shape of Sulaiman-Too is unique. From the north, it resembles a bearded old man lying on his back with bent knees. From the south, it looks like a radiant naked beauty, whose hands gently support her firm breasts.
According to scholars, the symbolic representation of a man-mountain was perceived by ancient people as a supernatural phenomenon. The mountain began to be deified as a powerful protector of people, a defender against natural disasters. As a result of the emergence of Zoroastrianism, the mountain became a sanctuary. Notably, the name of the Osh mountain is significant. According to legend, the great Shah Babur, in his work "Baburnama," refers to Sulaiman-Too as "Bara-kuh." Many scholars have translated this word as "Beautiful mountain." However, in both Persian and Arabic dictionaries, the word "bara" in the meaning of "beautiful" is absent. Therefore, some scholars tend to interpret the word "bara" as "bugra," meaning "camel." In other words, "Bugra-kuh" translates to "Camel-mountain." The resemblance of Sulaiman-Too to a camel's configuration, as well as the name of the river Ak-Buura - White Camel, can serve as confirmation of this.
Muslims have always referred to the Osh mountain in their own way as Sulaiman-Too, and sometimes simply as Takhti-Sulaiman. The name Sulaiman-Too resonates in the travel notes of the Kabul merchant Mehdi Rafayilov (1812), the English traveler Mir Izzet Ullah (1813), and the Russian diplomat F. Nazarov. The Osh mountain is referred to as Sulaiman-Too without any changes in the famous work of A. N. Bernshteyn "Ancient Fergana." Based on this, the historical name of the mountain is currently designated as the original Sulaiman-Too.
It should also be added that on the Great Silk Road, Sulaiman-Too has always been a good landmark. Traders would set up camp at the foot of the mountain, resting in the lap of nature in Osh. Staying here was a necessity for many, as mountain passes awaited travelers ahead.
Kurmanzhan Datka