The analysis of religious motifs in Danişmend-nâme in terms of religions history

Epics are works that are memories of nations reflecting beliefs, livings of people and cultural heritage of these nations. Epics have been an important form for Turks who are known for their bravery and heroism in history. Thus, analyzing Turkish epics will considerably contribute to understanding Turkish culture. Religious motifs play significant role in epics in pre-Islamic and Islamic period. Danişmend-name is one of this kind of epics taking part in Turk Islam epics and subject of our study. It narrates the conquest of Danişment Gazi against Constantinople in Central Anatolia especially in Sivas region after Malazgirt battle in 1071. Danişmend-name was formed between Battalname and Saltukname which are also Anatolian epics and it is the second work of Turkish Islamic epics. Danişmend-name, which is quite important for Turkish culture, is one of the first Turkish heroic works written in Anatolia. It is also quite important in that it reflects traditions, living struggles and religious– national ideologies of first Turkish communities between 11- 14th centuries in Anatolia. In Danişmend-name, one of the Turkish Islamic epics, there are a great number of religious motifs concerning with Turkish traditional religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The aim of this study is to evaluate religious symbols of Turkish traditional religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam in terms of religious history in accordance with scientific methods and principles in Danişmend-name. In this study, we analyzed religious terms of historical background that are connected with religious thought of the writer of Danişmend-name. Moreover, the religious terms above are evaluated objectively within theme systematic and they are interpreted in descriptive and phenomenological method. Analyzing these terms in terms of religious history is regarded significant in that it reveals the connection of religious terms at present time and in the period Danişmend-name. It can be seen that many events in the work were represented as pre Islamic epics told with an Islamic way when religious motifs in the work are analyzed in detail in Danişmend-name. All religious motifs in the epic remain as the same even if they change their shapes in time.