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Uzbekistan -
Monuments of Samarkand
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In the north-east of Samarkand, on the Coast of Siab River, there is a mausoleum of Prophet Khodja Daniyar. His mausoleum is esteemed among Muslims as well as Judaic and Christian pilgrims. The Muslims believe Daniyar was a follower of Prophet Mohammed and disseminator of the Islam religion. He is known as Prophet Daniel in Holly Bible. And Jews are considered him as one of four Great Prophets of Judaism. In accordance with the legend, Khodja Daniyar lived in IV-V centuries B.C. Daniel was taken captive when the Jerusalem was conquest by the Babilon in 660 B.C. Thanks to Daniel’s unique ability to read dreams he was allowed to stay at the ruler’s court. He described his prophecy in the book consisted of 14 chapters. Daniel was buried in Susa city (modern Shuster).
But how the relics of Khodja Daniyar appeared in Samarkand? One of the legends sounds that the Great Amir Temur ordered to remove Saint’s remains, i.e. his hand, to Samarkand during his war against the Asia Minor. These relics were supposed to protect Samarkand against all the evil. Originally, the Daniysr’s tomb was quite small and decorated with river stone.
The tomb has changed its size and shape during the centuries. Nowadays it is 18 meters length. It is explained by year to year growth of the Saint’s hand. There is a 500 years old pistachio tree near the mausoleum and the spring of healing water gushed in the suburbs of the Saint’s tomb.
This mausoleum is a truly place of interethnic peace and concord, promoting understanding and tolerance within people. |
