Specific features of the cult of saints among the Uaks of the Pavlodar Irtysh region

This article examines the cult of "aulie ” among the Kazakhs from the Uak clan living in Shcherbaktu and Akkulu Districts of Pavlodar Region, which are a part of the Ertis Ormany Forest Natural Reserve. The study presents new evidence and identifies specific features of the cult of saints ("aulie”) in this area using integrated methods of data collection and analysis. Field evidence of the expedition supplements the data which was previously obtained for Omsk Region. Sufi teachers from the local residents played an important role in spreading Islam in the south of Western Siberia, which also included the areas of Pavlodar Region under study. Gabdul Uakhit Khazret from the local Bidaly uak clan studied for 15 years at the Mir-i-Arab madrasah which followed the Naqshbandi tariqa. The process of initiation into Naqshbandiyya allowed its members to lead ordinary lives. They were only expected to perform dhikr (the act of remembering God). It was established that his students included a relatively numerous group of hereditary families of traditional Kazakh baksy and healers from various branches of the uak clan who successfully used dhikr in their medical practices. Many of them became famous for their spiritual power baksy, emshi (healers), sonykshi (chiropractors), performed the hajj to Mecca, and acquired the status of kazhi (khodja). The local population still calls all Khazret students Kozha. This confirms their high authority among the people, because Islam is a pure path for the Kazakhs, and the Kozha are its guardians. Before the appearance of Gabdul Uakhit Khazret, there were people such as Nurmukhamet Kazhy, Sary Baybishe from the clan of Zhansary Uak in this area in the previous period before his birth, who possessed high wisdom.