Rumi’s Elemental Imagination: Elemental Ecocritical Interactions and Agency in Rumi’s The Masnavi

Yıl 2025, Sayı: 24, 23 - 45, 10.03.2025

Dilek Bulut Sarıkaya

https://doi.org/10.46250/kulturder.1584189

Öz

The elements are the most essential components of the universe in which the interminable process of vitality is ensured through the incitement of the magnetic attraction and interaction between the elements. Overbearing impact of the elements is observed not only in the outside physical world but also deeply felt in the inner world of human imagination, feelings, and emotions. The medieval poet Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi’s (1207-1273) The Masnavi gives a wide coverage to the elements, directing human life as well as cosmic natural events. Each element, in this respect, is embedded with a spiritual energy, called by Rumi as love, stemming from God and circulating in the universe, sparkling life and vibrancy among human and nonhuman beings. Rumi’s notion of vitally alive universe with intentionally active elements in it strongly resonates with the theoretical views of elemental ecocriticism which insistently advocates the agency and intentionality of the elements that matter significantly both in human life and the external material world. The aim of this study, accordingly, is to examine the elements in Rumi’s The Masnavi under the critical lens of elemental ecocriticism only to disclose Rumi as an abiding philosopher, much ahead of his own time, with his modern, biological conceptualization of the elements as living entities and efficiently articulate forces that play actively dominant roles in the ongoing materialization of the universe.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Rumi, The Masnavi, nature, elements, elemental ecocriticism

Rumi’nin Elementsel Düşünce Sistemi: Rumi’nin Mesnevi’sinde Element Ekoeleştirel İlişkiler ve Eyleyicilik

Öz

Elementler, evrenin son derece önemli bir parçası olup, elementler arasındaki magnetik çekim ve etkileşim bu evrendeki sürekli canlılığın devam etmesinin sağlayan en önemli unsurdur. Elementlerin baskın etkisi sadece dış dünyada değil, aynı zamanda insanın iç dünyasında, hayallerinde, duygu ve düşüncelerinde de derin bir şekilde hissedilmektedir. Ortaçağ şairi Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi (1207-1273), Mesnevi eserinde, insan hayatına ve kozmik doğa olaylarına yön veren elementlere genişçe yer vermiştir. Her bir element, Rumi’nin ilahi aşk olarak tanımladığı, sipiritüel bir enerjiyle doludur ve bu enerji Allah’tan kaynaklanarak bütün evrene dağılır ve insan ve insan dışı canlılara yaşam ve hayat enerjisi sağlar. Rumi’nin son derece canlı evren ve içindeki aktif ve bilinçli elementler kavramı, elemental ekoeleştirinin elementlere aktif, bilinçli ve eyleyici kavram olarak yaklaşımıyla örtüşmektedir. Bu nedenle, bu çalışmanın amacı, Rumi’nin Mesnevi’sini elemental ekoeleştirinin teorik bakış açısıyla inceleyerek, Rumi’yi kendi zamanının çok daha ötesine taşıyarak, zamansız ve ölümsüz bir düşünür olarak öne çıkaran, elementleri canlı unsurlar olarak ele alan, modern biyolojik element anlayışı ortaya çıkarmaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Rumi, Mesnevi, doğa, elementler, elemental ekoeleştiri

Kaynakça

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