Becoming a Pir – Ecstasy in the Cem, the 48 Thursday Cem, Sarı Saltuk, and İtikat
In this video, Pir Rıza Yağmur addresses contemporary issues facing the Alevi community through historical knowledge and personal experience. He discusses the need to reestablish relations between the Ocaks and the Alevi community, the practice of giving ikrar, and how the cycle of service within the Alevi belief system functions today.
The practice of the 48 Thursday Cem is presented as an example of the process a pir undergoes before beginning service with destur. Over the course of one year, the pir participates in a weekly cem, a period marked by learning, inner transformation, and maturation.
The settlement of the Sarı Saltuk Ocak in Dersim and the historical and symbolic meanings of this settlement are also examined. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of the concept of seyit in Alevism. Pir Rıza Yağmur stresses that the terms seyit and pir were used more accurately and appropriately in the past, and he openly expresses his criticisms of the concept of dede.
The video also offers important insights into the social function of the institution of musahiplik and its expressions among Alevi communities. The relationships between the Derviş Cemal Ocak and its talip groups, the pir’s experiences while visiting these groups, and the state of ecstasy experienced during his first cem vividly reveal the individual and mystical dimensions of the belief system.
In addition, the understanding of the teaching of devriye in Alevism is explained through original examples woven into the narrative. Valuable insights are shared about the inner rhythm of traditional Alevism through experiences of religious practice in youth. The video also reflects on experiences gained within Alevi institutions in the diaspora, assessing both the possibilities and the limitations of contemporary Alevi organization.
This recording was made on 27 June 2025 at the CAN TV studios in Cologne. The interviews were conducted as part of the Alevi Encyclopedia project.
Deutsch
The practice of the 48 Thursday Cem is presented as an example of the process a pir undergoes before beginning service with destur. Over the course of one year, the pir participates in a weekly cem, a period marked by learning, inner transformation, and maturation.
The settlement of the Sarı Saltuk Ocak in Dersim and the historical and symbolic meanings of this settlement are also examined. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of the concept of seyit in Alevism. Pir Rıza Yağmur stresses that the terms seyit and pir were used more accurately and appropriately in the past, and he openly expresses his criticisms of the concept of dede.
The video also offers important insights into the social function of the institution of musahiplik and its expressions among Alevi communities. The relationships between the Derviş Cemal Ocak and its talip groups, the pir’s experiences while visiting these groups, and the state of ecstasy experienced during his first cem vividly reveal the individual and mystical dimensions of the belief system.
In addition, the understanding of the teaching of devriye in Alevism is explained through original examples woven into the narrative. Valuable insights are shared about the inner rhythm of traditional Alevism through experiences of religious practice in youth. The video also reflects on experiences gained within Alevi institutions in the diaspora, assessing both the possibilities and the limitations of contemporary Alevi organization.
This recording was made on 27 June 2025 at the CAN TV studios in Cologne. The interviews were conducted as part of the Alevi Encyclopedia project.
Deutsch
Interviewer
- Ahmet Kerim Gültekin
