Showing all 7 results

Rosary History

Oltu Stone Prayer Beads History


Rosary is the ring that is used to count numbers while praying the attributes of Allah, formed by stringing beads of 33 or more beads. It is used in many religions, especially in Islam. It is also used to relieve stress. Muslims use the 11, 33 and 99 bead beads of the rosary.

In the first years of Islam, Muslims used their fingers instead of the rosary. It is the first time that Hz. It is estimated that it was used during the Ebubekir period. Pulling the rosary is one of the important details that complete the prayer. Of course, it is also used as jewelry and accessories today.

The history of the rosary goes back to very old times. The first people who stringed the pieces of the prey they hunted put on them for success in the next hunt. Later, they began wearing them in wars, as they believed they were protecting them from evil and enemy.

It was the first time that such beads were used for religious purposes in India. We can say that the rosary had a place in Hindu belief.

It is not known exactly when the rosary was used for the first time in Islamic religion. It is only an estimate that it was used during the time of Hazrat Abu Bakr. Hz. In the period of Muhammad (pbuh), more fingers were counted. In addition, it is understood from some hadiths that palm kernel or pebble is used. It is not known at what date the repetition of the words “Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah and Allahuekber”, which is the sunnah of the Prophet in Islam, 33 times, began and spread.

It is unclear exactly how long the rosary has been used in the Islamic world. Hz. There is no record that Muhammad had the rosary. Maybe even Osman Gazi or maybe they did not use the rosary in Fatih Sultan Mehmet. Information about the rosary can be found in the archives only towards the end of the 16th century.

Rosary beads made in various materials; It can be 11, 33, 99, 500 and 1000. Rosaries with 500 and 1000 grains were used to chant in dervishes and dervish lodges. Pulling the rosary is done by passing the rosary beads one by one between the index finger and thumb. In fact, although prayer beads are perceived as a peculiar behavior only for religious leaders, they are also widely used among the public. It was more common in rural areas. This is because the rosary has the ability to occupy empty hands. It is believed that people who spend the hot summer months working in agricultural areas fill this gap by drawing a rosary in the cold months.

The point of view of science to draw a rosary is also slightly different. Scientists say that people who work in stress are under pressure, as a result of which their nerves are worn, and that they are praying to relax our brain or to turn to other things. They state that this is effective and beneficial for health.

Using Rosary as Artwork

The use of the rosary as a work of art is seen for the first time in Turks. It is understood that the periods when Istanbul was the richest of the rosary hit the end of the 16th century. In this period, a rosary was found in his pocket, even if it was not in everyone’s hands. The most beautiful of the prayer beads were made in Istanbul. Rosaries made in Arabia are far from aesthetics and are plain.

It was seen that it was named with different names according to the use of the rosaries in Turkish-Islamic history. These;

1) Sultan’s Rosaries

2) Vüzera Conquests

3) Rosary Rosaries

4) Rich Rosaries

5) Rosary Rosaries

The grains of this type of rosary, where 500 and 1000 prayer beads in the lodges are treated by passing people, are in the size of nuts and walnuts. Among the 500 and 1000 prayer beads in some lodges were the very valuable ones. Their imams were made in the form of Mevlevi Coin or Bektashi Crown and from the ore tree.

Materials Used in Rosary Making

We can divide the prayer beads into hand-held prayer beads and collectable beads. The production of rosary has also evolved over time to become an art. In the past and today, there are hand-made rosary masters, which are hand-crafted. Precious stones can also be used in the construction of the rosaries made with various materials. These materials and stones are;

Tree Group: Rose, Wenge, Narcissus, Kuka, Tamarind, Snake Tree, Edema Tree, Ebony, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Blood Tree

Fossil Group: Amber, Nozzle Stone, Oltu Stone

Gemstone Group: Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby

Semi Precious Stone Group: Agate, Quartz, Amethyst, Aventurine, Jade, Tiger’s Eye, Lapis, Turquoise

Animal Group: Ivory, Horn, Bone, Coral, Bağa, İnci, Morse Female

The Features that Rosaries Achieve Over Time According to Their Material

Rosaries made with oltu stone shine with time and get a more beautiful image.

Rosaries made with wooden products shine over time and their colors become darker.

Rosaries made with products such as rosewood, kuka, and snake wood become darker and more pleasant when used.

Amber also gets darker as you use yellow shades. However, this period is not as short as oltu stone and wooden products. It can take years for amber to darken.

Rosary Use in the Ottoman Empire

Rosary took a different form in the Ottoman Empire. The most beautiful prayer beads were made in Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, since the 16th century and it would take its place on the shelves. In addition, since there were difficulties in the transportation of 99 grain rosaries during the Ottoman period, 33 grain rosaries were started to be made.

Different professions also had their own prayer beads. For example, kuka rosary was used by physicians. Since Kuka was antiseptic and antibacterial, it was used as a germ crusher in Ottoman times. According to some sources, they did not take physicians who did not have a rosary rosary. Since camel was considered blessed at this time, prayer beads were made from camel bone. These prayer beads were also used by caravansaries or merchants. In short, every profession had its own rosary model. Even in the lodges and lodges, the prayer beads were large and very grained. The rosaries of the mullahs, the rosaries of the Mevlevi and the surgeons contained different motifs and imams.

We can also call the rosary an Ottoman identity. People knew from his rosaries what they were doing or were interested in.

Nowadays, prayer beads can be used as a task, stress relief tool, men’s accessory and a reminder tool. If you are someone who is interested in prayer beads, we are sure that there is at least one rosary model that you like or are interested in using.

“ Briefly, since the history of the rosary dates back to very old times, they were used for different purposes at different times. ”

WhatsApp us