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In the eastern part of Azerbaijan located Maraza city, which today is the administrative center of Gobustan district. The historical references Maraza stated that in 20-30 years of the last century there Maraza area. However, in the thirtieth year of the Republic was established, and the territory of Shamakhy district Maraza entered into its composition. In the nineties of the last century, the Shamakhy region again stood out Maraza and was established already Gobustan region to the extent that it exists now. According to specialized organizations in 2005 in the region of 37,137 thousand people lived.
The name of the area has a deep meaning. The fact that the entire region has deep ravines that have arisen in the process of convergence of rain and melt water from mountain ranges. In Azerbaijan such formations are called "gobu."
Now Gobustan district in the coming year about thirty thousand tourists from the most distant corners of the world. Many companies Maraza engaged in tourism. Among the enterprises Maraza there are those who are engaged in animal husbandry, wine making, grain, carpet weaving and other activities.
According to one legend, the name of the city ("Maraza") arose as a result of curing his beloved wife of an influential man from a serious illness - she recovered when settled here. They say that somewhere around there Maraza mineral source. The water is bitter-salty, but heals some gastrointestinal diseases.
And the most famous object is the mausoleum Diri Baba, built in 1402. Diri Baba (meaning "Living Grandpa"), obviously, was a Sufi saint.
Azerbaijan Petra: Mystic mausoleum "Diri Baba"
The village Maraza has a unique monument - two-storey mausoleum .The mausoleum of the XV century, entitled "Diri Baba", located 100 km from Baku, near the village opposite the old cemetery.
Once upon a time - from the VIII to XVI centuries - this place belonged to neighborhood of powerful the state of Shirvanshahs which in the history of medieval East is a long-lived state .
The ancient architectural monument Diri Baba have long attracted the of worships.For many thousands of years before Christianity and even Judaism, the tops of the mountains and the hills shall be the place where the gods live and climb the mountain was equivalent to the divine will join and get in touch with the gods.
People are really in contact with the gods .... on the tops of mountains and on the hills, inhabited by the so-called gods. This place is mainly associated with the heyday of Sufism in the Azerbaijan.
The word "Peer" (elder, mentor) is element of the Sufi culture. This period, which - between 11 and 15 centuries. Diri Baba is probably the only monument in Azerbaijan, carved into the rock, as the famous cliffs in the Jordan- city Petra.
For several centuries, scientists East and Europe interested in this unique building. Mention of it is in the writings of many foreign geographers and historians. Russian Orientalist Bernhard Dorn was able to establish that the monument was built during the reign of Shirvanshah Ibrahim I (1382-1417).
Turkish traveler Evliya Çelebi (17th century) in his writings writes that the man buried in the tomb, called the locals "Diri Baba" or "Maraza Sheikh," was the muezzin at the palace of Shirvanshah Ibrahim I.
The mausoleum stands on a cut in the cliff area. The first tier has a living room, covered with a lancet arch, in which there is a passage from a small lobby with an octagonal dome. The rock is carved a narrow staircase that leads to the hall of the second floor and then to the dome. Stairs are narrow and very steep, almost perpendicular to the floor. Go can only be one person. Tromp has a spherical dome, decorated with floral ornaments. One of them is a fragment of an inscription on which and became known date of construction of the monument - 1402, as well as part of the name of the architect - "... the son of Ustad Haji." The locals kept the legend that is buried and remained incorruptible .This monument is associated with many legends and mystical details.
Who is Diri Baba?
There once lived and prayed Diri Baba, and then the grotto became a place of worship, ie, "Peer". Himself grotto was carved in the rock at a certain height from the ground. In this cave, most likely, and it was placed on Cancer (urn) with the relics of a saint
The name "Diri Baba" is translated as "Live my grandfather". But in reality it has a value of "eternal (immortal) grandfather". According to legend, the body of Diri Baba after his death remained incorruptible and he constantly praying here.
Tourists are also encouraged to visit and explore attractions:
1. Panorama mountain plateau highway "Baku-Shamakhy" at the 60th km. near the village Dzhyangi in Gobustan region.
2.Sanctuary 2-feasts "Shaiblar" - "Gaiblar" on the like mountain tops near the village Jeyran-kechmyaz in Gobustan region.
3. Cave settlement "Galacha" in the village have Ekyahana r.Pirsagatchay.
4. Mosque Abu Byakra and complex springs in the village Sunde.
5. Sanctuary-feast "Pirsaat" from the road "Baku-Shamakhi" in the area of the bridge over the river Pirsaatchay.