THE GNOSTIC-ONTOLOGICAL MEANING OF OBJECTS AND NATURE IMAGES IN THE POETIC SYSTEM OF “MASNAVIY-I MA’NAVIY”

Abstract

The thesis studies the irfani-ontological content of object and nature imagery in “Masnaviyi Ma’naviy” using layered reading, hermeneutic, and semiotic analysis methods. It is scientifically demonstrated that the concepts of wahdati wujud, tajalli, fana and baqa are expressed through such images as the reed (nay), water, fire, mirror, ship, and millstone. The polyphonic nature of object imagery – the capacity of a single image to bear opposite meanings in different contexts – is identified. A step-by-step model of human spiritual evolution through nature imagery is revealed. The ontological, anthropological, soteriological, and gnoseological functions of the imagery are determined.