THE ILLUMINATION OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF "VAHDATUL VUJUD" AND "SELF-AWARENESS" THROUGH NAVOI'S METAPHOR OF "SIMURG" AND "SI MURG" (THIRTY BIRDS)

This article examines the symbolic image of Simurgh and its allegorical interpretation as "Si Murgh" ("Thirty Birds") in Lison ut-Tayr by Alisher Navoiy from the perspective of Sufi philosophy. The study explores the evolution of the Simurgh motif from ancient Persian mythology to Islamic mystical thought and comparatively analyzes its philosophical interpretation in Mantiq ut-Tayr by Farid ud-Din Attar and Navoiy's "Lison ut-Tayr". Particular attention is paid to the symbolic relationship between the concept of "Si Murgh" and the Sufi doctrines of Wahdat al-Wujud (Unity of Being), the Perfect Human, self-purification, divine knowledge, and self-realization. The article argues that Simurgh should not be regarded merely as a mythical bird but rather as a profound philosophical symbol representing humanity's spiritual journey toward divine truth. The seven valleys traversed by the birds symbolize successive stages of spiritual purification, struggle against the ego, mystical love, and ultimate self-knowledge. Historical-comparative, hermeneutic, linguopoetic, and structural-semantic methods are employed throughout the study. The findings demonstrate that Navoiy presents the Simurgh allegory as an artistic embodiment of the doctrine of Wahdat al-Wujud, emphasizing the metaphysical unity between humanity and the Divine. The final revelation that the "Thirty Birds" themselves constitute the Simurgh symbolizes the realization that the ultimate truth is attained through self-discovery. Thus, the Simurgh allegory represents one of the highest artistic and philosophical achievements of Navoiy's literary heritage.