Magtymguly Pyragy

Magtymguly Pyragy
A Soviet Union stamp with an artistic depiction of Magtymguly Pyragy, 1983
Native name
مخدومقلی فراغی
BornMagtymguly
c.1724 (1724)
Hajji Qushan, Khorasan, Safavid Iran
Diedc.1807 (1808)
Khorasan, Qajar Iran
Resting placeAq Taqeh-ye Qadim, Golestan Province, Iran
Pen namePyragy (Feraghi)
OccupationSpiritual leader, philosophical poet, sufi, traveller
LanguageTurkmen, Persian, Arabic
NationalityTurkmen
Alma materIdris Baba Madrassah, Gögeldaş Madrassah, (Emirate of Bukhara), Şirgazy Madrassah, (Khanate of Khiva)
PeriodGolden Age of Turkmen literature
GenrePoetry, qoshuk form
SubjectPatriotism, social inequality, love
Literary movementRealism
Notable worksTürkmeniň
SpouseUnknown
ParentsDöwletmämmet Azady (father)

Magtymguly Pyragy (Persian: مخدوم قلی فراغی Makhdumqoli Farāghi; Turkmen: Magtymguly Pyragy, IPA: [ˌmɑʁtɯmɢʊˈɫʊ ˌpɯɾɑːˈʁɯ]; c.1724 – 1807), born Magtymguly, was an Iranian-Turkmen spiritual leader, philosophical poet, Sufi and traveller, who is considered the most famous figure in Turkmen literary history.

Magtymguly is the greatest representative of Turkmen literature, credited with the creation of Turkmen written literature, and whose literary form became a powerful symbol of the historical and the incipient national consciousness of the Turkmen people. He is part of a unique period in the cultural history of Central Asia, with his exceptional talent projecting his personal poetic synthesis onto the next generation of poets of the region. The poems of the Turkmen poet have been translated into many languages of the world, including English, Russian, Kyrgyz, Romanian.

In a wider context, Magtymguly is often placed alongside major figures of the Turkic literary world such as Hoja Ahmad Yasawi, Yunus Emre, Ali-Shir Nava'i and Fizuli.