Manas in Kyrgyz Society

This article examines the evolution of Manas in Kyrgyz society — from an epic national hero to a sacred figure understood as a protective spirit and a holy forefather. The study is grounded in the hypothesis that the sacralization of Manas is explained not only by Islamic influences but also by enduring layers of pre-Islamic belief — ancestor cult, shamanism, and animistic ideas. Using a qualitative cultural and religious approach, it draws on epic texts, ethnographic evidence, popular rituals, and symbolic practices associated with Manas. The study shows that the perception of this hero as a supernatural force is multifaceted and takes various forms: pilgrimage to his mausoleum, prayers and petitions addressed to his spirit, and the sacralization of his name and image in everyday life. Particular attention is paid to epic reciters (manaschi), whose practices display ritual and therapeutic functions and reveal the syncretism of Islam with shamanic tradition. The article concludes that Manas has become a multi-layered symbol — religious, national, and cultural at once. He serves as an anchor of collective memory, a resource for state ideology, and a marker of ethnic identity in the context of post-Soviet transformations. Thus, the epic Manas is both a literary and folkloric heritage and an active element of spiritual life and a mechanism of social cohesion among the Kyrgyz people.