Social stability of a «women» in the epic Manas and in Alisher Navoiy’s works

Abstract

This study investigates the role of women as key agents of social stability in Central Asian literary heritage through a comparative analysis of the Kyrgyz epic Manas and the works of the great Uzbek poet and thinker Alisher Navoiy. Social stability is understood as the preservation of family continuity, moral values, cultural identity, and national cohesion during periods of social, political, and historical change. The article focuses on the image of the mother-woman and explores how women contribute to social harmony, resilience, and continuity through wisdom, moral authority, intellectual depth, and spiritual strength. In the epic Manas, women—particularly the character of Kanykei—are portrayed as realistic and action-oriented figures who play a decisive role in maintaining social order, protecting lineage, and ensuring national survival. Kanykei embodies maternal devotion, political wisdom, and moral responsibility, functioning as a stabilizing force in times of crisis. In contrast, Alisher Navoiy’s literary works present women primarily as symbolic and philosophical figures. Through Sufi imagery and lyrical expression, Navoiy depicts women as sources of spiritual balance, ethical guidance, and intellectual refinement, whose influence secures moral stability within society.Despite differences in genre and artistic approach, both traditions emphasize women as central pillars of social stability. The comparative analysis demonstrates that the image of woman in Manas and in Navoiy’s works reflects a harmonious synthesis of practical strength and spiritual wisdom, underscoring the enduring significance of women in the cultural and social development of Turkic civilization.