Pyragy was born in the Hajygowshan village near Gonbad-e Qabus city in the Iranian province of Golestan. He received his early education in the Persian and Arabic languages from his father Döwletmämmet Azady (Persian: دولت‏محمد آزادی), a leading scholar at that time. He went on to study and write poetry, developing a realistic style of writing about 18th century Turkmen that proved very popular and ultimately led to him becoming one of the most cherished Turkmen poets of all time. He was also a devout Sufist who was said to have traveled throughout all the lands comprising modern Turkmenistan, teaching and praying for the salvation of his people. Pyragy is buried in Aktokay village in north-eastern Iran. The Iranian government has inaugurated a mausoleum on his grave.