A trace of the Mehr ritual in the culture of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari’s people: A case study of the two caves Pireghar and Aghaseyed Issa.

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Master of Handicrafts, Department of Handicrafts, Faculty of Art, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. (Corresponding Author)

2 Instructor, Department of Archeology, Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

 
The province of Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari bears a special position by virtue of its cultural and ancient background. The existence of some attitudes and beliefs among the people of this area has links with ancient rites and religions like Mehr ritual. The locations which are referred to the lords with religion themes in Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari Province are a lot to find. These locations in local phrase with suffix and prefix are called “Pir” like Pir Baloot, Pir Mohammad, Pir Shah, Phir Chenar, Sar Pir, Pir-E-Ghar, etc. Some are called as “Baba” like Baba Gerdaloo, Baba Pirahmad, etc. Also they use the term “Mir” like Mir Heidar Shah, Mirmelas, etc. “Shah” is used in some words like Shah Mansoory and Shah Zadeabdolah. We have tried to find out the pronunciation roots started about these titles’ roots like “Baba” and “Pir” in religions before Islam. There was a kind of mysticism in the pre-Islamic era of Mehr worship, the last of which was aging. In Sufi mysticism, this rank, the rank and position of the elder, has maintained its last place, albeit the highest, in the place of poems and poems from the early Islamic ages referring to the old and the old way. Among many of his sonnets, Hafez Shirazi is reminiscent of the old position in Sufism. In the culture of the people of Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari, one of the good endings that the elders and elders wish for the younger is getting older. This is an indication of the value it gives to that person. As mentioned, these values are deeply rooted in the culture of the people in ancient rituals, and the purpose of this study is to identify the religious roots of the two "Pirghar" and "Aghaseyed Issa" caves and ideological aspects of their region. 
Mehr ceremonies usually had to take place in caves. These caves represented the arch of heaven. There must have been some blue water near or within these natural temples. But in cities or plains they built these temples in the basement, similar to caves. The temple reached the ground with the help of a long staircase. These temples did not use outside light and had no windows. Sometimes the stairs would lead to a room-where their followers would prepare for worship-and then from there into the main courtyard. The temple arch was decorated like the night sky. Inside the temple were two rows of platforms in Dosu, and between the two rows of platforms, there was the courtyard of the temple where the ceremony was taking place, and the onlookers were seated on benches beside the platforms. Also, according to local elders, the area was lit by fire or candlestick.
Although Islamic in nature, their ideological aspects go back to pre-Islamic times and ancient religions such as Mehr worship. Because of the Arab invasion, many sacred sites, such as fireplaces and temples have been demolished or converted into mosques. The two mentioned caves have also taken on a new form of preservation in the Islamic era to continue their sacred life. The purpose of this case study is to identify the belief-related roots of these two historical locations which are considered holy by the local people. To this end, this case study is based on a descriptive-analytic method with the data being collected through library and field studies such as observations, interview and documentations. The results indicate that there are deep roots of the Mehr ritual and its sanctity in the culture of Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari’s people and that these beliefs continue to live in a modern shape matched with Islam and are stilled deemed holy. Also, the existence of elements like caves and the old wise man named “Seyed” are common fieds with Mehr and Mitra in fables about these two caves. 
 
 

Keywords

References

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