Yazidism: The Ancient Faith of the Yazidis
Yazidism explained: the ancient monotheistic faith of the Kurdish Yazidis, with one God Xwede, the Seven Holy Beings led by Tawuse Melek, the saint Sheikh Adi and the sanctuary of Lalish.
Read article →Kurdish History Journal
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Yarsanism: The Faith of the People of Truth
Yarsanism, the Ahl-e Haqq or People of Truth: the Kurdish faith founded by Sultan Sahak, with its seven theophanies, the sacred tanbur, the jam ceremony and the Kalam-e Saranjam.
Read article →Garsivaz: The Schemer of the Shahnameh
Garsivaz in the Shahnameh: the envious brother of Afrasiab whose slanders poisoned the king against the pure prince Siyavash and brought about his tragic murder.
Read article →The Yazidi Caste System: Sheikhs, Pirs, and Murids
The Yazidi caste system explained: the three hereditary castes of Sheikhs, Pirs and Murids, the leadership triad of Mir, Baba Sheikh and Pesh Imam, and how they bind the faith.
Read article →Piran Viseh: The Noble Vizier of the Shahnameh
Piran Viseh in the Shahnameh: the wise Turanian vizier and peace-seeker who protected Siyavash's family and was mourned by his enemy Kay Khosrow at his death.
Read article →Farangis: The Loyal Queen of the Shahnameh
Farangis in the Shahnameh: the Turanian princess, faithful wife of Siyavash and mother of Kay Khosrow, who chose loyalty to her murdered husband over her own father.
Read article →Sindukht: The Diplomat-Queen of the Shahnameh
Sindukht in the Shahnameh: the wise queen of Kabul, mother of Rudaba, who through her own courage and diplomacy averted a war and united the houses of Iran and Kabul.
Read article →Sudabeh: The Queen Behind the Tragedy of Siyavash
Sudabeh in the Shahnameh: the queen of Iran whose passion for her stepson Siyavash and false accusation drove the pure prince into exile and a tragic death.
Read article →The Qewwals: Sacred Reciters of the Yazidi Faith
The Qewwals, the sacred reciter-musicians of the Yazidis: the hereditary class who chant the holy qewls on the daf and shibab and carry the peacock standards to the villages.
Read article →The Baba Sheikh: Spiritual Head of the Yazidis
The Baba Sheikh, the Father of the Sheikhs: the supreme spiritual leader of the Yazidis, drawn from the Shamsani line, seated at Lalish and appointed by the Mir.
Read article →The Mir: The Prince of the Yazidis
The Mir, the prince of the Yazidis: the hereditary temporal and spiritual head of the community, viceregent of Sheikh Adi, seated at Sheikhan and head of the Spiritual Council.
Read article →Sheikh Nasirdin: The Yazidi Angel of Death and Renewal
Sheikh Nasirdin, the Yazidi Angel of Death and Renewal: one of the four Shemsani sons of Ezdina Mir and one of the Seven Holy Beings, who parts the soul from the body.
Read article →Gordafarid: The Warrior-Woman of the Shahnameh
Gordafarid, the warrior-woman of the Shahnameh: the armoured heroine of the White Fortress who rode out to duel Sohrab and outwitted him to save her people.
Read article →Tahmineh: The Princess of Samangan in the Shahnameh
Tahmineh (Tahmina), the princess of Samangan in the Shahnameh: the bold beloved of Rostam and mother of the tragic Sohrab, whose token drives the epic's saddest tale.
Read article →Rudaba: The Princess of Kabul in the Shahnameh
Rudaba (Rudabeh), the princess of Kabul in the Shahnameh: the beloved of Zal, mother of the hero Rostam, and heroine of one of the epic's greatest love stories.
Read article →Iraj: The Murdered Prince of the Shahnameh
Iraj, the favoured youngest son of Fereydun in the Shahnameh: granted Iran in his father's division of the world, murdered by his jealous brothers Salm and Tur.
Read article →Sam: The Champion of the Shahnameh
Sam (Sam-e Nariman), the great champion of the Shahnameh: Iran's hero under three kings, father of Zal whom he abandoned to the Simurgh, and grandfather of Rostam.
Read article →Shah Khoshin: The Yarsani Manifestation of Luristan
Shah Khoshin, the third divine manifestation of the Kurdish Yarsani faith: the child of light born of a virgin in Luristan, in the epoch before Sultan Sahak.
Read article →Perdiwar: The Holy Sanctuary of the Yarsani Faith
Perdiwar, the holiest sanctuary of the Kurdish Yarsani faith: the place on the Sirwan river in Hawraman where Sultan Sahak founded the Ahl-e Haqq, revered as their Kaaba.
Read article →Baba Tahir: The Naked Dervish of Hamadan
Baba Tahir Hamadani, the 11th-century Naked dervish-poet of the do-bayti quatrains: revered as a saint in the Kurdish Yarsani faith and claimed across the Iranian world.
Read article →Sitiya Zin: The Noble Lady of Yazidism
Sitiya Zin (Siti Zin), the noble lady of Yazidism: daughter of Sheikh Adi, wife of Ezdina Mir, and mother of the saints of the Sun and the Moon.
Read article →Sheikh Hasan: The Yazidi Master of the Pen
Sheikh Hasan (Sexisin), the Yazidi Master of the Pen: one of the Seven Divine Beings, patron of writing and forefather of the Adani sheikhs, the faith's literate caste.
Read article →Ezdina Mir: The Yazidi Prince and Father of Saints
Ezdina Mir (Ezdine Mir), the 12th-century prince who ruled the Yazidis before Sheikh Adi: father of the four Shemsani saints and forefather of the Shemsani sheikhs.
Read article →Sheikh Fakhradin: The Yazidi Saint of the Moon
Sheikh Fakhradin (Sex Fexredin), the Yazidi saint of the Moon: one of the Seven Divine Beings, the philosopher and poet who composed the sacred qewls, son of Ezdina Mir.
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