The Jam: The Sacred Ceremony of the Yarsani Faith
The jam, the central ceremony of the Yarsani faith: the communal gathering in the jamkhana with the sacred tanbur, the kalam hymns, and the shared offering of the People of Truth.
Read article →Kurdish History Journal
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Cejna Cemaiye: The Yazidi Feast of the Assembly
The Cejna Cemaiye, the Yazidi Feast of the Assembly: the great seven-day autumn pilgrimage to Lalish in honor of Sheikh Adi, the most important festival of the Yazidi year.
Read article →The Derafsh-e Kaveyani: The Banner of Kawa
The Derafsh-e Kaveyani, the legendary banner of Kawa the blacksmith: born from his leather apron in the revolt against Zahhak and made the jewelled royal standard of ancient Iran.
Read article →Ker u Kulik: The Epic of the Twin Brothers
Ker u Kulik, one of the seven great Kurdish epics: the heroic destan of the twin brothers, carried through the generations by the dengbej tradition of Kurdistan.
Read article →Giv: The Loyal Hero of the Shahnameh
Giv in the Shahnameh: the loyal champion of the House of Karen, son of Gudarz and father of Bizhan, who sought the prince Kay Khosrow in Turan for seven years.
Read article →Gudarz: The Patriarch of the Paladins
Gudarz in the Shahnameh: the great patriarch-paladin of the House of Karen, father of many warrior-sons, wise commander of Iran, and the slayer of Piran at the Twelve Rooks.
Read article →Qaren: The Warrior Son of Kawa
Qaren in the Shahnameh: the warrior son of Kawa the blacksmith, chief general of Manuchehr and Nowzar, and founder of the great House of Karen.
Read article →Nowzar: The Ill-Fated King of the Shahnameh
Nowzar in the Shahnameh: the flawed Pishdadian king, son of Manuchehr, whose unjust reign and defeat and death at the hands of Afrasiab brought disaster upon Iran.
Read article →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 →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.
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