Mytho-Mystic Literature
Year:2013 | Volume:8 | Issue:29|Papers Count:16

“Insane sanes”, in spite of their unusual and strange habits, have a kind of deep genius indicating their profound outlook to world and man. Ibn Arabi (1165 –1240), in Meccan Illuminations (Al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya) calls them Bahalil (inspired by the name of Bohlool, the famous insane sane in the history of Islam) and believes that the reason for their insanity is a hidden inspiration that gives rise to an everlasting amazement. According to Ibn Arabi, this inspiration and Divine manifestation has destroyed their reasoning faculty and have imprisoned them in the world of divinity. Ascending to the realm of divinity, they don’t pay attention to the world of humanity, and express wise statements not by their own words, but by the words inspired by God’s. Ibn Arabi believes they are wises without reason, so he calls them insane sanes.

Symbolic and mythological language has secured a suitable role for itself in contemporary poetry. Myths, among all nations, are parts of the identity, civilization and culture. By employing myths, poets transfer their messages, demands and concerns indirectly. Iranian and Arab cotemporary poets have also taken it into consideration myths, and have tried to express their themes by using way of using them. Ahmad Shamlu (1925-2000), one of the well-known Iranian contemporary poets, and Adunis, of the famous (b. 1930) contemporary Arab poets, have paid extensively attention to legends and myths. Examining the myths used in poems of these two poets, the present article tries to show that Adunis recreates the old myths, but Shamlu creates new myths himself.

The present article has three parts. In the first part, the notion of “surrender” in Masnavi and Gita Bhashya are examined, which its conclusion is that the real dignity for man is surrendering to God. In the second part, the nature of this surrender and its hierarchy in the books in question is discussed. It is shown that the low degree of surrender is obtained by asceticism and training the soul, but the high level is because of the grace of God. In the third part of the article, we consider the interpretation of surrender, which shows that in these books, surrender means forgetting planning and willing and sheltering to God (surrendering to God vs. relying on philosophical thoughts).

The present article tries to study totemic role of animals in Iranian and Turkish totemic stories. After explaining the forming of totems among Iranians and Turks, first totems of mythical ancestors of the Turks, Pathna, and then, there Iranians counterparts are considered. The research shows that Heroes’ weaknesses are compensated by using the totemic role of animals, and totemic animals have important role in the life and death of Heroes. In fact, these animals nurture the Hero and prepare him to acquire merits. The results also shows that, both in Iranian and Turkish myths, leaving the Iron Age behind is achieved by efforts of blacksmiths and appearance of King/ Hero.

Based on Islamic teachings, in an Islamic society, ‘promotion of good and prevention of evil’ helps to have a healthy society, and guarantees execution of laws in the society. Although all Islamic sects believe in this principle, there are some differences between them in how this principle must be performed and reinforced. The aim of the present article is examining this principle, based on the teachings of Muslim mystics; and respecting Asrar –o-ttawhid, written by Abu-Sa'id Abul-Khayr. Abu-Sa'id has had special attention to this matter. However his believe in tolerance and indulgences lead him to behave sinners respectfully. He pay attention to the sincere intention and the character of the man, and believes that kindness and advising are the most effective methods of changing the behavior of a sinner.

Studying myths has always been a fascinating subject for scholars, passing of the time not being able to diminish its importance. One of the main reasons of myths to be attractive is the kinds of beliefs different nations or ethnic groups have about gods. The present research tries to have a comparative look at gods of water in Iranian and Vietnamese mythology. In Iranians mythology, gods of water are powerful and angelic, but in Vietnamese mythology, these characteristics are less salient. On the other hand, Vietnamese myths, sometimes are symbol of kindness and grace and sometimes symbol of violence and corruption.

Based on Mysticism, seeking the meaning of the divine world is the man’s goal in life. Creation, as one of the manifestations of God, has given rise to forms, which provide the origin of individuation, isolation and distinction. In the present article we try to study concepts of “form” and “meaning” in the thoughts of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, referring to his book, Fihi Ma Fih.

Mystical allegories speak about loving Eternal Beloved, and mystical tales form a major part in mystical literature. The main goal of mystical tales is an educational one and persuading the mystic to be disciplined in practicing (SOLUK). The root of some of the mystical allegories go back to Manichaean Literature. Texts of Manichaeism literature, almost completely, have been destroyed, but a Manichaean text written in Sogdian, the story of two snakes "Heavy-to-carry" and "Light-tocarry", has remained. This article studies mystical allegories in Manichaean and Persian classic literature, especially in the works of Mowlana Jalal al- Din Rumi.