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A Study of Mithraism in the Culture of Bakhtiari People

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65 quarterly, No. 32 Summer 2021 Persian translation of this paper entitled: DOI: 10.22034/jaco.2021.257749.1174 بررسی آیین مهرپرستی در فرهنگ قوم بختیاری is also published in this issue of journal. Original Research Article A Study of Mithraism in the Culture of Bakhtiari People Amin Ahmadi Birgani* Bachelor of History, Payame Noor University, Farsan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran. Received; 17/11/2020 accepted; 02/06/2021 available online; 01/07/2021 Abstract One of the most important issues in preserving an area’s indigenous values is finding traces of the past. Bakhtiari rituals, as an intangible heritage of the Bakhtiari people, have been passed down from one generation to another over a long time. The rituals are full of symbolic concepts that have originated from their myths, culture, and beliefs over time. The purpose of this study is to identify the symbols of Mithraism along with other pictorial symbols derived from the concept and stories of Mehr in the culture of Bakhtiari people. This study is based on a comparative study of documents and research on mythology, history of religions, and ancient Iran. Mehr ritual is one of the rituals in which symbolic images have been used as a visual language for conveying the concepts and principles of this ritual and its followers. Over time, these images have been preserved with the same hidden meanings in them and the following centuries have been used in the same way However, they were modified and their concepts have developed and used in a wider sense. Keywords: Symbols of Mehr, Mithraism, Mitra, Rituals and Customs, Bakhtiari People. Introduction ancient Iran, was able to continue his life in the texts of The oldest history of the gods and the oldest attention poetry and prose. The various manifestations of this god to the creation of nature and man has been expressed in also have a prominent presence in folk legends, and this the form of myths and legends. The affinity of myths shows his permanence in the beliefs of Iranian man from and legends allows us to go back to the traces of many ancient times to the present. Although the surviving ancient myths and rituals. Throughout the history of beliefs are far from the original belief principle, the Iran, different religions have had many influences on spirit inspired by these beliefs still lives on in various the culture of this region. Among them, the Mithraic forms in the eyes of the people. Beliefs are inextricably religion is one of the most influential and widespread linked to the culture of the people of ancient Iran as a religions in Iran, which is important both geographically whole and there are many different ways and forms in and historically. Due to its powerful presence in ancient their lives. Bakhtiari people also have had their ancient historical periods and also the mythical world, Izad customs, traditions, rituals, and beliefs during their Mehr has been able to continue its life in different areas ups and downs from very ancient times to the present of the human mind by having themes from the ancient day; which has a deep and meaningful connection world. Therefore, Mehr, one of the strongest gods of with the myths and beliefs of the inhabitants of Iran and even Mesopotamia. The culture and customs of * [email protected], +989133809398 66 quarterly, No. 32| Sum 2021 our tribes culturally attach us to our ancient ancestors has been highlighted. The sun, this life-giving element in and encourage us to respect them. Although it cannot the early and pastoral life of Bakhtiari people in ancient be claimed that today’s tribes are ancient tribes, many times, provided a connection between daily lives with of their religions are certainly derived from the way the element of the sun, followed by the signs of the sun, and religion of the tribes. It is ancient. Rituals mirror which was one of the manifestations of Kish Mehr. For people’s culture, religion, feelings, emotions, thoughts, Bakhtiari people, the sun is a symbol of purity, holiness, and totems through which the existence of different and glory. It has a purifying and anti-demonic aspect. ethnic groups can be known. The beliefs of Bakhtiari Some symbols are inspired by the symbol of the sun, people narrate pristine and meaningful images of the which has played a special role in the lives of Bakhtiari lost millennia of this land. These beliefs speak to us and people. take us to the ancient millennia and, on the contrary, - Broken cross bring these ancient millennia to our era and this world The crucifix or broken cross is the oldest symbol of full of mysteries continues to lead its eternal life with us. Mehr. The symbol belongs to the prehistoric period and Many current traditions, customs, and traditions have the early Mehr, which represents the four axes (water, been formed among Bakhtiari people are related to the wind, earth, and fire).”This sign was first found around value, sanctity, and importance of some of the natural Khuzestan and dates back to five thousand years BC, resources needed by them. They have their own ancient and thus its historical background is probably much customs, traditions, and rituals, and beliefs which have older than that of the Aryans in India. Hertzfeld called a deep and meaningful connection with the myths and it the orbit of the sun” (Bakhtortash, 1972, 71). In beliefs of the inhabitants of Iran and even Mesopotamia. Bakhtiari people (knitted), the role of the cross is also These customs, which are rooted in the ancient culture found in abundance. Among handicrafts, especially of this region, have been passed down from millennia Bakhtiari women’s spinning spindle which consists of to generations and are now part of their culture. The two pieces of wood and an axis is in the shape of a cross. main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of The cross, this mysterious symbol, has various uses in Mehr and customs and beliefs on the culture of Bakhtiari Bakhtiari culture and has been used in women’s tattoos, people. Although faint footprints of this group of people on some objects such as knives, scissors, spindles, etc. and their early inhabitants and their beliefs have been (Yaghoubzadeh & Khazaei, 2019, 46). The symbol of left over the millennia of history, the continuity of their the cross has been tattooed on the forehead, chin, and live shows that this group of people has the capacity and hands of Bakhtiari women. Hand and face tattoos, which competence to express their valuable ideas to others. are now common among Bakhtiari women and girls, are Very beautiful and ancient beliefs dating back to human one of the conditions for entering the ritual of Mehr. In history have survived to this day. Although this heritage the way of Mehr, it was customary to draw a cross on the has never been written, it has been passed down from forehead of a person to indicate that his life was dedicated generation to generation. This study seeks to answer the to the ritual of Mehr, and that person proudly pledged to question: have the mythological beliefs of this religion devote his talents, forces, and his life to someone who still been preserved for centuries? No research has been rules the secrets (Niaz Kermani, 1985, 108-109). done specifically on the subject of research. -Sacrificing roosters The rooster is a symbol of Soroush and the peak of Theoretical foundations the sun or Mehr, which promises the end of darkness • Sun and the beginning of light. Later, the courier became The companionship between the sun and Mitra’s ally Ahuramazda, and until now, the rooster has been the Amin Ahmadi Birgani 67 messenger of the early morning and the end of the night the horse also experiences a kind of death as its rider at (Avarzamani, 2019, 46). It had a special place in the the same time and shows its poor performance. It is also ritual of Mehr Khoros. “With the cock-a-doodle-doo of not allowed to sell the kotal horse because it has been the rooster, the worshipers were obliged to stand up and sacrificed in a way. pray and for this reason, the ceremony for the newcomer - Kel Sangi to the religion of Mehri was at dawn and early in the One of the secondary symbols used by Bakhtiari is the morning, and in the Mehregan celebration, a white rooster whole or single stone column or pyramid, which stands was given to Mitra during the religious ceremony” (Razi, for the axis of the universe and the tree of life, and the 1992, 121). In sacrifice rituals in Bakhtiari, the rooster finger of the sun, with which they mark the holy place, is one of the important parts of sacrifice. This bird is which is in a direct connection with the sun (Fig. 2). accepted by the sun god and is considered as the eternal Pilgrims and travelers, when they reach the neck in the psyche of the sun that awakens the sleepy world. Also, road from which the old man or the shrine is visible, stand whenever a person died at sunset and night, a rooster and bow to the shrine and put stones on one another. was tied over the head of the deceased, which would not - Fire harm the psyche of the deceased due to the demon of Fire is another symbol of the sun. The ancient Iranians darkness. Also, sometimes several people died from a considered fire as a symbol of life, their national identity, family shortly after, beheading one of the rooster family or a stove and were proud of it.
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