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The Gift of Nowrouz
By Mehrdad Vahdati Daneshmand
There is a book available only in ine version in the
section of Study on iran of the Iranian National Library. This book is in Vaziri
size and it is in leather cover. The influence of passage of many years and
months can easily be seen on it. On the topic page date of 1308 and Yazdgerd
date of 1298 is seen. It is sealed by pahlavi library by number 2101.
The book contains the following sections:
A. Introduction by M.A Mazandi.
B. The present of nowrouz (about good customs of Nowrouz).
Because khosravi knew Pahlavi language well he has used many Persian words
including words in Arabic from and disused words, as they were in Pahlavi
language. Additionally, he has applied the word used in Zoroastrianism without
any change. He refers the dates to khoday name wich is also in Pahlavi language.
It is a good document of Ancient iran. Mr. Mazandi has translated the book Al
Mahasen va Al Azdad (probably written by Abi Osman Omar Ibn Bahr Ibn Mahboob
Jahez Allameh Basari, the famous historian in the period of Abbasi Khalifs) from
Arabic to pure Persian; he has presented Persian current and equivalent words
instead of Arabic words. The text translated in Persian is in eight pages. On
the basis of translator signature it has been finished in Bombay in Great
Western Building Fort No 140 it has been printed in Hour Printing house located
No 7 Govalia Donk Roud Bombay.
C. There are 24 pages in English in this book it contains the following two
sections:
a) English translation of Persian section in the following topic, NOWROUZ
CELEBRATION IN THE SASSANIAN PERIOD AS DESCRIBED BY KHOWSRAWI But the translator
is unknown.
b) the major part of English text is to discuss and analyze khosrawis
description of Sassanian Nowrouz. This part is as an appendix of Agahainame Iran
Lig written By G.K. Nariman. This representative of Zoroastrians in Iranian
Majlis It was presented of Zoroastrians in Iranian Majlis. It was presented in
one Rupee.
From this part of book in pages 2-15 the following information in achived :
1) nowrouz its significance and its acceptance by the
majority of Muslims. Holding Nowrouz festival among Baghdad khalifs and even
among Egyptian Ghobti.
2) Detailed description of related information to Nowrouz is achieved by Iranian
writers But the majority of these texts were in Arabic for Arabic was the
current language of Islamic countries. Among the most famous writers Birouni,
Ghazvini and Dameshgi are worthy of mention. Analyzing the book Al Mahasen va Al
Azdad, written by Jahez valten this book is probably not written by Jahex. Some
people consider Beyhagji as the real writer of the mentioned book. Anyway an
Iranian named isa ibn mosa has explained the information in this book Arab
people call him Al Khosrawi.
3) According to Kelment Howart Nowrouz was a great festival among turks. Soghd
peole called it Nosard which meant New Year As it was customary, they gave
candies to their friend and relatives for this reason Nowrouz is called as Candy
festival or Shekar Bayrami in Turkey.
4) Sassanian court was an example and imitation for its contemporary governments.
After centuries, particularly Turkey and during Islamic period India. After
centuries, particularly Turkey and during Islamic period
India followed the customary ceremonies and magnificent
customs during khosrow Anou Shirvan.
5) Nowrouz Ceremonies: the background of Spring Festival is achieved from ruins
historical Iranian monuments. According to Xenphon,
there was the gate of all nations in persepolis that representatives of
countries passed through it to present their gifts to the great king.
According to Jackson, Nowrouz festival in Ormieh lasts for two weeks; nowadays
it is held as exciting as thousands years ago it is held as it is described in
magic horse in one thousand and one nights stories. People in Iranian cities and
villages as well as in Touran such as Afghanistan hold Nowrouz festival
carefully like Iranians before Islamic period.
6) According to Dastoor Dr. Vala narrating from Shahname ferdowsi Jamshid chose
the season of trees revival be green leaves, vernal equinox and entrance of sun
in the Aries as New Year festival.
7) Governing on India during 1605-1628 Jahangir has written several topics on
nowrouz in different occasions.
8) Kianian considered the Farvardin Day of Farvardin month as kiani nowrouz.
This Nowrouz was celebrated during keykhosrow or yazdgerd shahriar who was the
last Iranian king. According to this ceremony the Zoroastrian clergies took a
golden cup of wine for king. Praising the king, he gave him a ring. He requested
blessing from God for king to protect him from misfortune. Therefore king could
live long and successful to protect kiani religion and to govern with fair and
justice as well as to defeat the enemies. The clergy prayed that Nowrouz would
cause fortune and blessing for king. After praying ceremony, he presented the
golden cup of wine to king. He said to king live long and drink from this
jamshid cup then king took the cup and drank the wine. This ceremony was based
upon this belief that everybody looked into this cup at the beginning of New
Year, he would spend the New Year with fortune and a lot of blessing.
9) Poets historians and tourists described nowrouz and Mehregan festivals
Mehregan is as great as Nowrouz in Arabic languge during Islamic period.
According to this even those who accept Islam couldn’t ignore the freshness of
this season of national and natural happiness. Although Omar rescind giving
presents during Nowrouz, Yazid again revived this custom According to Bouhoutari
Motevakel held nowrouz festival as it had been held during Ardeshir Babakan.
Although we have to approve that Jahez has written the book al Mahasen va Al
Azdad he Himself has introduced famous older writers as the writer of this book.
Anyway, his articles are considered as a treasure of exact information about
Zoroastrian Iran. There are many Poems to describe Nowrouz and Mehregan
mentioned in Yatimat Al Dahr Sa alebi.
10) Holding Nowrouz festival is praised in Shiite particularly because prophet
Mohammad has elected imam Ali as his successor who is the first Shiite Imam and
as the fourth khalif in Nowrouz.
11) Hamze Isfahani is one the historians that has written several articles about
Zoroastrianism in Arabic. A complete list of events in Islamic history that has
been happened in Nowrouz can be achieved from his books. Masoudi has mentioned
important events too According to masoudi Motazed khalif with correction in
Iranian calendar had mistaken almost two month of the real date because he had
forgotten to add several days to one year. Therefore this mistake had been
happened during two hundred and fifty years. He took actions to correct the
Persian calendar. The New Year corrected according to new calendar had been
called as Motazed Nowrouz Masoudi has registered many more facts carefully,
therefore we can consider him to be the same rank of Ibn Nadim (Mohammad Ibn
Ishagh) and Yaghout (Homavi).
12) Although manoochehri has composed many elegies to describe Nowrouz we have
to rely Arab poets in order to prove that even real Muslims couldn’t ignore the
celebration of nature revival.
13) Although khosrawis style to mention the exact meanings of Ancient Persian
and middle Persian words seems to be innovative this style is customary among
Arab writers.Jahez has observed the exact Khosrawis register of Persian words
but writers of later centuries altered non-Arabic words in a manner that their
recognition is almost impossible. Van Volten and his European colleagues such as
Hosma have taken measures to repair these words. K. Inostransof is one of the
scientists with either Arabic information or sufficient information of Avesta.
Having this knowledge he has successfully recorded the correct words. Anyway,
more correction is still possible. It is hoped that professor Bogdanov
translation can solve some problems.
Valuable references presented by Dr. Parviz Azkayi in his book nowrouz History &
References will be presented separately. Additionally other references
containing valuable points about nowrouz are as follows :
Kitab – Aghani.
Thaaalibi. Yatimatuddahr.
Mutannabi Dewan. (Cairo edition)
Masudi, kitab-ul Tanbih wal ashraf
Ignaz Goldziher Muhammedanische studien
Alfred Von Kremer Culturgeschiochte des Orients Unter Den Chalifen 1877
Menoutohohri par A. de Biberstein kezimirisk Paris 1886
Carl Brockelmann Geschichte der Arabischen Literatur
A.V. Williams Kackson Perian Past and Present
Maneckji Nusservanji Dhalla Zoroastrian Civilization
Jahiz Le Livre de La Couronne (Kitab El Tadi)
A. Mez Die Renaissance Des Islams
Alf Laila.
G. Van Volten. Recherches sur la Domination arabe
Clement Huart La Perse Antique et la Civilization Iranienne.
Spiegel memorial Volume
Arthur Christensen L Empire des Sassanides Le Peuple Letat Le Cour
Clement Huart History of Arabic Literature
Hastings James Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics PP 872 –5
The Cambridge Histoy of iran, 1985, Cambridge, Vo12 P.753-779 &pp 787-9
Ancient Iranian Festivals thesis Tehran University Faculty of Literature
List of references of Nowrouz History & References by Dr. Parviz Azkayi:
AJMAL KHAN, M
Solar New Year festivals Indo Iranica 16iii (1963) PP.36-49
BUKNICH DD
Starinny kostyum dzhemshidov I khazard v SSSR
(le costume ancient des Djemchides et des khasaras di URSS) Sov ETN.
Sb.ST.I (1938) PP. 118-128.
EHRLICHR
The celebration and gifts of Persian New Year (Nawruz)
According to Arabic Sources. Modi Mem Vol 1930 PP 95-101
HENNINGERJ
Les fetes du printemps chez les Arabes et implications historique
Revista do Revista do Museu Paulista N.S.4 (1950) PP 389-432.
MarkwartJ
Das Nauroz –seine geschichte und seine bedeutung Modi Mem.
Vol 1930 PP 709-765
MOKRIM
Les rites magiques dans les fetes du Dernier Mrecredi de Dernier Mrecredi de Ane
e en Iran.
Me langes H Masse 1963 PP 288-302
PATEL MANILAL
The Nauroz its history and its significance JKR
Cama OR Inst 31 (1973) Pp 1-51
SHIRAZI AGAM KAZIM
Nauruz Sir Asutosh Mookerjec Silver Jubilee Volumes III, I 1922, PP 451 –457
TAESCHINER
Das Persische Neujaghrfest wie es heute gefeiert wied WIN
Additionally there are more references in Hastings Encyclopedia of Religion and
Behavior such as those articles prepared for festivals but their compiling and
editing needs another article. Finally it seems that following actions to
research about Nowrouz should be taken into consideration:
1- Nowrouz Bibliography should be prepared by using Arabic Turkish Dari Persian
Indian English Frensh German Russian Chinese and Japanese references and sources.
Central library of Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization is ready to co-operate
with this important action
2. A comprehensive book should be authored by using the references mentioned
here as well as other referenced about Nowrouz either compiled individually or
as a collection of reports presented in the congress.
3. international contacts should be increased with research centers about Iran
Islam and east and with national libraries of far and near countries in order to
compile and edit references and documents as well as to prepare lists of
relating books and reports. Finally it is necessary to tank Mr Mir Shokraei who
made me to introduce a book about Nowrouz and to present this valuable book to
me.
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