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Pahlevani and zoorkhaneh rituals

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Varzesh-e Pahlavani (Persian varzeš-e pahlavānī ورزش پهلوانی) meaning the Sport of Warriors, also known as Varzesh-e Bastani (Persian varzeš-e bāstnī ورزش باستانی), meanin the Sport of Ancient, is the Traditional Iranian Martial Arts, which was originally an academy of physical training and a nursery for warriors against foreign invaders similar in purpose to Korean, Japanese and Chinese martial arts.

File:Pahlevani.jpg
Number of Pahlavans with their Mil in 1977

For past 4,000 years Iranians have aquired this traditional sport, and enriched it with, various disciplines of moral, ethic, philosophy, and mystic values of Iranian civilization and culture. Subsequently, Varzesh-e Pahlavani has emerged as a unique moral and physical institution, having incorporated the pre-Islamic rituals of Zoroastrianism as well as Mithraism[1], with spiritual richness of Sufism, and distinctive heroism of Iranian nationalism. The heroes of this academy are known as the Pahlavāns (the Warriors or Heroes).

History

The history of Varzesh-e Pahlavani can be traced back to the Arsacid dynastic Empire of Iran (248 BCE-224 CE).[2] The word Pahlavan is a plural form of Pahlav, meaning Parthian.[3] According to some, Ferdowsi (935?-1026? CE), the greatest of Iranian epic-poet and historian, was referring to the Parthian Period in his Shahnameh (the Book of Kings) when he wrote about the mythical period of the Iranian history.[4] The ancient Iranian religion of Mithraism reached its peak in this period and eventually spread from Iran to the West. There are striking similarities between rituals of Mithraism and Varzesh-e Pahlavani. Even Mithraic temples are similar in structure to Zourkhaneh's, the place where the rituals of Varzesh-e Pahlavani are practiced.

Pahlavan and their Rituals

 
Rostam the mightiest of Iranian hero-warriors. Artwork by Adel Adili

The available information shows the common grounds between the Varsesh-e Pahlavani and Mithraism rituals, besides, a warrior in Zourkhaneh is expected to be pure, truthful, good tempered and early riser. Avesta says that “sun” is the word of God; he is the enemy of lie and friend of truth, representing good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.[5]

A Pahlavan (warrior) is a paragon of valour who fears no one and fights the enemies single handed. The “sun”, too, is the most powerful among other entities; he is athletic, tall, husky, and strong. A warrior should start his exercises right after saying his prayers in the morning when the “sun” rises and illuminates the world.[6]

In Zurkhaneh of pre-1800, only adults were permitted to attend, just like in the Mithraism where only matured individuals are entitled to attend the ceremonies. In Zourkhaneh, like Mithraism, women are not admitted; wealth, property, and social status are considered no advantage in both Zourkhaneh and Mithraism. Warriors think of each other as brothers and co-religionists. In Zurkhaneh, veterans are most favoured; the same as Mithraism.[7]

With the spread of western values into Iran at the turn of the last century and poorly designed policies, of the Pahlavi regime towards this tradition, Varzesh-e Pahlavani has lost some of its popularity and there exist a lot of misconceptions about this institution.[8]

There are several types of Phalavans:[9]

  • Pahlavan-e Pahlavanan meaning the Warrior of Warriors (Pahlavans of the Shah's courts/palaces. Many of these were the official Pahlavans of Iran).
  • Pahlavan-e Zoorgar (Master wrestlers or strong men).
  • Pahlavn-e Keshvar, (the national Pahlavan of Iran - Our modern wrestlers, many of them World and Olympic Champions as well as the winners of the Pahlavani "Bazoo-band" or Armlet).
  • Pahlevan-e Bozorg or Bozorg Pahlavan (The Grand Warrior): It literally means Grand Pahlavan. The most equivalent title in the oriental martial arts could be the Grand Master. It is only given to two or three Pahlavans such as Pouriyay-e Vali and Hassan Razaz, also known as Pahlavan-e Bozorg Shoja'at.
  • Jahan Pahlavan (the World Warrior): highest rank of Pahlavani in the Iranian army before the Arab invasion. A title given to Rostam, the legendary Pahlavan of Ferdowsi's Shah-nameh. The contemporary Gholamreza Takhti is another Pahlavan who is given this title.

These Pahlavans were masters of the Pahlavani tradition. They observed all the ancient Iranian moral and ethical values which, and at the same time they were probably among the best wrestlers in the world.

This group of Pahlavans is considered by many historians to include true Pahlavans who represent this rich tradition. There are probably about twenty Pahlavans in the history of Iran that fall into this special category.

In the Indian literature, it is written as Pahalwan, and it refers to strong men and wrestlers.

List of renowned Pahlavans:

[10]

  • Pre-Islamic Period (pre-651 CE)
Narimān
Sām
Zāl
Rostam
Sohrāb
Tūs
Milād
Gožgīn
  • Early-Islamic Period (651-1450)
Abu Moslem-e Khorasani
Yaghub-e Layth
Babak khorramdin
Asad Kermani (1050)
Abdul Razagh Bashtini
Shirdel Kohneh Savar
Mahmood Kharazmi, was known as Pouriya-ye Vali (Bozorg Pahlavn)
Mohammad Abol-seyyed Abolkheyr
Mahmood Malani (1400)
Darvish Mohammad Khorassani
  • Middle & Late-Islamic Period (1450-1795)
Mirza Beyk-e Kashani
Beyk-e Khorassani
Hossein-e Kord (Safavid era)
Mir Baqer
Jalal Yazdi
Kabir-e Esfahani (Bozorg Pahlavan)
Kalb Ali Aqa Jar
  • Modern era (1795-)
Ali Asghar Yazdi
Haj Reza Qoli Tehrani
Mohammad Mazar Yazdi
Shaban Siyah Qomi
Yazdi Bozrog(Bozorg Pahlavan)
Akbar Khorassani
Abolqasem Qomi
Hossein Golzar-e Kermanshahi
Sadeq-e Qomi
Yazdi Kuchak (The last official Pahlavan of Iran)


Haj Seyyed Hasan Razaz, was known as Pahlavan Shoja'at (1853-1941),


References & Sources

  1. ^ CAIS News: Varzesh-e Bastani (Sport of Ancients), the Art of Physical and Ethical Training, November 08, 2003 (LINK]); accessed February 08, 2007
  2. ^ CAIS News: Iranian Documentary to Present Ancient Iranian Warrior Sports in UNESCO, July 27, 2007 (LINK]); accessed February 08, 2007
  3. ^ D. N. MacKenzie, A Concise Pahlavi Dictionary, Oxfor (1990), p.64
  4. ^ Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani, Terminology of Arms and Armor used in the Shahname: a Comparative Analysis "Swords and Maces", (LINK); accessed February 08, 2007
  5. ^ CAIS News: Varzesh-e Bastani (Sport of Ancients), the Art of Physical and Ethical Training, November 08, 2003 (LINK]); accessed February 08, 2007
  6. ^ Ibid.
  7. ^ Ibid.
  8. ^ Traditional Iranian Martial Arts (Varzesh-e Pahlavani) (Link); accessed February 08, 2007
  9. ^ CAIS News: Iran’s Neighbours to Revive Iran's Varzesh-e Pahlevani, November 25, 2005 (LINK]); accessed February 08, 2007
  10. ^ Traditional Iranian Martial Arts (Varzesh-e Pahlavani) (Link); accessed February 08, 2007


See also



 

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