Islamkundliche Untersuchungen - Band 138: The Yaresan

Contents

1. Concept and Methodology
1.1. Structure of the Research / 1
1.1.1. Delimiting the questions / 1
1.1.2. The character of the community / 1
1.1.3. Context of the community’s emergence / 3
1.1.4. Survival of the Yaresan / 4
1.1.4. a) Solidarity / 7
1.1.4. b) Social structure / 8
1.1.4. c) Pre-existing ideas and experiences / 9
1.2. Methodology / 10
1.2.1. Typological approach / 10
1.2.2. Socio-psychological approach / 12
1.3. Sources and Research / 16
1.3.1. Research position / 16
1.3.2. Material study / 17
1.3.3. Resources / 18
1.3.3. a) Field research / 18
1.3.3. b) Secondary literature / 18
1.3.3. C) Primary literature / 19
1.3.3. C. a) Traveller's reports and the like / 19
1.3.3.C. b) History and historical books / 19
1.3.3.C. cj Heresiographical books / 20
1.3.3.C. e) Other religious books / 23
1.4. Concept clarification / 24
1.4.1. Nativism / 24
1.4.2. Millenarism / 26
1.5. Name Clarification / 28
1.5.1. Name of the community / 28
1.5.2. Some place names / 28
1.5.2. a) Iran / 28
1.5.2. b) Kermanshah / 28
1.5.2. c) Lakestan / 30

2. Socio-Economic and Historical Background
2.1. Socio-Economic Background / 32
2.1.1. Iranian economy / 32
2.1.2. Kurdish society and economy / 36
2.1.3. Yaresan demography, economy and society / 38
2.1.3. a) Distribution of the Yaresan community / 38
2.1.3. b) Yaresan economy and society / 40
2.2. Historical Background / 41
2.2.1. Bahlul period / 42
2.2.2. a) Shah Fazl period / 44
2.2.2. b) Kurdish protest movements during the Arab domination / 45
2.2.3. Baba Sarhang period / 48
2.2.4. a) Shah Khoshin period / 49
2.2.4. b) Lorestan, Lakestan and Kermanshah / 49
2.2.4. c) Pir Shahriyar / 51
2.2.4. d) The Sho'ubite movement / 52
2.2.4. e) Historical background of the region in Shah Khoshin’s period / 53
2.2.5. a) Soltan Sahak period / 56
2.2.5. b) Historical background of the region in Sahak’s period / 58
2.2.6. Kermanshah 15 - 17th centuries / 60
2.2.7. Kermanshah 17 - 20th centuries / 61
2.2.7. a) Safavid rule / 61
2.2.7. b) Afshar and Zand periods / 62
2.2.7. c) Qajar dynasty / 64
2.2.7. d) Pahlavi dynasty / 68
2.2.7. e) 1979-1988 / 69

3. Stories of the Creation
3.1. Yaresan Stories of the Creation and Demonology / 70
3.1.1. From pre-eternity to the creation of the “Haftan” / 70
3.1.2. The creation of the universe and the earth / 71
3.1.3. The creation of the heavenly bodies (Demonology / 72
3.1.4. The creation of Adam and Eve / 73
3.1.5. Adam and Eve in paradise / 74
3.1.6. Adam and Eve on the earth / 75
3.2. The Yaresan Story of the Creation in Iranian Context / 76
3.2.1. Mazdaism / 76
3.2.2. Zarvanism / 82
3.2.3. Iranian folklore background / 84

4. Divine Manifestation, Angelology and Dualism
4.1. Divine Manifestation / 90
4.1.1. Manifestation of the "Divine Essence" among the Yaresan / 90
4.1.2. The idea of Divene manifestation / 92
4.1.3. The Divine Essence / 93
4.1.4. The idea of Divine manifestation among Iranian social movements / 94
4.2. Angelology / 98
4.2.1. The Yaresan henotheism / 98
4.2.2. Names of the Yaresan angels / 101
4.2.3. The Ruchiyar and Ayvat positions / 104
4.2.4. Baba Yadegar’s birth / 107
4.2.5. The spring of Anahita / 108
4.2.6. The Yaresan system of angel-worship / 112
4.2.7. The Ameshaspandsand the Haftan / 113
4.2.8. The Yazatas / 115
4.2.9. The Haftavaneh / 116
4.2.10. Mithra and Vayu / 118
4.3. Dualism / 119
4.3.1. Dualism of the Yaresan / 119
4.3.2. Relation between the Yaresan and the Yazidis / 121
4.3.3. Excursus: The Yazidi religion and community / 122
4.3.4. Dualistic origin of the Creation among the Yaresan / 124
4.3.5. Dualism in Iran / 125

5. Eschatology
5.1. Doctrine of Metempsychosis / 128
5.1.1. Metempsychosis among the Yaresan / 128
5.1.2. Doctrine of metempsychosis / 130
5.1.3. Metempsychosis among Iranian social movements / 132
5.2. Millenarism and Nativism / 136
5.2.1. Millenarism and egalitarianism of the Yaresan / 136
5.2.2. Chiliastic prediction / 145
5.2.3. Nativism among Iranian socio-religious movements / 148
5.2.4. Millenarism and egalitarianism in Iran / 151

6. Rituals
6.1. Periodical Meetings / 156
6.1.1. The "Jam / 156
6.1.1. a) Conditions for helding a Jam / 156
6.1.1. b) Terms and roles in the Jam / 157
6.1.1. c) The Jam ceremony / 158
6.1.2. Types of prayer in the Jam / 160
6.1.3. Fekr-o zekr / 160
6.1.4. The significance of music among the Yaresan / 162
6.1.5. The significance of the Jam ceremony / 163
6.2. The "Nazr" or Offering and Sacrifice / 164
6.2.1. Offerings / 165
6.2.1. a) The "Niyaz” / 165
6.2.1. b) The "Shokraneh” / 165
6.2.2.Sacrifices / 166
6.2.2. a) Blood sacrifice / 166
6.2.2. b) Bloodless sacrifice / 167
6.2.2. c) Items which are not sacrificed but are accompanied with sacrificial ceremony / 167
6.2.2. d) Khedmat / 167
6.2.3. Performance of the sacrificial ceremony / 168
6.2.3. a) Ritual for blood sacrifices / 168
6.2.3. b) Ritual for bloodless sacrifices / 177
6.2.3. c) Ritual of sacrifices other than blood or bloodless sacrifices / 178
6.2.3. d) Ritual for the Khedmat / 178
6.2.4. Ritual for offerings / 178
6.2.5. A hymn on the importance of sacrifice / 178
6.2.6. Sacrifice rituals in Iran / 181
6.3. Other Yaresan Rituals and Religious Tenets / 184
6.3.1. Fasting / 184
6.3.2. The prohibition of fasting for thirty days / 187
6.3.3. Ablution of the Yaresan / 189
6.3.4. Ceremonies for the dead / 190
6.3.5. The "Charchivan" or the "Four Pillars" of Yaresan religion / 193
6.3.6. The five “Moqadasat" of the Yaresan / 194
6.3.7. Periods of the World History / 196
6.3.8. Other similarities between Yaresan and Mazdaism / 197

7. Organization and Institution
7.1. Social Organization and Rites / 198
7.1.1. Some initiation terms / 198
7.1.2. Conditions of membership in the community / 199
7.1.3. The "Sar-sepordan" or initiation ceremony of the Yaresan / 200
7.1.4. Some variations in the performance of the “Sar-sepordan” / 203
7.1.5. Group initiation / 203
7.1.6. Types of membership and recruitment / 204
a) Tne "Chakideh / 204
b) The "Chasbideh / 205
7.2. Social Structure of the Yaresan Community / 205
7.2.1. The ''Khandan” / 205
7.2.2. The "Sar-sepordan" of the "Khanadans” / 209
7.2.3. Early formation of the "Khandans” / 211
7.2.4. The significance of the Yaresan institution of "Sar-sepordan" / 216
7.2.5. Initiation rites in Iran / 219
7.3. The Brotherhood and Brother-Sisterhood Contract / 222
7.3.1. The brother-sisterhood contract among the Yaresan / 222
7.3.2. Significance of the brother-sisterhood contract / 223
7.3.3. The brother-sisterhood contract in Iran / 225
7.4. Social Divisions in the Yaresan Community / 226
7.5. The Social Structure of the Yaresan Community / 227

8. Social Movements and Social Conflict
8.1. The Original Context for the Emergence of the Yaresan / 229
8.2. Yaresan as a Social Movement / 230
8.3. The Main Features of the Yaresan Social Movement in
Relation to Other Iranian Movements / 231
8.3.1. Nativistic tendencies / 231
8.3.2. Egalitarian tendencies / 233
8.3.3. Millenarism / 233
8.3.4. Dualistic world view / 235
8.4. The Main Environmental Aspects of the Yaresan Background / 235
8.4.1. Social aspects / 235
8.4.2. Economic aspects / 239
8.4.3. Geo-political aspects / 241
8.4.4. Historical aspects / 242
8.5. Social Conflict as a Consequence of the Existing Situation / 244
8.5.1. Economic conflict / 245
8.5.2. Socio-cultural conflict / 247
8.5.3. Power conflict / 248

9. Survival of the Yaresan
9.1. Factors Contributing to the Survival of the Yaresan / 252
9.1.1. Political non-radicalism / 252
9.1.2. Social organization / 253
9.1.3. Military force / 255
9.1.4. Trans-communal solidarity / 257
9.1.5. Pre-existing ideas and experiences / 258
9.1.6. Other resource / 259

Appendix

Appendix 1: Yaresan Religious Stories Regarding the Creation / 262
Appendix 2: Yaresan Stories Regarding Divine Manifestation,
Metempsychosis and Other Matters Regarding Theophanies and Angels / 265
Appendix 3: Yaresan Religious Stories Regarding Rituals and Institutions / 276

Bibliography / 280

Index / 303