On Bite-Taker Ritual: An Example of Iranian âVarâ in the Bakhtiari Tribe
Document Type : پژوهشی اصیل
Author
Faculty of Literature and Humanities University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
One of the basic fundamental factors of knowing mythological sources, and preserving and promoting them is to conduct scientific studies in the field of popular folk culture and literature. Swearing, in its various forms, is one of the rituals that has long been manifested in Iranian popular folk culture and literature in various ways. In this study, we analyzed the bite-taker ritual, as an instantiation of swearing (Var) in the Bakhtiari tribe. It was assumed that this ritual takes root from the traditions of ancient Iran. Emphasizing its importance among the Bakhtiari people, this ritual was known to recognize the right-doer from the wrong-doer. So far as the bite is concerned, right from the wrong and the correctness of the word is the importance of the bite from the perspective of the Bakhtiari people. In this study, firstly, the story of bite-taker was narrated and, secondly, their literary manifestations and mythological aspects were investigated. The data was qualitative, and the method of data collection was based on field-library sources. The method of data analysis was in the form of qualitative content. After examining various sources and analyzing the literary and mythological manifestations of motifs of the bite-taker test in the Bakhtiari people, it can be argued that this ritual is a remnant of the ritual of drinking sulfur water in ancient Iran, which, by preserving mythological elements among Bakhtiari people, is believed to be the last solution to prove the truth of the word and distinguish right from wrong. Besides, some certain elements of this test, such as the presence of fire, wearing perfume and white clothes before the test, and perfume, are considered as reminiscent of the story of Siavash in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh.
Keywords
Subjects
Afifi, R. (1995). Iranian mythology and culture in Pahlavi's writings. Tos.
Aghakhanibijani, M., Hashemi, M., and Sadeghi, A. (2016). Belief in Bakhtiari people. Popular Culture and Literature, 14, 67-49.
Asaditousi, A. (2013). Garshasabnameh (edited by H. Yaghmayi). Donyaye Ketab.
Bakhtiari, A. (1983). History of Bakhtiari. Asatir.
Boyce, M. (1995). History of Zoroastrian cult (translated into Farsi by E. Santhizadeh). Tos.
Cooper, J. (2012). Culture of ritual symbols (translated into Farsi by R. Behzadi). Elmi.
Curtis, V. (2011). Iranian myths (translated into Farsi by A. mokhber). Markaz.
Dostkhah, J. (2012). Avesta report and research. Morvarid.
Ferdowsi, A. (2014). Shahnameh. Sokahn.
Gall, M., et al. (2016). Quantitative and qualitative research methods (translated into Farsi by A. Nasr Esfahani). Samt.
Ghanbari Adevi, A. (2002). Bakhtiari's proverbs and sayings. Iil.
Ghanbari Adevi, A. (2011). Folklore of Bakhtiari people. Neyushe.
Gineau, F. (1993). Ardavirafanamah (translated into Farsi by J. Amuzegar). Moin – Anjomane Iranshenasi France.
Heydari, D. (2012). The oath in the Shahnameh and its mythological connection with water and fire. Research Paper on Epic Literature, 16, 35-61.
Hinels, J. (2014). Knowledge of Iranian mythology (translated into Farsi by M. Bajlan Farrokhi). Asatir.
Jafari Qanovati, M. (2019). Oath. Encyclopedia of people's cultureLarge Islamic Encyclopedia Center.
Jahandideh, A. (2016). A research on Var religion in Baluchistan. Popular Culture and Literature, 16, 19-38.
Kayani, H. (1992). Oath in Persian language and literature. University of Tehran.
Khajagir, A. et al. (2018). A research on the ritual of swearing (var) in the Bakhtiari people. Popular Culture and Literature, 30, 173-150.
Mazdpour, K. (1990). Shaist Neshaist. Institute of Foreign Research and Studies.
Moin, M. (2004). Mazdasna and Persian literature. University of Tehran.
Pordawood, A. (1942). Oath. Iran Mehr Magazine, 5-6, 281-292.
Pordawood, A. (1968). Yachts. Tahori.
Rahbar, A. (1969). Oath and its traces in Persian literature. Kaveh, 21, 124-135.
Rastegarfasaei, M. (1388). Personification in mythology. Research Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies.
Razi, H. (2009). Encyclopedia of ancient Iran. Sokahn.
Sattari, J. (1994). Mystery in psychoanalysis. Tos.
Tarapur, V. (1981). Trial and arbitration in ancient Iran (translated into Farsi by E. Razi Chista), 575-554.
Tharwat, M., & Anzabinjad, R. (1998). Dictionary of slang and contemporary words. Sokhan.
Unknown. (1997). Vendidad. Contemporary Thoughts.
Unknown. (2013). Avesta (2013). Morvarid.
Widengren, G. (1998). Iranian religions (translated into Farsi by M. Hooshang). Aghagan Iede.
Zaviye, S., & Mafitabar, A. (2012). Investigating the mythological rites of Yazidi judgment in ancient Iran. Mystical and Mythological Literature, 30, 101-128.
b) Field sources (interviewees)
Aghakhani, A. 55 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Miankoh Felard. Islamabad village. A school rancher. Code 7.
Fathi, A. 63 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Miankoh Felard. Sepidar village. A school mullah. Code 2.
Fathi, S. 73 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Miankoh Felard. Sefidar village. Illiterate the housekeeper. Code 8.
Ghorbani, G. 62 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Miankoh Felard Dehno village. Illiterate rancher. Code 5.
Ghorbani, S. 70 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Miankoh Felard. Gandab village. A school Mullah. Code 3.
Hemti, B. 63 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Miankoh Felard. Bizhgan village. School. Farmer. Code 6.
Kayani, M. 60 years old. Ardal city. Arjal village. School Mullah. Code 10.
Kohiani, A. 75 years old. Ardal city. Arjal village. School Building. Code 9.
Layeghi, R. 71 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Felard. Parvaz. Old village. School rancher. Code 1.
Vesey, A. 65 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Felard. Parvaz. Old village. School. Farmer. Code 4.
Aghakhanibijani, M., Hashemi, M., and Sadeghi, A. (2016). Belief in Bakhtiari people. Popular Culture and Literature, 14, 67-49.
Asaditousi, A. (2013). Garshasabnameh (edited by H. Yaghmayi). Donyaye Ketab.
Bakhtiari, A. (1983). History of Bakhtiari. Asatir.
Boyce, M. (1995). History of Zoroastrian cult (translated into Farsi by E. Santhizadeh). Tos.
Cooper, J. (2012). Culture of ritual symbols (translated into Farsi by R. Behzadi). Elmi.
Curtis, V. (2011). Iranian myths (translated into Farsi by A. mokhber). Markaz.
Dostkhah, J. (2012). Avesta report and research. Morvarid.
Ferdowsi, A. (2014). Shahnameh. Sokahn.
Gall, M., et al. (2016). Quantitative and qualitative research methods (translated into Farsi by A. Nasr Esfahani). Samt.
Ghanbari Adevi, A. (2002). Bakhtiari's proverbs and sayings. Iil.
Ghanbari Adevi, A. (2011). Folklore of Bakhtiari people. Neyushe.
Gineau, F. (1993). Ardavirafanamah (translated into Farsi by J. Amuzegar). Moin – Anjomane Iranshenasi France.
Heydari, D. (2012). The oath in the Shahnameh and its mythological connection with water and fire. Research Paper on Epic Literature, 16, 35-61.
Hinels, J. (2014). Knowledge of Iranian mythology (translated into Farsi by M. Bajlan Farrokhi). Asatir.
Jafari Qanovati, M. (2019). Oath. Encyclopedia of people's cultureLarge Islamic Encyclopedia Center.
Jahandideh, A. (2016). A research on Var religion in Baluchistan. Popular Culture and Literature, 16, 19-38.
Kayani, H. (1992). Oath in Persian language and literature. University of Tehran.
Khajagir, A. et al. (2018). A research on the ritual of swearing (var) in the Bakhtiari people. Popular Culture and Literature, 30, 173-150.
Mazdpour, K. (1990). Shaist Neshaist. Institute of Foreign Research and Studies.
Moin, M. (2004). Mazdasna and Persian literature. University of Tehran.
Pordawood, A. (1942). Oath. Iran Mehr Magazine, 5-6, 281-292.
Pordawood, A. (1968). Yachts. Tahori.
Rahbar, A. (1969). Oath and its traces in Persian literature. Kaveh, 21, 124-135.
Rastegarfasaei, M. (1388). Personification in mythology. Research Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies.
Razi, H. (2009). Encyclopedia of ancient Iran. Sokahn.
Sattari, J. (1994). Mystery in psychoanalysis. Tos.
Tarapur, V. (1981). Trial and arbitration in ancient Iran (translated into Farsi by E. Razi Chista), 575-554.
Tharwat, M., & Anzabinjad, R. (1998). Dictionary of slang and contemporary words. Sokhan.
Unknown. (1997). Vendidad. Contemporary Thoughts.
Unknown. (2013). Avesta (2013). Morvarid.
Widengren, G. (1998). Iranian religions (translated into Farsi by M. Hooshang). Aghagan Iede.
Zaviye, S., & Mafitabar, A. (2012). Investigating the mythological rites of Yazidi judgment in ancient Iran. Mystical and Mythological Literature, 30, 101-128.
b) Field sources (interviewees)
Aghakhani, A. 55 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Miankoh Felard. Islamabad village. A school rancher. Code 7.
Fathi, A. 63 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Miankoh Felard. Sepidar village. A school mullah. Code 2.
Fathi, S. 73 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Miankoh Felard. Sefidar village. Illiterate the housekeeper. Code 8.
Ghorbani, G. 62 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Miankoh Felard Dehno village. Illiterate rancher. Code 5.
Ghorbani, S. 70 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Miankoh Felard. Gandab village. A school Mullah. Code 3.
Hemti, B. 63 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Miankoh Felard. Bizhgan village. School. Farmer. Code 6.
Kayani, M. 60 years old. Ardal city. Arjal village. School Mullah. Code 10.
Kohiani, A. 75 years old. Ardal city. Arjal village. School Building. Code 9.
Layeghi, R. 71 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Felard. Parvaz. Old village. School rancher. Code 1.
Vesey, A. 65 years old. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Felard. Parvaz. Old village. School. Farmer. Code 4.
