Today's Zaman - Istanbul, TurkeyFriday, November 30, 2007
The 734th anniversary of the death of great Muslim Sufi Mevlana Rumi has been commemorated with a whirling ceremony (sema) in Austria
The sema for Mevlana took place in the Votive Church of Vienna on Wednesday; it was held a few weeks before the Dec. 17 anniversary of his death owing to the extremely busy schedule of the Konya sema group of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The ceremony was attended by intellectuals of both the Austrian and Turkish community.
The whirling dervishes, known as semazens, entered the hall in the footsteps of their sheikh accompanied by special hymns selected particularly for the occasion.
Following their entry into the hall, the musicians (mutrıban) started playing a special piece called “Pashrav,” during which the dervishes started circling the hall, taking their steps slowly and in sync with the sheikh.
At the end of the first part of the rite, called “Devr-i Veledi,” the sheikh kissed each of the semazens on their tall, felt hats -- symbolizing the gravestone of the ego -- giving them permission to begin whirling.
Since it was a religious remembrance ceremony, the audience was cautioned against applauding.
About 300 people watched the rite with reverence and attentiveness. Following the 45-minute sema, a hafiz -- someone who knows the entire Quran by heart -- among the musicians recited a particular group of verses from the second chapter of the Quran in accordance with Mevlevi tradition.
The sheikh, also know as a postnişin (one who sits on the sheepskin) ended the rite by saying a special prayer.
We need Mevlana more than ever
Turkish Ambassador to Vienna Selim Yenel talked about the teachings of Mevlana in an address he made before the sema. He emphasized the importance of this great teacher, who based his teachings on unconditional tolerance, as instructed by the Prophet Mohammed.
“We need his unconditional tolerance, love and mutual understanding in this age more than ever,” he noted.
Ambassador Yenel said that Mevlana left behind such a great legacy that his messages should be repeated constantly. “I hope this whirling rite will help to break down walls of prejudice,” he noted.
Priest of the Catholic Church Martin Rupprecht, who spoke before the ceremony on behalf of the cardinal of Vienna, began his speech in Turkish. “I greet my whirling brothers with heartfelt feelings. Selam Aleyküm,” he said.
He stressed that such events contribute greatly to inter-religious and intercultural dialogue. Rupprecht recalled that Mevlana did not discriminate against anyone while calling everybody to the door of repentance by saying, “Come, Come, whoever you may be.”
He ended his speech with a Mevlevi expression, saying, “May the good be conquered, may the evil leave,” which drew applause from the Turks in the hall.
Following the sema, guests were given traditional Turkish sweets and pastries.
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