Attar Neishabouri commemorated
Tehran: Ceremonies marking birth anniversary of eminent Iranian poet Attar Neishabouri were held here as well as in his birthplace Neishabour in Khorassan Razavi province.
Designated as the ‘Day of Commemorating Attar’, April 13 provides an opportunity for experts to study his life and works.
Iranian literati and scholars gathered at the mausoleum of the classical Persian poet as part of the programs to commemorate him.
Attar was a Persian Muslim poet, theoretician of Sufism and hagiographer who left an everlasting influence on Persian poetry and Sufism.
His works are in poetry and prose. ‘Manteq At-Teir’ (conference of birds), his masterpiece, is in poetry while his works in prose include ‘Elahi Nameh’, ‘Asrar Nameh’ and ‘Mosibat Nameh’.
‘Manteq At-Tair’ covers approximately 4,500 verses. It depicts a journey by a group of birds, led by a hoopoe, as an allegory of a leader directing them to the land of Simorgh (mythical bird).
They cross seven valleys longing for meeting Simorgh. The seven valleys symbolizing the seven stages of mysticism.
But not all of the can endure the pains of the journey. A number of them drop out of the journey, each offering an excuse.
Eventually, only thirty birds reach the abode of the Simurgh. But there is no Simurgh to see. Simurgh's chamberlain keeps them waiting for Simurgh long enough for the birds to figure out that they themselves are the si (thirty) murgh (bird).
It is the Sufi doctrine that God is not separate from the universe and every creature is a manifestation of the Creator.
Attar was killed by the invading Mongols. He was buried near Neishabour, Khorassan Razavi province.
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