Iran commemorates renowned poet

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran on Wednesday commemorated Sheikh Farid ud-Din Attar Nishabouri, a highly revered 12th-century philosopher and mystic, who is more known both in and outside Iran for his instinctive taste and power of poetry.

Large numbers of Iranian and foreign guests convened in ceremonies in Attar's hometown Nishabour (also known as Neyshabour) and provincial capital city of Mashhad in northwestern Iran in remembrance of the talented poet who lived from 1161-1239 AD.

Farid ud-Din Attar was born in Nishabour. There is disagreement over the exact dates of his birth and death but a majority of historians confirm that he lived for about 100 years. He is traditionally said to have been killed by Mongol invaders. His tomb can be seen today in Nishabour.

As a younger man, Attar went on pilgrimage to Mecca and traveled extensively throughout the region, seeking wisdom in Egypt, Damascus, India, and other areas, before finally returning to his home city of Nishabour in the northwest of today Iran.

The name Attar means herbalist or druggist, which was his profession. It is said that he saw as many as 500 patients a day in his shop, prescribing herbal remedies which he prepared himself, and he wrote his poetry while attending to his patients.

About thirty works by Attar survive, but his masterpiece is the Mantiq ot-Tayr (The Conference of the Birds). In this collection, he describes a group of birds (individual human souls) under the leadership of a hoopoe (spiritual master) who determine to search for the legendary Simurgh (phoenix) bird (God). The birds must confront their own individual limitations and fears while journeying through seven valleys before they ultimately find the Simurgh and complete their quest. The 30 birds who ultimately complete the quest discover that they themselves are the Simurgh they sought, playing on a pun in Persian (si and murgh can translate as 30 birds) while giving us an esoteric teaching on the presence of the Divine within us.

Attar's poetry inspired Rumi and many other Sufi poets. It is said that Rumi actually met Attar when Attar was an old man and Rumi was a boy, though some scholars dispute this possibility.

Farid ud-Din Attar was apparently tried at one point for heresy and exiled from Nishabour, but he eventually returned to his home city and that is where he died.

A traditional story is told about Attar's death. He was taken prisoner by a Mongol during the invasion of Nishabour. Someone soon came and tried to ransom Attar with a thousand pieces of silver. Attar advised the Mongol not to sell him for that price. The Mongol, thinking to gain an even greater sum of money, refused the silver. Later, another person came, this time offering only a sack of straw to free Attar. Attar then told the Mongol to sell him for that was all he was worth. Outraged at being made a fool, the Mongol cut off Attar's head.

Whether or not this is literally true isn't the point. This story is used to teach the mystical insight that the personal self isn't of much real worth. What is valuable is the Beloved's presence within us - and that presence isn't threatened by the death of the body.

Some works:

* Deevaan (?????)

* Asraar-Naameh (????? ????)

* Maqaamaat-e Toyour (= Manteq ot-Teyr; ?????? ?????? or ???? ?????)

* Moseebat-Naameh (????? ????)

* Elaahi-Naameh (???? ????)

* Jawaaher-Naameh (????? ????)

* Sharh ol-Qalb[14] (??? ?????)

* Tazkerat ol-Owliyaa (????? ???????)

Invocation

We are busy with the luxury of things.

Their number and multiple faces bring

To us confusion we call knowledge. Say:

God created the world, pinned night to day,

Made mountains to weigh it down, seas

To wash its face, living creatures with pleas

(The ancestors of prayers) seeking a place

In this mystery that floats in endless space.

God set the earth on the back of a bull,

The bull on a fish dancing on a spool

Of silver light so fine it is like air;

That in turn rests on nothing there

But nothing that nothing can share.

All things are but masks at God's beck and call,

They are symbols that instruct us that God is all.

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