Roj Hormazd Mah Adar, 1382 Yz.
“To inra dorugho fasanah madan, ba yaksan ravesh dar zamana madan”
“Do not consider these verses as untrue or imagined because time reveals itself in different colors in every age” – Firdausi, Shah Nameh
These very important and oft-quoted lines of the poet Firdausi reveal a great truth about history as we see it today and reality. Very often, modern-day scholars and historians are dismissive about the historical veracity of Firdausi’s Shah Nameh, especially the parts relating to the Peshdadian and Kyanian dynasties, which they believe to be mythical. Many have also voiced doubts about Firdausi’s narrative based on the impossibly long life spans of many of the heroes of the Shah Nameh. But the warning verses of Firdausi are a gentle reminder that different civilizations have different levels of development and advancement. Even the Old Testament gives the age of several Biblical characters in many hundreds of years. Does this mean that the Bible is wrong?
Our Master, Ustad Saheb Behramshah gave a very deep and intricate understanding of the genesis of the Shah Nameh and how Firdausi, who gave the outward appearance of being a Muslim was actually a member of a Zoroastrian priestly family. Through the efforts of his grandfather, and his own destiny, Firdausi (the very name means one on touch with Firdaus – the paradise-like place where the Abed Sahebs reside) came into a low level contact with Sarosh Yazad and Dastur Ardeshir Kermani from whom he experienced the many strange accounts of Iranian history which he then noted down for posterity.
The poet Firdausi
In this talk, I also touch upon the fascinating story of how the original copy of the Shah Nameh was transcribed by a Zoroastrian scribe brought to live in the area of Demavand over three years and how this original copy of the Shah Nameh was seen by our Master, Ustad Saheb.
We then proceed to a quick explanation of the post-galactic events, as the new Zravane Daregho Khadata begins and the battles between the Mazdaysanis and the Daevayasnis and how this serves as the backdrop to the Shah Nameh.
A mention is made of existing Shah Nameh manuscripts in various collections and the project of the Princeton University to collect and digitize these priceless objects.
Finally we begin the series of Rostam Nameh by understanding the genealogy of the Pahelwan family, tracing from Keresaspa to Nariman to Saam to Zaal and finally Rostam.
To download and listen to this lecture please click on the link below.
Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram
APR
