Spektrum Iran

Cosmogonic Myths in Religious Beliefs of the Ahl-e ḥaqq and the Alevi Bektashis, A Comparative Study

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Author

Fatemeh Lajevardi

Assistant Professor, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran (Assistant Professor),

Abstract
Cosmogonic myths are fundamental symbolic narrations of the creation of the universe and all its components, which provide ideal contexts for basic beliefs in many religions. Through their symbolic expressions, these myths also present basic patterns for rituals and structures of meaning and value in cultures. The cosmogonic myths are categorized in a number of basic types, such as creation by a transcendental and almighty god, by cosmic parents or pairs, emergence from the earth and so on. Studying the main themes of the cosmogonic myths of Ahl-e ḥaqq of Iran and Alevi Bektashis of Anatolia shows that they both belong to the same category of cosmogonies, which is creation from the cosmic ocean/ cosmic egg. These kind of myths usually begin with a primordial sea, ocean or chaos in which gradually and during a long period of cosmic time a shell, an egg, a pearl or jewel, or various other beings appear. Cosmogonic myths of these two sects also show some parallelism in details due to their common historical and cultural background, and some differences which is related to their different emphases on the status and role of Muhammad and Ali.

Keywords

Cosmogonic myth
Ahl-e ḥaqq
Alevi Bektashis

Subjects

Spektrum Iran
Volume 31, Issue 3
September 2018
Pages 43-56

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