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Garrette
SFN Regular
USA
562 Posts |
 Posted - 08/03/2003 : 23:23:17
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Still in Iraqi doing horrible things to continue the oppression of the Iraqi people and the eradication of democracy-loving freedom fighters, but thought I'd pass on a recent experience:
Now working for the national Ministry of Education at CPA and toured the Kurdish area to review their progress over the past 12 years and observe their Oil-for-Food projects. Our Kurdish hosts graciously fit some other activities in as well. Most notably, we went to Lalish which is the world-wide center of the Yazidi religion (or Izyadi, for another transliteration).
We were entertained there by one of the Peers (lowest of the three Yazidi castes). He claims that Yazidi antedates both Islam and Christianity and may antedate Judaism. The interesting bit came when I asked how long Lalish had been the center of Yazidi.
His response was that Yazidi had been at this place for maybe 900 years. Prior to that, it had been a Christian center.
Oh, really? How long was it Christian?
We're not certain. Perhaps since 300 or so.
Interesting. What was here before then?
Before then? It was a Mithraic site.
Whereupon followed a discussion of Yazidi beliefs and practices. Seems they believe in one god, possibly with two lesser deities representing good and evil contesting control of the earth below that one god. (This part is fuzzy; when I'd press a question, the answer would change and get less certain). 7 angels preside in turn over the earth for one-year periods. The angels coincide at least in part with christian angels, including Gabriel and Michael. I asked specifically about Azrazel and received a negative reply, but later he used the same name in listing the 7 angels to someone else. Something similar happened regarding Shatan when I asked if he/it represented one of the lesser deities.
The Peer insisted that the Yazidi only worship the one god, but in discussing practices as we toured the site, he used the term worship in reference to (a) the serpent (b) the sainted dead (c) the sun. I did not resolve the conflict during my visit.
We were able to tour the entirety of the mostly ancient temple except for the 'holy of holies' (my term, not his). The temple is an edifice extending out from and back in to a mountainside. The holy of holies is a covered descent into the mountain. Only the sheikhs and the prince (the two highest castes) are allowed into it.
The main entryway into the temple is flanked by a long, vertical snake leaving a hole in the ground. The snake is revered because (a) it is wise, and (b) after the flood, the ark struck the mountainside and caused a rupture from which new water poured, threatening a second flood; the snake plugged the whole, saving humanity for the second time.
Atop the doorway of the main entrance are several circular designs, resembling the sun from my point of view; the Peer did not know what they represented.
Inside the temple, the Peer emphasized that the Yazidi prize/worship light and the sun. In at least two places there were openings cut through the rock to allow sunlight to shine on niches where the faithful could stand. Two rooms were filled with large and ancient urns said to have been filled with olive oil for burning the ritually placed candles and lamps. The urns were immoveable due to the accretion of the olive oil (?) over the years, and were black with age.
Two of the 'saints' of the order are buried in the temple. One is actually buried, the other was in a sarcophagus style tomb, which had been twice profaned by infidels and the saints remains taken out and burned.
Outside the temple but on the grounds are two pools of water from the same, divided, spring. One is for baptizing boys, the other for baptizing girls. The Peer did not know how long baptism had been a Yazidi ritual but expressed confidence it was an 'ancient' practice.
All in all, a very interesting and rewarding visit.
Thought you might be interesting in the general notes, but in the Mithra-Christianity-Yazidi progression in particular.
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My kids still love me. |
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