Whirling Dervishes of Mexico’s voladores cross Cultural Links to Turkey, Persia and Mongolia
More colmuns by Mother Tynnetta Muhammad
“O you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance, And glorify Him morning and evening. He it is Who sends blessings on you and (so do) His angels, that He may bring you forth out of darkness into light. And He is ever Merciful to the believers. Their salutation on the day they meet Him will be, Peace! And He has prepared for them an honourable reward.” —Holy Qur’an, Surah 33, verses 41-44
On the evening of December 17th, while most people in America and throughout the Western Hemisphere were preparing to celebrate the traditional Christmas holiday, a small group of Believers attended an extraordinary event of cross-cultural links joining in a ceremony of the Whirling Dervishes. This event also celebrated honoring the founder of the Mevlevi Order, internationally known mystic poet, Mevlana (sometimes pronounced Maulana) Jelaleddin Rumi (1207-1273).
This highly successful event took place at Royce Hall on the campus grounds of U.C.L.A. bringing together many representatives and participants of diverse interfaith communities. This night also was celebrated as a wedding night which marks the night of the transition of Rumi in his return to Allah (God) on the night of December 17, 1273.
Rumi was born in Bhalk, Afghanistan, in the year 1207. At the age of 12, his famous father, trained as a powerful mystic was named Bahaaddin Muhammad. His family had to flee from their homeland from the invasion of Ghengis Khan’s army who swept through the steppes of Central Asia, often called Eurasia. I found it fascinating to explore the meaning behind Rumi’s birth in the time of Ghengis Khan’s ascendancy into a world power and empire. To contemplate that both powerful men, Rumi, the mystic poet and Ghengis Khan, as a warrior, should pass each other in the light of history in succession. Here, we find a commingling of high spirituality, militancy and prophesy.
That evening’s presentation of the Whirling dervish wedding ceremony made a brief introduction of Rumi’s history and that of Ghengis Khan. This year also rounds out an 800-year legacy celebrated also by UNESCO of the United Nations who proclaimed this year as the year of Maulana (Master Mystic Poet Rumi). Is it a coincidence that the legacy of Genghis Khan and the Mongolian Nation also celebrated their 800 year of existence since its founding?
My mind flashed back to my last visit to Mongolia in the summer of this year ending while interviewing Dr. P. Davanyan, a 29th generation descendent of Ghengis Khan at the International Academy of Ghengis Khan in Ulaanbataar. He shared with us his recent visionary experience in which he viewed the return of Ghengis Khan’s army in the heavens with a new revelation revealed in 62 written documents which he was given to decipher with information and instructions leading to a new political process of freedom for his nation and people in universal governance.
While listening to the recital of some of Rumi’s poetry in the Turkish and Persian language, which was translated for the audience into English by representatives of an interfaith council consisting of Christians, Jews and Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and a Mayan representative who all spoke on the oneness of God and his divine unity. With the above said, I reflected upon the Divine Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and his Master Teacher, W. Fard Muhammad, and the profound gift of enlightenment and spiritual guidance that we are receiving today from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan who is bringing us step by step to the humility required to enter into the life of the hereafter. This will be a New World Dispensation in which all people will speak one universal language centered around one God, one faith and one goal to unite the whole of humanity in holy matrimony. I thank Almighty God, Allah, for allowing us to take a peek into the world that God has prepared for all of us who seek his truth and his righteousness.
“O Prophet, surely We have sent thee as a witness, and a bearer of good news and a warner, And as an inviter to Allah by His permission, and as a light-giving sun. And give the believers the good news that they will have great grace from Allah.”–Holy Qur’an, Surah 33, verses 45-47
To be continued.
