Varzesh-e Pahlavani (Persian varzeš-e pahlavānī ورزش پهلوانی) meaning the "Sport of the Heroes", also known as Varzesh-e Bastani (Persian varzeš-e bāstnī ورزش باستانی), meaning the "Sport of the Ancients", or simply as Pahlavani, is a traditional discipline of gymnastics and wrestling in Iran, which was originally an academy of physical training for military purposes.
Varzesh-e Pahlavani combines elements of the pre-Islamic Iranian culture with the spirituality of Sufism. Participants are expected to be pure, truthful, and good tempered and only then strong in body. The principles of unpretentiousness are exemplified by a verse recited at many meetings: "Learn modesty, if you desire knowledge. A highland would never be irrigated by river." (Kanz ol-Haghayegh)
History:
Varzesh-e Pahlavani is said to be traceable back to Arsacid Parthian times (132 BCE - 226 CE). Following the development of Sufi Islam in the 8th century CE, Varzesh-e Pahlavani absorbed philosophical and spiritual components from that religion.
Varzesh-e Pahlavani was particularly popular in the 19th century, during the reign of the Qajar king Nassar al-Din Shah (1848-1896). Performances inspired by Persian mythology were held at the Shah's court every 21 March (the Iranian new year[nowruz]).
The sport declined following the rise of the Pahlavi dynasty in the 1920s and the subsequent modernisation campaigns of Reza Shah, who saw the sport as a relic of Qajarite ritual.
Reza Shah's son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi attempted to revive the tradition and practiced it himself, and during his reign, the last national competitions were held.
Following the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the tradition has lost popularity.
In recent years, the sport appears to be gaining popularity in the countries adjacent to Iran, including Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan.
The Zurkhaneh: The traditional gymnasium in which the Varzesh-e Pahlavani is practiced is known as the Zurkhaneh or Zourkhaneh (Persian: زورخانه), literally "house of strength". These 'houses of strength' are covered structures with a single opening in the ceiling, with a sunken octagonal or circular pit in the center (gaud). Around the gaud is a section for the audience, one for the musicians, and one for the athletes.
Rituals and practice: The Varzesh-e Pahlavani rituals mimic the rituals and traditions of Sufi orders, as evidenced by terminology like murshed "master" (beating the drum and reciting poetry), pish kesvat "leader", taj "crown" or faqr "poverty". The ethics involved are also similar to Sufi ideals, emphasizing purity of heart. Every session begins with pious praise of prophet and his family. In less religion-oriented Zurkhanehs, these elements are replaced by the recital of stories from Iranian mythology, such as those of the Shahnameh.
The main part of a Varzesh-e Pahlavani session is dedicated to gymnastics or calisthenics, notably using a pair of wooden clubs (mil) and metal shields (sang), and bow-shaped iron weights ('kaman). The exercises also involve acrobatics like Sufi whirling and juggling. The sessions end with submission wrestling known as the Koshti Pahlavani.
Ranks and grades: The lowest rank is that of nowcheh or novice, followed by the nowkhasteh or advanced student, and finally the pahlavan or champion. There are several champion grades:
Pahlavan-e Pahlavanan, "Pahlavan
of Pahlavans" which included
court-sponsored sportsmen.
Pahlavan-e Zoorgar, the master
wrestlers or strong men.
Pahlavn-e Keshvar, the acclaimed
pahlavans including many of Iran's
wrestlers at World and Olympic events
(such as Gholamreza Takhti), but also
winners of the pahlavani bazoo band
armlet.
Pahlevan-e Bozorg or Bozorg Pahlavan,
literally "High-" or
"Grand Pahlavan",
approximately equivalent to the Grand
Master in Far-East Asian martial arts.
This title was only accorded to very few
pahlavans, such as Pourya-ye Vali (c.
1300) and Haj Seyyed Hasan Razaz
(1853-1941, also known as Pahlavan
Shoja'at).
Jahan Pahlavan, "World
Pahlavan", the highest rank of
Pahlavani in the Iranian army before the
Arab invasion. A title given to Rostam,
the legendary Pahlavan of Ferdowsi's
Shahnameh. The contemporary Gholamreza
Takhti is another Pahlavan who is given
this title.
Although Hossein Reza Zadeh is not a
wrestler but also a heavy Weightlifter,
but in In 2002 he was voted as the
"Champion of Champions"
("Ghahremaan ghahremanan") of
Iran.
Renowned Pahlavans include:
Early Period (651-1450):
Abu Moslem-e Khorasani
Yaghub-e Layth
Babak khorramdin
Asad Kermani
Abdul Razagh Bashtini
Shirdel Kohneh Savar
Mahmood Kharazmi (Pahlavan-e
Bozorg), was known as Pouriya-ye
Vali
Mohammad Abol-seyyed Abolkheyr
Mahmood Malani
Darvish Mohammad Khorassani
Middle Period (1450-1795):
Mirza Beyk-e Kashani
Beyk-e Khorassani
Hossein-e Kord
Mir Baqer
Jalal Yazdi
Kabir-e Esfahani (Pahlavan-e
Bozorg)
Kalb Ali Aqa Jar
Modern period (1795-):
Haj Seyyed Hasan Razaz (Pahlavan-e
Bozorg), also known as Pahlavan
Shoja'at.
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