The Sufi Whirling Dervishes - Istanbul, Turkey
The Sufi Whirling Dervishes - Istanbul, Turkey
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David's Been Here is in Istanbul, Turkey, exploring all the top sites and cultural attractions of the city. In this video, David presents one of the most popular and interesting parts of the Turkish Culture, the amazing Whirling Dervishes. A Sufi practice, this spinning action is used as a physical form of meditation and worship that dates back over 800 years. A mystical and beautiful site to experience, head to the Galata Museum in Istanbul to see this incredible form of religious worship first hand.
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My name is David Hoffmann and for the last decade I have been traveling around the world in search of unique culture, food and history! Since starting Davidsbeenhere in 2008, I have traveled to 71 countries and over 1,000 destinations, which I welcome you to check out on my YouTube Channel, blog and social medias.
I focus a great deal on food and historic sites, as you probably have seen! I love to experience the different flavors that each destination has to offer, whether it’s casual Street food or gourmet restaurant dining. I’m also passionate about learning the local history and culture.
The Sufi Whirling Dervishes - Istanbul, Turkey
Davidsbeenhere
Whirling Dervishes - Istanbul, Turkey
Want to encounter one of the world's most mesmerizing and mystical experiences? Head to Istanbul, Turkey with David's Been Here, where the amazing Whirling Dervishes spin themselves into a meditative trance. Part of the Sufi path of Islam, this whirling tradition dates back hundreds of years and is a must see experience for anyone spending some time in Turkey. Though an extremely serious religious practice, this form of meditation can be viewed by the public and is a fantastic cultural experience in Istanbul. For more information on viewing the Whirling Dervishes, check out the David's Been Here Guide to Istanbul, now available for your Kindle as well.
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SEND ME STUFF:
5858 SW 81 ST
Miami, FL 33143
USA
#Davidsbeenhere
About Me:
My name is David Hoffmann and for the last decade I have been traveling around the world in search of unique culture, food and history! Since starting Davidsbeenhere in 2008, I have traveled to 71 countries and over 1,000 destinations, which I welcome you to check out on my YouTube Channel, blog and social medias.
I focus a great deal on food and historic sites, as you probably have seen! I love to experience the different flavors that each destination has to offer, whether it’s casual Street food or gourmet restaurant dining. I’m also passionate about learning the local history and culture.
Whirling Dervishes - Istanbul, Turkey
Davidsbeenhere
Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul
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achillea.net
On July 26 & 27 2014, Achillea presented the Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul for two magical performances at the Mövenpick Hotel Beirut, Marina Marquee at 9 PM. Composed of 5 whirling dervishes and 7 musicians, the Turkish troupe offered a memorable ceremony in the great tradition of the Mevlevi Order founder and Persian poet Rumi.
Sufi whirling is a form of physically active meditation practiced by the Whirling Dervishes of the Mevlevi Order. This traditional practice enables the dervishes to reach perfection and unity with the universe. They spin their bodies in a repetitive spiral flow, a symbolic imitation of the atoms, planets and galaxies in perpetual motion. Founded by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, the practice of Mevlevi Sema Ceremony is classified as an intangible world heritage by Unesco. Rumi was a Persian poet, an Islamic jurist and theologian from the 13th century.
The Mevlevi Sema Ceremony was a captivating spiritual journey, a one-of-a-kind experience.
Achillea would like to thank the sponsors that helped making this event a success:
Future TV
Al Mustaqbal newspaper
NRJ/Nostalgie radio
Advanced Car
Café Abi Nasr
Kellogg’s
Credit Libanais
Société de coopération pour la fabrication et la commercialisation des produits agricoles – Erkay Liban
SUFI DANCE OF WHIRLING DERVISHES IN ISTANBUL TURKEY
Sufi whirling (or Sufi spinning) is a form of Sama or physically active meditation which originated among Sufis, and which is still practiced by the Sufi Dervishes of the Mevlevi order. It is a customary dance performed within the Sema, or worship ceremony, through which dervishes (also called semazens) aim to reach the source of all perfection, or kemal. This is sought through abandoning one's nafs, egos or personal desires, by listening to the music, focusing on God, and spinning one's body in repetitive circles, which has been seen as a symbolic imitation of planets in the Solar System orbiting the sun. As explained by Sufis
In the symbolism of the Sema ritual, the semazen's camel's hair hat (sikke) represents the tombstone of the ego; his wide, white skirt (tennure) represents the ego's shroud. By removing his black cloak (hırka), he is spiritually reborn to the truth. At the beginning of the Sema, by holding his arms crosswise, the semazen appears to represent the number one, thus testifying to God's unity. While whirling, his arms are open: his right arm is directed to the sky, ready to receive God's beneficence; his left hand, upon which his eyes are fastened, is turned toward the earth. The semazen conveys God's spiritual gift to those who are witnessing the Sema. Revolving from right to left around the heart, the semazen
embraces all humanity with love. The human being has been created with love in order to love. Mevlâna Jalâluddîn Rumi says, All loves are a bridge to Divine love. Yet, those who have not had a taste of it do not know!
A dervish practices multiple rituals, the primary of which is the dhikr, a remembering of Allah. The dhikr involves recitation of devotional Islamic prayer. This dhikr is coupled with physical exertions of movement, specifically dancing and whirling, in order to reach a state assumed by outsiders to be one of ecstatic trances Among the Mevlevi order, the practice of dhikr is performed in a traditional dress: a tennure, a sleeveless white frock, the destegul, a long sleeved jacket, a belt, and a black overcoat or khirqa to be removed before the whirling begins. As the ritual dance begins, the dervish dons a felt cap, a sikke, in addition to a turban wrapped around the head, a trademark of the Mevlevi order.
The sheikh leads the ritual with strict regulations. To begin,The sheikh stands in the most honored corner of the dancing place, and the dervishes pass by him three times, each time exchanging greetings, until the circling movement starts. The rotation itself is on the left foot, the center of the rotation being the ball of the left foot and the whole surface of the foot
staying in contact with the floor. The impetus for the rotation is provided by the right foot, in a full 360-degree step. If a dervish should become too enraptured, another Sufi, who is in charge of the orderly performance, will gently touch his frock in order to curb his movement, The dance of the dervishes is one of the most impressive features of the mystical life in Islam, and the music accompanying it is of exquisite beauty, beginning with the great hymn in honor of the Prophet (na't-i sharif, written by Jalaluddin himself) and ending with short, enthusiastic songs, some things sung in Turkish.
Mevlevi Order
The Mawlaw'īyya / Mevlevi Order, or the Mevlevilik / Mevleviye is a Sufi order founded in Konya (then capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate) by the followers of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic jurist, and theologian. They are also known as the Whirling Dervishes due to their famous practice of whirling as a form of dhikr (remembrance of God). Dervish is a common term for an initiate of the Sufi path; the whirling is part of the formal Sama ceremony and the participants are properly known as semazen-s.
In 2005, UNESCO proclaimed the The Mevlevi Sema Ceremony of Turkey as amongst the
Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
The Mawlawi believe in performing their dhikr in the form of a dance and musical ceremony known as the Sama, which involves the whirling, from which the order acquired its nickname. The Sema represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to the Perfect. Turning towards the truth, the follower grows through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth, and arrives at the Perfect. He then returns from this spiritual journey as a man who has reached maturity and a greater perfection, able to love and to be of service to the whole of creation.
Rumi has said in reference to Sema:
For them it is the Sema
of this world and the other.
Even more for the circle of dancers
within the Sema
Who turn and have, in their midst,
their own Ka'aba.
Viking Oceans: Turkey's Whirling Dervishes
Dating from the thirteenth century, the Sema ritual performed by the Semezens from the Mevlevi Order of Whirling Dervishes is a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Learn more at
ISTANBUL: Traditional OTTOMAN (TURKISH) DANCING (WHIRLING DERVISHES) ????
SUBSCRIBE: - Traditional Turkish dancing, Istanbul (Turkey). Istanbul is a major city in Turkey that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. Its Old City reflects cultural influences of the many empires that once ruled here. In the Sultanahmet district, the open-air, Roman-era Hippodrome was for centuries the site of chariot races, and Egyptian obelisks also remain. The iconic Byzantine Hagia Sophia features a soaring 6th-century dome and rare Christian mosaics.
Turkey is a nation straddling eastern Europe and western Asia with cultural connections to ancient Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Cosmopolitan Istanbul, on the Bosphorus Strait, is home to the iconic Hagia Sophia, with its soaring dome and Christian mosaics, the massive 17th-century Blue Mosque and the circa-1460 Topkapı Palace, former home of sultans. Ankara is Turkey’s modern capital.
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The Sufi Whirling Dervishes - Istanbul, Turkey
Turkey - Istanbul Sufi Dance meditations
Sufi whirling (or Sufi spinning) is a form of Sama or physically active meditation which originated among Sufis, and which is still practiced by the Sufi Dervishes of the Mevlevi order. It is a customary dance performed within the Sema, or worship ceremony, through which dervishes (also called semazens) aim to reach the source of all perfection, or kemal. This is sought through abandoning one's nafs, egos or personal desires, by listening to the music, focusing on God, and spinning one's body in repetitive circles, which has been seen as a symbolic imitation of planets in the Solar System orbiting the sun.[1] As explained by Sufis:[2]
Sufi Dance in Istanbul
Sufi Whirling Dance - Turkish Dervish
Sufi Whirling Dance Turkish Dervish Turkish Mawlawia.
Dating from the thirteenth century, the Sema ritual performed by the Semezens from the Mevlevi Order of Whirling Dervishes is a UNESCO Masterpiece of the .
The Sufi Whirling Dervishes - Istanbul, Turkey ▻Subscribe and click the bell to enable notifications for my new videos: ▻Read the blog: .
Sufi whirling (or Sufi spinning) is a form of Sama or physically active meditation which originated among Sufis, and which is still practiced by the Sufi Dervishes .
Dervishe Dance is a beautiful Spiritual Practice, a meditation, a mystical journey of spiritual ascent through mind to God's Love. It originated amongst Sufis and it .
Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul, Turkey
Doin' the Dirty Dervish!
The Sufi Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul
The Mevlevi Lodge of Dervishes in Istanbul performing the whirling meditation called SEMA. The fellow who stands on stage and does not move is the master.
Whirling Dervishes
Whirling Dervish performance, Istanbul, May 28, 2013, Orient Express Train Station
The Whirling Dervishes - Dancing to Get Closer to God
While performing a Sufi dance, the whirling dervishes are steered by rhythmic chanting as they seek to become one with Allah.
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Whirling Dervishes, Istanbul
at Musica Sacra International Marktoberdorf 1992; modfestivals.org
Whirling Dervishes
Excerpts from a Sama, or Whirling Dervish Ceremony performed at the Mevlevihanesi, or Mevlevi Sufi Lodge at Galata in Istanbul on 18 December 2012.
The Sama and the Mevlevi Sufi Order both originate with Sufi Master Jalaluddin Rumi (known in the West simply as Rumi, and by Muslims as Mevlana which means Master). He was born in northern Afghanistan in 1207, but lived for most of his life in Konya, in central Anatolia in what is now Turkey. He died there in 1273, and his tomb in Konya is now a centre of Muslim pilgrimage.
Rumi was already an eminent Islamic scholar and preacher when, at the age of 32, he encountered a wandering Sufi dervish, Shams of Tabriz, who inspired his mystical awakening. Following this he became a prolific mystical writer and poet with the best known collection of his sacred poems called the Masnavi.
He also founded the Mevlevi Sufi Order that spread throughout the Ottoman Empire under the aegis of several Ottoman Sultans. Its central ritual is the elaborate Sama, best known for its whirling.
As the wonderful book 'Rumi and His Sufi Path of Love' edited by Turkish scholars M. Fatih Citlak and Huseyin Bingul explains, the word 'sama' is an Arabic word denoting a variety of meanings, such as listening, paying attention, lending an ear, the statement heard, good reputation, and remembrance....it has been the name given to listening to the musical melodies, falling deep into ecstasy, moving arbitrarily to the sound, and to the standing dhikr (remembrance of God) performed by sufis amid a cyclone of rapture.
All elements of the Sama, the music, the dress of the participants, their gestures and movements are rich in symbolism. For instance their conical hat, called a sikka, symbolizes the tombstone of the self. All the symbols deal with big universal spiritual ideas and concepts.
As the aforementioned book explains, the dervishes rotate around the area, akin to how the planets rotate around themselves and around the Sun. The idea of the sama is itself an expression of the composition of the universe, and within it man's resurrection, his movement triggered by the love of God, and his inclination towards the Universal Man, or Insan-i Kamil, by virtue of realizing his servanthood.
Whirling dervishes istanbul Turkey
Sufi whirling is a form of Sama or physically active meditation which originated among Sufis, and which is still practiced by the Sufi Dervishes of the Mevlevi order and other orders such as the Rifa'i-Marufi.kemal. This is sought through abandoning one's nafs, egos or personal desires, by listening to the music, focusing on God, and spinning one's body in repetitive circles, which has been seen as a symbolic imitation of planets in the Solar System orbiting the sun.
Whirling Dervishes - Istanbul Turkey
The Whirling Dervishes - Istanbul, Turkey
The Mevlevi are also known as the Whirling Dervishes due to their famous practice of whirling as a form of dhikr (remembrance of God)
Whirling Dervishes, Istanbul Turkey
Footage of whirling dervishes taken at the Istanbul train station in autumn 2006.
Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul, Turkey
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Recorded at a Mevlevi Order ceremony/performance organized by Les Arts Turcs ( Because of a funeral, the location was different from their usual venue.
The first half was recorded with an HTC Sensation and the second half with a Samsung Tab 2.
Whirling Dervishes - Istanbul 2011
To the dervishes, whirling is a ritual to harmonize with the natural process of revolving in matter and spirit.
dervishes03.mp4