Pahlavān Mahmoud, known in Iran as Pouryā-ye Vali (died 1322 CE), was a
pahlevani wrestling champion,
Sufi teacher and
poet
A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...
from the 14th century Iran, famous for his exceptional strength. He became the patron saint of the city of
Khiva
Khiva ( uz-Latn-Cyrl, Xiva, Хива, ; other names) is a district-level city of approximately 93,000 people in Khorazm Region, Uzbekistan. According to archaeological data, the city was established around 2,500 years ago.
In 1997, Khiva celebr ...
, in
Uzbekistan
, image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg
, image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg
, symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem
, national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...
.
Biography
Pahlawan Mahmud lived during the years of Mongol rule over Central Asia. He achieved great fame at the time both as a professional wrestler and as a poet-philosopher. Above all, he is said to have been a high-ranking Sufi teacher.
A special feature of Pahlavan Mahmoud's school (Zurkhaneh) was the education of the students' minds through the martial art of wrestling, a discipline with which he made a name for himself as far away as Central Asia and India. In Persian as well as in Old Uzbek (Chagatay) and Hindi, the word ''Pahlavan'' /پهلوان (other spelling Palvan/پلوان) became a synonym for a wrestler, hero, or champion.
After his death he was venerated as a saint in Persia and Central Asia. In Iran, the nickname Pouryā-ye Vali has been attributed to Pahlavān Mahmoud.
One legend says that the location of his tomb is in
Khoy
Khoy (, ) is a city in the Central District (Khoy County), Central District of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan province, West Azerbaijan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Occupied since Medes, Median times, ...
of
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
, but another legends says that Pahlavān Mahmoud was buried in his own workshop in
Khiva
Khiva ( uz-Latn-Cyrl, Xiva, Хива, ; other names) is a district-level city of approximately 93,000 people in Khorazm Region, Uzbekistan. According to archaeological data, the city was established around 2,500 years ago.
In 1997, Khiva celebr ...
, Uzbekistan, which was transformed into the
Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum.
Literature
Among his works was a book titled ''Kanz ol-Haghayegh'' (literally The Treasure of Truths) in Persian. A couplet from him which is sung in
Zourkhaneh, is:
افتادگی آموز اگر طالب فیضی
هرگز نخورد آب زمینی که بلند است
Pronunciation:
oftādegi āmooz agar tālebe feyzi,
hargez nakhorad āb zamini ke boland ast
Literal translation:
Learn modesty if you desire knowledge,
A high land would never be irrigated
See also
*
Pahlevanan
*
Pahlevani and zoorkhaneh rituals
References
Iranian male sport wrestlers
1322 deaths
Year of birth unknown
Iranian folklore
14th-century Iranian writers
{{Iran-wrestling-bio-stub