Sufism is the innate connection with oneself that paves the way for the divine connection in the outer realm. There are many ways to come in close proximity to the Almighty, and each culture and religion has its own understanding. In this branch of Islam, dance is one such way to find shelter in the abode of God, which is in the form of the whirling dervish dance known as Sema, practiced by the Sufi Mevlevi Order.
Origins
The Mevlevi Order founder was the renowned poet Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi (popularly referred to as Rumi) in 1273. Rumi formed a spiritual friendship with Shams-e Tabrizi, who showed him the true meaning of divine love. He introduced him to music, poetry, and dance as a form of love for God, and this artistic expression became the central point of the whirling dervishes. This distinct dance, which has its own rituals and practices, was created by Rumi and now has been embedded in the culture of Turkey, where it is still performed.
Significance
This metamorphic dance has been included in UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. While many believe it to be a cultural performance for tourists, the Sema is more than that. For the artist performing it, it is not merely an act of performance but a way to pay their pilgrimage to God through their deep meditative state, which is truly spellbinding to watch. They prepare for hours and spend their lives perfecting this dance with utmost devotion.
Filled with symbolism, each element is connected to the history and culture of the time gone by as it urges us to embrace the beauty of deep bonds. Clad in a white robe, a red Rumi hat, and a black cloak, each element symbolizes something very ritualistic and thoughtful. The semazen’s (the person performing the dance) white robe symbolizes their burial shrouds and the egos of the dervishes. The hat represents the person’s sect or the tombstone of the ego. The black cloak is the dirt of the worldly attachment, but once it is removed, it means that they have let go of those attachments and stepped on the spiritual rebirth.
The Dervish Dance
Usually performed in a traditional dome-shaped building, the dance begins with the singing of the Nat-i Serif, which is a soulful eulogy to the Prophet Muhammad and all the Prophets before him. Then, the drumbeats are played, which means the creation of the universe is according to God’s command. Next, Taksim, which is an improvisation on the reed flute, is performed, which expresses the life-giving breath of God.
Then the Derv-i Veled (Sultan Veled procession) happens in which the semazen makes a circular motion but only thrice, which symbolizes the three stages of knowledge. These are knowledge given by others, through the person’s observations and lastly, through personal experience.
Once the procession is done, the semazen starts the ritualistic Sema, which has four segments and a unique rhythm and meaning attached. Taking circles from right to left with the right hand open towards the sky symbolizes the connection with God. The left hand is placed downwards towards the earth, which is meant as a symbol of God’s kindness and contribution to humanity. The dancer’s eyes are open or closed depending on the person. Along with this, the swoosh of the large conical skirt, which twirls in a circular motion, makes this dance very striking to the eyes.
Their faces are drenched in divine love as the calmness washes over their sense, which is truly a sight to behold. A common man would fall with dizziness with such fast spinning, but defying all laws of gravity, the semazen’s direct connection forms a thread of love which does not make them tumble but delves into this unflinching feeling of pure devotion to the Almighty as the ultimate sign of unity.
