The Dabestān-e Mazāheb (Persian: دبستان مذاهب) "school of religions" is a Persian language work that examines and compares Abrahamic religions, Dharmic religions and sects of the mid-17th century Southern Eurasia. The work, whose authorship is uncertain, was probably composed in about 1655 CE. The text's title is also transliterated as Dabistān-i Mazāhib, Dabistan-e Madahib, or Dabestan-e Madaheb.
The text is best known for its chapter on the Dīn-i Ilāhī, the syncretic religion propounded by the Mughal emperor Jalāl ud-Dīn Muḥammad Akbar ("Akbar the Great") after 1581 and is possibly the most reliable account of the Ibādat Khāna discussions that led up to this.
Several manuscripts have been discovered that identifies the author as Mīr Du’l-feqār Ardestānī (also known as Mollah Mowbad). Mir Du'lfiqar is now generally accepted as the author of this work.[1]
Before these manuscripts were discovered, however, Sir William Jones identified the author as Mohsin Fani Kashmiri.[2] In 1856, a Parsi named Keykosrow b. Kāvūs claimed Khosrow Esfandiyar as the author, who was son of Azar Kayvan.[1]
Editionsedit
This work was first printed by Nazar Ashraf in a very accurate edition in movable type at Calcutta in 1809 (an offset reprint of this edition was published by Ali Asghar Mustafawi from Teheran in 1982). A lithographed edition was published by Ibrahim bin Nur Muhammad from Bombay in AH 1292 (1875). In 1877, Munshi Nawal Kishore published another Lithographed edition from Lucknow. The distinguished Persian scholar Francis Gladwin translated the chapter on the Persians into English and published it from Calcutta in 1789. A German version by E. Dalburg from Wurzburg was published in 1809. The chapter on the Raushanyas was translated into English by J. Leyden for the Asiatic Researches, xi, Calcutta. The entire work was translated into English by David Shea and Anthony Troyer under the title, The Dabistan or School of Manners (1843) in three volumes from London.[3]
The author describes that he spent time in Patna, Kashmir, Lahore, Surat and Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh). He is perceived to have been a person of great scholarship and curiosity, and extremely open-minded for the context of his time. He mentions numerous interviews with scholars of numerous faiths, which suggests that he was well connected, and so qualified to report on the Dīn-i Ilāhī.
According to The Jew in the Lotus by Rodger Kamenetz, a Dabistan was commissioned by a Mughal mystic prince, Dara Shikoh. The section on Judaism consists of translations by a Persian Jew, Sarmad Kashani, and his Hindu disciple from Sindh.[4] Walter Fischel notes:
Through the medium of the Dabistan Sarmad thus became the channel through which Jewish ideas, though with a Sufic blending, penetrated into the religious fabric of the India of his time.[5]
An English version of the Dabistan by David Shea (1843) is available at the Digital Library of India IISc.[6]
Outlineedit
The text is divided into twelve ta‘lims (chapters):
Chapter II includes one of the earliest historical account of the Sikhs.
Referencesedit
^ abFatḥ-Allāh Mojtabālī (November 10, 2011). "DABESTĀN-E MADĀHEB". Encyclopedia Iranica. ...identified the author as Mīr Du'l-feqār Ardestānī (ca. 1026-81/1617-70), better known under his pen name Mollā Mowbad or Mowbadšāh, and this attribution is now generally accepted.
^Karim Najafi Barzegar (2009–2010). "INTRODUCING A HITHERTO UNDISCOVERED COPY OF DABESTAN-E-MAZAHEB". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 70: 318–328.
^Ali, M. Athar (2008). Mughal India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 216–28. ISBN0-19-569661-1.
^Jews and Judaism at the Court of the Moghul Emperors in Medieval India, Walter J. Fischel, Proceedings of the American Academy for Jewish Research, Vol. 18, (1948 - 1949), pp. 137-177
dabestan, mazaheb, this, article, possibly, contains, original, research, please, improve, verifying, claims, made, adding, inline, citations, statements, consisting, only, original, research, should, removed, november, 2015, learn, when, remove, this, templat. This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed November 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Dabestan e Mazaheb Persian دبستان مذاهب school of religions is a Persian language work that examines and compares Abrahamic religions Dharmic religions and sects of the mid 17th century Southern Eurasia The work whose authorship is uncertain was probably composed in about 1655 CE The text s title is also transliterated as Dabistan i Mazahib Dabistan e Madahib or Dabestan e Madaheb Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great r 1556 1605 holds a Religious assembly in the Ibadat Khana House of Worship in Fatehpur Sikri the two men dressed in black are the Jesuit missionaries Rodolfo Acquaviva and Francisco Henriques Illustration to the Akbarnama miniature painting by Nar Singh c 1605 The text is best known for its chapter on the Din i Ilahi the syncretic religion propounded by the Mughal emperor Jalal ud Din Muḥammad Akbar Akbar the Great after 1581 and is possibly the most reliable account of the Ibadat Khana discussions that led up to this Contents 1 Authorship 2 Editions 3 Outline 4 References 5 External linksAuthorship editSeveral manuscripts have been discovered that identifies the author as Mir Du l feqar Ardestani also known as Mollah Mowbad Mir Du lfiqar is now generally accepted as the author of this work 1 Before these manuscripts were discovered however Sir William Jones identified the author as Mohsin Fani Kashmiri 2 In 1856 a Parsi named Keykosrow b Kavus claimed Khosrow Esfandiyar as the author who was son of Azar Kayvan 1 Editions editThis work was first printed by Nazar Ashraf in a very accurate edition in movable type at Calcutta in 1809 an offset reprint of this edition was published by Ali Asghar Mustafawi from Teheran in 1982 A lithographed edition was published by Ibrahim bin Nur Muhammad from Bombay in AH 1292 1875 In 1877 Munshi Nawal Kishore published another Lithographed edition from Lucknow The distinguished Persian scholar Francis Gladwin translated the chapter on the Persians into English and published it from Calcutta in 1789 A German version by E Dalburg from Wurzburg was published in 1809 The chapter on the Raushanyas was translated into English by J Leyden for the Asiatic Researches xi Calcutta The entire work was translated into English by David Shea and Anthony Troyer under the title The Dabistan or School of Manners 1843 in three volumes from London 3 The author describes that he spent time in Patna Kashmir Lahore Surat and Srikakulam Andhra Pradesh He is perceived to have been a person of great scholarship and curiosity and extremely open minded for the context of his time He mentions numerous interviews with scholars of numerous faiths which suggests that he was well connected and so qualified to report on the Din i Ilahi According to The Jew in the Lotus by Rodger Kamenetz a Dabistan was commissioned by a Mughal mystic prince Dara Shikoh The section on Judaism consists of translations by a Persian Jew Sarmad Kashani and his Hindu disciple from Sindh 4 Walter Fischel notes Through the medium of the Dabistan Sarmad thus became the channel through which Jewish ideas though with a Sufic blending penetrated into the religious fabric of the India of his time 5 An English version of the Dabistan by David Shea 1843 is available at the Digital Library of India IISc 6 Outline editThe text is divided into twelve ta lims chapters Chapter I Religious traditions of the Persian Sipasian Jemshaspian Samradian Khodanian Radian Shidrangian Pykerian Milanian Alarian Shidabian Akhshian Zerdushtian Zoroastrian Mazdakian Chapter II Hindus Smarti Smarta Vedanta Sankhya Jogis Yoga Saktian Shakta Vishnu Vishnu Charvakian Tarkikan Budah actually Jain and several new sects including Sanyasi Avaduta Jangama Sufi Hindus Madarian Jelalian Kakan Yogi Narayani Gosain Haridas Dadu Panthi Piara Panthi Gosain Jani Surya Makhan Chandra Bhakta Pavana Bhakta Jala Bhakta Prithivi Bhakta Manushya Bhakta Humanists Nanak Panthi Sikh Chapter III Kera Tabitian Tibetan Buddhism as learned from unsatisfactory translation Chapter IV Yahuds Jews as learned from Sufi Sarmad Kashani who was born a Jew and described himself as neither Jewish nor Muslim nor Hindu Chapter V Tarsa Christians Chapter VI Muhammedans Muslims Sonnites Sunni Shiahs Shia Akhbarin Ismailiah Ismaili Ali Ilahian Chapter VII Sadakiah founded by Musaylima a contemporary of Muhammad Chapter VIII Vahadiah Unitarians a central Asian religion founded by Vahed Mahmud Chapter IX Roshenian Roshanniya a central Asian religion founded by Pir Roshan Chapter X Ilahiah Din e Ilahi Chapter XI Wise Philosophers who studied the Hellenic tradition Chapter XII Sufiah Sufis Chapter II includes one of the earliest historical account of the Sikhs References edit a b Fatḥ Allah Mojtabali November 10 2011 DABESTAN E MADAHEB Encyclopedia Iranica identified the author as Mir Du l feqar Ardestani ca 1026 81 1617 70 better known under his pen name Molla Mowbad or Mowbadsah and this attribution is now generally accepted Karim Najafi Barzegar 2009 2010 INTRODUCING A HITHERTO UNDISCOVERED COPY OF DABESTAN E MAZAHEB Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 70 318 328 Ali M Athar 2008 Mughal India New Delhi Oxford University Press pp 216 28 ISBN 0 19 569661 1 Jews and Judaism at the Court of the Moghul Emperors in Medieval India Walter J Fischel Proceedings of the American Academy for Jewish Research Vol 18 1948 1949 pp 137 177 Kamenetz p 249 1 Archived 2011 07 19 at the Wayback Machine Dabistan ili Shkola verovanij per s anglijskogo Malimonova S A T I M 2023 External links editTranslation by Shea and Troyer at the Packard Humanities Institute also at The Dabestan e Madaheb or School of religious doctrines Copies of the text in the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dabestan e Mazaheb amp oldid 1193299868, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
