A visit to a different side of Iraq, 'the beginning of the universe'

[bigtree]

LALISH, IRAQ – In Northern Iraq there is a place called Lalish where the Yezidis say the universe was born. I drove south from Dohok on snowy roads through an empty land, seemingly to the ends of the earth, and found it nestled among cold hills.

Yezidis are ancient fire-worshippers. They heavily influenced Zoroastrianism, and in turn have been heavily influenced by Sufi Islam. The temple at Lalish is their “Mecca.” Hundreds of thousands of remaining Yezidis – those Kurds who refused to submit to Islam – make pilgrimages there at least once in their lifetimes from all over the Middle East and Europe.

A small conical monument sits in a courtyard in the center of Lalish. It represents heaven and earth. The round knob at the top is the sun. Inside the cone are seven layers. Supposedly there are seven layers in the earth. “Science proves this,” my Yezidi guide said. A candle representing the life force of the universe burns inside.

Candles are placed in wind-protected altars all around Lalish. The Yezidis keep the flames burning forever. Without fire, they say, all life would be extinguished.

[madrchsod]

1. makes you wonder

doesn`t it? here is one of the founding sites of all western religions...i also bookmarked the website in your profile.

[bigtree]

2. that's cool. I started it as a neutral resource for returning soldiers

when the invasion began.

It evolved into an activist page as the madness increased. I'm back to posting articles and stuff, mostly for my own head, and to have a spot to feature my vanity, my writing.

I love finding folks who are in touch with their origins, paying homage to their existence on this planet.

Thanks for looking in.