The Manifestation of Shiite Beliefs of Āshūrā Contents in Inscriptions of Holly Shrines in Gilan

Diffusion of the Shiite culture and beliefs throughout history among various regions and peoples of Iran has covered different paths. In Gilan, because of government of Diālama and Āl-e Kia, the growth and diffusion of Shiite beliefs among the peoples of the region has been more long-lasting and deeper. One of the most prominent Shiite symbols is the incident of Karbala, an incident among the deepest and the most disastrous religious incidents in human history. The reflection of this incident in Shiite societies has been variously found throughout history.In the manifestation of their Shiite interests, the people of Gilan would gather in holy shrines of Imams’ children and those of Sayyids to implore the Prophet’s Household while holding Shiite rites in those places. Besides, to protect the epic of Āshūrā, they would inscribe the themes of this great incidence on the walls of those shrines. The Shi’as of the region would regard the disaster of Karbala as their own disaster, attempting to display it in their paintings. These inscriptions are the instances of respecting the one buried there as well as restating the pure beliefs of the people. This tradition of drawing portraits on the walls of holy shrines is an old tradition with two centuries of antiquity. Dealing with religious themes of the everlasting epic of Āshūrā in inscriptions of holy shrines has been done with love and affection towards them, without any historical documentation. Here, the emotional aspects have been dealt with. The inscriptions have had a sacred dimension, with an effective role in nurturing their Shiite beliefs and their traditional rites.The present article is emphasizing the fact that reflection of Āshūrā’s themes in inscriptions of holy shrines shows those people’s affection towards and their belief in the Prophet’s Households as well as its effect on the Shiite beliefs of Gilan’s people. Most of the inscriptions can be evaluated with a symbolic and mythological view of the people since they are related to the folklore of the Shiite culture.