Undesirable Relationship between Alborz and TehranA phenomenological Study ofAlborz Mountains’ Meanings in the Minds of Tehran’s Residents

Mountains have been the sources of blessing and mercy for human beings since long ago. In ancient civilizations, most of the religious rituals were held on top of the mountains because they were considered as the closest place to the sky and the position of the gods. Moreover, living in the mountain has been a sign of detaching from the earthly belongings and attaching to the otherworldly interests. But, due to geographical reasons, the mountain has been of greater importance for Iranians. Mountains’ being the source of water has been the most important function for the Iranians and, additionally, their defensive and sustenance-provisioning functions and pleasant weather and other contextual functions have caused these mountains to have mental meanings for Iranians apart from being objective and contextual elements. To Iranians, the mountain is a center and a symbol of paradise and Iranians used to engage in worship in the mountains; in various historical epochs, mountains have always been praised by Iranians. But, with the pass of time and entry of religion and modernity in two historical stages, the importance and functions of this historical-natural element have been reduced for Iranians. We are currently witnessing that the reduction in the mountains’ functions and their importance in the people’s lives have led to the decrease of their significance in the minds of the people residing the piedmonts of Alborz in such a way that, despite a great many of emphases in the scientific studies and comprehensive urban plans, Tehran’s residents cannot presently enjoy the blessings and advantages of their northern mountains and they have also become indifferent to the destruction of them. The authors of the present study believe that these mountains currently have numerous meanings in the minds of the people from Tehran but these meanings are not so accentuated to render Tehran’s residents sensitive to the destruction of and abuse to the mountain and, in general, this issue is not currently a priority and a demand for the people of Tehran. Thus, the present research paper aims at finding the mental meanings of Alborz in people’s minds through the use of a phenomenological study. The findings will be subjected to theme analysis based on hierarchical categorization according to the theories by King, Ryan, and Bernard.