The Study and Analysis of Simorgh Manifestation in Mystical Text by Reference to Attar’s Conference of Birds and Rumi’s Masnavi

By means of an examination of tales and legends among different nations, one can find out about similar elements and characteristics that are liable to be studied from different perspectives. Simorgh, as one of the recurrent emblems in Persian literary works, is noteworthy and its presence in Iranian culture dates back to pre-Islamic era. The first presence of this legendary bird had been in epic and then in mystic literature of Iran, and poets such as Ferdowsi, Attar, Rumi, Sa’adi and Hafez have depicted it in their works. In Shahnameh it has a divine-demonic, and in later mystic works it has a spiritual manifestation that reveals such mysteries as immortality, existence unity, and absolute essence. With respect to what already mentioned, this article aims at exploring the different aspects of this mythical bird through studying two Persian masterpieces – Masnavi and Conference of Birds – to reveal its mythical and mystical character.