The reasons and effects of the spread of the Pandnameh (attributed to Attar) in Bosnia

The spread of the Persian language and literature among non-Persian speakers depended on different factors in each period and area. One such example is the spread of the Pandnameh among Bosnian people. The Pandnameh, a book misattributed to Attar, enjoyed high esteem in Bosnia for about four centuries. It was included in the official educational system, followers of various Sufi orders read and learned it, and people of different social backgrounds were interested in it. The main question of this paper is why the Pandnameh – the book that does not belong among the best works of Persian literature – was for a long time popular in Bosnian cultural and educational context along with the greatest works of Persian literature such as the Masnavi, Golestan and Hafez's Divan. By examining all forms of its presence in the Balkans, particularly in Bosnia, the authors conclude that various factors contributed to the spread of the Pandnameh in Bosnia. Those factors include the simple language of expression, lack of literary embellishments, a good reputation among Ottoman poets, as well as the book’s significant place in the Ottoman educational system and importance of Sufism in the Ottoman culture generally.