Cryptography of marine animals in Sir al-Abad SanaiA study on the allegorical and symbolic concepts of oysters, boulders, whales, fish and crabs

Symbolic Reading of Sea Animals In Sayr ul Ibad of Sana'iA Debate on allegorical meanings of Oyster, Turtle, Alligator, Fish and Crab. In his symbolic Mathnawi, Sayr ul ebad, Sana’i Ghaznavi(529) has adopted a number of sea animals allegorically. These creatures signify the Elements and Natures. Each element is related to one of four Humorals (Akhlat). Water, with its cold and humid nature, and Air with warm and humid nature, establish bad conducts in Human soul. Describing the nature of these elements, Sana’i depicted the bad conducts in form of sea animals. Oyster, Turtle, Alligator, Fish and Crab, are used symbolically to signify bad conducts of human soul. In this paper I intend to decode these symbols and expose their real meaning. Afterwards, I will indicate the deficiencies of the old commentary of this master piece of literary work.f literary workKeywords: Sanai, Sir al-Abbad, Marine animals, Mystery, Allegory.