PEACE VOICES RISING FROM GALATA

Sema symbolising a going and return, a spiritual voyage to the perfection is a salutation from the secret brave men in the heart. This voyage composed of seven parts embraces with love and affection all humanity, all living creatures by turning from right to left around the heart. 

Galata Mevlevi Music and Sema Group from Galata Mevlevihane organising sema ceremonies fulfills its mission of peace representative thanks to the shows held on the whole world. The group organising a sema ceremony and conversation meeting to the honour of the Queen of Spain in the past years took part in the activities of “World Aid Committee to the Helpless Children” arranged  by UNESCO in Brussels. 

I WAS RAW (İMMATURE), I WAS COOKED, I WAS BURNT UP 

Mevlana was born in the city of Belh on September 30, 1207; his father was “the Sultan of Scholars” Bahaeddin Veled and his mother was Mümine Hatun, the daughter of Rükneddin who was the chief of Belh. Escaping the Mongol invasion, the family went to Karaman and then settled in Konya upon the invitation of Alaeddin Keykubad, the ruler of Seljuk State enjoying its heyday at that time. When his father passed away in 1231, his followers saw Mevlana who became a prominent religious scholar as his heir and his sermons at İplikçi Madrasah have been attracting big crowds. Mevlana met Şems-i Tebriz whom he saw as his “soul mate” and his life transformed completely; following this transformation, he summarizes his life with the following words: “I was raw (immature), I was cooked, I was burnt up”. 

MOVEMENT OF THE UNIVERSE

Sema symbolising a going and return, a spiritual voyage to the perfection is a salutation from the secret brave men in the heart.

This voyage composed of seven parts embraces with love and affection all humanity, all living creatures by turning from right to left around the heart. While turning, the right hand is turned up towards heaven and his left hand to the earth. Thus “he receives from God and he gives to people”.

• First part: In the part of “Nat’t-ı Şerif”, our Prophet and all other prophets preceding Him and God creating all of them are praised.

• Second part; Kudum (small kettledrum) beat is heard symbolising the command of “Kün=Ol” in the creation of the universe by God.

• Third part; the melody of ney representing “breath” giving life to all creatures.

• Fourth part; the whirling dervishes salute each other three times and symbolise the salutation of the soul by a secret soul.

• Fifth part; the whirling dervish takes off his cloak and symbolically he’s born to the truth; he testifies the union of God by joining his arms to symbolise the number of “one”; he asks for permission to enter sema  by kissing the hand of Sheikh Efendi and thus he begins his sema composed of four salutations.

• Sixth part; prayers are recited from the Quran addressing to God.

• Seventh part; sema ends by reciting the Fatiha (the first chapter of the Quran) in memory of all prophets, martyrs and believers and the prayer recited for the sake of our state.