In the opening Day of Shams festival in Khoy

Hesamadin Seraj the Iranian famous vocalist was on the scene with his new performance in the opening ceremony of Shams festival in Khoy.

In the Opening Ceremony:

" The Celebration of Shams-e-Tabrizi is the historical Day for West-Azarbayjan and Khoy city". Dr.Yagoobi,
(Vice- Ministery of Interior)

Poems of Mawlana

I am Only the House of Your Beloved

"I am only the house of your beloved,
not the beloved herself:
true love is for the treasure,
not for the coffer that contains it."
The real beloved is that one who is unique,
who is your beginning and your end.
When you find that one,
you'll no longer expect anything else:
that is both the manifest and the mystery.
That one is the lord of states of feeling,
dependent on none;
month and year are slaves to that moon.
When he bids the "state,"
it does His bidding;
when that one wills, bodies become spirit.

First Meeting of Mawlana with Shams

Shams-e- Tabrizi and Rumi's Meeting

Rumi's first meeting with Shams-i Tabrizi that turned him literally upside down,because of the mystical shock he experienced in his first encounter with a man gifted with extraordinary esoteric powers on the path of ' Salook' (a measure of nearness to God )-- the goal of all mystics-achieved through completely submitting 'self" (nafs) to the Most High to the point where it starts mirroring in its purified depth the reflection of the powers of the Most High. Rumi, in his late thirtees was a jurist of the first order with accomplishments in religious sciences, including Quran, tradition and fiqh and was leading a loyal Muslim community in Konya in Eastern Iran (called Khorasan then), now Turkey. His fame as a theophosopher, it appears had travelled beyond his area to Damascus and Allepo, two major centers of learning where Rumi had also travelled to fulfil the academic requirements of a Faqih or Jurist. He had, it appears, attained an honorable position among his peers. But there was a certain feeling of unfulfilment, disquiet, an emptiness, an appetite, a craving, a yearning, a desperate need to go beyond the worldly state, to the world unknown, the world beyond, the higher hemisphere, the domain of the Most High that even angels fear to tread. He knew he could not do it alone. He was in need of a spiritual Guide, a Mentor, skilled in the metaphysics of the intended ' space travel ' , a consummate pilot who can help navigate this flight into the higher realms of existence. Shams Tabriz, a man in early sixties, having accomplished himself in religious sciences had studied under different teachers in Tabriz. He had however epitomized his skills on the path of ' salook ' under the affectionate tutelage of an accomplished teacher and a great mystic of the time, known as Baba Kamal Jundi. He secluded himself for years with him, praying in ' chillas ' ( a mystic exercise, praying for 40 days in total seclusion, seeking His Grace). It was Baba Kamal who had predicted to Shams, when he told him that he had a lot on his chest which he could not adequately express in words, that he was soon to meet a person who will become his ' tongue ' , ( his alter-ego ). Led by a dream, Shams set out on a journey to Allepo and then to Koniya where he finally discovered the pal he had been looking for. The legend goes that Rumi was sitting by the water ( a pond) with his students and a pile of books when Shams walked in as a wayfarer with dishevelled hair, After greetings, he asked Rumi pointing to the books (manuscripts) what was it. Rumi answered interrogatively ' what would you know ? ' The visitor reached for the the pile of books and threw them in the water. These were Rumi's hand written manuscripts and he was greatly upset by the unexpected rage of the unknown man. Shams bent down to the water, restoring the pile of books with no sign of water on them. A bewildered Rumi managed to ask, " what was it ? " and Shams answered him back in Runi's own words, " What would you know " and left. That was it. Rumi threw away his religious raimant and his hat chasing Shams. He found him at the house of one Salahuddin Zarkob where he went in total seclusion in a room for six months. Only Salahuddin was allowed to go in. Rumi came out a totally changed person. He danced around reciting poetry in Persian. Another version regarding the first encounter of Shams and Rumi relates to the verbal exchange that happened, when an old darvish stopped Rumi on his the way to the mosque and abruptly asked him: " tell me, who is greater Ba-Yazid Bastami or Mohammad(s)? " Rumi's answer was obvious.Mohammad(s) is the best among God's creation,how can you compare him to Ba-Yazid who was only a scholar ? Shams replied: The Prophet says" Ma arafnak-e haggah marefetek" i.e. I am incapable of knowing You(God) the way You deserve it, whereas Ba-Yazid declares " Sobhani maa aazaama shaeni"? (Oh what I have achieved in knowing Him!). Rumi, who was essentiallay a man of Sharia at the time wondered and asked Shams to provide the answer. Shams added :The difference is on account of each person's capacity. Mohammad (s) had an unlimited capacity to drink from the river of Ma'arefat (gnosis or knowing God), but Ba-Yazid had yet drank only a glass of that ' wine '. Shams-i Tabrizi's answer to the question overwhelmed Rumi and leaving his disciples, he pursued the visitor to one Salahuddin' house.They went in isolation for forty days; Mowlana Jalal uddin Rumi was transformed during this period. This was in 1244 AD. Shams stayed with him for less than two years when upset by the hostility of Rumi's disciples, spearheaded by Rumi's own son, Alauddin , one day Shams left unannounced. Rumi was greatly upset by this separation. He danced around spaontaneously uttering verses in ' firaq ' (separation) with his Master, his students recording the muse. This valuable wealth of mystic poetry, about 50,000 vreses, are preserved in the form of what is known as Divan-e Shams Tabriz ( Rumi uses Shams as nom de plume in the poem, not mentioning his name anywhere,such was his sense of identification with the teacher, to total annihilation of himself, to reach a complete 'ittesal' (merger) with his Murshid (spiritiual Mentor). When he learnt that he was seen in Damscus (Syria), he sent out his son, Sultan Valed with a letter and regrets and repentance of his entourage begging him to return. Shams returned to Koniya and was received with great respect. The mystic meetings resumed, Shams-e Tabriz often sharing his profound thoughts and vision with Shams and his disciples. The jealousy and anger,however, resurfaced soon among Rumi's disciples, the jurists (mullas) of the town also joining hands with them this time. And Shams left one day suddenly without leaving a trace behind. That put Rumi in a mystic frenzy. He danced around in the street, the madresa and the gardens uttering spontaneous songs that led to his holding regular 'Sama' (dancing prayer) meetings with his disciples joining him ( now known as the dance of the whirling dervishes). In the beginning, Rumi always addresses Shams-i Tabriz but eventually in his spiritual quest for the lost companion, he annihilates himself and finds Shams in himself; in his later poetry, it is Shams who is talking (true to the prediction of Baba Kamal), thus Rumi becoming an extension of Shams, his alter-ego. This a fascinating story of two of the greatest human beings who ever inhabited this planet earth !

Shams Shrine in Khoy

"Definitely Shams of Tabriz is lying in the earth of the ancient

3 thousand years old and cultured city of Khoy. Therefore it is necessary to revive his shrine and honor his grave as a great Iranian mystic,"

Shams of Tabriz (Persian, Shams-e-Tabrizi) who is estimated to have died at 1248 AD was an Iranian Sufi mystic born in the city of Tabriz in Iran. He is responsible for initiating Mawlana Jala ad-din Mohammad Rumi, usually known as Rumi in the West, into Islamic mysticism, and is immortalized by Rumi's poetry collection)"The Works of Shams of Tabriz" (Persian, Divane Shamse Tabrizi). Shams lived together with Rumi in Konya, in present-day Turkey, for several years, and is also known to have travelled to Damascus in present-day Syria.
After several years with Rumi, Shams vanished from the pages of history quite suddenly. Although it is not known what became of him after his departure from Rumi, his gravesite is in a remote region of the Karakorams in Northern Pakistan at a place called Ziarat not far from the village of Shimshall. Rumi's love for Shams, and his bereavement at his death, found expression in an outpouring of music, dance, and lyric poems. Rumi himself left Konya and went out searching for Shams, journeying as far as Damascus before realizing that Shams and himself were, in fact, "one and the same"
As the years passed, Rumi attributed more and more of his own poetry to Shams as a sign of love for his departed friend and master. Indeed, it quickly becomes clear in reading Rumi that Shams was elevated to a symbol of God's love for mankind, and that Shams was a sun ("Shams" is Arabic for "sun") shining the Light of God on Rumi.

Shams Shrine in Khoy-Iran

Shams-e Tabrizi Tomb in Khoy Becomes Tourism Feature

Shams-e Tabrizi Tower in Khoy, West Azarbaijan provinceChairman of Khoy Islamic City Council proposed that the tomb of Shams-e Tabrizi, the guru of the great Iranian poet Molana Jalaleddin Rumi, be turned into an international tourism and cultural complex.Gholam Ali Sharif told IRNA that the tomb of the great Iranian Sufi mystic located in Khoy’s Imamzadeh district is capable of turning into a key tourism destination for culture lovers and boosting the northwestern city’s economy.The official highlighted that Shams-e Tabrizi is an internationally known personality, especially due to key role he played in inspiring Rumi and driving him into Islamic mysticism.He called for official support to convert the tomb into a tourism-wooing memorial venue.Some 300 million rials has been spent on restoration and revival of Shams-e Tabrizi Tower in the current year (started March 21). Shams-e Tabrizi Tower registered on National Heritage List is situated in northwest of the city. The tower was constructed during the reign of Safavid King Ismail I (1502-1524).The cylindrical building has a height of 12 meters. Within the structure lays the old gravestone of Shams-e Tabrizi. The border city of Khoy with a population of 356,000 is located 130 km to the north of Orumiyeh, the capital of West Azarbaijan province. Shams-e-Tabrizi was born in Tabriz, East Azarbaijan. He is immortalized by Rumi’s poetry collection Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi. Shams lived with Rumi in Qonya, in present-day Turkey, for several years.A few years later, Shams disappeared unexpectedly. Whatever became of him was never known. It is generally believed that he was murdered by one or more of Rumi’s associates, or perhaps even his son. The mysterious circumstances of Shams’ disappearance and the alleged involvement of members of Rumi’s inner circle lead many to think that they were envious of their teacher’s devotion to Shams. Rumi’s love for Shams, and his bereavement at his disappearance, found expression in an outpouring of lyric poems.