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He
was introduced into the mystical path by a
wandering dervish, Shamsuddin of Tabriz. His love
and his bereavement for the death of Shams found
their expression in a surge of music, dance and
lyric poems, `Divani Shamsi Tabrizi'. Rumi is the
author of six volume didactic epic work, the
`Mathnawi', called as the 'Koran in Persian' by
Jami, and discourses, `Fihi ma Fihi', written to
introduce his disciples into metaphysics.
If
there is any general idea underlying Rumi's poetry,
it is the absolute love of God. His influence on
thought, literature and all forms of aesthetic
expression in the world of Islam cannot be
overrated.
Mevlana
Jalaluddin Rumi died on December 17, 1273. Men of
five faiths followed his bier. That night was named
Sebul Arus (Night of Union). Ever since, the
Mawlawi dervishes have kept that date as a
festival.
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