سعیده جلالیان

For a long time, lighting at Razavi Shrine has been one of administrators concern. The main goal of this study is to investigate lighting evolution in the most crowded place of the Shrine, the holy burial chamber, which is mainly done using first-hand archival sources. In this article, using a descriptive-analytical method, we have tried to obtain a precise understanding of the lighting status of the Holy Shrine from the Safavid period to the contemporary era. The most important findings of this study indicate that in eight endowment documents, all or part of the income is allocated to the provision of lighting.
Various types of candlesticks (Shurfih, sham‘dān, Lālih, Mardangī, Qandīl, Kachkūlī, Chilchirāgh and Lūstir) were the main lighting equipment of Razavi Shrine in that period. From the Safavid period to the Qajar era, candles and waxes are the only fuel for lighting, but from the Pahlavi I era, electric lights and electric power replaces these tools and old fuels. Also, the main sources of lighting at the Holy Shrine were supplied by devotions and vows from different classes of society.

The coffers and burial chambers are recognized as a symbol of the great clergymen and notables in Muslims’ culture, which in most cases have been assumed sacred. This has caused them to be scarcely studied from historical and artistic point of view. Although the constituent parts of these symbols are well known and there is a specific procedure in their construction, at some points, other objects have been added to coffers and burial chambers, which did not belong to the main part. The purpose of this research is to identify, introduce and analyze these objects and equipment in the coffers and burial chambers of the Raḍawī Holy Shrine. In this writing, in an analytical descriptive manner and based on library and archival sources, features of the precious objects attached to the coffers and burial chambers of Imam Riḍā’s (A.S.) mausoleum as well as information about the benefactors, founders, donors, manufacturer and artists of these works presented. The most important findings of this research show that the oldest exquisite objects installed to the coffers dates back to the seventh century AH and the oldest objects attached to the holy burial chambers dates back to 12th century AH. The most frequent objects which were permanently attached to the coffers are different types of domes and the most diverse objects on steel burial chamber were installed during the reign of Safavid Shah Sultan Hussein.

The dignity and sacredness of holy places and pilgrimage sanctuaries has gradually turned their dusting and cleaning into special ceremonies and rituals, for which specific equipment and tools have been developed. In the present research, by using the descriptive-analytical method and referring to the archive sources and museum objects, it is attempted first to give a brief history of the manufacture and donation of each of these tools to the Raḍawī Threshold and then explain their application and describe their specifications. It was clarified during this study that the manufacture and application of these tools date back to the Safavid period; and endowments and donations have had special position in their appearance. A part of these tools and supplies have been used in special dusting ceremonies of the ḍarīḥ (burial chamber), some have been utilized in over-ḍarīḥ service ceremonies, and some others have been used jointly in both ceremonies.