Meaning of Blessing and Methods of Sanctifying the Things Among the Pilgrims of Imam Riḍā's (as) Shrine

Zahra Bosta (z.bostan7@gmail.com), Ali Yousef (yousofi@um.ac.ir), Sara Mazinan (smazinani@ut.ac.ir) and Sepideh Pajhoo (sepideh.parsapajouh@gmail.com)
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Zahra Bosta: FUM - Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Ali Yousef: FUM - Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Sara Mazinan: University of Tehran
Sepideh Pajhoo: CéSor - Centre d’études en sciences sociales du religieux - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: Souvenirs have material and mental aspects, the layers of meanings attributed to them are social constructs. This research aims to investigate the meaning of blessed souvenirs, how they are sanctified, ways of using and maintaining them by pilgrims. For this purpose, 19 female pilgrims of the shrine of Imam Reza (AS) were interviewed in the summer of 1401. Research findings have shown that pilgrims mainly take three types of blessings (intrinsically blessed objects, purchased souvenirs, and belongings of the pilgrim during the pilgrimage) as their luggage. Pilgrims' motivation to receive blessings has been classified in the form of maintaining current conditions, changing problematic situations, and recording memories for themselves and others. Souvenirs or special gifts are the two main meanings of blessing in the eyes of pilgrims. Its permanence and practicality have been an important feature of blessing among pilgrims. Singularization, the combination of blessings with unholy objects and the gradual consumption of methods of keeping blessed objects by pilgrims.

Keywords: Souvenirs; Meaning of Blessing; Sanctification; Shrine of Imam Riḍā (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-02-20
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04875744v1
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Published in Farhang Razavi Scientific Research Quarterly, 2024, Year 11, Number 4, Winter 2024, Serial Number 44 (Number 4, Serial Number 44), pp.1-27. ⟨10.22034/farzv.2022.367077.1816⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04875744

DOI: 10.22034/farzv.2022.367077.1816

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