Pir Mam Rashan or Pir Mehmed Reshan (Kurdish: Pîr Mehmed Reşan, Pîr Memê Reşan, Pîr Mamreşan[1]) was a 12th-century Yazidi saint. The Mam Rashan Shrine on Mount Sinjar was built in honor of him.[2][3]
Pir Mehmed Reshan | |
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Lord of the rain and protector of harvest | |
Other names | Şêr Memê Reşan ('Lion Memê Reşan') |
Venerated in | Yazidism |
Animals | Patron of cats[4] |
Mount | Lion; In Yazidi religious texts, Memê Reşan is called Şêr Memê Reşan ('Lion Memê Reşan'), because there is a storyline about Memê Reşan, who, to show his power, saddled a stone, which then turned into a lion.[5] |
Region | Kurdistan |
Ethnic group | Kurds (Yazidis) |
Part of a series on the Yazidi religion Yazidism |
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As a patron saint of agriculture, he is considered to be the protector of harvests and bringer of rain. His feast is celebrated in spring. There is a shrine dedicated to him at Lalish. Also, a shrine that is claimed as his tomb is situated behind Mount Maqlub near Bardarash, Iraq.[6] During times of drought, special ceremonies are held at sites dedicated to him to pray for rain and blessing of cultivated land.[7]