Ramayan The Book Of Ayaran: An Approach to the Origin of Ayyars

Abstract
Ayyars were chivalrous who adhered to certain moral principles and had a special code of conduct; the Ayyar committed banditry and theft with the aim of supporting the poor against the rich, and they themselves were from the lower class of society. The initiator of the Ayyar movement in Iran was Yaqoob Laith Safari, who lived in Sistan in the third century AH. The epic Ramayana is the oldest book written by the Ayyar chivalric poet Valmiki (400 BC); in this book, chivalry is explained in a philosophical way and is the holy book of the Hindus. However, it had not been addressed from the Ayyar perspective until now. The following article examines the origins of Ayyar thought through the Ramayana. The aim of this research is to shed light on the dark corners of Ayyar history. The method of the research is analytical-comparative with a library approach and based on primary sources. One of the important findings of this article is the connection of Ayyars with the thought of Vaishnavism, who consider Matsya (Fish) or Samak to be the first manifestation of Vishnu and believe in Bhakt or giving charity. Their origin was the Bhel tribe, who were a bandit tribe. This tribe took the culture of chivalry from the Brahmins and combined it with their warfare.
 
1. Introduction
Ayyarans were chivalrous who had a secret organization and adhered to certain moral principles and had a special mission; With the aim of supporting the poor against the rich, the Ayars committed banditry and theft, and they themselves belonged to the lower class of the society. The initiator of the Ayaran movement in pre-Islamic Iran was Yaqub Leith Safari, who lived in Sistan in the third century of the Hijri. The Ramayana poem, the oldest epic of the East, is a book written by a chivalrous named Valmiki. This book has explained chivalry in a philosophical way and its writing dates back to around 400 BC and is known as a sacred book among Hindus. The following article examines the origins of Ayari's thought through the book of Ramayana and describes its influence on the later periods up to the present day. The aim of this research is to clarify the dark corners of Ayari history. The cause and origin of the Ayaran movement has been one of the problematics of contemporary researchers. The book Samak Ayar, which is an old story about Ayars, was narrated by a person named Sadaqa, considering that two sects of Ayars were called Samaki and Sadaki, the question arises as to what is the meaning of naming these two names. Where did Ayaran come from and what was their ideology based on?
1.1. Research Methodology
The research method is analytical-comparative with a library approach and based on first-hand sources. In this research, by comparing two main and ancient sources related to Ayaran, i.e. the book of Samak Ayar and the book of Ramayana, the common aspects of chivalry of these two books were matched and then the roots of the important names of the book of Samak Ayar were extracted from the book of Ramayana. After that, the philosophical analysis of these commonalities was done. Then the influence of this philosophy on the contemporary history of Iran and the world was mentioned.
2. Discussion
Valmiki, the composer of Ramayana, lived around 400 BC. According to traditions, Valmiki was a thief and a bandit before he became a Brahmin. (The Skanda Purana, 1985: 506)
In the Ramayana, it is narrated that when Ram was traveling through the forest he reached the hut where Valmiki lived, and Valmiki greeted him. Ram asked him to show him a place to live; Valmiki replies that everything belongs to you; You know that I was born in a Brahmin's house, but since I was a child, because I was brought up in the community of Behl, who are bandits, I got the taste and smell of them. my wife and children are from the same people. (Valmiki, 1378: 201-202) There are other evidences that show that the Behl or Bhila people used to help the Brahmins and make them into bandits' group. (Rek Vyase, 2018, Vol. 3: 166) The Behl people took the religion of chivalry from the Brahmins and combined it with their warfare. There is an interesting article about Behlan in Samak Ayar's book. Behlan valley was one of the seven or seventy Ayaran valleys that were located next to each other and each was called by a name. The head of this valley was also called Behlan and he was an Ayyar. (Al-Arjani, 1363, Vol. 5: 133-134).
 In explaining the names of the two Ayaran sects, which were Sadki and Samaki, it should be said that hiding the previous beliefs behind Arabic names was the way of Iranians to deal with the ideology of the Arab invaders. The Arabic word Samak, meaning fish, is the equivalent of Matsya in Sanskrit, and the first manifestation of Vishnu was in the form of a fish. Followers of Vishnu are called Vaishnavisms, who believe in one of the manifestations of Vishnu. The first incarnation of Vishnu is fish, and the seventh incarnation of Vishnu is Rama, who is the main character of the Ramayana. (Cf. Valmiki, 1387: 611) Vishnu is one of the three Hindu deities. Vishnu takes the form of a fish to save Manu from the storm and flood; Because mankind is condemned to death because of evil. This fish brings Manu's ship to the shore. (Cf. Vyase, 2018, vol.1: 361) Sadaqi is also attributed to charity, here it has two meanings: one is to have a lot of love and the other is to give charity and give. (Maalouf, 1384, Vol. 1: 921-920) which is equivalent to Bhakti in Sanskrit. This word also has two meanings. One means sharing and participation. (Werner, 1993:168) Another means to love and interest. (Monler, 1853: 743) One of the principles that is highly recommended in the book of Ramayana is bhakt or loving Rama.
3. Result
Ayyars movement is an anti-class movement whose origin is rooted in ancient India. The names of two sects, Samaki and Sedghi, which are Ayars, are derived from Hindu beliefs. The Ayars believed in the Deva-God Vishnu and considered Samak to be the first avatar of Vishnu. All the characteristics of chivalry that we see among the chivalrous are explained in the Ramayana book along with its philosophy, and these characteristics are: 1. Fighting oppression 2. Providing shelter and helping the needy 3. Publicizing the elite, and attracting the common people 4. Being poor and disregarding worldly possessions 5. Giving bread (giving food) 5. Forgiveness and generosity 6. Trustworthiness and confidentiality 7. Immunity of the ambassador 8. Making a treaty 9. The right to salt 10. Eating fish 11. Brotherhood and comradeship 12. Sisterhood and chastity 13. chivalrous women 14. Truthfulness 15. Sacrifice 16. Respect for elders, teachers and Brahmins 17 tricking 18. changing appearance 19. multi-faceted 20. giving Anesthesia 21. Practicing medicine 22. Agility 23. Being half-naked 24. Pointing and responding 25. Burrowing 26. Nighting 27. Asking for a good name 28. Worship and meditation 29. Ring mark 30. Skill in shooting.
The philosophy of Vaishnavism led to the The revolutionary movement of the Ayaran, which has had a significant impact on the contemporary events of Iran and the world, including India, China, and the Soviet Union. The sect of Valmiki (Balmiki) and the Sikhs were involved in anti-colonial movements following Valmiki. Red Army of China and Soviet Union Communist forces were formed in imitation of Valmiki's army. Iran's Islamic Revolution was an anti-colonial and anti-class movement and is the continuation of the Ayaran movement.
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