University of Tehran Iranian Studies 2252-0643 12 2 2023 02 20 The descent to the underworld in Iranian myths The descent to the underworld in Iranian myths 207 227 91600 10.22059/jis.2020.286033.703 FA Rouhollah Hadi Associate Professor of Persian Language and Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran: Sahand Aqaei PhD student of Persian language and literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Jaleh Amouzgar Professor of ancient languages, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran: Journal Article 2019 07 23 In cosmology of certain Shamanisms, and specifically the Asian Shamanism, the universe  is embodied with three different cosmic regions, connected to each other through a central axis. Shamans are able to ascend to the skies and convene with the Gods, or descend to the underworld and battle with the demons of death. In the state of ecstasy, they descend to the underworld, and learn the ways to conquest the demons from those Gods ruling the underworld. For Altaic people, “The descent to the underworld” is the function of Black Shamans whereas “The magical flight” is that of the White Shamans. Several of the most famous journeys to the underworld in epic literature and mythological sources are structurally shamanic. The mystics use the Shaman methods to reach the state of ecstasy.<br />In this article, we have investigated the effects of the duality phenomenon in Shamanism, By looking at the Iranian mythical resources,  we have analyzed two mythical characters named Jam and Afrasiab’s trips to the underworld, which are named “Var Jamkard” and “The Descend of Afrasiab to The Underworld”. We have also used the universal symbolism of “the difficult bridge or the passageway,”  that has examples in the rapturous trips of the Asian Shamans, to discuss the Zoroastrianism myth of Chinvat.<br />. In cosmology of certain Shamanisms, and specifically the Asian Shamanism, the universe  is embodied with three different cosmic regions, connected to each other through a central axis. Shamans are able to ascend to the skies and convene with the Gods, or descend to the underworld and battle with the demons of death. In the state of ecstasy, they descend to the underworld, and learn the ways to conquest the demons from those Gods ruling the underworld. For Altaic people, “The descent to the underworld” is the function of Black Shamans whereas “The magical flight” is that of the White Shamans. Several of the most famous journeys to the underworld in epic literature and mythological sources are structurally shamanic. The mystics use the Shaman methods to reach the state of ecstasy.<br />In this article, we have investigated the effects of the duality phenomenon in Shamanism, By looking at the Iranian mythical resources,  we have analyzed two mythical characters named Jam and Afrasiab’s trips to the underworld, which are named “Var Jamkard” and “The Descend of Afrasiab to The Underworld”. We have also used the universal symbolism of “the difficult bridge or the passageway,”  that has examples in the rapturous trips of the Asian Shamans, to discuss the Zoroastrianism myth of Chinvat.<br />. https://jis.ut.ac.ir/article_91600_aab0d6708691913fc34ebc6fc2ea13cd.pdf