Iranian Studies

A Comparison on Manu`s identity recorded in Pancatantra “The Story of a Tortoise fallen from the Wood” to Ibn-Arabi`s Al-Insan Al-Kamel according to the perennial philosophy

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Somayeh Mashayekh 1
Zohreh Zarshenas 2

1 Author; Ph.D in Ancient iranian Languages and Cultures, University of Tehran, Tehran., Iran

2 Professor in Department of Ancient and Middle Iranian Languages and Culture, , the Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies ,Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2023.354945.1185
Abstract
Sogdian manuscripts are sorted on different subjects, Sogdian Tales could be distinguished as a genre among them. Henning was the pioneer researcher who traced the Footsteps of Panchatantra stories back in Sogdian Tales. Brief narrations from the main story are one of their characteristics. Fragment SI 5704,(a document originally based on Nikolai Nikolaevich Krotkov collection which has been later denoted to the Academy of Science) has been detected as a Sogdian short narration of the 13th story of the first Book of Panchatantra is “The story of a tortoise fallen from the wood”. In the Sanskrit text Viṣṇuśarman, an octogenarian Brahmin who is known as the original Autor of the Book, cites a wise quotation from a person called “Manu”, which is not cited in the Sogdiann Tale. According to Hindu Myths, there are many terms refering to,”Manu”: He is the archetypal man in Indo-Germanic languages its meaning sways between “man” and “Human” .There are also 14 mythical rulers of the World named Manu which will rule over the World a Manvantara. The seventh Manu corresponds to the Biblical and Quranic figure Noah. Each Manu rules a Manvantara which is 306,720,000 years. At our age the seventh Manu is the mythical ruler of the World. In Monier Williams Dictionary, the meaning of Manu is addressed as “The man par excellence” this very same definition is used by Ibn Arabi to describe the “Khalif” or the Term الانسان الکامل is the reason of the creation. This paper addresses the meaning to identify the identification of “Manu” with Ibn-Arabi`s “الانسان الکامل” according to the Perennial Philosophy which is usually taken to indicate that some sort of continuous Theme runs throughout the history of philosophy, that certain enduring and lasting truths are recognizable in the philosophical writings of all historical periods by Tracing MANU`s real Identity. 2- Tracing Manu`s etymology in Indo-Germanic Languages. 3- Proof his identity back in Sanskrit sacred soursec.4- Searching an Alter Ego for him. 5- finding his relation to Al-īnsān Al-kāmel reagarding to him as first Man and Adam the first Man, as a Khalīf in Ibn Arabis thoughts.

Keywords

Al-Insan AL-Kamel
Manu
Mannus
Panchatantra
Perennial Philosophy
Sogdian Tales
Subjects
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Iranian Studies
Volume 14, Issue 2
Summer 2024
Pages 24-42

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