Whirling Dervishes

[Fallenshadowv3]

You spin me right round baby, right round.

[aaronzebaron]

so thats a whirling dervish then.

[NickieRenee07]

How strange. So simple yet so beautiful.

[6thMessenger]

I saw these guys on ice. It was AWESOME.

[sooners8545]

@6thMessenger

LMAO

[hapanue]

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk lol

[catdog02474]

Why are whirling dervishes men?

[leatherhunterxX]

i would throw up in 5 seconds

[BrianMChampion]

These appear to be the 45 rpm dervishes. Looking for the old school 78 rpm guys.

[bqureshi21]

If anyone wonders why exactly they spin, it's a symbol ~ they are imitating the planets that orbit the sun in perfect harmony. It is but a method of physical meditation, to escape the inner self and to reach the Greater Power, the Almighty Allah SWT. Sufism is not a sect at all, it is merely a way of thinking. It is the focus on the spiritual and mystical aspects of Islam, not falling in a "branch." They share the same beliefs, but focus on purifying to a greater extent.

[chuuxorz]

Remembers me of when i used to spin around as a kid.

Expect them to be massively dizzy when they stop spinning.

[niezerwazir]

Sufism(tasawwuf)is not a sect,it deals with purification of the self

[ayurveda1008]

Why not in a clockwise direction, I have heard and feel this is most beneficial

[lasosaso]

it also helps you to lose weight

[kolbek2001]

What does a Dervish do if he gets a bout of vertigo?

[tophatjohnny]

Will it go round in circles???

[sexpen]

<3

[Kosovari262]

Good Dancing

[MegaLegacy777]

I would say I'm a Christian, but I love the Sufism in Islam. Whirling Dervishes are just breath-taking. There's no way I'mma look at them and not feel God by my side! Beautiful

[imjustpassinthru]

I was introduced to the Whirling Dervishes in the writings and teachings of the Russian mystic G. I. Gurdjieff. 

[JennRighter]

Beautiful, fascinating and inspiring!  Lovely video, would greatly appreciate seeing this in person!

[luftwaffe789456123]

i can't believe how most of you don't have manners,respect Turkish Islamic Culture and don't make fun of it.

[elfel1991]

i would whity from that much spinning

[TheMightyAC]

Seriously...that's what a whirling dervish is?! How anticlimactic

[xDarthPig]

They spin to enter a higher state of consciousness, ie they get dizzy.

[1pinarozturk]

if you are interested, watch it's one of the best whirling dervishes shows I've ever watched!!!

[Nikifuj908]

Whoa... they're all black belts...

[MrVitiello1]

those guys are wearing skirts

[TanaquilTarquin]

Lol, my child whirls the same way minutes on end counterclockwise.

Very nice!))

[Biznatched]

im dizzy

[bqureshi21]

looks so spiritual

[Mr28WeekSkater]

Thumb me up if you thought this video is about longboarding

[bqureshi21]

@Mr28WeekSkater can i thumb you down if i didn't?

[itsbankaibitch]

I try to be respectful towards all peoples and their practices, but this is honestly one of the creepiest things I've witnessed.

[jpaul174]

this is awesome

[walkm023]

for some reason, i only ever hear of whirling dervishes in the context of the mahdist wars in the Sudan in the late 1800's when we British fought against the Fuzzy-wuzzies and other Dervishes. is there any connection between whirling dervishes and the British reconquest of the Sudan (A.K.A. the second mahdist war)? i mean, in Dad's army, lance corporal Jones often talks about being attacked by whirling dervishes, and many other thing that he states are true (yes i have been sad enough to check).

[recr0000001]

TRIPPY

[Bdiddly1]

bach bazi boys who've grown up.

[Rayvyn007]

It's kinda hypnotic!

[sboonefelton]

@Rayvyn007 I would pass out! lol

[pt071658]

Now that is some entertainment.

[djehuty13]

They say that "whirling" brings them closer to God but could they use their arms as helicopter blades and actually take off - that would bring you closer to God!

[88t3mpt4tions]

@djehuty13 how stupid is that? use them like helicopter blades and take off?! lol

[gwxk]

33 and 1/3 revolutions per minute --- just like a record album.

[Cristianandtupac]

whiriling dervishes are examples of dukhr-------a study question

[nocaretaker]

getting dizzy watching it

[nadeem111]

This music makes me dizzy......mesmerising. Whither will I go when i actually do it!

[CandyViking]

They spin so much they get high and they feel closer to allah

[gamation]

@CandyViking Well indeed that is kind of what they do... But mostly they are trying to emulate the movement of the cosmos and celestial objects, such as stars etc, so they can merge with the Universe and become one with it.

[Wastedgrunt]

Don't they get dizzy?

[Aotommo]

@Wastedgrunt They probably do the same thing ballet dancers do- choose several fixed objects in the room to focus their vision on while they spin, which prevents dizziness.

[MrPmj1979]

These guys are a sect of Islam taugh to love everything ... unlike other sects of Islam which seem to rely solely on hate and the urge to kill.

Very refreshing!

[YeshuaYehweh]

It's so beautiful..but I wonder how they do this without getting dizzy and falling down, lol. There is a wonderful scene in the movie Jodha Akbar that shows the Whirling Dervishes dancing and singing. It is magnificent. It makes me worship God and fall even deeper in love with Him.

[911toothache]

@YeshuaYehweh dont they sorta go into a trans and so they just keep going and dont feel anything...

[Moiez101]

OMG, they spin with such perfection that they look like robots, kind of scary but beautiful and calming.

[nonibritt]

What are they wearing on their heads?

[gizliliman1]

@nonibritt that hat represent a head stone.white clothing -a cloth that wraps around someones body when they die.(when they put into grave)

[horrorshowmalchick]

@nonibritt

Hats.

[tobesograteful]

i used to do this as a child.

[MrPmj1979]

@tobesograteful "i used to do this as a child."

I have done this since I was a kid, not because I'm a Sufi but because I have Asperger Syndrome. Spinning was and is my favourite stim.

[Rayvyn007]

@MrPmj1979 Aren't Sufi like the Kung Fu monks of Islam?

[DimmDevil]

@Rayvyn007 No, they are not like the Kung Fu monks. They are mystics and that is possibly the only thing they have in common. Their assumptions on life and spirit is very different from that of the Kung Fu-monks (Buddhists), and they don't engage in warfare or martial art (unless you count spinning yourself around as a mortal activity).

[mendik3]

@tobesograteful do you know where i got these scars?

[DancingSpiderman]

Reminscent of a Grateful Dead concert

Rock Skate Roll Bounce

[Boomer1941]

When you spin counter clockwise you're speeding up the rotation of your chakras as they spin in a clockwise motion.

[trashmail8]

Which is a comment that is very probably based on a discussion on today's article on urbansurvival (dot) com...

[horrorshowmalchick]

@Boomer1941

Citation needed.

[totaldupe]

You spin me right round baby, right round..like a record baby

[afsan786]

@totaldupe haha muppets

[yorkieso]

@totaldupe right round right round like a record baby.....lol

[sboonefelton]

@totaldupe LMAO! thats sooo funny!

[weRstillNotFree]

@totaldupe F U N N Y ! I just wrote a comment in The World on fb with the same sing song....(0=

[waksibra]

They must feel really dizzy lol

[martcarey]

Great hats...not sure about the frocks though.

[jtd04c]

LOL @ 1:30 when the dizzy guy fell down

[zardiw]

When you look up you're spinning clockwise......z

[ChrisTeamProdigy]

Counterclockwise puts the chakras into a negative motion, stimulation inferior awakening.

The Chakras in their proper motion, are always Clockwise. :)

[michalchik]

What if you are in the southern hemisphere ;-)

[planes3333]

@michalchik

good point

[fiernocht]

but this is not Hinduism. The chakras do not apply to this system.

[MrPmj1979]

@fiernocht "but this is not Hinduism. The chakras do not apply to this system."

Chakras apply to all human beings regardless of their belief system, don't they?

[ruffynuni]

Depending from where they are seen: from the front or from the back. Viewed from the back they seem to turn counterclockwise.

Water spins counterclockwise going through the drain.

[SeekingLight1]

It is counterclockwise to reflect the circumambulation of the pilgrims around the Kaba in Mecca. The counterclockwise movements according to Sufi scholar S.H. Nasr are to undoe the effects of the Fall. The dervish whirls arouns the Kaba of his heart just as the pilgrims circulates the external Kaba - both are the temples or houses of God.

[derbeh]

This is correctly done. Always counterclockwise. I was in Konya recently and witnessed an actual Sema ritual. Quite different. It was at a caravanserai and it was an incredible experience.

[PoopinPat]

this is the weirdest shit i have ever seen

[Sanyadr]

They are doing it wrong ... It should be clockwise, really

[cmsahe]

i had never watched them on video, thou in my old encyclopedia there is a tiny drawing of a dervish dancer.

[johnqpublic912]

yeah i used to do this when i was a kid...then we'd try to see who can run the straightest..

[MrSA1829]

This is an ancient practice that puts the participient in touch with the divine by gaining access to higher states of Consciousness. It is absolutely fascinating to me, and also worth mentioning is that every ancient and esoteric group has their own way of accomplishing this same feat. The Dervishes actually "twirl" themselves past the point of diziness and/or fainting into a realm where reality and consciousness are heightened and contact with other ethereal beings is possible.

[PABLOHOLMEZ]

whole heartedly agree with your comment ! just visited Istanbul and experienced a Dervish ! it was a powerful thing to see ! twirling to enter an higher state of consciousness touched me also ! the music was incredibly beautiful also ! very touching experience !

[DancingSpiderman]

@PABLOHOLMEZ This reminds me of the hippies that twirl around as they dance to The Grateful Dead. I remember seeing them twirl as the band Cubensis plays GD covers. Weed helps the twirling hippies reach their higher state of whatever.

[c6gunner]

@MrSA1829 This is an ancient practice that induces hallucinations in the participant by gaining access to an anoxic cranial state. It is absolutely fascinating to me, and also worth mentioning is that every ancient and esoteric group has their own way of accomplishing this same feat. The Dervishes actually "twirl" themselves past the point of diziness and/or fainting into a realm where reality and consciousness are depleted and all sorts of crazy shit is possible.

[TheArchprojects]

scary as shit

[Xevorim]

lol it's really nice and transcendental

They basically whirl to enter into a state of meditation

[IandYou0]

the universe.

[uel786]

It's kind of sad that noble Zikir of Allah has been reduced to a mere 'fold dance' or tourist attraction. As beautiful and choreographed as this is, I prefer to watch spontaneous whirling at Nashibendi gathering.

[theemceemurdah]

Mashallah, very beautiful!

God bless :-)

Salaam.

[nessamaine]

How beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[beverlee329]

i just saw a live version today. it's eerie but beautiful. i cant explain but the tilted head and raised arms are scary to me.. love the whirl of the "skirt" though

[KellysterOverdrive]

scary

[2bananaman2]

It is so fluid! Beautiful. I wonder if the whirling has any meaning in their religion. If anyone who reads this knows leave a reply to my omment please

[shitnrun]

The best way to find out the meaning of the ritual is to google it fyi

[XxRebeLLyeLLxX]

well, its a form of meditation. you know so they can become one with God.

[juvenileinjection]

I actually find this a little disturbing. They're very in synch with one another.

Nice skirts, too.

[shredheadbob]

wow....its so fluid, flowing, beautiful

[neraidoftiagmeni]

its so beautiful

[volatino]

Whooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­a

[bledishehu]

hi im from albania and my religion is bektashi .this religious is more for open minded muslim they are not conservator.

[TomBrooklyn]

Where can I see whirling dervishes whirl?

Where in or near NYC, NY, USA?

[GURBETCIAYLOS]

12 august they were in omaha ne at rose theather, I'm sure they'll go other cities...

[rausch34]

Sufism (Arabic: تصوّف‎ - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف) is generally understood to be the inner, mystical dimension of Islam.[1][2][3] A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a ṣūfī (صُوفِيّ), though some adherents of the tradition reserve this term only for those practitioners who have attained the goals of the Sufi tradition. Another name used for the Sufi seeker is dervish

[SisterTitania]

It's like being in Paddle Turn hell.

[hddvt]

Check out "Whirling in Burlington Vermont". A trip!

[NYCPulpHero]

eerie yet beautiful

[AnubisTheMystic]

Thank you whirling dervishes for inspiring one of the most badass classes in Guild Wars

[UrsiesBear07]

hell yes.

[PeaceTrain99]

looka more like a sect of christianity

[duckmonsterX]

Naw. The Sufi are a branch of Islam, different to the Sunni and Shia. There a pretty peaceful lot, and have a very mystical tradition.

The Sufi are great!

[akulahyo]

hehehehe... I'm sunni and i'm also following sufism... In my home country... we're sunni and we follow some of the sunni tariqah. What we know as a sufi, we also must perform all the obligations in Islam. No expectation...

[georgearakawa]

they cross-step like pros

[cazzelikrueger]

LMAO thats what i was thinking

[sjeessjees]

instanbul railwaystation, been there done that, brilliant !!!!!!!

[wozza59]

Amazing and in a way almost hypnotic.

[chazferrari]

they truly are experiencing God here, it's amazing.

[in2ennui]

Whirling Dervishes are SO cool (the name, the actual movement...)

I first saw the 'dance' in the Bollywood movie 'Jodha Akbar', and thought it was quite weird...

But after learning about the religious significance (especially the very interesting life of Jalal ad-Din Rumi and Sufism), I must say my opinion has totally changed. I really thing this is quite beautiful and I can see how it could express love for God...

[isbcrv]

Sufism is not separate from Islam (although some fundamentalist Islam sects dislike Sufism). Nonetheless, Sufism came from Islam and developed in integration with Islam. Sufism is the mystical side of Islam.

[KyraPractor]

But it's so weird! They believe tt Allah enters every part of their body rite?

[shai8057]

No.

Sufism is in accordance with the Shari'a of Allah, it aims to purify the inward through forms of dhikir (lailaha ila Allah, SubhanAllah and other common phrases used by all Muslims) and recitation of the Quran. It is a purification of the heart and inner self through remembrance of Allah. Any "sufi" that claims what you have stated is a deviant and not a sufi on an established tariqa. Tariqa's are lead by scholars who have attained ijaza from a scholar who has a sanad to all the way bck 2 Mu

[zazunzas]

this appears to be an informed reply ... would you care to (briefly) translate some of the terms used? thank you.

[akulahyo]

dhikir=remembrance

Shari'a of Allah=our obligations to Allah examples the 5 pillars of Islam.

lailaha ila Allah=No god except Allah

Sufi that doesnt follow the shariah @ obligations from Allah is a deviant and not a sufi.A sufi follow some sorts of Tariqah=The Way. Examples of tariqah in SUNNI TRADITION, Ba Alawiah,Naqshabandiah,syattari­ah,chistiah,

ahmadiah idrisiah, dusuqiah,tijaniyah,maulawiyah,­khalwatiah,etc So "a sufi=a muslim..."

[vfgproductions]

to keep from getting dizzy we have the head to the side so the middle ear (fluid in both ears) is kept to on side and not moving due to the centrifugal force.

In fact the dizziness would interfere with the desired effect.

[terpsfolife]

wow that was amazing

[omgHARLAN]

they spin until they hallucinate i think its awesome

[ahmads786]

no prophet has told u this is ibaadat

astagfirullah

[KyraPractor]

Very true =)

[erictsfx]

i`d become dizzy ... how is this movement possible ?!

[eevee91]

For some reason, to me, I always find these whirling dervishes scary. IDK like ghost or something and the way they move, fascinating though.

[illastic1]

do ghosts spin around in circles like that?

[Rainfall3414]

@eevee91 they are so spiritual, right? their soul is approaching to the god as they whirl... and that sound. ney, or reed flute, it is awesome.. always takes me somewhere i feeel way better than where i am in right now..

[buaharia]

About the women participatian.. i think they can join it because i was watching one of a documentary on Discovery channel..it say sex deosn't matter..what matter is the devotion

[85Shalin]

What music is this?

[kitstein]

I think its a lovely expression. It is quite hypnotizing, and it makes me want to do it! Can women do it as well?

[AlucardFMP]

As much as I hope they can, in these religious communities I wouldn't hold your breath.

[tpjpower]

Yep, they can and do. Not with the men though.

[wasabikun]

I was at a performance at the same venue as the one in the video. There were at least three women in the group.

[hadijiz]

Sufism comes from Persi/Iran

[polarbear2k5]

These are Sufi astetics. The spinning is a form of meditation while in "dhikra," or rememberence of God(Allah). They spin that way while collecting the blessings of Allah in their right hand and exposing the advancements of djinn and Iblis(Satan) from their left.

[rtwrtw1]

I dont mean to sound offensive, but what is the point of spinning?

[iintuba]

thats the way to trick the objetive mind and then connect do divine planes of conscience

[v12kid]

so whats the big deal? So these Muslims want to spin and chant the praises of God in doing so, sounds good to me. Not harming anyone, not causing pain to other, taught to love all? Sounds like a Muslim to me. I say let them spin!

[whitewingedcroe]

taught to love everything, that's something wonderful to learn.

[Pixelrid3r]

Totally hypnotozing, great clip! *****

[gluntford]

I wish I were a whirling dervish

[imy013]

It is part of Sufi Islam, you will find that were ever in the muslim world,sufi exist there are similar dances. There is noting in Islam that states that this is aganist Islam.

[anotherelvis]

I thought they were a secretive sect, but this is a tourist performance :)

[AnimaSeverem]

This is quite possibly one of the most impressive things I've ever seen out of the religion of Islam.

[jk734]

its not islamic ritual,its acultural thing.its common in turky,whil you barly see it in arab countries for instans.

[bubbafet2200]

It's begging the question to say something cultural is not Islamic, and vice versa. No culture holds a monopoly on what is Islamic.

[NickyGunindapant]

Thats not begging the question, jk734 made a valid point that wasnt clearly expressed. Islam is a religion and nowhere in it are whirling dervishes incorporated. It wasnt present during the time of Muhammad (PBUH) and is no where in the Qu'ran. Culturally speaking, it was started in Turkey when there were sultans running the country and has developed into a modern day practice. Im of the Islamic faith and I havent heard of whirling dervishes until today, I hope this information helps.

[OKLetsTalk]

Historically speaking whirling dervishes did not start in turkey and whirling dervishes do exist in the Arab World. Whether this is a religious or cultural practice is a complex issue. Sufi Muslims consider it a religious reitual, so in this sense it has to do with religion not with culture. However, some other sects of Islam consider whirling like that a dance that has nothing to do with relgion.

[wwfpeace]

@jk734

dude go and read in wikipedia! Of course it´s islamic! The the dervishes are a member of Sufi Muslim ascetic! Most of them fall in trance like when some people pray they fall in trance too sometimes and just a few of course...

And to NickyGunidapant yeah, is´t not in the Qu´ran cause the dervishes cames after it -.-* They came from the sufis... peace

my english is bad so it can have a other meaning than i mean it acully -.-*

[OldgoatInABlackcoat]

That is in correct. When you spin, the endolymph slowly moves in the direction you are spinning. The movement of the endolymph signals the brain that the head is spinning. The brain quickly adapts to the signal because the endolymph begins to move at the same rate that you are spinning and no longer stimulates the hair cells. However, when you stop spinning, the endolymph continues to move and stimulate hair cells in the opposite direction.

[OldgoatInABlackcoat]

That wouldn't help. They way to keep from getting dizzy is to spin everyday until you get used to it.

Here is what makes you dizzy:

There are three semicircular canals for sensing ­motion. They are at right angles to one another. They contain fluid called Endolymph and hair-like sensory nerve cells. As your head moves in a given direction, the endolymph lags behind because it resists a change in motion (the principle of inertia).

­­

[mecurly2]

I love this video, these guys are in a trans state of total relaxation and peace, thanks for recording.

[sophiebunnyrae]

pukola and vomitosa

[victorlicious]

very soothing... and hypnotic... thanks for posting this

[russ108]

thats so true

[volatino]

Weren't these guys in Madonna's Bed Time Story video heehee

[sune108]

Thanks...was trying to figure out which video that was!

[DominicanPhilosophy]

Maria . . . she can throw a whirling dervish out of whirl!

[LotusSitar]

It's just how life goes on.Things are born and things die every day.And things eat things.Life keeps turning like a wheel dos'nt stop for anything...

[vsovereign]

I'd be on my knees worshipping the porcelain god!