The Multiple Layers of Mehrgon in Aryan Mythology and History
By Dr. Sahibnazar Muradi, Historian and Writer (Afghanistan), especially for “Sangar”
Since ancient times, the Aryan peoples have celebrated numerous festivals and commemorative occasions associated with their history, preserving many of these traditions to the present day. One such ancient celebration is Mehrgon, dedicated to honoring Mehr (Mithra) and values such as friendship, fidelity to agreements, light, justice, and gratitude. After Nowruz, Mehrgon is considered one of the most important festivals of ancient Ariana.
It should be noted that there is no single, definitively established explanation for the origins of Mehrgon. Rather, various historical and mythological traditions have intertwined in shaping this festival.
- The Mythological Layer: The Victory of Fereydun over the Serpent-Shouldered Zahhak
In Iranian traditions of the Islamic period, one of the best-known legends associates Mehrgon with Fereydun's victory over Zahhak. According to some accounts, this victory took place on Mehr Day of the month of Mehr, after which Fereydun was crowned. For this reason, Mehrgon is also regarded as a celebration of the triumph of justice over injustice, truth over falsehood, and good over evil.
However, it is important to recognize that this legend gained particular prominence primarily in mythological and literary sources from the Islamic era. Therefore, it cannot be stated with certainty that this event alone was the original reason for the emergence of Mehrgon in ancient Ariana.
- The Religious Layer: The Cult of Mehr, or Mithraism
According to another interpretation, the name Mehrgon derives from Mehr (Mithra). In Iranian tradition, Mithra was associated with concepts such as covenants, truth, fidelity to commitments, light, and radiance.
Thus, to a certain extent, Mehrgon also possessed religious and ritual significance within Aryan culture.
- The Natural and Agricultural Layer
Mehrgon was traditionally celebrated in autumn, when the harvest season arrived, and many crops reached maturity. In this respect, the festival was associated with gratitude, abundance, harvesting, the changing of the seasons, and the generosity of nature.
So Why Was Mehrgon Celebrated?
In summary, several layers of meaning became intertwined in this festival over the course of history:
Love and fidelity to covenants, gratitude and autumnal abundance, Fereydun's victory over Zahhak, and the triumph of justice over injustice — all represent noble and profound ideals. It is precisely this multilayered character that accounts for much of Mehrgon's special significance in Iranian culture.
Several Important Features of Mehrgon:
Time of Celebration: In autumn, during the month of Mehr. In the modern Iranian calendar, Mehrgon is generally observed on the sixteenth day of Mehr, although other dates are also mentioned in various sources and traditions.
The Concept of “Mehr”: In Aryan culture, the word “Mehr” signifies love and friendship and is also associated with the deity Mehr (Mithra), who embodies fidelity to covenants, truth, and light.
Rituals: People would wear new clothes, prepare festive tables, and decorate them with autumn fruits, various delicacies, flowers, water, mirrors, and other symbolic objects.
Historical Significance: Mehrgon was far more than a family celebration. Throughout various historical periods, particularly at royal courts, it was celebrated with great splendor. The festivities were often accompanied by the exchange of gifts and the performance of official ceremonies.
Mehrgon’s Connection with Autumn: Mehrgon can also be regarded as a festival of the harvest, abundance, and gratitude for the divine blessings bestowed upon the earth.
In Iranian culture, Nowruz symbolizes the beginning and rebirth of nature, while Mehrgon represents the autumn season, the harvest, and gratitude.
From a historical perspective, Mehrgon was far more significant than a simple seasonal celebration. Its importance can be traced through several historical stages.
- Ancient Aryan Roots
Mehrgon has been known since at least the Achaemenid period. As previously noted, its name is associated with Mehr (Mithra), a concept linked to covenants, obligations, and justice. Scholarly sources also connect Mehrgon with autumn celebrations and the autumnal equinox.
- A Festival Celebrated by Common People and Imperial Courts Alike
In ancient Ariana, Mehrgon was not merely a popular festival. It was also celebrated with great splendor at royal courts. The festivities included public royal audiences, banquets, the presentation of gifts, and court ceremonies.
Even sources relating to the Achaemenid period mention a festival known as Mithracina (Mehrgon).
- The Significance of Mehrgon During the Sasanian Era
During the era of the western Sasanians, as well as the eastern and Bactrian Kushans, Nowruz and Mehrgon were among the most important festivals of the calendar year. It was during this period that the tradition of celebrating these festivals over several days became firmly established.
Thus, Mehrgon formed an integral part of the official and cultural institutions of the Sasanian period.
- Mehrgon Did Not Disappear After the Fall of the Sasanians
This is an extremely important point: with the arrival of Islam, Mehrgon did not disappear entirely.
During the Abbasid era, and later at the Iranian courts of the Samanids, Ziyarids, Ghaznavids, Ghurids, and other ruling dynasties in Iran and Khorasan before the Mongol period, the festival continued to be celebrated, although its Zoroastrian religious elements underwent significant changes.
- A Symbol of the Continuity of Aryan Culture
During the early centuries of the Islamic era, Nowruz, Mehrgon, and Sadeh served as reminders of the past and the traditions of pre-Islamic Iran for many Iranians. Mehrgon, also known as “Mehrjan,” was frequently mentioned in Persian and Arabic poetry.
Thus, Mehrgon represents one of the most important historical links connecting ancient Iran and Khorasan with the Aryan culture of the Islamic period. Originating in ancient Iranian traditions, the festival was passed down through successive eras and, despite religious and political transformations, remained alive in Aryan culture and literature for centuries.
Indeed, Mehrgon was not confined to the territory of present-day Iran. However, it is essential to distinguish between the “political geography of ancient Iran” and the territory of the modern Iranian state.
In ancient times, Mehrgon was celebrated across various parts of the vast Iranian territories, as well as in lands influenced by Aryan culture. These included:
- Central Asia, particularly the regions of Sogdiana and Khwarezm, Merv, and other Aryan territories;
- Khorasan (in present-day Afghanistan), as well as territories corresponding to modern Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan;
- Mesopotamia and the western regions of Iran during periods when they were under the rule of Iranian empires;
- In later periods, the tradition of celebrating Mehrgon also continued in certain regions of the Iranian cultural sphere in the eastern Islamic world.
It is interesting to note that the veneration of Mehr (Mithra) existed in the Indo-Iranian world even before the emergence of later Iranian religious traditions. Subsequently, the cult of Mithra spread in a somewhat different form even to Greece and Byzantium (the Eastern Roman Empire).
However, Mehrgon, in its Iranian cultural and historical sense, should not be directly equated with the Roman cult of Mithras. Although these traditions are historically connected, they are not the same phenomenon.
Moreover, during the Islamic era, Mehrgon remained a well-known festival at royal courts beyond the borders of present-day Iran, particularly in Transoxiana and historical Khorasan, where it was sometimes celebrated with great splendor.
I am delighted that today the descendants of the Aryans, wherever they may live, particularly in Iran and Tajikistan, continue to honor and preserve the traditions of Aryan festivals with special warmth and enthusiasm.
