ASHQAR DEMON-BORN: Amir Hamza’s horse. Born from the union between a demon and a peri.
ASIFA BA-SAFA: A pious woman. In the dastan tradition she is the mother of Khizr and Ilyas. She sent Amar Ayyar his miraculous snare-rope as a gift.
AZAAB: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
AZAD: A caste of fakirs
AZAR OF THE PORTRAIT TABLET: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
AZHDAR DRAGON-MOUTH: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
BADIUZ ZAMAN: Amir Hamza’s son
BAGHBAN MAGIC-GARDENER: Afrasiyab’s third-ranking minister
BAHAR OF SPRING-QUARTER: Also Bahar. Sorceress Princess of the City of Mount Solace. Heyrat’s sister.
BAHMAN: Persian folk champion
BAHRAM: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
BAKHTAK: Emperor Naushervan’s vizier. Father of Bakhtiarak.
BAKHTIARAK: The devil-designate of Laqa’s court. Son of Bakhtak.
BANAFSHA: A false name made up by trickster Jansoz to fool sorcerer Azar
BRAHMIN: A person of a priestly caste of the Hindu religion
BARAN: Sorceress. Raad Thunder-Clap’s beloved.
BARAN THE RAIN-MASTER: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
BUBRAN LION-RIDER: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service. Heyrat’s nephew.
BURQ THE FRANK: European trickster in Amir Hamza’s service
BUZURG UMMID: Diviner. Buzurjmehr’s son.
BUZURJMEHR: Emperor Naushervan’s vizier. Father of Buzurg Ummid.
CALMUCK: A Tartar. See Tartar.
CHALAK: Trickster in Amir Hamza’s service. Amar Ayyar’s son.
CHAMPA: Mother of Sharara Flame-Spirit’s gardener
CHASHMAK ZAN LIGHTNING-BOLT: One of seven sorceresses in Afrasiyab’s service who exist in the form of lightning and strike as lightning bolts. They also appear in human form as beautiful, golden-skinned women.
DANIYAL (PROPHET): Daniel
DARA: King Darius the Third of Persia
DARAB THE WORLD-CONQUEROR: Amir Hamza’s son
DARYADIL: Diviner. Buzurjmehr’s son.
DAUD (PROPHET): David
DAUD (SORCERER): An immortal sorcerer of Hoshruba
DIL AARAM: Sorceress. Princess Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe’s aide.
DUKHAN THE STEAM: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
FARAMURZ: Emperor Naushervan’s son
FARAZ AAD MAGHREBI: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
FARIDUN: Ancient King of Persia
FATIMA: Prophet Muhammad’s daughter. Wife of Ali “Lion of God”.
FATTAH KISHORI: Trickster in the service of Prince Darab the World- Conqueror
FAULAD: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
FAULAD DRUG-GLUTTON: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
FAULAD IRON-PULLER: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
GARDIYA BANO: Badiuz Zaman’s mother. Amir Hamza’s wife.
GUHAR BAR THE PEARL-RAINER: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
GULCHIN: Sorceress. Wife of Baghban Magic-Gardener.
GULRANG: A name made up by Amar Ayyar as his mother’s name
GULSHAN: Empress Heyrat’s female attendant
HAMNASHEEN: Old sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
HAMZA: See Amir Hamza.
HASKM SWORDFIGHTER: Amir Hamza’s son
HASHSHAM: A warrior from the city of Khaibar
HASINA MAGIC-BEAUTY: Sorceress in Afrasiyab’s service
HEYRAT: Sorceress. Empress of Hoshruba. Afrasiyab’s wife.
HILAL MAGIC-WRINGER: Sorceress. Aafat’s wife.
HOSHIAR THE CUNNING: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
HOURI: The beautiful female companion in heaven
HUD: Heber
IBRAHIM: Abraham
IJLAL: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
ILYAS: Elias. In the dastan tradition he is Khizr’s brother.
INDRA: King of the gods in Indian mythology. His court is synonymous with a place of pleasure.
INHZAM THE ARRANGER: Sorcerer. Ijlal’s companion.
IRAJ BIN QASIM: Amir Hamza’s grandson
ISFANDIAR: An ancient Persian king
ISFANDIAR SHAH GILANI: Amir Hamza’s son
ISHAQ: Isaac
ISHRAT: Eunuch in Princess Almas Fairy-Face’s service
JAMHUR WORLD-CONFLAGRER: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
JAMOSH: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
JAMSHED (GOD OF SORCERERS): Celebrated sorcerer and one of the gods worshipped in Hoshruba
JAMSHED (KING OF PERSIA): Not the sorcerer god Jamshed of Hoshruba. The Jamshed referred to here is an ancient king of Persia. This name is often attributed in legend to Prophet Suleiman and Sikander. It is invoked in this book in connection with Queen Mahrukh’s court to convey the grandeur of her court.
JAN NISAR THE LIFE-SACRIFICING: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
JANSOZ: Trickster in Amir Hamza’s service. Qiran’s son.
JIBRAIL: Gabriel
KAIKAUS: Ancient king of Persia whose name is invoked to describe the majesty of his person and court
KAIKHUSRU: King Cyrus whose name is invoked to describe the majesty of his person and court
KALVA: Dark-faced spirit summoned by sorcerers to help invoke magic
KAMIL: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
KARIB THE COURAGEOUS: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
KARIT SKELD-WHIRLER: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
KAPI ARZAL: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
KAPI ZALZAL: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
KAYUMARS: Name of an ancient king
KHAHF LIGHTNING-BOLT: One of seven sorceresses in Afrasiyab’s service who exist in the form of lightning and strike as lightning bolts. They also appear in human form as beautiful, golden-skinned women.
KHIZR: A holy person of Islamic legend who led Sikander the Bicornous to the Fount of Life. He guides the lost travellers.
KHUBSURAT THE BEAUTY: Heyrat’s daughter. Sorcerer Shakeel’s beloved.
KHUMAR: Sorceress in Afrasiyab’s service. Makhmur Crimson-Eye’s sister.
KHURSKD BIN HASHIM: Amir Hamza’s grandson
KOHAN: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
LACHIN: The real emperor of Hoshruba deposed by Afrasiyab. One of the immortal sorcerers of Hoshruba.
LALAN RED-ROBE: Supreme Commander of King Suleiman Amber- Hair’s armies
LAMAE LIGHTNING-BOLT: One of seven sorceresses in Afrasiyab’s service who exist in the form of lightning and strike as lightning bolts. They also appear in human form as beautiful, golden-skinned women.
LANDHOOR: Amir Hamza’s deputy. Emperor of India.
LAQA: Giant who claims to be a god and is worshipped by sorcerers
MAH: Sorceress. Mahrukh Magic-Eye’s mother.
MAHTABEEN DIAMOND ROBE: Afrasiyab’s niece
MAHRUKH MAGIC-EYE: Sorceress Princess of the City of Manycolors. Shakeel’s mother.
MAHTAB MOON-MAKER: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
MAJNUN: Literally, “the frenzied one”. Hero of the romance Laila and Majnun.
MAKHMUR CRIMSON-EYE: Sorceress in Afrasiyab’s service. Khumar’s sister.
MAKKAR THE CUNNING: Trickster Chalak in disguise
MALA GURD: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
MALIK AZHDAR: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
MALIK QASIM: Amir Hamza’s grandson
MANDVAIL ISFAHANI: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
MANI: Persian painter. Founder of the Mannichean sect. The beauty of his house is proverbial.
MANZUR CROW-EYE: King Suleiman Amber-Hair’s nephew
MARZUQ: An ancient king of Persia
MAUT THE DEATH: Trickster Amar Ayyar in disguise
MAYKHAR RHINO-HEAD: Commander of Princess Bahar’s army
MEHRAN: Sorceress. Princess Bahar’s female attendant
MEHR NIGAR: Amir Hamza’s wife. Naushervan’s daughter. Grandmother of Saad.
MEHSHAR LIGHTNING-
BOLT: One of seven sorceresses in Afrasiyab’s service who exist in the form of lightning and strike as lightning bolts. They also appear in human form as beautiful, golden-skinned women.
MUGHEELA: Sorceress. Mother of Sorcerer Hoshiar the Cunning.
MUHAFIZ: Sorcerer in Sharara Flame-Spirit’s service
MUHLEEL JANG IRAQI: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
MUNSARIM THE ORGANIZER: Sorcerer. Ijlal’s companion.
MUQARNAS SILVER-BODY: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
MUQBIL VAFADAR: Also Muqbil. Amir Hamza’s personal attendant and a gifted archer.
MUSA: Moses
MUSAWIR THE MAGIC-PAINTER: One of Hoshruba’s immortal sorcerers. Husband of Surat-Nigar.
NAFARMAN: Sorceress Princess of the City of Purple Poppy
NAAG THE SERPENT : Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service NAGAN : Sorceress. Sarmast’s mother.
NAIRANG: Princess Tasveer’s aide
NAMIAN KHAIBARI: Messenger and spy in Amir Hamza’s service
NAMRUD : Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
NAQUS THE TRUMPETER: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
NARIMAN : Legendary Persian warrior. Father of Sam.
NASREEN AMBER-HAIR: Daughter of King Suleiman Amber-Hair. Beloved of Ijlal.
NAU RATAN : Sorcerer Nisar’s female attendant
NAUSHERVAN : Emperor of Persia. Amir Hamza’s father-in-law.
NAY NAVAZ THE FLUTEST: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
NAZIR CROW-EYE: Nephew of King Suleiman Amber-Hair
NIHAL : Daughter of Baghban Magic-Gardener and Gulchin
NISAR: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
NOMAN BIN MUNZIR SHAH YEMENI: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
PERI: Female fairy
PHARAOH: The ruler of Egypt in the time of Musa (Moses)
QAHHAR: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
QIRAN THE ETHIOPE: Trickster in Amir Hamza’s service. Amar Ayyar’s deputy.
RAAD THUNDER-CLAP: Sorcerer. His scream sounds like a thunder clap. Mehshar Lightning-Bolt’s son.
RAHDAR: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
RIZWAN: Keeper of Heaven
RUTAS: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
RUSTAM: Legendary Persian warrior. Father of Sohrab.
RUSTAM ELEPHANT-BODY: Title of the Persian hero Rustam
SAAD: King of True Believers. Amir Hamza’s grandson.
SAM: Legendary Persian warrior. Son of Nariman.
SABA RAFTAR THE QUICK: Trickster-girl. Minister of Sarsar the Swordfighter. Beloved of Qiran the Ethiope.
SADAF THE OYSTER: Sorceress. Mother of Guhar-Bar the Pearl-Rainer.
SAIF THE AMBIDEXTROUS: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
SAIQA BAR LIGHTNING-BOLT: One of seven sorceresses in Afrasiyab’s service who exist in the form of lightning and strike as lightning bolts. They also appear in human form as beautiful, golden-skinned women.
SALEH: Prophet sent to the people of Samud. Sometimes he is associated with the biblical Shelah.
SAMAK: Trickster in Amir Hamza’s service
SAMAN-AZAR: Sorceress. Attendant of Sharara Flame-Spirit.
SAMAR: Daughter of Baghban Magic-Gardener and Gulchin
SAMERI: Renowned sorcerer worshipped as a god in Hoshruba
SANAT MAGIC-MAKER: Sorceress. Afrasiyab’s first-ranking minister.
SANDAL: Sorceress. Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe’s aunt.
SARHANG MAKKI: Messenger and spy in Amir Hamza’s service
SARMA ICE-HURLER: Sorcerer. Afrasiyab’s second-ranking minister.
SARMAST: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
SARSAR SWORDFIGHTER: Leader of the trickster-girls in Afrasiyab’s service. Governor of the City of Portraits.
SAHAL NUR LIGHTNING-BOLT: One of seven sorceresses in Afrasiyab’s service who exist in the form of lightning and strike as lightning bolts. They also appear in human form as beautiful, golden-skinned women.
SAYYAH: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
SHADDAD: Cruel monarch who claimed divine powers and made a garden to rival Paradise
SHADEED: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
SHAGUFA: Princess Tasveer’s attendant
SHAHBAZ: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
SHAHPAL: Emperor of Mount Qaf. Father of Aasman Peri.
SHAKEEL: Sorcerer. Mahrukh Magic-Eye’s son.
SHAKL KUSH IMAGE-CUTTER: Sorcerer. Son of Musavvir Magic-Painter and Surat-Nigar the Face-Maker.
SHAMAMA: Name given to a magic effigy by sorcerer Shakl Kush Image- Cutter
SHAMIMA TUNNELER: Trickster-girl. Companion of Sarsar Swordfighter.
Beloved of trickster Burq the Frank.
SHAMSHAD ELEPHANT-BODY: Sorcerer. Commander of Surkh-Mu Wonder-Mane’s army.
SHARARA FLAME-SPIRIT: Sorceress. Princess Tasveer’s aunt.
SHARARA BLAZING-FLAME: Sorceress. Exists in the form of a flame.
SHOLA RUICHSAR FLAME-CHEEK: Sorceress. Attendant of Sharara Flame- Spirit.
SHOLA THE BLAZE: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
SHOLA BAR LIGHTNING-BOLT: One of seven sorceresses in Afrasiyab’s service who exist in the form of lightning and strike as lightning bolts. They also appear in human form as beautiful, golden-skinned women.
SIKANDER: Name used for both Alexander of Macedon and the prince Sikander Zulqarnain (Alexander the Bicornous)
SIMURGH: A giant mythical bird
SIYAH QITAS THE BLACK: King Saad’s horse
SIYAVUSH: Diviner. Buzurjmehr’s son.
SOHRAB: Legendary Persian warrior. Son of Rustam.
SULEIMAN: King Solomon
SULEIMAN AMBER-HAIR: King of Mount Agate
SUNUBAR SNARE-ROPER: Trickster-girl. Companion of Sarsar Swordfighter. Beloved of trickster Jansoz.
SURAT NIGAR FACE-MAKER: Sorceress. Musavvir Magic-Painter’s wife. Shakl Kush Image-Cutter’s mother.
SURKH MU WONDER-MANE: Sorceress. Governor of the City of Scarlet Locks.
TADBIR: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
TAMTARAQ: Sorcerer in Princess Bahar’s service
TARAR THE SPEEDSTER: Trickster in the service of Bakhtiarak
TARTAR: Turkic and Mongol peoples of the Mongol Empire who were generically referred to as “Tartars”, i.e. Tatars.
TARTUS HATCHET-THROWER: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
TASEER: Sorcerer. An inhabitant of Hoshruba.
TASVEER: Empress Heyrat’s daughter
TAUQ BIN HEYRAN: Warrior in Amir Hamza’s service
TAUS: Sorceress in Heyrat’s service
TEZ NIGAH DAGGER-FIGHTER: Trickster-girl. Companion of Sarsar Swordfighter. Beloved of trickster Zargham.
TOMIAN KHAIBARI: Messenger and spy in Amir Hamza’s service
UMAYYA BIN AMAR: Trickster in Prince Badiuz Zaman’s service
WAQWAQ: Sorcerer. Brother of Tamtaraq.
YAQUT: Sorceress. Empress Heyrat’s aide.
YUSUF: Joseph
ZAAFRAN: Sorceress in Afrasiyab’s service
ZALIM BLACK-FACE: Sorcerer in Surat Nigar Face-Maker’s service
ZALIM KOHI THE CRUEL: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
ZAMARRUD: Sorceress. Empress Heyrat’s aide.
ZANZIBARIAN: Native of the Zanzibar island in Africa
ZARDAM: Sorcerer. Sorcerer Sarmast’s retainer.
ZARDHASHT: An ancient sorcerer
ZARGHAM THE LION-HEARTED: Trickster in Amir Hamza’s service
ZUBAIDA SHER: Amir Hamza’s daughter
ZULAIKHA: Potiphar’s wife
ZULMAT PITCH-FACE: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
ZUNNAR: Sorcerer in Afrasiyab’s service
ORIGINAL PREFACE TO TILISM-E HOSHRUBA BY MUHAMMAD HUSAIN JAH
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE COMPASSIONATE AND MERCIFUL
A hundred thousand praises and a million laudations befit [God] the Cupbearer of Eternity, whose euphoric call of Let There Be caparisoned the desolate expanse of the world. Everyone
who sips from perception’s glass must needs likewise eulogize and glorify [Prophet Muhammad] who, deep in his cup of Original Covenant, cured all quaffing the dredges of impiety and perdition with the restorative goblet of his Advent (May God bless him, his illustrious family and worthy companions).
After that homage, I, Syed Muhammad Husain Jah, ask your indulgence to look upon myself as a gleaner of the gardens of men of learning and wisdom, and those erudite in the subtle and the sublime; and as one who is as the dust under their shoes. I petition the attentive ear of those who are tolerant of a mortal’s errors and steeped and versed in letters, that The Adventures of Amir Hamza is a tale both excellent and enchanting, a favorite of the seeker and the sought, a veritable pearl from the sea of eloquence, and a dazzling sun of the noon of rhetoric such as humbles the tongue singing its praise, and overawes the narrative describing its glory.
This epic contains a most astonishing tale, Tilism-e Hoshruba, which is the choicest of its choice books. Thus, I set my heart on transcribing this wonder, which is the soul of adornment and epitome of grace in the realm of the written word, employing proper idiom and chaste expression of the Urdu language to convert devotees of beloved lore to its marvellous charms with the grace and boon of my Lord, and His guidance and succor.
BROADCAST BY THE TRANSCRIBER FOR THE WORTHY READERS OF THIS HISTORY
Let it be known that The Adventures of Amir Hamza comprises seven books and it is a difficult proposition to understand the history of personages such as Amir Hamza, Amar Ayyar, Zamarrud Shah alias Laqa, Bakhtiarak, sorcerer Afrasiyab, et. al. without perusing the said books. Keeping that in mind, I introduce Amir Hamza, who is the son of Syed Khvaja Abdul Muttalib, the chieftain of Kaaba; Amar, who is Amir Hamza’s trickster; and Saad bin Qubad, Hamza’s grandson, appointed by him as the king of his camp. Amir Hamza is the commander-in-chief of the armies. All of Hamza’s sons pay allegiance to Saad bin Qubad, who is also their king. Besides, many other potentates from the face of the world are also attached to his camp with their armies and will be duly mentioned in the pages of this history.
Amir Hamza is warring with King Zamarrud Shah Bakhtari or Laqa, an illustrious king who has proclaimed himself God; to make him renounce his false claim. Several times, Laqa has escaped Amir Hamza’s hands into lands whose sovereigns and laity pay allegiance to him as their God, and do battle with Hamza at his behest. Accompanying Laqa is Faramurz, the son of Emperor Naushervan of Persia, who has thrown his lot with Laqa and battled Amir in the past. Bakhtiarak, son of Bakhtak, the vizier of Faramurz, is the devil-designate of the court of His Holiness Laqa – for the seat of deity needs a fiend to make it complete. Previously, Laqa had sought refuge in the Tilism of Hazar Shakal, and upon its destruction at Amir Hamza’s hands, he headed for the mountainous lands of Kohistan. The tale of the Tilism of Hazar Shakl precedes the history of Hoshruba. But your humble narrator abandoned it in the favour of the latter to avoid gratuitously prolonging the narrative.
Hoshruba Page 58