Chilla (retreat)

Chilla (Persian: چله, Arabic: أربعين, both literally "forty"), also known as Chilla-nashini, is a spiritual practice of penance and solitude in Sufism known mostly in Indian and Persian traditions. In this ritual a mendicant or ascetic attempts to remain seated in a circle practicing meditation techniques without food for 40 days and nights in imitation of the Arba'een.[1][2] The word chilla is derived from the Persian word chehel "forty".[3] Chilla is commonly performed in a solitary cell called a chilla-khana.

This article is about Sufi practice. For other uses, see Chilla.
Sufi Maulvi (teacher) meditating

Incidents of Chilla

The most famous case of chilla is found in the biographies of the 14th century Sufi poet Hafez of Shiraz.[4][5][6]

In music

A practice similar to chilla is also performed by Hindustani classical music practitioners at an advanced level. It is called chilla katna.

See also

References
  1. Landolt & Lawson 2005, p. 203.
  2. Dehlvi 2012, p. 109.
  3. "The Path of Khalwati and Shabani". Archived from the original on 2005-01-11. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  4. "Teachings of Hafiz". www.sacred-texts.com.
  5. "Biography of Hafiz". www.hafizonlove.com.
  6. "Persian Language & Literature: Hafez Shirazi". www.iranchamber.com.

Bibliography
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