Chilla-nashini

Sufi Maulvi (teacher) meditating

Chilla-nashini (Persian: چله نشینی‎) is a spiritual practice of penance and solitude, 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. The word 'chilla' is adopted from the Persian word 'chehel', meaning 'forty'.^[1] The nashini is the person who does the 40-day fast and remains seated in the circle of seclusion. It is (falsely) believed that those who try it but do not succeed usually die or suffer madness.^[2]

Chilla-nashini is a severe penance. A circle is drawn on the ground by the penitent's own hand; for forty days and nights he must not step out of the circle, he must forgo food, and avoid falling sleep. He must face whatever comes. Chilla-nashini is known to both Sufi and Vedantic ascetics.^[3]

The chilla is performed for spiritual as well as worldly attainments, psychic abilities (siddhis), or complete enlightenment depending on the desire of the practitioner who performs it.^[4]

The chilla is commonly performed in a solitary cell called chilla-khana.

In Music

A practice similar to chilla-nashini is also performed by "Hindustani classical music" practitioners at an advanced level. It is known as simply "chilla". The musicians lock themselves up in a special room (chilla-khana) for forty days and practice their instrument severely. Special diet (often omitting meat and grains) is taken during this period (very little food is taken).Any contact to the outside world is avoided during this period.People try not to fall asleep at any cost, if necessary they will tie their hair to a noose at the ceiling. It is done to achieve a very high level of skill, that cannot be achieved due to normal regular practice. The chilla details may differ from family (Gharana) to family.

People who have performed partial or complete nashini chillas

The most famous case of a chilla-nashini is found in the biographies of the 14th century Sufi poet Hafiz of Shiraz.^[5][6][7]

Sheriar Irani, father of Meher Baba, performed 30 days of a chilla in 1884, but could not complete the required 40 days.^[8]

Similar accounts in other cultures

Jesus fasted in the desert for forty days and forty nights.^[9]

Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai.^[10]

Elijah fasted for forty days and forty nights during his journey to the mountain of God.^[11]

Saint Patrick fasted for forty days on mount Croagh Patrick before expelling all the snakes from Ireland.^[12]

Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment after fasting and meditating under the Bodhi Tree for forty days. However, enlightenment came after he broke his strict fasting and accepted some rice milk from a girl.^[13]

See also

• Khalwa
• Vision quest
• Meditation
• Sadhana

References