Chilla (retreat)

Sufi Maulvi (teacher) meditating

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 India n 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]

## Contents

* 1 Etymology
* 2 Chilla-khana
* 3 Purpose
* 4 Incidents of Chilla
* 5 In music
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 7.1 Bibliography

## Etymology

The word chilla is derived from the Persian word chehel "forty".[3]

## Chilla-khana

Chilla is commonly performed in a solitary cell called a chilla-khana.[4] The place itself is sometimes called Chilla where chilla has been performed.[4]

## Purpose

The main purpose of chilla is to attain laser like focus and get rid of unnecessary thoughts in your mind.

## Incidents of Chilla

The most famous case of chilla is found in the biographies of the 14th century Sufi poet Hafez of Shiraz.[5][6][7]

## 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

* Khalwa
* Meditation
* Sādhanā
* Shugendō
* Tabligh Jamaat

## References

1. ↑ Landolt & Lawson 2005, p. 203.
2. ↑ Dehlvi 2012, p. 109.
3. ↑ "The Path of Khalwati and Shabani". http://www.halveti.org/content.asp?cid=6&sid=21.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ireland, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and (1896) (in en). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland. Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society. p. 328. https://books.google.com/books?id=IgbBfLuO6jsC.
5. ↑ "Teachings of Hafiz". https://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/hafiz.htm.
6. ↑ "Biography of Hafiz". http://www.hafizonlove.com/bio/.
7. ↑ "Persian Language & Literature: Hafez Shirazi". http://www.iranchamber.com/literature/hafez/hafez.php.

### Bibliography

* Dehlvi, Sadia (5 September 2012). Sufism: Heart of Islam. HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-93-5029-448-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=zw_Q2Rbh7yIC&pg=PT109.
* Landolt, Hermann; Lawson, Todd (2005). Reason and Inspiration in Islam: Theology, Philosophy and Mysticism in Muslim Thought. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-85043-470-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=Bq9zSbNr8gIC&pg=PA203.

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