A comparison of Peter Dinov's Panevritmia and Semâ in Mawlawi order within the framework of religion – aesthetics relation

Religious rituals have been integral part of sociocultural life throughout history. These rituals with their effects they have on sociocultural life has become the basic dynamics of social life. From the very beginning of history till date, primitive religions, to the well known religions have performed different religious rituals. In this study, we will be comparing and evaluating the widely known 'mevlevilik' among the Islamic world, recognized all over the world as "Semâ ritual" and "Panevritmia ritual" which holds a particular place in the Christian world, but little is known about it Turkey, in terms of religion and aesthetics. Since there has been a lot of research and books written about Mevlânâ Celaleddin Rumi and Semâ, these chapters will only give a little summary about Mevlânâ's Semâ. Since there almost no study about the structure of Panevritmia and the life of Peter Dinov, the founder, these chapters will look in depth into Panevritmia for a better understanding. Born in 1864 in the village of Hadarcha in Varna, Bulgaria, which was at that period was within the borders of the Ottoman Empire. Dinov was raised with the aim of becoming a Christian clergy, he received early education in his home country. After his secondary education, influenced by his teachers that had tied to the methodist church, Peter Dinov went to America to further his higher education. After his return from America, during his 30s, he established the Universal White Brotherhood Organization in his hometown, where he revealed Panevritmia which consisted of 28 different physical movements. After emphasizing the importance and place of aesthetics in Islam and Christianity, this study aims to presents Dinov's Panevritmia and Mevlânâ's Semâ within the framework of "Language-Poetry", "Music", "Dance" and "Love", comparing the two in terms of religion and aesthetics.