Zahhak

Zahhak appears as an evil figure in Persian mythology. When he was young, he was easily wronged by one of his companions called Ahraman which led him to kill his own father and take control over his kingdom. Later, Ahraman entered his kingdom as a cook and served the most delicious food to him. Pleased with his services, he asked Zahhak to wish for whatever he wanted. A sly Ahraman asked him to kiss him on his shoulders and as soon he did this, Ahraman disappeared. Following this, two black serpents grew up on his shoulders. Effort to remove them surgically failed as with every removal, another set of serpents would emerge and sit on his shoulders. Then Ahraman appeared in the form of a healer and told Zahhak that every effort of killing them would only be futile and that they could be controlled only if two well-cooked human brains are served to them everyday.

This was precisely the time when Jamshid, the great ruler, was shorn of his right to rule. Zahhak captured him and killed him to claim his throne. He deputed two men to kill two persons everyday and serve their brain to the snakes. Zahhak continued with his tyranny for centuries. Once Zahhak dreamt of two persons attacking him and he also realised that one of them was dragging him. He sought the help of dream interpreters one of whom told him that it was a foreboding for his end which would be brought about by Faridoon. Zahhak sent his envoys to get Faridoon but they failed in their mission. Then, Zahaak tried to take his people into confidence but a blacksmith called Kaveh got back on him rather rudely as his sons were killed to feed the snakes with their brains. He became a rebel and vowed his support to Faridoon. He took many people along with him and reached the mountain Aborz where Faridoon lived. Faridoon agreed to confront Zahhak. He got a mace made with the head of an ox. However, by the time Faridoon reached to wage a war with Zahhak, he had already escaped from his capital. Faridoon established his control over there. It was time for Faridoon now to rescue people who had been oppressed by Zahhak. Zahhak came to know of this through his treasurer who had escaped from there. He fumed with anger when he was told further that Zahhak had made the daughters of Jamshed--Shahrnaz and Amavaz—to sit next to him on the throne as queens. Since Zahhak had kept both theladies in prison, he became desperate to take his revenge against Faridoon but it was no longer possible since the tide had already turned against him. In utter desperation, he sneaked into the palace to kill Faridoon’s confidants. Faridoon spotted Zahhak there and subdued him first with his ox-head mace. Then, instead of killing him, he tied him up and imprisoned in a cave under a mount called Damavand. He gave him the final punishment by wrapping him with a lion’s skin and mounting him on the walls of the cave where he is destined to languish till the doomsday. The story of Zahak had its origin in Avesta (10th century AD). Later it was told by Firdausi in his Shahnameh.

Reference: Mitaaya daur-e-saqi muhtasib ne/Udu Jamshid ka Zahhak nikla (Wazir Ali Saba Lucknowi), Kal tak dawaa-i-dard the kucch log shahr mein/Aaj iqtedaar kya mila Zahhak ho gaye (Bano Tahira Syed). Also see: https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/zahhak-mohammad-hasan-ebooks-1

Zahhak appears as an evil figure in Persian mythology. When he was young, he was easily wronged by one of his companions called Ahraman which led him to kill his own father and take control over his kingdom. Later, Ahraman entered his kingdom as a cook and served the most delicious food to him. Pleased with his services, he asked Zahhak to wish for whatever he wanted. A sly Ahraman asked him to kiss him on his shoulders and as soon he did this, Ahraman disappeared. Following this, two black serpents grew up on his shoulders. Effort to remove them surgically failed as with every removal, another set of serpents would emerge and sit on his shoulders. Then Ahraman appeared in the form of a healer and told Zahhak that every effort of killing them would only be futile and that they could be controlled only if two well-cooked human brains are served to them everyday.

This was precisely the time when Jamshid, the great ruler, was shorn of his right to rule. Zahhak captured him and killed him to claim his throne. He deputed two men to kill two persons everyday and serve their brain to the snakes. Zahhak continued with his tyranny for centuries. Once Zahhak dreamt of two persons attacking him and he also realised that one of them was dragging him. He sought the help of dream interpreters one of whom told him that it was a foreboding for his end which would be brought about by Faridoon. Zahhak sent his envoys to get Faridoon but they failed in their mission. Then, Zahaak tried to take his people into confidence but a blacksmith called Kaveh got back on him rather rudely as his sons were killed to feed the snakes with their brains. He became a rebel and vowed his support to Faridoon. He took many people along with him and reached the mountain Aborz where Faridoon lived. Faridoon agreed to confront Zahhak. He got a mace made with the head of an ox. However, by the time Faridoon reached to wage a war with Zahhak, he had already escaped from his capital. Faridoon established his control over there. It was time for Faridoon now to rescue people who had been oppressed by Zahhak. Zahhak came to know of this through his treasurer who had escaped from there. He fumed with anger when he was told further that Zahhak had made the daughters of Jamshed--Shahrnaz and Amavaz—to sit next to him on the throne as queens. Since Zahhak had kept both theladies in prison, he became desperate to take his revenge against Faridoon but it was no longer possible since the tide had already turned against him. In utter desperation, he sneaked into the palace to kill Faridoon’s confidants. Faridoon spotted Zahhak there and subdued him first with his ox-head mace. Then, instead of killing him, he tied him up and imprisoned in a cave under a mount called Damavand. He gave him the final punishment by wrapping him with a lion’s skin and mounting him on the walls of the cave where he is destined to languish till the doomsday. The story of Zahak had its origin in Avesta (10th century AD). Later it was told by Firdausi in his Shahnameh.

Reference: Mitaaya daur-e-saqi muhtasib ne/Udu Jamshid ka Zahhak nikla (Wazir Ali Saba Lucknowi), Kal tak dawaa-i-dard the kucch log shahr mein/Aaj iqtedaar kya mila Zahhak ho gaye (Bano Tahira Syed). Also see: https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/zahhak-mohammad-hasan-ebooks-1