Learn about itLearn onlyHistorical practice
This page describes the practice. There is deliberately no automated reading for it — see the notes below.
Background
The Persian word Falnama covers two historical forms of bibliomancy in Iran, Turkey and India: grid-based sections at the end of Quran manuscripts, and large 16th-century illustrated books. Only a few illustrated Falnamas survive.
How it works
After purification rituals, the user opened the illustrated book at random and interpreted the painting and its accompanying text.
Notes and limits
Culture: Some Falnamas were tied to the Quran; they are presented here as historical manuscripts, not as a tool to consult.
At a glance
- Also called
- Falnameh, فالنامه, Book of Omens
- Traditions
- Persian, Ottoman, Mughal
- Regions
- Middle East & Persia, South Asia
- You need
- Nothing
- Price
- Free