Khatuna Fekhra

Khatuna Fekhra (Kurdish: Xatûna Fexra^[1]) is a holy Yazidi female figure who is venerated as the Xudan of women and children as well as patron of childbirth and pregnancy.^[2][3]

Xatûna Fexra
Xudan of birth, pregnancy, women, children
The name of Khatuna (𐺊𐺀𐺕𐺣𐺣𐺢𐺀) Fekhra (𐺙𐺦𐺊𐺍𐺀) in Yezidi script; written right-to-left
Other names	Xezal (birth name)
Venerated in	Yazidism
Animals	Deer
Gender	Female
Region	Kurdistan
Ethnic group	Kurds (Yazidis)
Genealogy
Parents	Fexredîn (father)
Siblings	Şêx Mend, Şêx Bedir, Aqûbê Mûsa
Spouse	Şêx Hesenê Şemsa

Temple of Khatuna Fekhra in Turkey

Pilgrims and worshippers at the shrine of Xatûna Fexra in Lalish, with the Micewir of the shrine, Sheikh Mirza (second from left), mid-2019.

Biography

Xatûna Fexra was the daughter is the daughter of the prominent Yazidi holy figure, Şêx Fexredîn as well as sister to Şêx Mend, Şêx Bedir and Aqûbê Mûsa. According to Yazidi tradition, her birth name was Xezal, however, she came to be known as Xatûna Fexra.^[4][5][6]

Religious Significance

The Quba Xatuna Fexra (Temple of Khatuna Fekhra) in Mağara, İdil, Şırnak Province, southeastern Turkey was built in honor of her. There is also a shrine built in honor of her in Lalish.^[7]

See also

• List of Yazidi holy figures
• List of Yazidi holy places