Daisy P. Navdar is a teacher by profession and a firm believer in the efficacy of our Manthravani. She is focused on ensuring that the deep significance of our prayers is realized by our youth. She credits her learnings and insights, shared in her articles, to all Zoroastrian priests and scholars whose efforts have contributed towards providing light and wisdom for all Zarthostis.
I invite you to join me as I journey through the wonderful teachings shared in a Khordeh Avesta, which was printed in 1902 – more than a 100 years ago! Authored by Dinbai Sohrabji Engineer, the teachings, stories and notes in this book speak about the various powers of our prayers, while sharing anecdotes of people who have used these prayers and the tremendous achievements that each has accomplished.
(With excerpts from Zoroastrianism – An Ethnic Perspective by Khojeste P. Mistree)
Taking the story of the creation of our world forward, Hormazd first produced the Beneficent Immortals – the Six Ameshaspands, the seventh being Hormazd himself. The following are his Seven Creations:
- Spenta Mainyu – Hormazd – Bounteous Spirit
- Vohu Mana – Bahman – Good Mind
- Asha Vahishta – Ardibehest – Best Truth
- Khshathra Vairya – Sherevar – Desirable Kingdom
- Spenta Armaiti – Aspandad – Holy Devotion / Piety
- Haurvatat – Khordad – Perfection / Completeness
- Ameretat – Amardad – Immortality
The Haptan Yasht is dedicated to all the Ameshaspands and hence, is one of the most prolific prayers that we have. The Moti Haptan Yasht is best recited after the Hormazd Yasht. This paak Yazad, with the help of the Ameshaspands, banishes the pain and sorrow of your heart and fulfils your wishes. The sorrow, which is carried in the hands of the evil that comes from the depths of hell, that sorrow can be conquered by the recitation of this Yasht. Reciting this Yasht helps us to be truthful; it brings happiness, goodness, charity, esteem and prosperity to mankind.
In Hindu Astrology, Rahu represents materialism, mischief, fear, dissatisfaction, obsession and confusion. Rahu is also associated with politicians and occult sciences. Like Ketu, Rahu is also an enemy against the sun and moon. It is generally considered as a malefic planet in astrology. This planet rules over thieves, jail, poison, snakes and isolated places. It is associated with filth. In case you wish to tame the maleficent effects of Saturn (Shani) in your horoscope, then this Yasht can be prayed in conjunction with the Avan Yasht for maximum benefit.
For those of us who believe in astrology, it is said that the Rahu dasha can be changed by this Yasht. But we don’t need astrology to identify the symptoms of evil – we can all discern the malefic effects of evil on those around us and perhaps start praying this Yasht for them.
Aspandad Roj is day of Haft Ameshaspand on which we must pray the Haptan Yasht. As I have mentioned in a previous column, the Yatu Zi Zarathushtra No Kardo is a very powerful part of the Haptan Yasht and can be prayed by itself too. However, forming the habit of reciting the Yasht in its entirety is the most beneficial practice to adopt.
For your reference, I have reproduced here the Yatu Zi Zarathushtra No Kardo, with its literal translation:
“Yatu zi Zarathushtra vanat daevo mashyo Ko namanahe badha Spitama Zarathushtra Vispa druksh janaiti, vispa druksh nashaiti, yatha haonaoiti ashem vacham Aoi te aoi tanvo dadhaiti, aoi te athaurunem janaiti athaurunem yatha rathaeshtarem vispano asrushtee nashatanam aojangha. Yo him daste daranem yoi hapta Amesha Spenta hukhshathra hudhaongo hamerethanamchit. Daenam Mazda yasnim aspo kehrpem apem Mazdadhatam ashaonim yazamaide. Atere vitare maibya vitare maibya vimraot Zarathushtra atare vitare maibyaschit vitare maibyaschit vimraot Zarathushtra yat vangheush manangho yat aithyejanghem vacham fraspavaresh fracha framerethwacha frazathwacha. Satavata satevata utavata utevata uta apabarentu yatha bastem fravashanam daenam Mazdayasnim nashatanam aojangha – Ashem Vohu.”
The following is the literal translation:
“O Zarathushtra, I call upon thee to smite the evil wizard like man who resembles a daeva (evil person). O Spitama Zarathushtra! Just as one would succeed with the power of these sacred verses, in the same way let them conquer and destroy all the drujas (evil spirits) of this house. This druja takes control of the body and smites both, the Athravan (priests) and the Rathestaran (warrior). We appeal to Thee to be our shield and our protector like the seven Ameshaspands who are both wise and true rulers and who protect us against evil. We are in tune with the Mazda worshipping religion and with the holy waters created by Mazda in the shape of a horse.”
Zarathushtra condemns sins of commission and sins of omission, as they are pertain to Vohu Manah (probably a reference to Bahman Ameshaspand and therefore Bahman Yasht), which is the most indestructible among the sacred verses. Through the power of these verses, the evil ones are carried far away from us, bound by the sacred verses of the Mazda worshippers. May the Mazda worshippers increase a hundredfold, continuously!
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Please can you give me the audio of motti Haptan yash