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.
“Yes,
Not everything went as planned,
In fact, it all fell apart
Terribly, spectacularly.
No problem…
The pieces are all still there,
I can put them back together in a new way
That’s the power of HOPE”
By Topher Kearby
The ground from beneath our feet has moved, literally! Torrential rains have paralysed the city which was already reeling under the effects of the pandemic; people’s homes and hearts have been flooded with fear and the powerful forces of nature have once more brought our city to its knees… it’s the perfect position to pray!
Within myself, I frequently have these long conversations with God. Mind you, these are conversations, not prayers. I have frequently found myself berating Him, questioning Him, complaining to Him and yes, sometimes also telling Him that He is mean and unjust. I have sometimes even challenged Him, told Him to show me proof that He is there, challenging His very existence. The challenges have been accepted, the questions have been answered, the grace has always, always showered abundantly and help has poured in from the most unlikely of places!
I remember most distinctly this particular instance. It was many years back, I was travelling by bus and my mind was running amok with the difficulties that I was facing. I was thinking about all this and then I asked God, “Are you there? Can you not see my pain? Are you even listening?”
I was sitting at the window seat of the bus and I suddenly looked up and there on a huge billboard was a phenomenal ‘YES’! And a big tick under it. It was an advertisement for ‘Yes Bank’, but it was also a confirmation from Him! I knew then itself that my troubles would simply disappear, and they did! But this is all a process of discovery, the realisation that there is a power way beyond your comprehension, one that will stand by you when you are at the lowest ebb of life. Through all this, I have never, ever given up on my prayer. I have summoned His manthravani at every stage of life. Through thick and through thin, it is my manthra that is my constant companion.
The last few days have been particularly challenging on many counts. It has not been easy. Sometimes even I have to be reminded of his grace. It was 10:30 pm, I was feeling an all-time low, desperately seeking His grace. I had long finished my prayers. Yet again, my mind was asking Him whether He had heard my plea. And I opened my phone to call someone and this is what I read,
“Today, I am sharing with you all the most powerful – ‘Nirang of Shah Faredoon Padshah Saheb’, which will help us conquer all our difficulties in life, no matter how big or small they may be: [Yatha Ahu Vairyo 2, Ashem Vohu 1 Nemo Ahurai Mazdai, Nemo Ameshaeibyo Spentaeibyo, nemo maonghai gaochithrai, nemo paiti ditai, nemo paiti dite. Maonghem gaochithrem ashavanem ashahe ratum yazamaide. Vananto Sataro Mazdadhatahe, Khshnaothra yasnaicha vahmaicha, khsnaothraicha frasastayaecha Vanantem Satarem mazdadhatem ashavanam ashahe ratum yazamaide. Yazai vanantem amavantem, Aaokto-namanem baeshazim yazamaide Yenghe hatam aat yesne paiti vangho, Mazdao Ahuro vaetha ashat hacha, Yaonghamcha tascha taoshcha yazamaide. Ashem Vohu 1, Yatha Ahu Vairyo 1 Ashem Vohu 2.]
My own words, the manthra that I shared, had come back to me. I had forgotten the efficacy of this one and completely overlooked it. It was the grace of Pak Dadar Ahura Mazda that sent me this reminder. I prayed this Nirang continuously and sure enough, I could sleep in a better frame of mind with most of my problems sorted. It has been my experience that when you repose your faith in your manthra, you can overcome all odds. You feel the manifested presence of Pak Dadar Ahura Mazda in the daily small miracle that is your life.
We, ourselves are the root cause of all our trials. We forget that we have to develop as spiritual beings. We have been gifted the wherewithal to bring our existence to a higher level of consciousness. Our manthras give us wings where we can fly higher than our mundane reality and attain a direct connect with Ahura Mazda. He did create us in His own image and we don’t have to look outside of ourselves for a solution to our problems. This inward journey is lit with the brilliance of His Faith and His Hope which is His Gift! Thank you Pak Dadar Ahura Mazda!
I end with this quote from the Bible – Ephesians 6:16-18, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance.”
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