Behram Yazad is the Angel created by Pak Ahura Mazda to protect the faithful Zarthosti followers who live their lives as per the tenets of our glorious Mazdayasni Zarathushti religion. Behram Yazad blesses those who live righteous lives with unending happiness and dissipates all their challenges and pains.

Behram Yazad is a ‘Hamkar’ of Ardibehesht Ameshaspand and the ‘Hamkars’ of Behram Yazad are Ama Yazad and Vanainti Yazad. Behram Yazad is also known as ‘Fattehmand’, ‘Perojgar’ and ‘Dushman Jadaar’ – denoting the one that is all-victorious and the smiter of enemies and evil. Behram Yazad presides over successes and triumphs as also over all enemies – external or those internal, like one’s vices. He empowers us with courage and confidence to work for righteous cause and walk the path of Asha or truth.

Behram Yazad is invoked for his miraculous powers of healing (baeshazem) from sickness. When people are healed, they must help a needy person as a form of gratitude to Behram Yazad. He also protects us when we travel and is also referred to as ‘Panth Yazad’.

The word Behram comes from the Avestan word, ‘verethraghna’, which means success or victory. ‘Behram’ signifies permanent illumination, which He creates in this universe by dispelling all druj and problems – be these related to health, disputes, domestic or financial issues, litigations, career or any spiritual adversities faced by Zoroastrian devotee. He is therefore also commonly referred to as ‘Mushkel Aasan Behram Yazad’.

How can we invoke the help of ‘Mushkel Aasan Behram Yazad’? He is all-knowing of all the difficulties that we face and He always wants to help us. We can invoke his aid through correct prayer. Innumerable devotees worship Behram Yazad by performing the ‘batti’ (lighting an oil lamp) at home near the photograph of Mushkel Aasan, offering grams (chana), dates, candy sugar (saakhar or rock sugar), and cardamom – while reading the story of the Woodcutter, whose adversities were eliminated when he performed this ritual after Behram Yazad appeared before him. The story also illustrates how we should always continue worshipping Him as a commitment.

One can also pray the ‘Behram Yasht’ from the Avesta. Those who do not have enough time to pray the entire Yasht could pray the Nirang of Behram Yazad, available in English and Gujarati. However, the Behram Yasht is the most effective prayer.

The ‘Behram Roj nu Daran’ is a thanksgiving ritual performed on Behram Roj – the Baj Dharna and Afarghan prayers – in honour of Behram Yazad. The ritual is performed to invoke the blessings and protection of Behram Yazad forever. It was performed by Kings of the Sassanian Dynasty after achieving victory in battle or establishing new settlement areas. Devotees can request our priests to perform it during their difficult times or even after one has been successful.

Behram Yazad comes along with Ama Yazad to help people who invoke him. He is known to assume any of the 10 forms (mentioned in Kardas I to X of the Behram Yasht) while coming to their aid – Wind; A bull with golden horns (Ama Yazad sits on the horns); A white horse with a golden caparison (Ama Yazad sits on the forehead); Camel with a piercing eyesight; Aggressive sharp-toothed boar; Handsome youth of fifteen years; Swift, high flying and strong bird – ‘Varehgna’, which comes during dawn; Wild ram with bent horns; A buck (male deer) with sharp horns; and a heroic man carrying a sword. These forms are known to smite the negativities around us and within us and destroy the negative karma burdening our soul after death, to avoid reincarnation.

The Jasa Me Avanghe Mazda prayer towards the end of the Sarosh Baj contains the words ‘Amahe, Hutashtahe, Hurodhe, Verethraghnahe, Ahuradhatahe, Vanintyao-shcha, Upartaato’, which also appear in the ‘Behram Yasht’ and in the Nirang of ‘Mushkel Aasan Behram Yazad’. These are various names of Behram Yazad, describing his celestial connection with Ahura Mazda and his earthly connection with mankind. His main opponent is Vyambur Daeva.

Traditionally, to invoke the help of Behram Yasht, one prays continually for 40 days seeking His help to overcome problems and difficulties, especially connected with health, money, job or relationships. There have been many instances of miracles occurring in the lives of those who have prayed the Behram Yasht even just once!