Er. Zarrir Bhandara

As we embark on the New Year 2025, it’s an opportune time to reflect on the profound teachings of Asho Zarthost Paigambar regarding a virtuous life. Zoroastrianism, at its core, emphasizes the harmonious interplay of Humata (good thoughts), Hukhta (good words), and Hvrashta (good deeds). This triad, beautifully encapsulated in the Persian phrase, ‘Pendar Nik, Goftar Nik, Kerdar Nik’, serves as the cornerstone of our faith.

Why is this triad so crucial? It aligns perfectly with the ultimate purpose of our existence: to strive for “purity and righteousness with piety and love induced in every thought, word, and deed,” as eloquently stated in the Spentomad Gatha (Yasna 48.5). While seemingly simple, consistently adhering to this principle in every moment of our lives demands constant mindfulness and effort.

Recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings – humans, animals, and the environment – underscores the profound impact of our thoughts, words and actions, as Sarosh Yasht Hadokht 11.3 emphasizes, “By speaking true words we receive many victories.” Moreover, the Vispa Humata prayer beautifully illustrates how cultivating this moral triad leads to experiencing paradise, both, in this life and in the hereafter.

A key tenet for any Zarthosti, as co-workers of Dadar Hormazd, is to embrace “Vidaevo Ahura tkaeshō” – to abstain from the path of daevas (negativity) and align our actions with the divine law of Ahura Mazda – Asha. This necessitates cultivating humility and transforming negativity into positivity.

To live virtuously, we must cultivate a deeper connection with divinity. The Hormazd Khodae prayer, with its fervent plea to “taroidite angrahe mainyush” (conquer the evil within), underscores the importance of internal purification. Our Kusti ritual, often perceived as a physical cleansing, symbolizes a deeper, more profound purification – an emotional and spiritual cleansing that purifies our hearts and minds.

Just as we cleanse our physical bodies, the Kusti ritual cleanses our astral body. By reciting the 101 names of Dadar Ahura Mazda, following the Kusti ritual, we essentially ‘download’ His divine qualities into our being. This sacred recitation, the Mathrawani, connects us to the higher consciousness, allowing us to become channels for divine energy, especially, when we visit the powerhouses of the ultimate energy – our Agiaries and Atashbehrams. We implore Ahura Mazda to express Himself through us, to fill us with His goodness, leaving no room for negativity. In this state, we become magnets for goodness, attracting and radiating positivity.

By actively caring for the environment, nurturing all creations, and striving for their flourishing, we align ourselves with the concept of Frashokereti – the final renovation of the universe. This, as the Ustavad Gatha (Yasna 46.12) reminds us, fulfils the true purpose of our existence, and (Yasna 43.1) proclaims that by engaging in virtuous deeds, we attain immortality in this world and ultimately, the splendour of Garothman in the hereafter.

Asho Zarthost Paegamber Saheb, in His profound wisdom, outlined the path to a virtuous life in the Ahunavad Gatha (Yasna 34.1) and Spentomad Gatha (Yasna 47.1): “Let us follow in the footsteps of Dadar Ahura Mazda, the way He himself has attained immortality, through ‘Asha’ – righteousness and order, ‘Kshthra’ – good dominion and ‘Haurvatat’ – Perfection. Let us fully imbibe them in our own selves and in our own lives.”

Recognizing ourselves as spiritual beings inhabiting physical bodies, we must understand that the divine essence of Dadar Ahura Mazda and the Amesha Spentas permeates all of creation. As beings endowed with freewill (Ahunavad Gatha Yasna 31.11), we have the power to make choices that either align with Asha or contribute to chaos. The Ahunavad Gatha (Yasna 30) and Ushtavad Gatha (Yasna 45) emphasize that evil is not a creation of Ahura Mazda, but rather a consequence of our own misguided choices. It is our sacred duty to counter these negative choices, to heal and sustain our environment, and to restore the world to its original pristine state, as envisioned by Ahura Mazda (Ahunavad Gatha Yasna 30.9). To achieve this, we must cultivate a collective consciousness, a unified effort to preserve, heal, and sustain our environment for the benefit of present and future generations.

Our religion recognizes seven Amesha Spentas, each embodying a unique beneficent quality and overseeing a specific aspect of God’s creation. These are also considered as seven guiding principles, whose adherence benefits us and also contributes to collective progress in our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being:

• Spenta Mainyu: God’s will, Creator of Life – Man.
• Vohu Manah: Good Mind – Cattle.
• Asha Vahishta: Righteousness, Order – Fire, Energy.
• Khshathra Vairya: Moral strength, determination – Metal, Sky.
• Spenta Armaiti: Holy piety, love, devotion – Earth.
• Haurvatat: Perfection – Water.
• Ameretat: Immortality – Plants.

By internalizing and embodying these divine qualities in our daily lives, we can live a truly virtuous life, creating a heaven on earth for ourselves and others. This, in essence, is our ultimate offering to the Creator – nurturing and renovating His creations. As we navigate the challenges of the New Year 2025, let us strive to embody the profound teachings of Asho Zarthost Paegamber Saheb. In a world that often seems to be drifting away from its spiritual moorings, particularly among our youth, it is our responsibility to share these timeless and universal messages of our ancient faith. Happy New Year!