Over the course of a recent discussion, a friend argued upon why our community should be praying in a language (Avesta and Pazand) that we do not understand. I reckoned there are many who could feel the same way, and hence this article…

Multi-sensory Experience

To begin with, how do so many of us enjoy the opera without knowing Italian? Is it because opera is a multi-sensory experience replete with rhythm and energy that transcends language? If so, isn’t focused and sonorous chanting of Avesta prayers also a multi-sensory experience replete with rhythm and energy that transcends language? The fact is, be it opera or chanting the Avesta, it’s not just about the words. Both create a sense of ‘Special (Spiritual) Space.’

Unlike spoken languages that are constantly in a state of flux, change and evolution, the Avesta language has remained unchanged. It has stability, precision and consistency that is unparalleled. When praying in Avesta, we chant the same words in the same language that countless Zoroastrian priests and seers have prayed through the ages. Thus, in a sense, in spirit, we unite with all of them by continuing the ritual tradition they handed down to us and which our ancestors preserved faithfully across centuries.

Ancient prayers often incorporate music and rhythmic chanting which serve as powerful forms of expression and connection. Both, music and ancient chants are a profoundly efficacious way to connect with divinity.  Little wonder that it is said:

“Music expresses the harmony of the Universe, while rituals express the order of the Universe. Through harmony, all things are influenced and through order all things have a proper place. Music rises to heaven, while rituals provide the pattern. When rituals and music are well established, we have the Heaven and Earth functioning in perfect order.”

What Distinguishes Religion From Mere Philosophy?

Prayers and rituals are born of man’s adoration for that unseen power underlying the mystery of life. Each religion prescribes its own set of practices as a means of adoration or worship or to encourage humility and surrender, resulting in spiritual purification necessary for inner growth. History affirms that prayers and rituals never completely die out, so long as they can offer the devout a spiritual link with Divinity or at another level, a sense of security.

Prayers and rituals distinguish a religion from mere philosophy, they generate a conscious awareness which, in turn, provides the devout an understanding of the nature of Divinity. Prayers and rituals also provide a medium through which a person can relate and bridge himself to the unseen spiritual world. Doubtlessly, it is regular prayer and ritual observances which sustain Faith. Even the Gatha of Asho Zarathushtra has survived the centuries, not through mere philosophical interpretations, but through constant ritual usage. Seventeen chapters of the Gatha are ensconced within the seventy-two chapters of the Yasna.

Importance Of Faith

St. Thomas Aquinas believed that for one who has faith, no explanation is necessary, whereas for one without faith, no explanation is possible. In spiritual life, faith comes first, then knowledge and then experience. Faith is necessary for gaining wisdom. It should not be confused with blind belief, but rather the aspiration of the soul to gain wisdom. If faith is constant, it takes the devotee to the realization of wisdom.

Faith may not ease one’s pain but helps one get through it. Similarly, trusting the Divine does not diminish or vanquish anguish, but enables those with faith to endure it. Regular worship is believed to promote good health. A Purdue University study of 1,500 people found that 36% of regular worshippers reported excellent health, compared to 29% of non-worshippers. Researchers suggest religious people adapt better to stress and life changes.

Science And Religion

Nobel laureate Dr. Albert Einstein believed that science without religion is lame while religion without science is blind. The debate whether science and religion can co-exist has been ongoing since forever, garnering divided opinions even today.

It is said that the human mind is capable of two kinds of knowledge or consciousness – ‘the rational’ and ‘the intuitive’, traditionally associated with ‘science’ and ‘religion’, respectively. Unfortunately, the ‘intuitive’ knowledge is often devalued in favor of its ‘rational’ counterpart.

Zoroastrian Prayers And Rituals

Prayers and rituals when performed with understanding, feeling and concentration become a powerful tool in the process of spiritual awareness. Take, for example, the most basic and simple ritual of performing the Kusti. Each time a devotee performs this ritual, he/she makes an unswerving commitment to reject and fight evil and promote the Will of Ahura Mazda.

Avesta is not a dead language. For the devout, it is a ‘Divine language’. Just the way Hindus consider Sanskrit as the language of the Deva (Divinity), devout Zoroastrians consider Avesta as the language of the Yazata. It is believed that the sacred manthravani chants are replete with Divine Energy which can deeply influence the devotee and his or her surroundings when chanted with faith and devotion. In fact, Avesta manthravani is sound energy of the Divine which devotees can vocalize in order to attune the spirit within with the Spirit of the Universe.

Buffet Of Spiritual Food For The Soul

Just as food is essential for physical sustenance, prayer is vital for spiritual sustenance. Scientific studies have proven the effect of religious chants on the human brain, and consequently the person’s wellbeing. It triggers the release of dopamine which is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, impacting healing and overall well-being.

Praying the Atash Niyaesh before a consecrated Fire energizes the devotee – both physically and spiritually. Praying the Ardibehesht Yasht regularly helps to heal chronic ailments. Reciting the Hormazd Yasht daily or as often as possible, gives the devotee a sense of Ahura Mazda’s all-round protection. Invoking Sarosh Yazata every day be it with chanting of the Saros Baj or Sarosh Yasht (Hadhokht during the day or Vadi during the night) helps the devotee feel protected and leads to the enhancement of the devotee’s spiritual consciousness. Invoking Behram Yazata whenever in trouble or Ava Yazata for knowledge and wisdom has been known to be effective and attested by many a devotee.

There is amazing spiritual benefit that that is accrued simply by reciting the two most powerful prayers of just twenty-one and twelve words respectively, the Yatha and Ashem. Reciting just one Ashem on waking up in the morning and praying one Ashem just before sleeping is considered as equivalent to chanting this manthra ten thousand times.

Praying just one Ashem with gratitude before and after a meal or whenever a negative thought passes one’s mind is considered spiritually rewarding. Praying just one Yatha whenever leaving home or office and before starting any new work is considered extremely meritorious. It provides the devotee with a sense of being blessed and also gives him/her a sense of higher purpose and the inclusion of a spiritual essence in whatever he/she may be planning to do.

With due apologies to Martin Luther King Jr., one could conclude with an adaptation of his belief and wisdom: ‘To be a Zoroastrian without payer is no more possible than to be spiritually alive without breathing.’