Today, 21^st February, 2026, is Roj Khurshed (a day dedicated to the Divinity presiding over the Sun) and Mah Meher (month dedicated to the Divinity presiding over the purifying rays of the sun). As per Zoroastrian tradition, Khurshed and Meher are Divine entities whose Nyaish (litany) are prayed together, symbolizing the inseparable nature of sunlight and its source – the sun. Meher Yazad is also revered as a protector of relationships and a Divine judge (Davar), while Khurshed is revered as the primary energy source of all life on earth.

Mithra and Mitra

Avesta Mithra and Vedic Mitra are closely related Indo-Iranian Divinities originating from an ancient shared culture and belief system. Both Mithra and Mitra also represent friendship and loyalty. However, while Iranian Mithra evolved into a powerful solar Divinity invoked by kings and warriors to bless, guide, and ensure justice in wars, particularly when fought to uphold truth or defend against evil, Vedic Mitra remained a solar Divinity associated with harmony, coupling with Varuna to maintain Rta or Cosmic Order. In fact, since Mitra was the patron divinity of friendship, he was seen to abhor all violence, even if war was for the sake of upholding justice.

In the Hindu tradition, Mitra represents the quiet strength that holds society together through honesty rather than force. His role is to bridge the gap between people, fostering alliance and peace. He is considered the guardian of the moral law within humans, acting as a divine presence that guides people toward fairness and justice.

Central position

In the Zoroastrian Calendar the year comprises twelve Mah (months) with each month aggregating exactly thirty Roj (days) and thus a year of three hundred and sixty days to which are added the stand-alone five days of the Gatha which are not linked to any particular month. The fifteenth day every month is dedicated to Dae-Meher and the sixteenth day to Meher Yazata. Where the twelve Mah are concerned, the seventh month is dedicated to Meher. Hence, Meher occupies a central position in the monthly and annual time cycle.

Feast of Mehergan

Mehergan is celebrated when Roj Meher coincides with Mah Meher, the day commemorating the victory of light over the forces of darkness and good over evil. It’s the day when the legendary spiritual King, Shah Faridoon enchains Zohak or Azi Dahak, the epitome of evil, to that great spiritual mountain – Damavand in Iran.

Legend holds that Zohak, embodiment of evil, remains chained to Mount Damavand. At night, as darkness spreads, his chains weaken and evil seems stronger. With dawn and the rooster’s call, light returns, the chains tighten, and he is subdued. The tale conveys a simple truth: darkness has no independent existence; it is absence of light, just as evil is absence of good. Only goodness in thought, word, and deed dispels it.

 

Divinity Presiding Over Promises

The Avestan name for Meher Yazata is Mithra – the Divinity presiding over all oaths, promises, contracts, bonds, friendship and love. Avestan Mithra finds an echo in the Sanskrit term Mitra which means friend. In the 14^th century, inscription from the Mitanni kingdom, Mitra is invoked as a guarantor of sworn obligations.

The Romans were so inspired by Mithra that Mithraism was practiced as a religion across the mighty Roman Empire between the 1^st and 4^th century. The Mithra temples were always an underground cave, featuring a relief of Mithra killing the bull. Many scholars believe that this is related to cosmic astronomy, where the bull represents the constellation of Taurus.

In Zoroastrian tradition, Meher is referred to as Meher Davar or Judge who presides over the trial of the soul on the chahrom or fourth day after death.

What to Pray?

Today is an ideal day to pray Khurshed Yasht and Meher Yasht. However, for those stretched for time, the shorter Khurshed Niyaesh and Meher Niyaesh can be prayed. Meher Yasht is one of the longest of Avesta Hymns, embodying invocations for mercy and protection. Mithra, Divinity of heavenly light, is depicted as knower of truth and one that sees everything. He is therefore the Divine Witness of truth and protector of oaths and promises. Praying the Meher Niyaesh together with the Khurshed Niyaesh or Meher Yasht is considered spiritually beneficial. It dispels the darkness of ignorance and untruth and blesses the devotee with an enhanced perception of truth, justice and commitment.

Praying the Khurshed Yasht (or Niyaesh) endows the devotee with Khoreh (Divine Energy or Divine Glory) and divine intelligence. Both, the Khurshed Yasht and Niyaesh enhance good health and aids those suffering from ailments of the eyes, heart and the spleen. These prayers also act as a spiritual shield against the onslaught of evil and bring mental clarity.

Meher Yasht affirms that when individuals are in distress or tyrannized, invoking Meher Yazad brings Divine help. Since Meher Yazad presides over all cosmic lights and sunlight, it is also said to brings wisdom and enlightenment to the mind. Meher Yazata is also the presiding deity over all rituals and ritual spaces and therefore Zoroastrian places of worship, especially in Iran are referred to as Dar-e-Meher or Darb-e-Meher which means ‘House of Meher Yazata’ or the ‘House of Light’.

Hindu Gayatri Mantra and Zoroastrian Hoshbam

In Hindu practice, chanting the Gayatri Mantra during Brahmamuhurta, about ninety minutes before sunrise, is believed to enhance clarity, calm the mind and sharpen focus. Dedicated to the sun deity Savitr, it invokes inner intelligence and renewed energy. “Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha” affirms universal consciousness across physical, mental, and spiritual realms, aligning individual awareness with the Divine.

The Zoroastrian equivalent of the Brahmamuhurta period is the period known as Hoshbam, about seventy-two minutes before sunrise. Hoshbam is the prayer of dawn focused on righteousness, happiness and spiritual protection, combining verses from several Avesta texts, including Vendidad 11.3, Yasna 27, and Yasna 8.5-7.

In the Hoshbam prayer, we affirm at the very crack of dawn, “Through the best Asha, through the highest Asha, may we catch sight of Thee (Ahura Mazda), may we approach Thee, may we be in perfect union with Thee”. Asha embodies truth, righteous conduct and Divine Order. Hence, when praying the Hoshbam we affirm at the very start of the day that by being truthful, conducting ourselves with righteousness and living in harmony with the Divine Order, we shall experience Ahura Mazda’s presence and attain His Divine friendship.