Er. Khushru Nariman Panthaky

Zartosht No-Diso or the death anniversary of Paigambar Asho Zarathustra, in the Shenshai calendar, is observed on Khorshed Roj of Dae Mah – corresponding to 22^nd May, 2026. This day memorialises the passing of the prophet at age 77.

The general perception of how Asho Zarathushtra departed from the material world: This perception makes it appear as if Zarathushtra was a normal human being possessing the spirit of revenge and then meeting the ultimate fate of death. “On this day, while Zarathushtra was offering prayers in His Atash Behram a Turk stabbed Him in the back with a dagger and killed Him.” Before dying, Zarathushtra flung His rosary at the Turk and he too died.

The narration found extensively in our Scriptures reveal that Zarathushtra was Ahura Mazda’s “chosen one” who was sent to earth with the two-fold mission: of a) showing the world the true path of Asha; and b) dispelling all forms of evil tormenting the world.

For over four thousand years before Zarathushtra’s advent on earth, Tur-Bara-Tur (the most powerful among the powerful), the evil, conscious Satan, having a monstrously inflated body of darkness, was causing immense misery and suffering to the people on earth. Geush Urva, the sub-angelic potentiality appointed for protecting all the souls on earth, appealed to Ahura Mazda to end the unbearable menace of the powerful evil force. (Yazeshne Ha 29/1)

Ahura Mazda assured Geush Urva that in response to the appeal, He would send Zarathushtra to show mankind the path of purity (Asha) and to end Tur-Bara-Tur’s reign of terror, evil and suffering. (Geush does not mean ox or cow – as some scholars interpret, but a Divine Entity possessing the blissful qualities exhibited by cow kind).

Zarathushtra accomplished His first Divine mission of establishing the Zoroastrian Religion (to show mankind the path of purity – Asha). He had now to fulfil His second mission of vanquishing Tur-Bara-Tur, as promised by Ahura Mazda to Geush Urva. At the appropriate time, Zarathushtra gave a final sermon to His devotees in His specially consecrated Atash Behram. After the sermon, He concentrated all His ‘Aoj’ power and hurled a ring of shining halo towards Tur-Bara-Tur. This shattered the gigantic body of Tur-Bara-Tur into fragments.

The impact of this great attack of the power of ‘Aoj’ resulted in a tremenduous ‘rebound shock’ which could have shattered the earth to pieces. To protect the earth and Ahura Mazda’s creations, Zarathushtra deliberately drew the rebound shock to Himself. His body elements disintegrated and returned to the sub-regions of subtle elements in the ultra-physical world and His sin-free Soul ascended to Pahlum Ahwaan (Paradise beyond the Chinvat Bridge), after fulfilling both His missions.

The learned Professor Jackson, citing the accounts of ancient Greek and Latin scholars, states – “His (Zarathrushtra’s) is no ordinary end, He perished by lightning or a flame from Heaven!”

Understanding Asho Zarathushtra’s power of ‘Aoj’

In the ‘Dibacho’ (preamble) of the Pazand Afrin-e-Arda-Fravash, four Divine Powers are mentioned in a group, namely: ‘Aoj’, ‘Zor’, ‘Niru’, ‘Tagi’.

Aoj: The tremendous power and potency possessed by Ameshaspands and Yazads to perform their individual tasks of helping Ahura Mazda in the Divine administration of the universe. This power was also bestowed by Ahura Mazda on Zarathushtra, raising Him to the status of a Yazad.

Zor: Spiritual powers developed by a pious priest or saintly warrior (Ratheshtar) by practicing Ashoi.

Niru: The unfathomable screen of light embodying Aoj, Zor and Tagi.

Tagi: The additional power besides ‘Aoj’, possessed only by Sarosh Yazad (Asho Zarathushtra being the deputy of Sarosh Yazad).

Misconceptions cleared in the light of above clarifications

No mortal Turk was present in the Atash Behram waiting to ‘kill’ Zarathushtra. Attempts were made to harm Him ever since He was a child but none succeeded. Tir Yasht (Karda 44) states: “Neither Ahriman, nor sorcerers, nor witches, nor all demons collectively can strike or dare to strike Zarathushtra.”  (Tir Yazad is the guiding Yazad of the stars and Zarathushtra as also protector of human beings). By being given the power of ‘Aoj’, Zarathushtra attained the status of a ‘Yazad’ – no mortal could ever harm Him.

Zarathushtra hurled a ring of shining halo to destroy Tur-Bara-Tur – it was not a rosary to kill a mortal Turk. Zarathushtra’s end came not by the Turk’s dagger but by the ‘rebound shock’ which Zarathushtra intentionally drew to Himself in order to protect the world and all Ahura Mazda’s creations.

Henceforth, whenever we reflect upon Asho Zarathushtra, let us do so with the reverence and understanding befitting his exalted spiritual stature, rather than viewing him through the limited lens of ordinary human comparison. May Asho Zarathushtra’s blessings continue to be showered upon our beloved Zoroastrian community!

A respected scholar of Zoroastrianism, Er. Khushru Nariman Panthaky served as Head Master of Dadar Madressa for 8 years and Principal of Andheri Madressa for 13 years. He authored the books ‘Some Basic Tenets of Zoroastrianism’ and ‘My Fabulous Religion’, later reprinted by The Parsi Vegetarian and Temperance Society. He has delivered lectures on Zoroastrianism across Mumbai, online and on All India Radio. Professionally, he served the Central Bank of India for three decades and remained actively involved in community service as a Committee Member at Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat, and Trustee at The Parsi Vegetarian and Temperance Society.