Today, Saturday, 3^rd October, 2026, is Roj Behram of Mah Ardibehesht, considered a very auspicious day because Ardibehesht Amesha Spenta is Ahura Mazda’s Divine attribute of Truth, Divine Order and Healing while Bahram Yazata protects, removes obstacles and bestows victory or success. Among Zoroastrians, Behram Yazata is a favourite Divinity. The 20^th day (Roj) of every month (Mah) in the Zoroastrian calendar is dedicated to Bahram Yazata and this Roj is considered as very special and auspicious. Many choose to begin a new task, implement a personal new resolution, or undertake a new project on this day, since Bahram Yazata is known to remove obstacles and grants success.

The Bahram Yasht enumerates ten forms in which the divinity (Bahram Yazata) appears: As a swift wind, as an armed warrior and as an adolescent youth. In the remaining seven form he appears as a bull with horns of gold, a white horse with ears and a muzzle of gold, a camel, a boar, a bird of prey, a ram, and a wild goat. These forms are symbolic attributes of Bahram Yazata, who can be swift and cleansing as the wind, powerful and valiant as a warrior, energetic like a youth, strong as a bull etc. It is said that Verethragna Bahram Yazata comes to the aid of a devotee in any one or more of these ten forms and removes obstacles.

What To Pray?

It would be spiritually meritorious to pray the Ardibehesht Yasht and the Bahram Yasht today. Praying the Bahram Yasht is considered efficacious for good health (Bahram is Hamkar or co-worker of Ardibehest), financial gain or stability, livelihood, and good relationship. Adar Yazata (presiding over fire) and Sarosh Yazata (guardian spirit of the souls of the living and dead) are Bahram Yazata’s close companions.

Invoking The Giver Of Victory

In India, devout Zoroastrians make it a point to pray the Bahram Yasht, preferably at an Atash Bahram, if possible. Many even make it a point to travel to Udwada on this special day and seek the Blessings of Iranshah, the very first and oldest Atash Bahram consecrated on Indian soil at Sanjan (South Gujarat) more than a millennia ago.

In Iran, several local shrines dedicated to Bahram Yazata are found in Zoroastrian centres such as Yazd and Tehran. Zoroastrians gather there, especially on Bahram Roj or Fridays, seeking protection, hope and fulfilment of wishes. Devotees pray the Behram Yasht, the hymn of victory, and offer oil where sacred flames burn continuously.

Bahram Yazata is revered as Fattehmand, Firuzgar and Dushman Zadaar, signifying victory and the destruction of enemies. The name Bahram derives from the Avesta term Verethraghna, meaning success or victory.

During the Sasanian era, Zoroastrian kings prayed at an Atash Bahram before battle or established one after victory in thanksgiving. The Kissa-e-Sanjan recounts that when early Parsi migrants sailing from Div to Sanjan encountered a terrifying storm, they prayed to Bahram Yazata, vowing to consecrate an Atash Bahram if they reached shore safely. Keeping their promise, they established the first Atash Bahram at Sanjan. More than a thousand years later, this sacred, victory-giving fire continues to burn brightly in the beautiful village of Udwada.

In the Avesta, Ardibehesht is referred to as Asha Vahishta, translated as Truth, Righteousness and Divine Order. Vahishta mean ‘the Best’. In Zoroastrian sacred texts, Truth is seen as a moral and ethical attribute of the Supreme Divinity. Ardibehesht embodies Ahura Mazda’s Truth, Righteousness and the Divine Order. Ardibehesht therefore is Ahura Mazda creative energy that sustains and heals the Universe.

Ardibehest as Healer

Ardibehesht is the Amshaspand (Archangel) or Amesha Spenta (Bounteous Immortal) presiding over the energy of fire. Adar Yazad is a Hamkara or helper of Ardibehesht. It is for this reason that many fire temples were consecrated in this month, the most notable being the Anjuman Atash Bahram which was consecrated on Roj Ardibehesht, Mah Ardibehesht (1897) and the Navsari Atash Bahram,  consecrated on Roj Sarosh, Mah Ardibehesht (1765).

The Ardibehesht Yasht refers to five types of healers: “Ashō-baēshazō, dātō-baeshazō, karetō-baēshazō, urvarōbaēshazō, mānthrō-baēshazō; baēshazanām baēshazyōtemō yat mānthrem-spentem-baēshazyō; yō narsh ashaonō hacha uruthwān baēshzyāt, aeshō zī asti baēshazanām baēshazyōtemō” or  “One who heals by means of purification rites or through his own Ashoi or piety (Ashō-baēshazō), one who cures (social ills) by law and justice (dātō-baeshazō), one who heals with the knife like a surgeon (karetō-baēshazō), one who restores health by means of herbs and vegetation (urvarōbaēshazō), and one who heals by means of reciting the mānthra or prayers (mānthrō-baēshazō)”. The Yasht affirms that the “best among healers is the one who heals reciting the mānthra”.

Every Zoroastrian household has a prayer nook at home where one lights a diva (oil lamp). Over time this becomes the abode of Ardibehesht – reminding us to be truthful and conduct our life righteously. More importantly, with Ardibehesht one also ushers healing and life-giving energy into one’s home. Keeping a diva burning at home is to keep the energy of life and good health flowing at home.

Bahram Yasht

In the Bahram Yasht we pray: “Verethraghnem ahura-dhaatem yazamaide. Peresat zarathushtro ahurem mazdam, ahura mazda mainyo spenishta daatare gaethanaam astvaitinām ashaa­­um, ko asti mainyavanaam yazatanaam zyotemo?Aat mraot ahuro mazdaao, verethraghno ahuradhaato, spitama Zarathushtra … vohu khvareno mazda-dhaatem, barat khareno mazdadhaatem baeshazem uta amemcha” which means: “We venerate Bahram Yazata created by Ahura. Zarathushtra asked Ahura Mazda, “Oh Ahura Mazda spirit most beneficent, creator of the material world. O holy one! Who   is the best helper in times of trouble, among spiritual Yazatas? Then Ahura Mazda replied, Victorious Behram Yazata, created by me, Oh Spitama Zarathushtra, who provides great energy, divine energy, health, and courage to those who remember him.”

In other words, Ahura Mazda affirms that the spirit of victory is created by him and this Divine Energy (Bahram Yazata) gives all those who invoke this spirit, the energy, strength and courage to succeed. There is also a tradition to pray the Bahram Yasht every day for a period of forty days, preferably at the same time. Many devotees vouch for the efficacy of this religious discipline. Many have found solutions to difficult problems and many more have found the strength, courage, and inspiration to go through difficult times.

Ardibehesht Yasht 

Ardibehesht Yasht (litany) can be prayed every day. It is one of the best prayers for healing all kinds of ailments.

In the Ardibehesht Yasht we pray: “Ādim framraomi Ashem Vahishtem; yezī framraomi Ashem Vahishtem, āat anyaēsham Ameshanām Spentanām hvāyaonem; yim pāiti Mazdāo humatāish, yim pāiti Mazdāo hūkhtāish, yim pāiti Mazdāo hvarshtāish. Garō-nmānem Ahurahe hvāyaonem. Garō-nmānem nereyō asti ashāvaoyō. Naēchish dravatām ayene paitish garō-nmanem, ravohu ashāyonem chithrem Ahurem Mazdām.”

Translated, it means: “I like him (i.e., Ardibehesht); when I like Ardibehesht, then (he) of (all) other Ameshāspands (becomes) a helper, whom (the Creator) Ahura Mazda nourishes with good thoughts, and good words, and good actions. The Garothmān (Paradise) is Ahura Mazda’s own abode. The Garothmān (Paradise) is for righteous persons.”

The essence of this verse is that only a righteous person can be in the abode or presence of Ahura Mazda.

The Nirang of Ardibehesht

The Nirang of Ardibehesht is a very powerful capsule prayer which should be recited three times after the recitation of Ardibehesht Yasht.

“Dādāre jehādār tavānā O dānā, O parvartār O āfarīdegār, O kerfehgar, O avakhshīdār. Ahereman hīch, nādān, O natavānad ba hīch chīz nashahed. Ahura Mazda dādārī, ahereman marochīnīdārī. Dādār pāk, ahereman nāpāk; ahereman khāk shavad, ahereman dūr shavad, ahereman dafe shavad, ahereman shekasteh shavad, ahereman halāk shavad. Avval dīn Zarathushtī pāk; Ahura Mazda buland kavī, beh, awazūnī.” 

Which means: “The Creator, the keeper of the world, (is) omnipotent and omniscient, and the Nourisher of all, and the producer, and the Doer of meritorious deeds and overseer. Ahriman is nothing whatsoever (and is) ignorant, and cannot do anything. Hormazd (is) the Creator (and) Ahriman the destroyer. The Creator (is) Holy and Ahriman (is) wicked. May Ahriman perish, may Ahriman be far away, may Ahriman be vanished, may Ahriman be defeated and may Ahriman be overcome. The foremost Religion (is the) pure Zoroastrian (Religion); Hormazd (is) Exalted, Powerful, Good (and) the Increaser.”