In 2008, Chairman Trustee of M J Wadia Agiary Trust – Kersi Limathwalla commenced workshops on a complete Structured Religious Course, under the Directorship of Er. Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia, at the state-of-the-art Agiary Hall, with the aim of bringing together like-minded people to learn about religion. After covering the Niyaeshes and several Yashts, a pressing need was felt to go back to our roots and gain deeper insight into our prayers. Answering this need, on 14^th April, 2024, began a new, year-long course, covering 5 Gehs, 5 Niyaeshes and Hoshbam in exhaustive detail, alongside an understanding of the Gatha, and a moral story from the Shah Nameh concluding each class.

A Few Teachings Expounded by Er. Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia: “Gatha Ushtavad: is about asking questions – In Yasna 44.3, Zarathushtra beseeches Ahura Mazda to reveal unto Him the Laws of the Cosmic World… Who is the Creator of Asha? Who makes the Sun, Moon, Stars and Planets move in their orbits? Yasna 44.4 questions who upholds the earth, skies and mountains in place; Who Created Vohu Manah? The Creator of all Creations is answered: ‘Thee – O Ahura Mazda!’

In the Haavan Geh, the concept of time is crucial, hence well expounded in the Zoroastrian Religion. Khordad Ameshaspand presides over Time and Seasons. Originally, there was Endless Time (Zravaneh Akaraneh) and then there came Created Time (Zravaneh Darego Khadhat), giving rise to a further division of time – years, months, ghambhars, days and gehs. We have 5 gehs in a day which are inter-connected and have a specific purpose. Each geh is connected to a specified Divine Yazad, who is in turn linked to a specific element of Nature. When we recite our prayers meaningfully, we first connect with the Yazad of prayers – Sarosh Yazad through the Sarosh Baaj, then with the specific Yazad of the Geh, then we do our Farajyat, which empowers us spiritually, and finally we connect to the specific Yasht.”

This was followed by an interactive round where many questions by participants were answered. The query regarding what should comprise our morning Farajyat prayers, was answered as, “Kashti, Sarosh Baaj, Geh, Khorshed and Meher Niyaeshes, Dua Vispa Humata, Dua Naam Setayeshne, Char Disha no Namaskar and 101 Names of Ahura Mazda.”

Other aspects answered included the period of Gaashak (the period between two Gehs) meaning ‘bad time’ – occurring 8 – 10 minutes before and after the change of a Geh during which one should avoid reciting prayers. ‘Yatha Ahu Vairyo, Ashem Vohu and Yenghe Haataam’ are deemed our most powerful prayers, also called the ‘Aazaad Kalaam’, as they can be prayed anytime and anywhere; followed by the uplifting ‘Aa Airyema Isho’ prayer.

The Structured Religious Course is held on the first Sunday of each month. To register in the next class (2^nd June, 2024), Call / Whatsapp: +91 9819379345

[Courtesy: Roxane Desai]