A Zoroastrian Tribute To The Father Of The Nation Gandhi Jayanti is a national holiday celebrated across India to mark the occasion of the birthday of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on 2nd October every year. To many, it is just a holiday to enjoy or at worse, a ‘dry day’! The question that many ask, is whether what […]
Author: Noshir H. Dadrawala
Popular Parsi Myths- Part XI
Power Of Prayers And Relevance Of Rituals Myth: Prayers and rituals are a complete waste to time, money and energy. Good thoughts, good words and good deeds are good enough to be a good Zoroastrian. There is no place for prayers and rituals in the highly intellectual philosophy of Zarathushtra as expounded in the […]
A Unique Zoroastrian Insight: ‘Vighnaharta’ And ‘Verethragna’ As Remover Of Obstacles
Lord Ganesha is invoked before commencing anything significant and it is for this reason that he is called the ‘Lord of Beginnings’. He is also known as Vighnaharta or remover of obstacles. The concept of Vighnaharta or remover of obstacles resonates with the Zoroastrian concept of Verethragna or victorious (in overcoming difficulties, foes or enemies). What Vighnaharta Ganesha is to devout Hindus, Verethragna Bahram […]
Tribute To Dadabhai Naoroji, The Grand Old Man of India
The 4th of September marked the Birth Anniversary of one of our Community’s greatest legends – Dadabhai Naoroji (born on 4 September, 1825). Having earned the title of the ‘Grand Old Man of India’, Dadabhai Naoroji was perhaps one of the greatest leaders of our nation, having known to have influenced among many others, Mahatma […]
Popular Parsi Myths (X)
Myth: Mount Damavand in Iran is a mountain in Northern Iran where a demon is enchained. Therefore, it would be improper to call it holy or to revere it! It is a beautiful mountain. It is the tallest mountain in Iran, but, there is nothing holy about it! Fact: Mount Damavand is indeed the highest […]
Rakhi – The Band and Bond of Protection
The Hindu Perspective: Raksha Bandhan (Bond of Protection) is celebrated on the Purnima or full moon day of the auspicious month of Shravana. The festival commemorates sibling love, particularly between brother and sister. The sister ties the Rakhi on her brother’s hand as a symbol of her love and talisman for his good health and […]
Celebrate Khordad Sal And Aspire For Perfection
Zoroastrians observe Khordad Roj (day) of Fravardin Mah (month) as Khordad Saal. This is the sixth day of the first month of the Zoroastrian calendar. Each of the 30 days of the month, as also each of the 12 months of the Zoroastrian calendar, is dedicated to an Amesha Spenta (Bounteous Immortal) or a Yazata […]
Our Relationship With Ahura Mazda And The Religion Of Zarathushtra
In certain religious traditions, God is perceived as a fearsome divinity (the adjective – ‘God-fearing’ is quite common in the English lexicon) or as the Lord or as Malik (Master). However, in our Zoroastrian tradition Ahura Mazda is neither to be feared nor a master to be pleased. The relationship that a Zoroastrian has with […]
Popular Parsi Myths (IX)
Myth: The Jamaspi is an authentic Zoroastrian book of revelations and accurately predicts events that will unfold for the community and the world in the future. Fact: It would be a myth to state that the Persian and Gujarati Jamaspi contain some authentic utterances of Jamasp – the apostle of Zarathushtra. In fact, most of […]
Understanding The Essence Of Muktaad …How To Truly Observe The Muktaad Days…
The holy Muktaad or Fravardegan days are the last ten days of the Zoroastrian calendar and are of great significance in every pious Zoroastrian’s life. On August 17, 2018, it will be the first day (Roj Hormuzd) of the first month (Mah Fravardin) of the Shehanshai calendar corresponding to the year, 1388 Yezdazirdi (YZ). […]
Popular Parsi Myths (VIII)
Myth: The Northern direction is inauspicious from the Zoroastrian point of view Fact: The Northern direction is not inauspicious simply because doctrinally we are precluded from praying facing the North. In fact, in the char disha no namaskar we pay homage to all four directions, including the North. Is there any rationale for not praying […]