Navroze is the first day of the Zoroastrian Fasli calendar, literally meaning ‘New Day’ i.e. the beginning of Spring, the first month – ‘Farvardin’. Persians perform different traditions before and after ‘Norouz’ – such as Spring cleaning (Khane Tekani), Festival of Fire (Chaharshanbe Suri), visiting relatives on Navroze and decorating the special Navroz table or ‘Haftseen’ with seven auspicious articles. […]
Ineffable light art thou, Ahura Mazda. Light is the manifestation of Thee. Thou hast filled the world with a million marvels, fair and bright. With Thy glad-some light, man can scan the marvels that Thou hast wrought. Beauty appeals to the aesthetic nature of man. But the world were not beautiful to behold, were it […]
‘Magic’ as an expression has its roots in the term Magi. The Magi or Magus were ancient Zoroastrian priests belonging to a tribe in North-western Iran known as the Medes. Darius the Great in his historic inscription on Mount Behistun near modern day Kermansha in Iran also speaks about a certain Magus by the name […]
Aeshma, the Demon of Wrath, is the impetuous assailant of man. He stirs up strife and hostility and spreads discord and disturbances. Anger breeds vindictiveness and revenge. When anger puts man out of his wits, he is all on fire with excitement. He flies to anger, flings prudence to the winds and forgets himself. His […]
Thou dost pour down all the sublime riches of Thy boundless mercy. Thou art the merciful father of the tatherless and friendless who look to Thee for comfort and support. Thou art all-powerful, as Thou art all-merciful. Mercy wedded to power gives it grace. Thou art just, but Thou dost temper Thy justice with mercy. […]
Since ancient times, mountains have held a place of special reverence in Zoroastrian lore. There is nothing pagan about this belief, because all devout Zoroastrians have been enjoined with a sacred duty to look after, respect and revere all the good creations of Ahura Mazda. In the prayer pertaining to homage unto mountains, we pray: […]
Ahura Mazda’s two primeval Spirits made their own choice of Good and Evil. The Holy Spirit chose Righteousness. Not so the Evil Spirit. He chose Wickedness. The Yazatas are free and the Amesha Spentas are free. They fall not from their creator. Ahura Mazda has honored man the most by conferring upon him Freedom of […]
. Reader’s Query: Sir, why are four kinds of Fire required to consecrate Pak Atash Padshah in an Adarian and 16 kinds of Fire to consecrate an Atash Behram? Er. Ramiyar: In the fire of Ādarān status, four types of fires are used – they cover all the four groups of society – priests, administrators, […]
Sin screens Thy fair face, Ahura Mazda, from me, as the cloud hides the sun from sight. The mists of sin veil Thy light and I grope in darkness. Sin severs me from Thee as wide as earth from heaven. Sin enthrals my soul and deadens it to Thee. Zarathushtra taught me the way of […]
Thou, Ahura Mazda, hast given me this strong and healthy body. It is appended to my soul. It is the citadel of my soul. Material is my body, when spiritual is the soul. My body will one day turn to dust and my soul will wing its way heavenward to render an account of its […]
I praise and honour and adore the Fravashis of those men and women of all climes and of all times, who, pure like fire and chaste like snow, have lived for righteousness. Girt with the armour of righteousness, they have fought against wickedness. Their lives have been lives of one long martyrdom. They rose to […]