Each day of the Zoroastrian calendar is divided into five time zones, known as ‘Gehs’ or segments dedicated to worshipping and venerating Ahura Mazda and the various celestial divinities. The word ‘Gah’ or ‘Geh’ originates from the Pahlavi language, meaning ‘time, period or place’. The five ‘Gehs’ in our religion were set, keeping in mind […]
– Championing The Truth And The Ethics Of Zoroastrianism – Noshir H. Dadrawala – Zoroastrian Scholar; Trustee – Bombay Parsi Punchayat: Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla was the first and only scholarly priest to be appointed Dastur or High Priest in Karachi, Pakistan. The Avestan term for Dastur is ‘De’ or ‘Deng’, which literally means, ‘one who shows the true path’. The moral and ethical […]
Aderbad Bin (son of) Mahrespand was the Mobedan Mobed (Supreme Pontiff) and Prime Minister during the long reign (309-379 A. D.) of Shapur Hormazd also known as Shapur II. According to the Pahlavi Dinkard, from his father’s side, Aderbad Mahrespand belonged to the family of Zarathushtra, and from his mother’s to the family of Shah Vishtasp. During […]
On Sunday, 22nd August, 2021, the Ba_Humata (with_Good Thoughts) Webinar series presents a special webinar to celebrate Khordaad Saal. Titled, ‘What Asho Zarathushtra Means To Me’, the webinar comprises a Humbandagi by young Ervads from India – Er. Zahan Turel and Er. Farmaan Dastoor. This will be followed by short talks and religious songs which […]
“Our human compassion binds us to each other – not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings, who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.” – Nelson Mandela Forever, the world will be divided into ‘Pre-Covid’ and ‘Post-Covid’ times. Human connection is deeply linked to human sanity. Today, […]
Almost every religious tradition observes a day or days for remembering their near and dear departed ones. They say grief is the last act of love that we offer to those we loved; and remembering them is akin to breathing life into their fading presence from our life. Most humans, by nature, are ritualistic and […]
Among ancient Zoroastrian sacred texts, the Vendidad is probably the most significant – both historically and liturgically, and yet, it is condemned as an outdated ‘Zoroastrian Penal Code’ and the work of babbling Magi priests obsessed with imaginary demons and magic. Even today, many question the historical significance of the Vendidad. Let us understand that it is the only Nask or […]
Our holy wells contain water which is blessed and charged with invisible energies bestowed by Pak Ahura Mazda. Our Zoroastrian religion enjoins the use of flowing water (as opposed to stagnant water) which is open to the rays of the sun, to be used for religious and ritual purposes. Two easily available sources of flowing water […]
Aspandarmad or Spendarmad is the twelfth and last month of the Zoroastrian calendar. It is dedicated to Spenta Armaity – the divinity presiding over Mother Earth. While the term ‘Spenta’ can be variously translated as ‘increasing, growing, good, holy and benevolent’, the term ‘Armaity’ can also be variously translated to mean ‘devotion, piety and peace’. Spenta Armaity is an Amesha […]
The following excerpt shares Zarathushtra explaining the meaning and significance of the omnipotent, ‘Yatha Ahu Vairyo’ prayer. The heart and the core of the Ahunavar or the Yatha Ahu Vairyo prayer is Spitama Zarathushtra, for His life is the living expression of this prayer, which centers around eternal truth, love and service to mankind. Zarathushtra […]
‘Kem Na Mazda’ is the third prayer in the Pak Khordeh Avesta, after praying the ‘Yatha Ahu Vairyo’ and ‘Ashem Vohu’ – two of the mightiest mystic mantras. However, Kem Na Mazda is the first prayer with which our Kasti ritual begins. In this prayer, Zarathushtra asks Ahura Mazda, “Who will give me and my […]