Some of us believe that prayers and rituals are not in accord with the spirit and message of the Gathas. Their emphasis is only on ‘rational thought’ and the simplistic notion of “good thoughts, good words and good deeds”. Agreed, the religion of Asho Zarathushtra is not based on blind faith, superstition or fear of […]
On 1st October, 2016, Irani Zoroastrians across the globe celebrate the festival of ‘Mehrgan’ (Meher roj, Meher mah), which honours the ‘Yazata of Mehr’ since the Persian era. In ancient Iran, celebrations were held when the name of the month coincides with the name of the day. The word ‘Meher’ or ‘Mithra’ means Sun and friendship and is also one of […]
At the time of the Hamaspathmaedaya festival, when the snow begins to melt and the rivers begin to flow and the trees begin to grow and the birds begin to fly, the august, glorious and efficacious Fravashis, the Guardian Spirits of the righteous dead, wing their flight earthward from the heavenly regions. Eager and solicitous […]
PT: Why do we venerate the aquatic bodies? Er. Karanjia: By praying the Avan Nyaish or the Avan Yasht, near any aquatic body, especially flowing water, ‘Avan Yazad’ blesses us with protection and abounding our life with joy, piety, good health, prosperity and wisdom. The 7th section of the Avan Nyaish says “I, Ahura Mazda, […]
Death upon earth is birth in heaven, first said He who is Zarathushtra. O giver of both life and death, Ahura Mazda. The disembodied soul is born anew in heaven. As childbirth is attended by travail and pang and the loving mother goes through suffering at delivery of the child she brings forth into the […]
PT: What is the importance of wells in the Zoroastrian religion? Er. Karanjia: The 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 are wells and rivers. […]
Thy word incarnate, Ahura Mazda, is Sraosha, the impersonation of Thy religious lore. He is the celestial teacher of the Mazda – worshipping religion, even as Zarathushtra is the terrestrial. He, the wakeful and watchful, has not rested by day or by night since Spenta Mainyu and Angra Mainyu, Thy Spirits twain, the Good and […]
Homage unto the Amesha Spentas, the lordly and shining, the Holy Immortals, that are seven with Thee, their father and creator, O Ahura Mazda. These Thy Archangels sublime, are the rulers and overseers and protectors of Thy creation in both the worlds. May they descend from their celestial heights to lead and guide the […]
Spitman Zarathushtra came into this world smiling. He grew up to be a poet and a prophet, and he wrote the poetic epic – the Gathas. His message to the world was ‘Pure Morality’. The Gathas have survived the tyranny of time and history, and even today, they show us the path to good living […]
Countless myriads are the Yazatas, the worshipful ones, terrestrial and celestial created by Thee, Ahura Mazda. Behind a multitude of Thy Yazatas, Thou dost stand the Yazatanam Yazata, the Most Worshipful One. These Thy angels, holy and beneficent mighty and glorious, work in the domain assigned to them by Thee. Thou dost govern through their […]
On this day. Zoroastrians converge at Doongerwadi, where the Farokshi prayer, which begins with the Satum Kardo, followed by the 31 sections (Karda) of the Farvardin Yasht, are recited by our priests to invoke the blessings of the Fravashis and souls of the departed. Offerings of fruit, flowers and water are made. PT: What does […]