Thou, Ahura Mazda, hast made Zarathushtra the lord and overseer over mankind. Like unto the radiant and glorious Tishtrya, he is the beacon-light on the horizon of life and lights our path leading to Thee. He is the embodiment of truth, righteousness and goodness of earth. Zarathustra is the polar star of man’s searchings. He […]
PT: What is the meaning of the word ‘Vispa’ and the essence of this prayer? Er. Bajan: The word ‘Vispa’ of the Avestan language means all. The prayer is composed of simple words of the Avestan language which enables us to understand it easily. The simple verbatim English translation is “All good thoughts, All good […]
In his empire of evil, Angra Mainyu, the Evil Spirit, laid a wager that who so of the host of hell successfully tempted Zarathustra to his fall, would be raised high in rank in the region of darkness. Buiti, the adept in the art of luring man to apostasy, took it. With a hundred devices […]
PT: Tell us about the origin of ‘Gehs’. Er. Karanjia: The word ‘Gah’ or ‘Geh’ originates from the Pahlavi language, meaning ‘time, period or place’. Time is a very important concept in the Zoroastrian religion. The world was created as a fixed period of time from endless time. To be connected to God it is […]
Glorious springtime had come and wide awake was the earth from its wintery sleep. Fields and forces that seemed deadened winter long were now blooming. Green grass carpeted the earth and warbling lands and flocks and herds made merry on the grassy ground. Blades and ears bloomed into corn and golden corn waved in fair […]
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. […]