From day unto day will I lift my heart in thanksgiving unto Thee when I take my daily meals, O Creator, Nourisher, and Sustainer of the world. Thou dost feed me and clothe me and provide me with all my needs, Thou, my maker, knowest my wants and freely dost Thou bestow them upon me […]
PT: What is the meaning of the word ‘Baj’. Er. Karanjia: ‘Baj’ basically means both – speech and silence. In speech, the prayer is mouthed silently, not intelligibly. ‘Baj’, in the Farsi language, is derived from the word ‘Waj’ in the Pahlavi and Pazand languages, and the word ‘Wach’ in the Avesta language. The Baj […]
With homage and adoration, praise and glorification, I lay my offering at Thy feet, and dedicate my all to Thee, Ahura Mazda. What I bring unto Thee and call mine is in truth Thine own, for all I own is of Thy rich bounty, O Thou lord of bountiful gifts. The offerings and oblations that […]
PT: What is the difference between Yazads and Ameshaspands? Er. Karanjia: When Dadar Ahura Mazda created the universe and human beings, He also created divine angels, segregated into Yazads and Ameshaspands. Through prayer, we can invoke and receive the help of Yazads to fulfil our wishes and Ameshaspands aid us in our physical, intellectual and […]
PT: Did Zoroastrians in Iran celebrate New Year on March 21st, before the exodus to India and other countries? Er. Karanjia: Never ever in history did Zoroastrians in Iran celebrate their religious New Year (Navroz) on 21st March. They celebrated it around the time of the Vernal Equinox. The day continued to fluctuate backwards by […]
Khosrow I, (Chosroes I or Kaswra), better known as Anushirvan, “the Immortal Soul” or Anushirvan-e-dadgar, Anushirvan the Just, or Naushirvan the just, the twenty-second Shahenshah of the Sasanian empire was born in AD 501 (Some historians say he was born in AD 498). He was known as one of the greatest emperors of Persia for […]
Our community has different religious titles which are applied before the names of individuals, like ‘Behdin’ for the non-priestly sect and ‘Osta’, ‘Osti’, ‘Ervad’, etc. for priests. These religious titles are based on the religious status of people and are prefixed before their names, when mentioned in prayers and rituals, like the Jashan, Afringan and […]
‘Ahunavaiti’: This is probably the oldest poetic literature in the world today, with the words of the poet himself intact. From Ahunavaiti Gatha we learn that Asho Zarathushtra was chosen as the Lord and Leader to bring relief to the tumultuous world which had fallen prey to chaos. It was a time of strife, violence […]
I need Thee, only Thee, I cannot do without Thee, Ahura Mazda. Be Thou ever near me and with me. Grant that I may live in Thee and Thou in me. I have everything when I have Thee. Everything is mine when Thou are mine, With Thee by my side. I am rich in the […]
Sunday, 7th August, 2016 marks the first day of the holy Muktad or Fravardegan days. The last 10 days of the Shehanshai Zoroastrian calendar (i.e., Roj Astad to Aneran and the five days of the Gatha) are very significant to all practicing Zoroastrians as these are considered to be very holy. Doctrinally it is believed […]
Work Thy sovreign will and rule over all as Thou willest, Ahura Mazda, Rule at Thy will in sublime felicity over the waters and over the planes and over the entire creation of righteousness. I will make Thy will the pole star of my life and will think and speak and do as is Thy […]