‘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 […]
Tag: Rituals
Zoroastrian Prayers and Rituals
Many people regard ‘Ritual’ and ‘Reason’ as being anti-thetical. In reality, both are complementary factors in the process of spiritual growth. Prayers and rituals are born of man’s adoration for that unseen power underlying the mystery of life. Each religion prescribes its own set of practices as a means of adoration or worship or to […]
A Religious Chat With Er. Nozer Mehenty – Part II
. PT: Who can perform the Vandidad and Nirang Din prayers and where do they need to be performed? Er. Mehenty: Vandidad and Nirangdeen ceremonies can be performed only by Mobeds who have completed Sampuran Navar and Martab ceremonies from Madressa (Yozasthregar Mobeds). It can be done only by Barshnum Mobeds. Vandidad and Nirangdeen are […]
Muktads In Kanpur
The primary functional Agiary of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the ‘Byramji Nowroji Javeri Dar-E-Meher’ in Kanpur, every year invites Behdin Pasbans, from Mumbai and Navsari, during the holy days of Muktad and Gathas to help offer religious prayers, in absence of Mobeds. Since 2013, the Behdin Pasbans have been devotedly taking care of the sacred […]
Dwindling Numbers and Declining Traditions
In the last sixty years, the Parsi population in India reduced from 1,14,000 (1941) to 57,264 (2011), according to the Census Reports. This means our population has nearly halved! Until mid of the last century, most families had four to ten children! They stayed together, ate together, prayed together and supported each other in times of […]
Aapri Parsi Bhasha
Parsis landed in India about 1200 years ago. The exact date of landing differs amongst scholars but that is not important. After the sugar and spice, and all that’s nice sort of episodes, we were allowed to stay in the kingdom of Sanjan, but with a rider, rather four riders – one of which was, […]
Rustom Framna Agiary Celebrates 88th Salgreh
Rustom Framna Agiary celebrated its 88th salgreh on 23rd April, 2017, commencing with a Khushali-nu-Jasan at 11am, performed by its Mobeds, followed in the evening by another Khushali-nu-Jasan, and a Jasan in memory of late Dasturji Framroze Kutar’s death anniversary. Dasturji Kutar was the first and only Panthaki of the Rustom Framna Agiary. Under his […]