If ye will only know and learn these Laws, Which Mazda hath ordained for ye, O men, The Laws of happiness, the Laws of pain, That falsehood hinders progress, That Truth leads on to a fuller higher life, Upon all such the Light Divine shall dawn. (Yasna 30:11) According to Zoroastrian theology, death involves the […]
Adarbad, the son of Mahrespand, was the Mobedan Mobed (Supreme Pontiff) and Prime Minister during the 70-year-long reign (309-379 A.D.) of Shapur Hormazd or Shapur II. According to the Pahlavi Dinkard, from his father’s side Adarbad Mahrespand belonged to the family of Zarathushtra and from his mother’s side, to the family of Shah Vishtasp of […]
In this New year 2026 let us strive to be sensitive to the fact that everything and everyone is linked in a vast web of relationships – biologically, chemically, socially and spiritually – where actions have ripple effects, forming a complex, interdependent system of shared existence and responsibility rather than isolation. Let this fundamental truth […]
This year was challenging for many. The world experienced multiple natural and man-made disasters including earthquakes, floods, draught, wildfires, tsunamis, wars and catastrophic accidents. As any other year, 2025 too has been a reminder about the fragility of human life on this planet. However, the brand-new year 2026 is just a few days away, offering […]
21st December will be observed by Zoroastrians as Yalda and soon after, follows Christmas. Yalda is the longest night of the year in the Northern hemisphere and marks the winter solstice. This festival was formally included in the ancient Iranian calendar since at least 502 BCE under the reign of Darius the Great. Many of […]
According to the Shehenshahi Zoroastrian calendar, today is Roj Hormazd of Mah Amardad. Avesta Ameretat or Amardad is the seventh Amesha Spenta – Divine Essence of Ahura Mazda. In the Zoroastrian tradition, each Amesha Spenta has guardianship over a Good Creation of Ahura Mazda, thus representing the presence of the creator in every creation. Ameretat […]
A Parsi Times reader asked who Dastur Dinyar (also known as Salman-e-Fars) was and whether he was a close companion of Hazrat Mohamed, the Prophet of Islam? The reader has also asked whether the Prophet of Islam had issued various Firman (edict) called Ahadnameh decreeing that Zoroastrians should not be harmed? While it seems that […]
Can science, which seeks evidence, and religion, which needs faith, find compatibility? Should we treat science and religion as mutually exclusive or complimentary to each other, more so because science deals with the head (mind) while religion deals with the heart (emotion?) In life, as we all know, striking the balance of head and heart […]
Last week we featured Shahpur, son of Ardashir, and his new statue installed in Tehran. This week, we explore Ardashir himself – Founder of the Sasanian dynasty, who established Zoroastrianism as Iran’s State Religion in the third century. In the third century AD, Iran experienced a significant revival and consolidation of the Zoroastrian faith. During […]
On 7th November, 2025, Iranians gathered in large numbers at Enghelab (Revolution) Square, in central Tehran for the unveiling of a statue celebrating an ancient Persian victory over foreign enemies. Reportedly, it was a show of defiance against Iran’s modern-day adversaries. The monument depicts the triumph of ancient imperial Iran over the might of ancient […]
From a spiritual perspective, the 24-hour day is tied to the cyclical nature of energy and consciousness. In Zoroastrianism, each day is divided into five Gah or Geh, each spanning over a period of four to five hours. The first two – Ushahin Geh and Havan Geh are longer since most rituals and religious ceremonies are […]