Compendium of Shenshai Zoroastrian Monthly Calendars 1379 A.Y
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Compendium of Shenshai Zoroastrian Calendars 1379 AY through 1400 AY Compendium of Shenshai Zoroastrian Monthly Calendars 1379 A.Y. (2009-2010 C.E.) through 1400 A.Y. (2030-2031 C.E.) Digital Edition Compiled For Common Use Of The Entire Zoroastrian Community By: Rohinton Erach Kadva Bangalore, India 07-September-2009 Digital Edition Compiled by: Rohinton Erach Kadva, Bangalore, India. 1 Compendium of Shenshai Zoroastrian Calendars 1379 AY through 1400 AY CONTENTS Chapter Title Page No. No. 1 Note on Zoroastrian Calendars. 2 Note on evolution of names of Roz and Months 3 Schedule of festivals. 4 Shenshai Zoroastrian Monthly Calendars : a 1379 A.Y. (2009-2010 C.E.) b 1380 A.Y. (2010-2011 C.E.) c 1381 A.Y. (2011-2012 C.E.) d 1382 A.Y. (2012-2013 C.E.) e 1383 A.Y. (2013-2014 C.E.) f 1384 A.Y. (2014-2015 C.E.) g 1385 A.Y. (2015-2016 C.E.) h 1386 A.Y. (2016-2017 C.E.) i 1387 A.Y. (2017-2018 C.E.) j 1388 A.Y. (2018-2019 C.E.) k 1389 A.Y. (2018-2020 C.E.) l 1390 A.Y. (2020-2021 C.E.) m 1391 A.Y. (2021-2022 C.E.) n 1392 A.Y. (2022-2023 C.E.) o 1393 A.Y. (2023-2024 C.E.) p 1394 A.Y. (2024-2025 C.E.) q 1395 A.Y. (2025-2026 C.E.) r 1396 A.Y. (2026-2027 C.E.) s 1397 A.Y. (2027-2028 C.E.) t 1398 A.Y. (2028-2029 C.E.) u 1399 A.Y. (2029-2030 C.E.) v 1400 A.Y. (2030-2031 C.E.) Digital Edition Compiled by: Rohinton Erach Kadva, Bangalore, India. 2 Compendium of Shenshai Zoroastrian Calendars 1379 AY through 1400 AY Chapter-1 : Note On Zoroastrian Calendars 1.00 Introduction : 1.01 Ancient Zoroastrians observed a 360 days Calendar of 12 months with each month comprising of 30 days. The months were named after seasonal festivals but the days of each month were merely numbered from one to thirty. In the middle of the fifth century BCE, during the Achaemenian era, a distinctive 360 days calendar was created. Each day (Roj) of the twelve months was assigned. However, the Egyptians of that era had a calendar based upon a 365 days solar cycle. In 46 CE the Romans adopted the Egyptian calendar but the Persians kept on following the 360 days calendar until the middle of the third century CE. 2.00 The Shenshai Calendar : 2.01 In the Shenshai calendar, a year consists of 12 months or Mahs, and each month has 30 days. Each of these days is known as a Roj, and each roj has a distinct name. However, the 12th month is followed by five additional Gatha or Gah days. A major revival of the Zoroastrian religion took place in 226 CE when the Sassanian King Ardashir I came to the Persian throne. He changed the old 360 days calendar to 365 days by adding five extra days, which were piously dedicated to the five Gathas of Zarathushtra. The Zoroastrian calendar uses the Y.Z. suffix (Yazdegerdi Era) for its calendar era (year numbering system), indicating the number of years since the coronation in 632 CE of Yezdegerd III, the last monarch of the Sassanian dynasty. 2.02 A solar calendar, however, is around 365 1/4 days, which the Gregorian calendar accommodates by adding a day every four years (leap day). Because of this difference, the Zoroastrian calendar and solar year began to diverge. In 1006 CE, the roaming New Year's day once again coincided with the day of the vernal equinox, and (according to legend) it was resolved that the Zoroastrian calendar henceforth intercalate an additional month every 120 years as prescribed in Dinkard (III.419). At the time of the decision to intercalate every 120 years, the calendar was called the Shenshai (Imperial) calendar. At some point between 1125 CE and 1250 CE, the Parsi-Zoroastrians of the Indian subcontinent inserted such an embolismic month, named Aspandarmad vahizak (the month of Aspandarmad but with a vahizak suffix). The Zoroastrians in India last remembered to add this extra month in 1129 CE. 2.03 Consequently, New Year, which originally correlated with the vernal equinox on March 21st, has since fallen earlier in the Gregorian calendar year such that it now occurs in August. The Parsis, not aware that they were not intercalating correctly, continued to call their calendar Shenshai. This practice has survived to this day, and adherents of other variants of the Zoroastrian calendar denigrate the Shenshai or Shahenshahi as "royalist". 3.00 The Kadmi Calendar : 3.01 The Zoroastrians in India intercalated an extra month to the calendar around 1129 CE, Meanwhile, the Zoroastrians who remained in Iran never once intercalated a thirteenth month. Around 1720 CE, an Irani-Zoroastrian priest named Jamasp Peshotan Velati traveled from Iran to India. Upon his arrival, he discovered that there was a difference of a month between the Parsi calendar and his own calendar. Around 1740 CE, some influential priests argued that since their visitor had been from the ancient 'homeland', his version of the calendar must be correct, and their own must be wrong. 3.02 On June 6th, 1745, a number of Parsis in and around Surat adjusted their calendars according to the recommendation of their priests, believing it to be more authentic. This calendar became known as the Kadimi calendar in both India and Iran, which in due course became contracted to Kadmi or Quadmi. Digital Edition Compiled by: Rohinton Erach Kadva, Bangalore, India. 3 Compendium of Shenshai Zoroastrian Calendars 1379 AY through 1400 AY 4.00 The Fasli Calendar : 4.01 In 1906, Khurshedji Cama, a Bombay Parsi, founded the "Zarthosti Fasili Sal Mandal", or Zoroastrian Seasonal-Year Society. The Fasili or Fasli calendar, as it became known, was based on an older model, introduced in 1079 CE. This calendar had two salient points. It was in harmony with the seasons and New Year's Day coincided with vernal equinox. Similar to Shenshai and Kadmi calendars, it followed the model (12 months of 30 days each plus 5 extra days), but also had an auto-regulatory leap day every four years - the leap day, called Avardad-sal-Gah (Pahlavi : Ruzevahizak), followed the five existing Gah days at the end of the year. The Fasli society also claimed that their calendar was an accurate religious calendar, as opposed to the other two calendars which, they asserted, were only political. 4.02 The new calendar received little support from the Indian Zoroastrian community since it was considered to contradict the injunctions expressed in the Dinkard (III.419). In Iran, however, the Fasli calendar gained momentum following a campaign in 1930. However, in Yazd the Zoroastrian community resisted and, to this day, follow the Kadmi calendar. Digital Edition Compiled by: Rohinton Erach Kadva, Bangalore, India. 4 Compendium of Shenshai Zoroastrian Calendars 1379 AY through 1400 AY Chapter-2 : Note On Evolution Of Names Of Roz And Months 2.00 Introduction : 2.01 It is interesting to note how the names of all 30 Roz (Days) and 12 months have evolved from their Pre-Gathic forms to their Current forms. (a) The Pre-Gathic Era preceded the Gathic Era. (b) The Gathic Era began after Prophet Zarauthustra revealed the Reformed Mazdayasni Religion in BC 1000 and spanned the 200-year pereiod from BC 1000 to BC 800. (c) The Avestan Era covered the 800-year period from BC 550 to AD 224 and encompassed the Achaemenian Dynasty, the Alexander / Selucid Dynasty and the Parthian Dynasty. (d) The Pahlavi Era covered the 700-year period from AD 224 to AD 900 and encompassed the Sasanian Dynasty and the first 300 years of The Arab Caliphates. (e) The Post-Pahlavi covers the 1300-year period from AD 642 to the present times and encompasses Persian, Arabic, European and Gujerati literature. 2.02 Evolved name of Roz are as follows : Roz # Evolved name 1 Ahura Mazda / Ohrmazd / Hormazd 2 Vohu Manah / Vohuman / Bahman 3 Asha / Asha Vahishta / Ardawahisht / Ardibehesht 4 Khshathra / Khshathra Vairyo / Shatravar / Shahrewar 5 Armaiti / Spenta Armaiti / Spandarmad / Aspandard 6 Haurvatat / Hordad / Khurdad / Khordad 7 Ameretat / Amurdad / Amardad 8 Dai-pa-Atar / Dai-pa-Adar 9 Atar / Adar 10 Ardvi Sura Anahita / Ardui Sur Bano / Ardvisur / Aban / Avan 11 Khwarshed / Khurshed / Khorshed 12 Maonghah / Mah / Mohor 13 Tishtrya / Tishtar / Tir 14 Geush / Gosh 15 Dai-pa-Mithra / Dai-pa-Mihr / Dai-pa-Meher 16 Mithra / Mihr / Meher 17 Sraosha / Srosh 18 Rashnu / Rashne 19 Fravardin 20 Verethraghna / Warharan / Behram 21 Raman / Ram 22 Wad / Govad 23 Dai-pa-Daena / Dai-pa-Den / Dai-pa-Din 24 Daena / Den / Din 25 Ard / Ashi / Ashi Vanghuhi / Ashishvangh 26 Arshtat / Ashtad 27 Asman 28 Zam / Zamyad 29 Mahraspand / Mareshpand 30 Anagran / Aneran 31 Ruz-e-Vahizak / Avardad Sal Gah Digital Edition Compiled by: Rohinton Erach Kadva, Bangalore, India. 5 Compendium of Shenshai Zoroastrian Calendars 1379 AY through 1400 AY 5.02 Evolved name of Months are as follows : Month # Evolved name 1 Fravardin 2 Asha / Asha Vahishta / Ardawahisht / Ardibehesht 3 Haurvatat / Hordad / Khurdad / Khordad 4 Tishtrya / Tishtar / Tir 5 Ameretat / Amurdad / Amardad 6 Khshathra / Khshathra Vairyo / Shatravar / Shahrewar 7 Mithra / Mihr / Meher 8 Ardvi Sura Anahita / Ardui Sur Bano / Ardvisur / Aban / Avan 9 Atar / Adar 10 Dai / Dae 11 Vohu Manah / Vohuman / Bahman 12 Armaiti / Spenta Armaiti / Spandarmad / Aspandard Digital Edition Compiled by: Rohinton Erach Kadva, Bangalore, India. 6 Compendium of Shenshai Zoroastrian Calendars 1379 AY through 1400 AY Chapter-3 : Schedule of Festivals Sr.