Zoroastrians Their Religious Beliefs and Practices
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Mah Tir, Mah Bahman & Asfandarmad 1 Mah Asfandarmad 1369
Mah Tir, Mah Bahman & Asfandarmad 1 Mah Asfandarmad 1369, Fravardin & l FEZAN A IN S I D E T HJ S I S S U E Federation of Zoroastrian • Summer 2000, Tabestal1 1369 YZ • Associations of North America http://www.fezana.org PRESIDENT: Framroze K. Patel 3 Editorial - Pallan R. Ichaporia 9 South Circle, Woodbridge, NJ 07095 (732) 634-8585, (732) 636-5957 (F) 4 From the President - Framroze K. Patel president@ fezana. org 5 FEZANA Update 6 On the North American Scene FEZ ANA 10 Coming Events (World Congress 2000) Jr ([]) UJIR<J~ AIL '14 Interfaith PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF '15 Around the World NORTH AMERICA 20 A Millennium Gift - Four New Agiaries in Mumbai CHAIRPERSON: Khorshed Jungalwala Rohinton M. Rivetna 53 Firecut Lane, Sudbury, MA 01776 Cover Story: (978) 443-6858, (978) 440-8370 (F) 22 kayj@ ziplink.net Honoring our Past: History of Iran, from Legendary Times EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Roshan Rivetna 5750 S. Jackson St. Hinsdale, IL 60521 through the Sasanian Empire (630) 325-5383, (630) 734-1579 (F) Guest Editor Pallan R. Ichaporia ri vetna@ lucent. com 23 A Place in World History MILESTONES/ ANNOUNCEMENTS Roshan Rivetna with Pallan R. Ichaporia Mahrukh Motafram 33 Legendary History of the Peshdadians - Pallan R. Ichaporia 2390 Chanticleer, Brookfield, WI 53045 (414) 821-5296, [email protected] 35 Jamshid, History or Myth? - Pen1in J. Mist1y EDITORS 37 The Kayanian Dynasty - Pallan R. Ichaporia Adel Engineer, Dolly Malva, Jamshed Udvadia 40 The Persian Empire of the Achaemenians Pallan R. Ichaporia YOUTHFULLY SPEAKING: Nenshad Bardoliwalla 47 The Parthian Empire - Rashna P. -
Zoroastrian Ethics by MA Buch
The Gnekwad Stu<Uc'^ in Rdi/tuii and Plcilu-^oph i/ : /I ZOKOASTRIAN ETHICS IVintod at the Mirfsion Press, Siirat l.y n. K. 8colt, and imblislieil l»y A. G. Wi(l;.'ery the Collej,'e, Baroda. I. V. 1919. ZOROASTHIAN ETHICS By MAGAXLAL A. BUCH, M. A. Fellow of the Seminar for the Comparative Stn<ly of IJelifjioiiP, Barotla, With an Infrnrhicfion hv ALBAN n. WrDGERY, ^f. A. Professor of Philosophy and of the Comparative Study of PiPlii^doiis, Baroda. B A K D A 515604 P n E F A C E The present small volume was undertaken as one subject of study as Fellow in the Seminar for the Comparative Study of Religions established in the College, Baroda, by His Highness the Maharaja Sayaji Eao Gaekwad, K C. S. I. etc. The subject was suggested by Professor Widgery who also guided the author in the plan and in the general working out of the theme. It is his hope that companion volumes on the ethical ideas associated with other religions will shortly be undertaken. Such ethical studies form an important part of the aim which His Highness had in view in establishing the Seminar. The chapter which treats of the religious conceptions is less elaborate than it might well have been, because Dr. Dhalla's masterly volume on Zomasfrirm Theolof/y^ New York, 1914, cannot be dispens- ed with by any genuine student of Zoroastrian- ism, and all important details may be learned from it. It only remains to thank I'rotessor Widgcrv lor writinf,' a L;enoral introduotion and for his continued help thronghont tho process of the work. -
On the Good Faith
On the Good Faith Zoroastrianism is ascribed to the teachings of the legendary prophet Zarathustra and originated in ancient times. It was developed within the area populated by the Iranian peoples, and following the Arab conquest, it formed into a diaspora. In modern Russia it has evolved since the end of the Soviet era. It has become an attractive object of cultural produc- tion due to its association with Oriental philosophies and religions and its rearticulation since the modern era in Europe. The lasting appeal of Zoroastrianism evidenced by centuries of book pub- lishing in Russia was enlivened in the 1990s. A new, religious, and even occult dimension was introduced with the appearance of neo-Zoroastrian groups with their own publications and online websites (dedicated to Zoroastrianism). This study focuses on the intersectional relationships and topical analysis of different Zoroastrian themes in modern Russia. On the Good Faith A Fourfold Discursive Construction of Zoroastrianism in Contemporary Russia Anna Tessmann Anna Tessmann Södertörns högskola SE-141 89 Huddinge [email protected] www.sh.se/publications On the Good Faith A Fourfold Discursive Construction of Zoroastrianism in Contemporary Russia Anna Tessmann Södertörns högskola 2012 Södertörns högskola SE-141 89 Huddinge www.sh.se/publications Cover Image: Anna Tessmann Cover Design: Jonathan Robson Layout: Jonathan Robson & Per Lindblom Printed by E-print, Stockholm 2012 Södertörn Doctoral Dissertations 68 ISSN 1652-7399 ISBN 978-91-86069-50-6 Avhandlingar utgivna vid -
ZOROASTRIANISM Chapter Outline and Unit Summaries I. Introduction
CHAPTER TEN: ZOROASTRIANISM Chapter Outline and Unit Summaries I. Introduction A. Zoroastrianism: One of the World’s Oldest Living Religions B. Possesses Only 250,000 Adherents, Most Living in India C. Zoroastrianism Important because of Influence of Zoroastrianism on Christianity, Islam, Middle Eastern History, and Western Philosophy II. Pre-Zoroastrian Persian Religion A. The Gathas: Hymns of Early Zoroastrianism Provide Clues to Pre- Zoroastrian Persian Religion 1. The Gathas Considered the words of Zoroaster, and are Foundation for all Later Zoroastrian Scriptures 2. The Gathas Disparage Earlier Persian Religions B. The Aryans (Noble Ones): Nomadic Inhabitants of Ancient Persia 1. The Gathas Indicate Aryans Nature Worshippers Venerating Series of Deities (also mentioned in Hindu Vedic literature) a. The Daevas: Gods of Sun, Moon, Earth, Fire, Water b. Higher Gods, Intar the God of War, Asha the God of Truth and Justice, Uruwana a Sky God c. Most Popular God: Mithra, Giver and Benefactor of Cattle, God of Light, Loyalty, Obedience d. Mithra Survives in Zoroastrianism as Judge on Judgment Day 2. Aryans Worship a Supreme High God: Ahura Mazda (The Wise Lord) 3. Aryan Prophets / Reformers: Saoshyants 97 III. The Life of Zoroaster A. Scant Sources of Information about Zoroaster 1. The Gathas Provide Some Clues 2. Greek and Roman Writers (Plato, Pliny, Plutarch) Comment B. Zoroaster (born between 1400 and 1000 B.C.E.) 1. Original Name (Zarathustra Spitama) Indicates Birth into Warrior Clan Connected to Royal Family of Ancient Persia 2. Zoroaster Becomes Priest in His Religion; the Only Founder of a World Religion to be Trained as a Priest 3. -
A Sequel to Essentials of Zoroastrianism
A Sequel To Essentials of Zoroastrianism (1951) Late Dr. Framroze Sorabji Chiniwala B.A., L.M.&S. 2002 Late Dr. F. S. Chiniwala published in 1941 his book in English entitled 'Essentials of Zoroastrianism' for the Parsi public. He followed this up with the manuscript of a sequel, in or about 1950-51, and appended to the said manuscript a note reproduced below: vus ƒ‹†ƒ A.D. eka Nik;yks vaOksÔ ys[kuks vk chîs Hkkx Ns. vk vk[kq …‡‹ ikukuq y[kk.k vaOksÔ Hkkx rjhds Nkiok ekVs y[kk;yq grq ts vkeus vke jgsyq Ns. igsyk ƒŠ ikuk ts Mkdrjuk [kqnuk gkFkuks y[ksy Ns ts Vkbi uFkh rs vaOksÔ Vkbi ys[k ƒ†… ikuk yxhuks Ns rsek eqdsy Ns. Since writing the manuscript a half-century has elapsed and 'rationalism' and 'reform' has taken its toll of the Zoroastrian community and their belief in the 'Message' of Lord Zarathustra. In such circumstances the publication of the book, if it rekindles faith even in a few, the purpose will be fulfilled. Zarthusti Ilme Khshnoom Felavnari Committee 6th August, 2002. FOREWORD This small book containing some main features of the Mazdyasni Zarthosti Daen will be of use to a novice. It will furnish some knowledge about the religion. Special care is taken to present to view the main spiritual aspect of the religion. The mere materialistic view point does not help much, as that view is common in all religions; hence no special mark of demarcation can be drawn by it. It is the spiritual aspect only which gives a vivid picture as it ought to be. -
Denkard Book 9
DENKARD, Book 9 Details of Nasks 1-3, 21 (The Original Gathic Texts) Translated by Edward William West From Sacred Books of the East, Oxford University Press, 1897. Digitized and converted to HTML 1997 Joseph H. Peterson, avesta.org. Last updated Mar 2, 2021. 1 Foreword The Denkard is a ninth century encyclopedia of the Zoroastrian religion, but with extensive quotes from materials thousands of years older, including (otherwise) lost Avestan texts. It is the single most valuable source of information on this religion aside from the Avesta. This volume contains detailed contents of the Gathic Nasks of the Ancient Canon, much of which is now lost in the original Avesta. Note however, that (as Dr. West says) “it is abundantly clear to the practised translator that Avesta phrases often underlie the Pahlavi passages which seem to be quoted at length from the original Nasks, especially in Dk. 9; but, for some of the details mentioned, there may be no older authority than a Pahlavi commentary, and this should be ever borne in mind by the sceptical critic in search of anachronisms.” I have added some comments in {} and [[]], mainly to facilitate searches. Spelling of technical terms have also been normalized to conform with other texts in this series. Wherever possible I have used the spellings of F.M. Kotwal and J. Boyd, A Guide to the Zoroastrian Religion, Scholars Press, 1982. The original S.B.E. volumes used a system of transliteration which was misleading to the casual reader, and no longer adopted. As an example “chinwad” (bridge) (Kotwal and Boyd) was transliterated in S.B.E. -
Parsi-Times.Com Vol
Complimentary Copy Not For Sale RNI NO. MAHBIL06369/13/1/2011-TC :: WWW.PARSI-TIMES.COM VOL. 1 - ISSUE 26 :: PAGES 24 :: ` 2 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011 Parsi Times shares with you an enlightened week gone by and bright future prospects. Inside >>> All the way from Iran Pg. 9 P.T. Relevance Pg. 10 Master Chef Bawa Pg. 12 Diwali safety Pg. 13 ZĞŐĚ͘KĸĐĞ͗s͘d͘DĂŶƐŝŽŶ͕ϭϰϰ͕WĞƌŝŶEĂƌŝŵĂŶ^ƚƌĞĞƚ͕&Žƌƚ͕DƵŵďĂŝϰϬϬϬϬϭ͘ dĞů͗͘ϮϮϲϵϵϯϵϵ͕ϮϮϲϱϳϱϵϵͻ&Ădž͗ϮϮϲϵϭϰϵϮ ͲŵĂŝů͗njŵďŚŝůůĂΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵͻtĞďƐŝƚĞ͗ǁǁǁ͘ŚŝůůĂďƵŝůĚĞƌƐ͘ĐŽŵ ƌĂŶĐŚKĸĐĞ͗,ŝůůĂdŽǁĞƌƐ͕D͘:͘tĂĚŝĂ&ŝƌĞdĞŵƉůĞŽŵƉůĞdž͕ƌ͘^͘^͘ZĂŽZŽĂĚ͕>ĂůďĂƵŐ͕ WĂƌĞů͕DƵŵďĂŝϰϬϬϬϭϮ͘dĞů͘EŽ͘Ϯϰϳϭϱϰϴϭ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011 02 Editorial FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Dear Readers, Diwali is coming! For all you enthusiastic fatakra busting youngsters… Parsi Times has a list of places where you can get some good quality crackers and lessen the damage to the environment. If you are going to burst crackers, it might be worth your while to go knocking on your colony doors and give the older aunties and uncles some bribe worthy mithai and cotton balls! If you are not, you can always enjoy the season SDLQWLQJGL\DVPDNLQJVZHHWVDQGVKDULQJVWRULHVLQWKHOLJKWRIWKHÁDPH%HWWHU\HWVSHQGWKHGD\UHÁHFWLQJRQKRZ*RRGRYHUFRPHV(YLO in the larger scheme of things, the essence of the festival and the belief within our religion. 7KHSDVWZHHNKDVEURXJKWLQVRPHORYHO\JXHVWVDWWKH3DUVL7LPHVRIÀFH2QHRIWKHPZDVD'DVWXUMLIURP,UDQ+LVVZHHWZRUGVDUHVKDUHG in our pages. I must thank a lovely lady Mrs. Meher Sutaria, for taking the time out to write to us. She writes about her 11 year old granddaughter reading the Parsi Times. Knowing that we at Parsi Times can engage the hearts and the keen interest of young promising community members like Mrs. Sutaria’s granddaughter, is the best gift this Diwali could bring. -
My Mazdayasni Zarathushtri Religion
My Mazdayasni Zarathushtri Religion Friends, This essay was written by a 15 years old student as a class assignment. The teacher had asked all her students to write about their individual religion. Full credit goes to the parents of the child who right from such an impressionable age inculculate faith and teach them to be faithful towards its own religion in which one is born. You may photocopy this essay and circulate it among all Zarathushtris. Firdosh K Sukhia My MAZDAYASNI ZARATHUSHTRI RELIGION By Farishte Parekh My Mazdayasni Zarathushtri religion was established thousands of years ago, may be over 15,000 years in recent history. From time immemorial certain highly evolved souls took incarnation on this planet earth. They were known as ‘MAGHAVS’ who laid down divine laws which were attributable to God and proclaimed them as ‘MAZDAYASNI DAEN’. The creator of the universe was termed: ‘MAZDA’. ‘YASNA’ means: Attuned to. And ‘DAEN’ is the word for Divine Laws (Religion). Thus the full connotation of the word ‘MAZDAYASNI’ is: Attuned to the Creator (Mazda). On studying the ancient history of Persia we learn that Maghavs were in existence even before the lost continent of Atlantis. Two of the three islands in which the continent of Atlantis was fragmented due to the shifting of earth’s north- south poles were called ‘ARYANA’ and ‘POSEIDION’. The Aryan and Poseidon civilizations were very advanced. Maghavs who inhabited these islands have preserved the occult knowledge of the Mazdayasni Daen for posterity which is, of course, esoteric. King Jamsheed, Shah Fareidoon of the PESHDADIAN dynasty; the immortal Kai Khshroo, Kai Lohrasp, Kai Vishtasp, Kai Kobad, Kai Kaus and all monarchs of the KAYANIAN dynasty belonged to the Maghav groups. -
In the Alphabetic Order Q Follows A, a Follows E, C Follows C, 1J Follows N, S Follows S, I Follows Z
INDEX [In the alphabetic order q follows a, a follows e, c follows c, 1J follows n, s follows s, i follows z. In arranging words no distinction has been made between long and short vowels. Pahlavi anrllater forms are generally given in square brackets after the Avestan ones, ancl are entered separately only when there is a significant difference between the two.l Aban see Apas 273· A ban Niyayes 52; 271-2. Airyaman 56-7; his part at Fraso.kar<Jti, Aban Yast 73· 57. 242, 291. abstract divinities 23-4; 58, 59; 203. Airyanam Vaejah [f:ranve)] 144-5; 274- Aditi 55· S· Adityas 55; 83. Airyama isyo 56; 261; 263; 265. Adurbad i Mahraspandan 35; 288. Aiwisriithra [Aiwisriithrim] the 4th watch Aesma demon of Wrath, 87; companion ( giih) of the 24-hour day, from sunset till of the daevas, 201; flees at the last day midnight, 124; under the guardianship of before the Saosyant, 283; the Arabs are the fravasis, 124, 259. of his seed, 288. Aka Manah 283. aethrapati [erbad, herbad] 12. Akhtya 161. Afrasiyab see FralJrasyan *Ala demon of purpureal fever, 87 n. 20. afrinagan an "outer" religious ceremony, Amahraspand see Amasa Spanta 168; legends connected with the offerings Amestris xog; 112. made at it, 281. amaratat ,..., Ved. amrtatva-, "long life" after-life pagan belief in it beneath the or "immortality" II5 n. 32. earth, xog-xo, II2, IIS; in Paradise, no- Amaratat [Amurdad] personification of 12; Zoroastrian beliefs, 235-42, 328. "Long Life" and "Immortality", one of the Agni identified with Apam Napat, 45-6; 7 great Amasa Spantas (q.v.), 203; dis the nature of his primary concept, 69-70. -
Ahura, Mazda. Evolution of the Name(S)
Part Three: 3.20, The Evolution of the Name(s) Ahura, Mazda. Evolution of the Name(s) Mazda, Ahura. In the Gathas, Zarathushtra calls the Divine by many different names.1 But in this chapter, I will limit the discussion to the names he uses most often -- mazdA- and ahUra-, and combinations of these two, because they are the names most associated with his perception of the Divine. You may question: Why is the evolution of these names of the Divine important? Why should we care? Well, for at least two reasons (you may well think of additional ones). 1. As Thieme has pointed out, in a religion that has no images of the Divine, the name given to the Divine reveals its nature, its essence.2 The evolution of the names of the Divine enables us to see how the perception of the nature of the Divine changed, from Zarathushtra's perception -- Wisdom personified (mazdA-), and Lord (ahUra- used in the sense of one who has acquired lordship over the qualities that make a being Divine),3 -- to the perceptions of later texts in which the Divine became an authority figure Lord Wisdom (ahUra- mazdA-), to yet later texts in which the name had become one word (Hormezd, Ormazd) which no longer had any intrinsic meaning in the everyday language of that time, and therefore projected no notion of the nature, the essence, of the Divine. Once the meaning of a name is no longer understood in everyday language, anyone can attribute any kinds of (totally different) qualities to the Divine. -
A Daily Gatha Prayer
Weekly Zoroastrian Scripture Extract # 195 – A Daily Gatha Prayer of 16 verses based on Ahura Mazda's advice to Zarathushtra to drive away evil - Vendidad 11.1 - 2 Hello all Tele Class friends: A Daily Gatha Prayer – A Suggestion: In our WZSEs #192 – 194, we discussed the question by Zarathushtra answered by Ahura Mazda for the prayers to be recited to ward of evil from a dead body (Vendidad 11.1 – 2). There are 16 verses instructed by Ahura Mazda. We suggest that these verses from Gathas can also be used as a Daily Gatha Prayer for all to recite. In this WZSE #195, we present this prayer. I apologize for the length of this WZSE. Hope you enjoy reading and listening and following up as a prayer. And would like to hear your thoughts. Background: Our Vakhshur-e-Vakhshuraan Zarathushtra Spitamaan, in his Gathas, asks many questions to Ahura Mazda, but Ahura Mazda never replies him; instead Zarathushtra figures out the answers by using his Vohu Mana, the Good Mind! Later Avestan writers of Vendidad, Yashts, etc. thought this mode of questions and answers between Zarathushtra and Ahura Mazda, can be a powerful way to expound their own interpretations of our religion but in their questions by Zarathushtra, Ahura Mazda answers them right away! This gave their interpretations a powerful support! We see such questions and answers all over Vendidad, Yashts, etc.. Age of Vendidad has been debated in literature for a long time. It could be between 300 to 800 BC or earlier. According to Dinkard, our religion had 21 Nasks (volumes) on various subjects. -
Zoroastrianism the Zend-Avesta the Vendidad
ZOROASTRIANISM THE ZEND-AVESTA THE VENDIDAD TRANSLATED BY JAMES DARMESTETER Formatting by William B. Brown Table Of Contents Table Of Contents..................................................... i THE ZEND-AVESTA PART I................................................ 1 THE VENDIDAD ....................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................... 1 CHAPTER I. THE DISCOVERY OF THE ZEND-AVESTA. ....................... 1 CHAPTER II. THE INTERPRETATION OF THE ZEND-AVESTA. ................. 9 CHAPTER III. THE FORMATION OF THE ZEND-AVESTA. .................... 11 CHAPTER IV. THE ORIGIN OF THE AVESTA RELIGION. .................... 24 CHAPTER V. THE VENDÎDÂD. .......................................... 37 VENDIDAD. FARGARD I. .............................................. 47 Introduction ...................................................... 47 VENDIDAD. FARGARD I. .............................................. 49 FARGARD II. Yima (Gamshêd). ....................................... 51 Chapter 1........................................................ 51 Chapter II....................................................... 53 FARGARD III. The Earth. ........................................... 55 Chapter I........................................................ 55 Chapter II....................................................... 56 Chapter III...................................................... 56 Chapter IV....................................................... 58 FARGARD IV. Contracts