Eternal India Encyclopedia

RELIGIONS

Eternal India encyclopedia

Other ceremonies * The most spectacular and elaborate ceremony is the conse- cration of the Fire Temple and the sacred fire, Atar or Atash. * Navar and Martab (different grades of initiation into the priesthood), bershnum and khub (purificatory ceremonies). HOLY TEMPLES / PLACES * The earliest Fire Temple in India is the Atash Behram at Sanjan, Gujarat, consecrated around 790 A.D. * At Udvada about 160 kms from Bombay, where the sacred fire is continuously burning since 1741, is the holiest Atash Behram in India. COMMONALITY * Vedic Hinduism and Zoroastrianism have a marked similarity. Sanskrit words and words in the Avesta such as : A-Vista (knowledge) Soma (an intoxicating drink) Hoama (equivalent to Soma) Yajna (sacrifice) Yasna (worship, prayer) Gita (song) Gasha (song) Atharvan (fire priest) Athraram (fire priest) LUMINARIES * Dadabhai Naoroji (1825-1917) - Grand Old Man of India. * Sir Phirozeshah Mehta (1845-1915) - Patriot, Jurist, founder - Central Bank. * Sir Dinshaw Wachcha (1844-1936) - Governor, Imperial Bank; President, Indian National Congress 1901. * Bhikaiji Cama (1861-1936) - Patriot, who fought for India's freedom in England and France in the early years of this century. * Nani Palkhivalla (1920) - Eminent Jurist. * Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw (1914)- Chief of Army Staff (1969-72). * Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha (1909-1966) - Nuclear Physicist. * Dr D.N. Wadia (1883-1969) - Scientist. * Dr Homi Sethna (1923) - Physicist. * Zubin Mehta (1936) - Renowned music conductor. * Sir Jamshetjee Jejeebhoy (1785-1859) - founder of J.J. School of Arts, Bombay. * JN Tata (1839-1904) - Industrialist. * JRD Tata (1904-1993) - Industrialist. * Feroze Gandhi (1912-1960) - Nationalist, husband of Indira Gandhi. * Sir Homi Mody (1883-1969) - Chairman, Central Bank of India from 1938 - 1961, member of Viceroy's Executive Council, Governor of Uttar Pradesh (1949-52). * R.K. Karanjia (1912) - Editor: Blitz. * D.F. Karaka (1911-1974) - Renowned Journalist. * Minoo Masani (1905) - General Secretary, Swatantra Party. * M.N. Dastur (1916) - Established Dasturco, the first Indian firm of consulting engineers and Dastur Engineering Interna- tional Gmbh at Dusseldorf in Germany, the first Indian firm of International consulting engineers. (E.N.P.U) Sanskrit Avesta Veda (knowledge)

Marriage *

The young couple sit facing each other.

* The priest places a cloth between them and ties the ends round their chains. * The bride's right hand placed in the groom's fight hand and tied seven times with a piece of twine. * Prayers recited. * At a signal from the priest, an assistant holding the afarghan (fire censer) feeds the fire with sandalwood and incense. * At this point the cloth curtain is removed. * The bride and groom throw a fistful of uncooked rice held in their left hands on each other symbolising prosperity. * Then follow pazand and avesta (admonitions and benedic- tions) recited even in Sanskrit, with the priests throwing grains of uncooked rice on the couple. * The ceremony concludes with a final blessing, presents to the priests and visit to the Fire Temple to pay homage to the sacred fire. * Prayers are said again and the Atash Nyaesh recited. * When the guests have departed and the dinner is over, the bride goes to the groom's house, holding a small wick lamp in a protective silver vase. * At the threshold, the husband lifts her over the lintel or else she crosses it, the right foot first. * The lamp is kept burning in the bridal chamber all night. Death * Some of the most beautiful prayers and ceremonies are centred around death. * Funeral ceremonies continue for four consecutive days. * On the tenth day after death, certain prayers are recited both in the home and the Fire Temple. * Prayers are recited*again after a month and then annually. * The dead body is disposed of in the Towers of Silence. * The flesh is devoured by birds of prey; after a few days the bones are lowered into deep wells layered with charcoal, lime and other minerals which dissolve the bones. * Thus the mortal remains are disposed of in a most hygienic manner. Muktad * Ceremonies in commemoration of the righteous dead, once a year. The Ijashne * Yasna or Ijashne, an elaborate ceremony centred round the preparation of haoma juice. The Gahambars * The Gahambars (seasonal festival ceremonies) are six in the year, signifying the proper season. * Midspring Gahambar (associated with the heavens). * Midsummer Gahambar (water). * Autumn Gahambar (the earth). * The cattle - breeding season Gahambar (vegetable creation). * The midwinter Gahambar (animal creation). * The spring Gahambar (man). * Each Gahambar lasts for five days.