Eternal India Encyclopedia

RELIGIONS

Eternal India

encyclopedia

ZOROASTRIANISM

Religion of the Iranians in primitive form with many

deities.

Zarathusthra brought a new, universal concept of

religion.

Religion not based on superstitions, but on a universal

call for better life with truth, light and goodness.

Fire is the Divine energy which lies at

the root of all creation and is derived

from Ahura Mazda.

Origin : 7th Century

Founder

Global Following

Global Spread

Predominant

B.C. Place: Persia

ZARATHUSTRA

2,71,000 - .006%

All Continents

India Followers : Parsis

NOS

. in cooo)

Africa

Asia

Europe

Latin

America

North

America

Oceania Eurasia

256

Parsis means man from

Pars

Fars

(ancient PARSA, Greek

PERSOPOLIS, South Iran).

ZOROASTER Greek rendering of Zarathusthra.

Persian state religion from 550 - 330 B.C.

CHRONOLOGY

Kayanian Dynasty (2000 - 700 B.C.)

c 2051 B.C. - Kair Kavate (Kai Kavad)

c 2033 B.C. - Kava Usha (Kai Kaus)

c 1997 B.C. - Kava Husravah (Kai Khusrau)

c 1979 B.C. - Aurvataspa (Lohrasp)

c 1961 B.C. - Kava Vishtapa (Kai Gushtarp)

Achaemenian Dynasty

700-675 B.C. - Achaemenes

675-640

B.C.

640-600

B.C.

600-590

B.C.

590-559

B.C.

Teispes

Cyrus

Aryaramues

Cambyses I

Arsames Hystaspes

Cyrus II the Great

Cambyses II

Darius the Great

SECTS

1970 - Following a controversy on the correct chronological

time of the New Year festival the Indian Parsis split into two

sects :

Shehenshahis

(93%): New Year 19th of September.

Kadmis

(7%): New Year 19th of August.

Faslis

: A third group arose recently and celebrates New Year

on 21st of March.

SCRIPTURES

The

Avesta,

Parsi's Holy Book.

Yasna

(Book of sacrifices).

Yasts,

sacrificial songs and hymns - like prayers.

Videvdad

(Vendidad), priestly book of law and code of

purification.

Visperad

, a collection of prayers and liturgical texts.

Gatha Ahunavaiti,

on freedom of choice.

Gatha Ushtavaiti,

on supreme bliss.

Gatha Spenta Mainya,

on the holy spirit.

Gatha Vohu Kshathra,

on the Good Kingdom.

Gatha Vahishtoishti,

on sovereign desire.

OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE

Clergy - Athravans

- Guardians of the fire.

Warriors - Athaeshtars -

He who is standing on a war chariot.

Peasants - Actrya

- He who cultivates land.

Artisans - Huiti -

One who produces objects.

CODE OF CONDUCT

A life to achieve good towards one's fellow men - "Good

thoughts, good words, good deeds"

(Humara, hukta, huva-

rshta, "manashni, gavashni, kunashni".

FESTIVALS

Jashan : A

Jashan

is a celebration of an event, be it happy or

tragic, with prayer followed by a sacramental meal.

Jashans

are performed at Jamshedi navroze (March 21) the Zoroastrian

New Year; at Khardad Sal (the Prophet’s birthday); at the

Farvardegan (celebration in honour of the

Fravashis

of the

righteous); at the

Meherangan

(in honour of Meher. the Angel

of Mercy).

DIVINE POWER

Ahura Mazda

- Supreme Creator and Ruler of the Universe.

Aspects of Godhead

Asha,

the Divine Law, Truth, Righteousness and Justice.

Vohu Mana,

the good Mind.

Kshathra,

the Power and Majesty of Ahura Mazda.

Kshathra-Vairya,

the creative activity.

Aramaiti,

Divine Devotion.

CEREMONIES

The Navjote

The initiation ceremony which takes place between 7-15 years

witnessed by parents, relatives and friends.

Performed early in the morning.

The child first given a ceremonial bath (

nahw

) and made to

chew the leaf of a pomegranate (wisdom) and drink a little

Haoma

juice.

Every child taught the

Kusti

prayers and its meaning as also

how to tie the

Kusti

(sacred thread) on the

Sudra

(sacred shirt)

before the ceremony.

The sacred fire is lit with sandalwood and incense and placed

in an

Afarghan

(fire censer).

The child wears a white

pyjama

(

ijar)

and the upper part of the

bare body is wrapped in a shawl or white cloth.

Certain prayers are recited in unison and the priest invests the

child with the Sudra.

The priest, holding the

Kusti

and the child's finger in his own,

and the child chant the

Kusti

prayers together, ending with

Fravarane

(the confession of faith).

The

Kusti

wound thrice round the waist to signify dedication to

the service of Ahura Mazda.

The first knot tied on the word

shyaothenenam

(action) and the

Ahuna Vairya

prayer recited twice.

Dedication consists in loving and serving

Dhrigu

(the poor) to

establish the

Kshathrem-chaAhurai

(the sovereignty of Ahura)

in the world.