Mixing money with sandalwood

Posted by:

Roj Asman Mah Fravardin, 1381 Yz.

Devotees carrying sticks of sandalwood as offering to the Padshah Saheb is a common sight in our Agiaries and Atash Behrams. Behdins having prayers for their dear departed also carry sticks of sandalwood to handover to the priest before he begins the ceremony. This is a good practice, much recommended. Offering good quality sandalwood is the prime method of approaching the Padshah Saheb.

sandalwood

But a disturbing trend is seen in ...

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Becoming a better Parsi in 1381 Yz.

Posted by:

Roj Khorshed Mah Fravardin, 1381 Yz.

I wish all readers of Frashogard a happy, prosperous and spiritually enriching new year!

Our special sacred guests have departed after their 18 day stay, the tables have been cleared and stowed away, the hall cleaned and empty once again. After the intense activities of the Muktad days, it feels very quiet in the Agiary. On one hand is the relief that the heavy days are over, that we were able to serve our sacred visitors ...

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Zoroastrian Earth Day

Posted by:

Roj Spendarmad Mah Spendarmad, 1380 Yz.

Today is Roj Spendarmad, Mah Spendarmad, a spiritually vital and important day of the Zoroastrian calendar. Long before the shrill cries of the eco-brigade began to be heard, the practices and precepts of our ancient faith were already attuned to green living, carbonless footprint and eco-sensitiveness.

Spendarmad (Avesta Spenta Armaiti) is the Amesha Spenta specifically designated to look after Mother Earth. Through her associates and co-workers, Geush Urva and Geush Tashan, Spenta Armaiti patiently bears the ...

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Secret treasures in Hindu temples & Ustad Saheb’s prophecy

Posted by:

Roj Govad Mah Bahman, 1380 Yz.

Recent news reports have emerged of the finding of a fabulous treasure in the Hindu temple of Sri Padmanabhaswamy in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. With each passing day, the estimated figure of the treasure seems to keep on increasing, the latest amount being placed close to Rs. 100,000 crores (about $23 billion). The treasure was unearthed from secret chambers located within the temple complex following a Supreme Court order to make an inventory of the various precious ...

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The Wondrous Circle of Life – part 5

Posted by:

Roj Meher Mah Bahman, 1380 Yz.

Where does the Ruvan fly to on the dawn of the fourth day? What and where is Chinvat? To be able to answer these questions satisfactorily, we need to have a look at the cosmography of the universe. The Zoroastrian mystic revelation of Khshnoom teaches us that there are two main Cosmoses. One is immortal, divine and perfect. In this cosmos, time and space are united. This cosmos is called Hasti. We shall leave Hasti ...

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Was Prophet Zarathushtra murdered?

Posted by:

Roj Avan Mah Dae, 1380 Yz.

I still vividly remember that evening more than 20 years ago. I was 18 years old and sitting at Batliwalla Agiary in the evening after saying the Uzirin Gah prayers when a lady walked in and requested for a ceremony. I went to the Panthaky’s desk, opened the big daily prayer list book and asked the lady for the name of the deceased and the day. She told me, ‘Khorshed Roj’. As I waited for ...

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The Wondrous Circle of Life – part 4

Posted by:

Roj Din Mah Adar, 1380 Yz.

Let us briefly understand the esoteric meaning behind the Tana ceremony.

The hammering of the 301 nails, and the passing of the consecrated Tana thread through these nails results in the creation of a gigantic circuit. The entire process of the Tana ceremony is to make a supercharged powerhouse, called Talesam – or Talisman, within the boundaries of the Dakhma. It is important to note that the number 4 and its multiples play a central role ...

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New Afarganyu for the Padshah Saheb

Posted by:

Roj Adar Mah Adar, 1380 Yz.

Readers of Frashogard would recall that I had written about the deeply mystical significance of the Afarganyu which holds the Atash Padshahs in our Agiaries and Atash Behrams when detailing the life story of Dastur Mulla Feroze. The wisdom displayed by Dastur Mulla Feroze and Mulla Kaus while constructing the Dadyseth Atash Behram at Mumbai was described in detail in that post.

Ever since I wrote that article, there arose in me a great ...

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The Wondrous Circle of Life – part 3

Posted by:

Roj Dae-pa-Din Mah Meher, 1380 Yz.

After the Padruz Uthamna gets over the priests take a break, waiting for the exact time when the Zoroastrian day changes, 36 minutes before sunrise. As soon as this time is reached, the priests perform a fresh Kusti, recite the Sarosh Baj and Havan Gah and then begin the very important ceremony, generally called the Daham Yazad Jashan or Afringan. Not many Parsis are aware of this very essential Zoroastrian Divinity called Daham Yazad, since ...

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The Wondrous Circle of Life – part 2

Posted by:

Roj Sarosh Mah Meher, 1380 Yz.

The Bhoi prayers performed during the first four days provide protection and sustenance to the Ruvan, Baodangh and Fravashi (now collectively called Ruvan), as they take their seat near the head of the physical body. The Keherp, Ushtan and Tevishi bodies (collectively called Keherp from now on) coalesce to form a small receptacle, in the shape of the Farohar image which is commonly seen today, in which the Ruvan sits. The lighted Divo, the Sachkar ...

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