Zarathushtrian facts

Roj Ashtad, Mah Fravardin, 1378 Yz.

About one week ago, a young Irani man, living together with a Christian woman, not wearing the Sudreh and Kusti, walked into the Wadiaji Atash Behram in the afternoon. His behaviour aroused suspicion but before he could be stopped, he entered the Sanctum Sanctorum – the Kebla room where the Atash Behram Fire is enthroned, and began looking for money and other valuables. He was seen and caught by some people and taken to the police station. The manager of the Atash Behram refused to file a case since he did not want to be involved in numerous trips to the Courts. The police gave the man a good and thorough thrashing and unfortunately he was allowed to go.

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Roj Avan, Mah Adar, 1377 Yz.

Recently, it has come to my notice that certain “enlightened” and “concerned” members of our community who live abroad have suggested that the “pollution” created by the Sacred Fires burning in our various Agiaries and Atash Behrams increases the “carbon footprint”. These have asked whether we can explore the use of “alternative means” (whatever that might mean).

This is an amazing debate – amazing because the parties involved have no idea of what they are speaking about, either doctrinally or scientifically! Going by their logic, Hindus should stop cremating their dead bodies, Muslims and Christians should stop burying their dead, Muslims should stop slaughtering sheep and the list could go on and on.

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Roj Sherevar, Mah Avan, 1377 Yz. The joyous and auspicious occasion of Nowruz will be celebrated all over the world tomorrow. It marks the beginning of the Fasli year 1377…

Roj Adar, Mah Meher, 1377 Yz.

Many Parsis are in the dark about the exact extent and depth of the Avesta scriptures we had. Perhaps many are unaware that today we have not more than about 7% of the entire original Avesta scripture. The rest has been lost in a series of tragedies. Perhaps, looking at the way we fight over the mere 7%, it is better we don’t have the rest! One wonders what the situation might have been then?

The original Avesta scriptures were divided into 21 mega volumes called Nasks .

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Roj Tir, Mah Ardibehest, 1377 Yz.

Tomorrow, 2nd October 2007 is Fasli Roj Meher, Mah Meher – the great festival of Meherangan. The Meherangan falls exactly in the middle of the year – with Jamshedi Navroze preceding it and the Farvardegan days following it. In ancient Iran, the festival of Meherangan was observed with great pomp and gaiety, with the Iranian Emperor giving audience to the common people as well as attending several magnificent Zarathushtrian rituals conducted by the state sponsored Zarathushtrian Religious Authority which ensured the continued peace and prosperity within the Zarathushtrian Empire.

A very detailed analysis of the Meherangan and what is really means can be found in this article published in Frashogard: https://www.frashogard.com/index.php/winter-2005-vol-1-no-2/

Some key thoughts behind the Meherangan can be summarized as under:

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Roj Khordad, Mah Ardibehest, 1377 Yz.

We live in very troubled times today, where each person seems to be trapped in his or her personal hell. Our miseries seem never ending as one after another calamity, both natural and man-made strikes us. At such times, some of us feel angry with or betrayed by God. Does He not see the pain we are going through? Why does He allow so much evil to flourish on this earth? Why is it that the just suffer whilst the wicked make merry? Many Parsis seem to have given up faith in their Creator and often flock to alien places of worship, or turn to fake babas and charlatans in the hope of some short term benefits. But the real answer to our sorrows can be found in our scriptures themselves.

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