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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Roj Bahman, Mah Ardibehest, 1377 Yz.
Lighting a Divo in the Agiary is often the best alternative for those Parsis who cannot maintain an Akhand Divo at home for various reasons. However, there are some indicators to keep in mind while lighting a Divo in the Agiary.
Firstly, never enter the Agiary without performing the complete Kusti ritual. This includes washing the exposed parts of the face, hands and soles of the feet, drying them and then performing the Kusti. Please ensure ...
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Roj Hormuz Mah Ardibehest, 1377 Yz.
We have seen in the earlier post that there is a very critical spiritual reason which totally prohibits any kind of organ transplants or body donation. A reader has posed a similar question with regard to blood donation or blood transfusion, which is very common today.
The major difference between organ transplants and blood donation is the fact that blood is a renewable resource in our body which is produced and destroyed on a daily ...
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There is an intensive and ongoing campaign, using high profile stars like Aishwarya Rai, asking people to donate their eyes (cornea) after death. Various associations even send volunteers from house to house asking people to sign up forms which declare their intention to donate their eyes post death. Due to the high incidence of lifestyle diseases there is a long waiting list for people who need various organ transplants, like liver, kidney or even hearts. Also, due to the unavailability ...
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Today, 8th September 2007, Roj Behram Mah Fravardin is the Baj (death anniversary) according to the Shahenshahi calendar, of the pious Dastur Jamshed Ervad Sohrab Kukadaru (or Kukana, by some accounts).
Dasturji Kukadaru was born on 27th May, 1831 (Roj Jamyad, Mah Ava, 1200 Yz.) and passed away on 4th October, 1900 (Roj Behram, Mah Fravardin, 1270 YZ.)
Dasturji Kukadaru was one of the last great Zarathushtrian priests who had the spiritual power known as ‘Amal’ or spiritual potency which enabled him ...
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Today, Friday, 7th September is Roj Fravardin, Mah Fravardin – the Zarathushtrian All Souls Day. It is the designated day in the Zarathushtrian calendar to remember the ‘Fravashis’ (Avesta word for the Divine, Immortal Element in every human, also known as ‘Farohar’ in Pahlavi) of all our departed relatives and friends.
The remembrance of the dear departed can take various forms.
The most common procedure is to have the specific prayers of Baj, Afringan, Farrokshi and Stum recited by the family Panthaky ...
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Nearly all of us have, at some point in our lives, lit a Divo, either at home or on our visit to the Fire Temple. Many Parsis have a fascination for doing a Divo, either on a specific day or Roj, or at a particular place or Agiary. In our blind following of this important tradition, we often make serious mistakes which go against the basic laws of the Zarathushtrian faith.
It is necessary to say a few words about doing ...
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Now let us look at the correct procedure to do the Divo at home. Once you have decided on the glass, the medium and the Kakro, make three sets of the same. That is, have three identical glasses, three ankras – one to go with each of the three glasses and a good number of Kakras to last a while. Keep a separate steel ‘dabba’ or a glass bottle in which you will store the Ghee or oil. Also keep ...
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