Roj Spendarmad Mah Avan, 1383 Yz.
Tomorrow, 21st March 2014 is an auspicious day, not only for us Parsis, but for the entire Creation. A great cosmic event unfolds tomorrow (actually at 10:27 tonight for residents of India) as the Sun enters the sign of Aries and begins its perambulation of the Zodiac. How does this cosmic event affect us and what is the importance of the Navroze day? Why is it called Jamshedi Navroze, or grammatically murdered as Jamshedji Navroze by so many Parsis?
The entire cosmos is awash with the blessings of the Lord Ahura Mazda. These blessings, called Asere Roshni, are essential to our existence, spiritual development and the ultimate aim of Frashogard – complete salvation. The Zoroastrian religion categorizes these blessings into two main types. The first type is the Universal blessing, called “Yairya”. These are blessings for the entire universe and our Earth. They herald climate and the seasons, the carriers of rain and spring, snow and sleet. They bring about changes that affect all mankind.
The second type is the Individual blessings, called “Sareda”. These are the micro currents of destiny for each person, bringing him, happiness and sorrow, riches and penury, peace and worry. The Sareda blessings flow to each individual as per his thoughts, words and deeds. It is the responsibility of every Zoroastrian to properly channel these blessings onto the Earth and himself. Thus for the macro, Yairya blessings, we use the agency of Fire Temples, which are living entities, properly consecrated to attract, catch, and distribute them amongst the devotees and Nature. The religious practice of wearing the Sudreh and Kusti and the recitation of Avesta prayers help Parsis properly channel their individual, Sareda blessings. A Zoroastrian therefore, prays not for material riches or boons, but an entreaty to his personal god, called Khuda (remembered in our Kusti prayers as Hormazd Khodae) to rain on him his Sareda blessings in the most compassionate manner – mixing good with bad, so as to be able to shoulder the travails of life.
Apart from this, Parsis are empowered with another very potent instrument – the Gahambars. Commonly termed as seasonal festivals, the 6 Gahambars are occasions when man joins Nature in collecting the special blessings that the Lord showers during those specific days. As Dr. Saheb Framroze Chiniwalla expounds in his encyclopaedic Nikiz-i-Veh-Din, “a tributary of this Sea of Blessings flows by the Earth, anxious to offload its prosperity-bringing grace.” The correct observance of the Gahambars is essential for man and Nature to collect these very important currents. The five days preceding Jamshedi Navroze form the last Hamaspathmaidyem Gahambar, which rains certain cleansing blessings on the Earth, giving her a new coat after the cold and dreary winter. The last Gahambar also refreshes the Earth’s fertility, leaving her, as the Avesta says, aspinacha yavina “with an abundance of corn (i.e. goodness)”.
The great Peshdadian monarch Jamshid was the first human to be made aware of these cosmic events and their significance through the agency of Asho Sarosh Yazad. It was King Jamshid who guided his subjects to correctly follow the rules of catching the Yairya and Sareda blessings by putting on the Sudreh Kusti and reciting Avesta prayers. It is for this reason that this Hingam (religious festival) is called Jamshedi Navroze (and not Jamshedji Navroze).
Our beloved Master, Ustad Saheb Behramshah Nowroji Shroff, was always anxious that Parsis could collect more and more of these Divine Blessings during their short stay on the earth. As an exceptional gesture, Ustad Saheb took special permission from his Ustad, the Sraoshavarez Marzbanji Saheb – the head of Demavand Koh, to bestow on Parsis a special prayer which would enable them to catch the most wondrous blessings which descend on Jamshedi Navroze and enable them to spend the whole coming year in spiritual development. What is this prayer and how can we benefit from it?
Ustad Saheb revealed that for humans, the main carrier of the Asere Roshni is the sun and its rays. Without them, life on the earth would not exist. On Jamshedi Navroze, the sun and its rays help to descend on earth the very wondrous Asere Roshni currents which are most prolific and long lasting. To catch these rays, normally we recite the Khorshed and Meher Nyaeshes.
However, on Jamshedi Navroze, the blessings are so prolific and of such vital spiritual importance that merely reciting one Khorshed Meher would not be enough. On this day, our Master, Ustad Saheb, with the special permission of his Ustad, Sraoshavarez Marzbanji Saheb, revealed to us the following number and order of Khorshed and Meher Nyaeshes to be done in the Havan, Rapithwin (second Havan for Shahenshahis) and Uzirin Gahs.
In Havan Gah
Khorshed Nyaesh
Khorshed Nyaesh
Khorshed Nyaesh
Meher Nyaesh
Vispa Humata
Khorshed Nyaesh
Khorshed Nyaesh
Khorshed Nyaesh
Meher Nyaesh
Vispa Humata
Khorshed Nyaesh
Khorshed Nyaesh
Khorshed Nyaesh
Meher Nyaesh
Vispa Humata
Thus in Havan Gah a total of 9 Khorshed and 3 Meher Nyaeshes would be recited.
In Rapithwin or Second Havan
Khorshed Nyaesh
Khorshed Nyaesh
Khorshed Nyaesh
Meher Nyaesh
Vispa Humata (for those reciting second Havan)
Khorshed Nyaesh
Khorshed Nyaesh
Khorshed Nyaesh
Meher Nyaesh
Vispa Humata (for those reciting second Havan)
Thus in Rapithwin Gah a total of 6 Khorshed and 2 Meher Nyaeshes would be recited.
In Uzirin Gah
Khorshed Nyaesh
Khorshed Nyaesh
Khorshed Nyaesh
Meher Nyaesh
Thus in Uzirin Gah a total of 3 Khorshed and 1 Meher Nyaesh would be recited.
In effect, on Jamshedi Navroze, the devotee would recite a total of 18 Khorshed and 6 Meher Nyaeshes. This effort would bear dividends that would accrue throughout the year.
Readers of Frashogard are strongly advised to try to follow this prayer schedule on Jamshedi Navroze, and remember and thank our revered Master, Ustad Saheb for giving us this momentous collection.
Finally, it is my pleasant duty to wish all readers of Frashogard a most happy, joyous, prosperous and spiritually radiant Jamshedi Navroze. May you live long and prosper, in whichever corner of the wide world you may be with your family and friends. In the memorable words of Dastur Minocherji Edulji:
Ae Khalek-i-Jehan in saalam kuni mubaarak!
Ba Mah o Roz o shab in saalam kuni mubaarak!
Har Mah i saal-i inam kun meh chun Farvardinam
Ba nojah taa mahinam saalam kuni mubaarak!
Har Roj-i man chu Navroze pur khurrami o firuz
Ba farrokhi-i anduz saalam kuni mubaarak!
O Lord and Creator of this World, make this year one of spiritual bliss!
Each month, day and night – may they all be full of spiritual bliss!
May every month of this year be as joyous and great as Fravardin;
May this year be great and full of spiritual bliss for me!
May my every day of this year be as exuberant and bountiful as the day of Navroze!
May this coming year be full of success and resplendent with spiritual bliss and contentment!
What more can I add to such a beautiful Monajat? May it be so as we wish for and may we deserve all that we wish for!
Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram
MAR
