Ardibehest Yasht – I (The Yasht Series)

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Daisy P. Navdar is a teacher by profession and a firm believer in the efficacy of our Manthravani. She is focused on ensuring that the deep significance of our prayers is realized by our youth. She credits her learnings and insights, shared in her articles, to all Zoroastrian priests and scholars whose efforts have contributed towards providing light and wisdom for all Zarthostis.

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I invite you to join me as I journey through the wonderful teachings shared in a Khordeh Avesta, which was printed in 1902 – more than a 100 years ago! Authored by Dinbai Sohrabji Engineer, the teachings, stories and notes in this book speak about the various powers of our prayers, while sharing anecdotes of people who have used these prayers and the tremendous achievements that each has accomplished.

Ardibehest Ameshaspandan rules over heaven and He is the saviour from the evil magicians and evil doers. Ardibehest Ameshaspand breaks the effect of Mangal (Mars) in the individual horoscope. (Mars is a dry, red and fiery planet. Masculine by nature, it signifies energy – both constructive and destructive, depending upon his position).

Ardibehest means Atash and there are 6 different types of Atash, as under:

(I) Berejo Savange: This Atash resides in the court of Dadar Ahura Mazda and it is also called ‘mino karko’. It brings energy, peace and tranquillity to all the creations of Hormazd.

(II) Vohu Freyan: This Atash resides within man and animals and it is their life force. It represents a greater consciousness within man. It manifests love, compassion, righteousness and justice in a person. 

(III) Ahurva Jist: This Atash resides in the plant kingdom and it means ‘the most joyful’. It compels man to bring forth the latent joy within him because all the creations of Pak Dadar Ahura Mazda are filled with love and happiness. The innate nature of all creation is happiness – we must all abide by this fact, and maintain the balance of our existence. We are not defined by our challenges; we can overcome them by taking recourse to the blessing of happiness that we are born with! 

(IV) Vazisht: The Atash of the lightning, this fire resides in stones. Hence, when two stones are struck together, a spark is generated, showing the potential for making fire.  It is the fire of swift and fast action, quite like the lightning, that it originates from.

(V) Spenishte: The Atash on which we cook food and which is spread all over the world. It helps man realize the inherent nature of goodness within himself.

(VI) Nairyosangh: This Atash resides within the realm of kings and priests. The kings of olden days were not just kings because they were powerful and had wealth, they were considered the administrators of God Himself. They were highly evolved souls who could give faith and direction to the common people. And within the realm of the kings, were the priests, who were in such close connect with Ahura Mazda, that they transcended the authority of the king and their advice was taken as the word of law! The Atash-e-Nairyosangh represents the highest good within the hearts and souls of the kings and the priests.

Now, despite having this knowledge, how do we apply it in our lives? I request you to re-read this column and look for all the traits that are mentioned within it. The attributes of the sacred fires are indeed the attributes that we are all born with… let us cultivate and nurture them so that all the fires, within and without, burn with the brilliance of our glorious Ahura Mazda!