Aderbad Bin (son of) Mahrespand was the Mobedan Mobed (Supreme Pontiff) and Prime Minister during the long reign (309-379 A. D.) of Shapur Hormazd also known as Shapur II. According to the Pahlavi Dinkard, from his father’s side, Aderbad Mahrespand belonged to the family of Zarathushtra, and from his mother’s to the family of Shah…
Christmas is here and it’s the season of joy and giving, and the story of the nativity and the probable Zoroastrian connection with the same. The Gospel of Matthew, the only one of the four Canonical Gospels to mention the ‘Magi’, states that they came “from the east” to pay respect to the one, “born…
[otw_shortcode_info_box border_style=”bordered” css_class=”boxed”]Sanjan Day holds a special place in the hearts of all Parsis. In fact, one of the greater testaments to Parsipanu takes place every year on this day in November, when Parsis from all over India and even globally, converge in Sanjan to celebrate and honor ‘Sanjan Memorial Day’, which falls on Tir…
Parsis as a community love to celebrate. Not just their own feasts and festivals, even Diwali and Christmas are celebrated with equal gusto. However, often in our enthusiasm, we unknowingly violate certain fundamental precepts of our religion. For example, the misuse of firecrackers during the festival of Diwali. Not only are firecrackers a source of…
[otw_shortcode_info_box border_style=”bordered” css_class=”boxed”]October 10th, 2016 marks World Mental Health Day. As Zoroastrians we are blessed with a religion where ‘Good Thoughts’ form the very start of its tenet. Religious Scholar extraordinaire, Noshir Dadrawala explores how our potent prayers and rituals go a long way in maintaining our mental balance and health.[/otw_shortcode_info_box] Some of us believe…
[otw_shortcode_info_box border_style=”bordered” css_class=”boxed”]PT pays tribute to our venerated saint Dasturji Jamshed Sohrab Kukadaru, on his death anniversary (5th September 1900), by our ace writer and religious scholar, Noshir H. Dadrawala.[/otw_shortcode_info_box] He was a Saint who led a Simple life – A Priest but not Pedantic – An Alchemist but he never abused the knowledge or…
Zoroastrians observe Khordad Roj of Fravardin Mah as Khordad Saal. This is the sixth day of the first month of the Zoroastrian calendar. Each of the 30 days of the month, as also each of the 12 months of the Zoroastrian calendar, is dedicated to an Amesha Spenta (Bounteous Immortal) or a Yazata (Adorable Spiritual…
Parsi, thy name is charity” is a common expression that probably traces its roots to the time of the British Raj. No less a person than Mahatma Gandhi has acknowledged, “I am proud of my country, India, for having produced the splendid Zoroastrian stock, in numbers beneath contempt, but in charity and philanthropy, perhaps unequalled,…
The current month, Aspandarmad/Spendarmad is the twelfth and last month of the Zoroastrian calendar. This holy month is dedicated to Spenta Armaity – the Divinity that presides over Mother Earth. The term Spenta has been variously translated as increasing, growing, good, holy and benevolent; while the term Armaity has been variously translated to mean devotion,…
As we welcome Bahman Mahino this Monday, 13th June, 2016, most of us associate the month with abstinence from consuming meat. Many who don’t observe vegetarianism for the entire Bahman month, tend to stay vegetarian for a day, on ‘Bahman Mahino, Bahman Roj’, which falls on Tuesday, the 14th of June. Noshir Dadrawala demystifies and…