Almost every religious tradition observes a day or days for remembering their near and dear departed ones. They say grief is the last act of love that we offer to those we loved; and remembering them is akin to breathing life into their fading presence from our life. Most humans, by nature, are ritualistic and…
Among ancient Zoroastrian sacred texts, the Vendidad is probably the most significant – both historically and liturgically, and yet, it is condemned as an outdated ‘Zoroastrian Penal Code’ and the work of babbling Magi priests obsessed with imaginary demons and magic. Even today, many question the historical significance of the Vendidad. Let us understand that it is the only Nask or…
Our holy wells contain water which is blessed and charged with invisible energies bestowed by Pak Ahura Mazda. Our Zoroastrian religion enjoins the use of flowing water (as opposed to stagnant water) which is open to the rays of the sun, to be used for religious and ritual purposes. Two easily available sources of flowing water…
Aspandarmad or Spendarmad is the twelfth and last month of the Zoroastrian calendar. It is dedicated to Spenta Armaity – the divinity presiding over Mother Earth. While the term ‘Spenta’ can be variously translated as ‘increasing, growing, good, holy and benevolent’, the term ‘Armaity’ can also be variously translated to mean ‘devotion, piety and peace’. Spenta Armaity is an Amesha…
[otw_shortcode_info_box border_style=”bordered” background_color=”#e8e8e8″] Parsi Times shares excerpts from one of the all-time-classics – ‘In Search Of My God’ – which celebrates Zoroastrian history, religion and culture. What better way to rediscover the splendor of our great religion than by enriching the comprehension of our glorious roots and exploring the brilliance of the greatest of all religions… by the…
[otw_shortcode_info_box border_style=”bordered” background_color=”#e8e8e8″] ‘Kem Na Mazda’ is a powerful prayer which invokes Dadar Ahura Mazda’s protection and compassion. It is also a powerful Nirang which can be recited as a stand-alone prayer. It stands next only to the ‘Yatha Ahu Vairyo’ in terms of its protective powers. [/otw_shortcode_info_box] ‘Kem Na Mazda’ is the third prayer…
To Zoroastrians Bahman Mah is what Shravan Maas is to the Hindus. Just as Hindus avoid non-vegetarian food during Shravan Maas, Zoroastrians also do likewise during Bahman Mah. However, while Hindus also observe fasting during the month of Shravan Zoroastrians do not. Interestingly in the Zoroastrian calendar of three hundred and sixty-five days there is…
[otw_shortcode_info_box border_style=”bordered” background_color=”#e8e8e8″] Ahura Mazda’s own angel, Sarosh Yazad, protects our mortal form and our immortal souls, from birth to divine judgement, after our passing. Parsi Times presents the concluding part of the article based on the most powerful and sacred Sarosh Yazad – Our Keeper And Protector [/otw_shortcode_info_box] Immediately after death, when the soul…
Ahura Mazda’s own angel, Sarosh Yazad, protects our mortal form and our immortal souls, from birth to divine judgement, after our passing. We venerate Sarosh Yazad as the voice of human conscience and consciousness, as He enables us to have a Good Mind (Vohu Mano). The name ‘Sarosh’ literally means obedience, taken from the Avesta root…
In keeping with the true Bawa spirit of majha-masti, despite the odds of the lockdown, Salsette Parsi Colony (Andheri East, Mumbai) floated the ‘Salsette Welfare Association’ (SWA), under the Salsette Parsi Association (SPA) umbrella, which comprises trustees of the colony. Launched on 15th March, 2021, after much discussions and complete consent of colony residents and…
Prayer forms the mainstay of our Mazdayasni Zarathushti religion and reciting the ‘Vispa Humata’ prayer blesses our lives with good health, wisdom, abundance and joy. In the Avestan language, ‘Vispa’ means ‘all’. The Vispa Humata prayer is composed of simple words of the Avestan language, which help us comprehend it easily. The verbatim English translation…