Lately, a video clip has been making rounds on social media portraying the Parsi community in questionable light. It argues with skewed logic whether Parsis at all helped India or only themselves. The comments made by the narrator and the conclusions drawn by whoever scripted this narrative are ludicrous, to say the least! ‘Parsi, thy…
Iranshah, the Spiritual Monarch of the community, returned to His duly repaired and renovated abode, on 14th December, 2021. The Holy Fire was re-enthroned in the re-consecrated sanctum sanctorum on Roj Hormuzd (dedicated to the Supreme Divinity) of Mah Amardad (dedicated to the Divinity of Eternity). May Ahura Mazda’s Blessings continue to be showered through…
The main building where Iranshah is enthroned has been through extensive repairs and renovation. The Holy Fire, which had earlier been shifted to the adjoining building within the same complex, will now be ceremonially shifted back to the renovated building, but not before thoroughly purifying the renovated building, both – physically and ritually. Centuries ago,…
[otw_shortcode_info_box border_type=”border-top-bottom” border_style=”bordered” border_color=”#0b1657″] The festive season heralds the onset of marriages. From a Zoroastrian viewpoint, marriage is the celebration of life itself. To understand our prayers, most of us need to refer to translations. A marriage is hopefully, a once-in-a-lifetime experience and many, especially those getting married, would like to understand its essence from…
Zoroastrian history can clearly be divided into pre-historic and historic. We know about pre-historic times through legend, myths and references in certain liturgical texts. The historic period is recorded in rock inscriptions in Iran as also by the Greek and later on Arab historians. Herodotus (484 - 425 BC), the ancient Greek historian, wrote a detailed…
When we heard the news about the passing away of Yazdi Hosi Desai, the words of the American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician and former columnist for Texas Monthly – Kinky Friedman, came to mind. Friedman famously said, “Find what you love and let it kill you. Let it drain you of your all. Let…
The idiom, ‘might is right’ has been proven wrong by many revolutionary leaders and activists throughout history. A minority of two trustees on the Board of the three hundred and fifty-one-years old Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) also proved this idiom wrong, on 20th October, 2021. Globally, nationally or at BPP, sometimes power goes to the…
Ardibehesht is the second month of the Zoroastrian calendar. It is a month that celebrates, truth, righteousness, divine order and healing. Ardibehesht is an Amshaspand (Archangel) or Amesha Spenta (Bounteous Immortal) who presides over the energy of fire. Adar Yazad is a Hamkara or helper of Ardibehesht. It is for this reason that many fire temples were consecrated in this month, the most notable being the Anjuman Atash Behram which…
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 Vishtasp. During…
This Shahenshahi New Year, let’s co-create with Ahura Mazda and with His Wisdom, a kinder and more loving world to live in. Let this be a promise we make to ourselves individually and collectively, as a community. Let us resolve to make this goal an attainable purpose of our daily living. Let this not just…
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…