Recently a Parsi Times reader, whose mother has been ailing, called to inquire about ‘Afshun-e-Shah Faridoon’. He also wanted to know the prayers which he and his mother could recite, to bring about healing. The Persian term, ‘Afshun’ or ‘Afsoon’, means a charm or a spell, which we more commonly refer to as Nirang, and…
The community ushered the holy month of Bahman on 12th June, 2023 with much enthusiasm. It’s the time of the year to enjoy Khichdi (rice cooked with ghee and lentils) along with Bafenu (ripe mango pickle), Khichdi paired with gor amli nu doru (sweet and tangy sauce made with tamarind and jaggery), makeover from butter…
We often talk about our Holy Avesta Scriptures. However, what exactly are these scriptures? How many are extant and how many have been lost over the vicissitudes of time? Twenty-one volumes of Avesta: It is believed that there were originally twenty-one Nasks or volumes of the Avesta from the time of Asho Zarathushtra, which…
The holy month of Adar commemorates fire, the source of energy and dispeller of darkness. The Supreme Divinity or the Source of all Creation is unseen to the human eye and unconceivable to the ordinary human mind. However, fire is the closest that the human eye and mind can get to visualize or experience Divinity;…
Kersi Randeria Shares… Since the last two years, I have been sincerely trying to make things work smoothly and peacefully at the BPP, to put aside all the old differences, personal attacks and senseless infighting. My efforts started with putting on the BPP agenda, a request for developing an internal ‘Code of Conduct’ for the…
n the pantheon of Zoroastrian divinities, Bahman Amshaspand ranks next to Ahura Mazda. Bahman is an Amshaspand or Amesha Spenta (variously translated as Bountiful Immortal or Arch Angel) and is doctrinally seen as the guardian of one of Ahura Mazda’s good creations, namely animals – particularly Goshpand like cow, goat, sheep, etc. It is for…
– A Day To Rededicate Ourselves To Zarathushtra’s Message Of Spreading Happiness – Roj Khorshed of Mah Dae is observed as Zarthosht no Deeso – the day on which our beloved Prophet, Zarathushtra, passed away from this material world to the spiritual world. Zarathushtra’s era is shrouded in mystery. While Greek sources place his birth…
[otw_shortcode_info_box border_style=”bordered” css_class=”boxed”]Noshir H. Dadrawala is CEO, Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy (CAP), through which he offers compliance related advisory to charitable trusts and institutions as also corporate social initiatives. His career spans over 35 years in the nonprofit sector, working with a diverse range of organisations, from large established national and global organisations, to corporate…
We are in the midst of a pandemic, with cities, nay entire countries, shutting down. While some live in areas that have been affected by the novel coronavirus and declared ‘Red Zone’, others live in fear of what could happen next. For most, the uncertainty surrounding this pandemic is the hardest to handle… What if…
COVID-19 has resulted in a lot of stress and anxiety. There is fear and worry about one’s own health and that of our loved ones. Many experience changes in sleep patterns, eating disorders and lack of concentration. Every individual reacts differently. While some find solace in reading and writing or simply working from home, others…
The novel coronavirus is neither ‘Divinity’s Wrath’ nor ‘Nature’s Vengeance’. From a Zoroastrian perspective, this virus is the opposite of all that is good, God-given, life-giving and health-promoting. However, there are all kinds of posts on social media about the coronavirus being ‘Divine Anger’ on mankind and COVID-19 being ‘Mother Nature’s Vengeance’ on human beings! …