Zoroastrianism

[Guest guest]

Dear Sunil ji, You are right. Possibly the Avesta (Zorashtrian) and Atharva (Vedic) tradtions are not much different, but only branches of the one and the same root culture. I have seen 2 great resources of Zorashtrianism on net. The are: 1) Zorashtrianism: http://www.hinduwebsite.com/zoroastrianism/zoraindex.asp 2) Avesta Archieves: http://www.avesta.org Love and regards,Sreenadh , Sunil Bhattacharjya <sunil_bhattacharjya wrote:>> Dear all,> > One interesting point. The Zoroastrians use the purified fire in their Temples and the Hindus too purify the fire before performing a "Havana". Some brahmin families in Assam also purify the fire when the light (diwa) is lighted before a deity.> > Regards,> > Sunil K. Bhattacharjya> > > > > Sreenadh sreesog > Tuesday, August 19, 2008 6:19:23 AM> Zoroastrianism> > > Dear All, > Here is a good extract on Zorashtrian Religion from : http://www.webindia 123.com/religion /zoroast/ index.htm > ============ ========= ========= =========> > ZOROASTRIANISM> Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest Religion. It explains man's duties in this life and the high destiny which he can achieve by establishing his conduct in accordance with the eternal and immutable law of nature. Zarathushtra the founder of Zoroastrianism called it the law of Asha. Zoroastrianism is based upon the knowledge and illumination and its emblems are the Fire and the Sun.> Zarathushtra > Zarathushtra is said to have been born around 6th century B.C in the town of Amui near Rae, on the salt lake Urumiah renamed Razsieh, in Azarbaijan province. He went up the mountains of that province for meditation and preached his faith for many years among hostile tribes. As a young boy, he was placed under able teachers, but they soon found that he was more advanced. Zarathushtra spent several years in meditation and study, pondering over the fundamentals of life and existence trying to find a rational explanation based upon the Law of nature, Asha. He discovers the perfection which lies in the absolute as possessing perfect power or energy and perfect wisdom, which reality he calls 'Ahura Mazda', Lord of Life and Wisdom. > The religion of the Iranian people of his time was a primitive form of polytheism of Indo-Aryan origin. It is partly based on the Rig-Veda. There were many deities and each family had sacred idols. Each tribe had different rituals, sacred obligations and customs. To this Eastern world, Zarathushtra brought a new universal concept of religion. His religion was not a set of superstitious rituals based on fears, but a universal call for a better life to be achieved with the aid of an invisible god of wisdom, truth, light and goodness. > Zarathushtra was the first man who gave a definitely moral character and direction to religion and at the same time, preached the doctrine of monotheism which offered an eternal foundation of reality to goodness an ideal of perfection. Zarathushtra showed the path of freedom to man, the freedom of moral choice, freedom from blind obedience to meaningless injunctions. He preached that the moral worth of deed comes from the goodness of intention and the value of his religion was upholding man in his life of good thoughts, good words and good deeds. Zarathushtra was the first prophet who emancipated religion from the exclusive narrowness of the tribal god. > At the age of seventy-seven, Zarathushtra was killed by a Turanian soldier during an attack on the city of Bulkh. > The active heroic aspects of Zoroastrian religion reflects the character of the people. They had zest in life and confidence in their own, strength. They accepted the world in all seriousness. By force of will and deeds of sacrifice, they tried to achieve Haurvatat, wholeness, well-being, in this world and Ameretatat- immortality. > Parsis in India> The term 'parsi' is derived from Parsa, the name of a province in south -western Iran in ancient times. The word 'Parsi ' literally means 'a resident of Pars'. It is originally an ethnic term and later the term acquired a religious connotation also and it was used for the Zoroastrian residence of the Pars. Around 766AD, a small group of Iranian Zoroastrians set sail in open sailing vessels, and landed at Divo Dui , a tiny Island at the tip of Kathiawar coast. Their they settled for nineteen years to practice their path in peace. They again set sail in open sailing vessels and landed at the fishing village of Sanjan where Jadi Rana or Jadav Rana gave them refuge.> The Parsis spread in small colonies all along the west coast of Gujarat. Between the eight and Fifteenth centuries the Parsis settled in various small towns on the Gujarat coast. They settled down as farmers and agriculturists, fruit growers, toddy planters, carpenters and weavers.> Parsis were excellent weavers and they gave India three ancient crafts, namely the Surti ghat, the Garo and the Tanchoi. Today they are mostly found in Mumbai, India.> Parsi Scripture> 1. The tenets of the Zoroastrian religion are basically contained in the 'Gathas'. Gathas are sacred songs divided into stanzas and strophes. The five Gathas are : > 2. Gatha Ahunavaiti, on freedom of choice. > 3. Gatha Ushtavaiti, on supreme bliss (ushta) > 4. Gatha Spenta Mainya, on the holy spirit > 5. Gatha Vohu Kshathra, the gatha of the Good Kingdom > 6. Gatha Vahishtoishti, the gatha of sovereign desire or the gatha of fulfillment. > The word 'Ahu' means life, energy, the moving force which operates in Nature, so the 'Ahunavaiti Gatha' deals with the laws which operate in nature with freedom of choice, the creation of the world and the origin of evil. The second Gatha, the 'Ushtavait' leads the reader to religious ecstasy showing the way to deep joy and happiness. The 'Spenta Mainya Gatha' deals with the essence of the absolute, the spirit which permeates all existence. It unfolds the perfect wisdom which activates the Divine Plan. Man cannot comprehend this perfection and wholeness until he develops his own mental faculties and acquires moral strength. This is the gist of the fourth Gatha, the 'Vohu Kshathra'. The fifth Gatha, the 'Vahishtoishti' , is the gatha of fulfillment where in a series of admonitions are laid down for men to follow. > 1. With Ahura Mazda, the supreme Creator and ruler with the Universe, six other great beings are associated in the Gathas. These Beings were later named the Amesha Spenta, Holy immortals or Immortal Shinning Ones. These six Divine Powers or Energies are: > 2. Asha, the Divine Law, truth, Righteousness and Justice. > 3. Vohu mana, the Good Mind, representing divine Love that transcends all bounds of time and space. > 4. Kshathara, the power and Majesty of Ahura Mazda, his choice Kingdom. > 5. Kshthra-Vairya, the creative activity in the service of mankind. > 6. Aramati, Divine Devotion, stability, loyality, the love of God in our hearts. > With Ahura mazda at their head ,the seven Amesha Spenta are collectively known as the Hafta Amahashpands.> The language in which the Gathas are written is termed as Gathie Avestan. It bears a strong affinity with Rig-Vedic Sanskrit. The Avesta language is believe to have came into existence some three hundred years after Zarathushtra.> The Gathas were written when Zarathushtra was meditating in a mountain probably Demavand whereas other Avesta were written by his disciples in Eastern Iran .Yashts which is long poems of praise and Nyaeshes which is shorter poems of praise were composed during this period.> Zarathushtra preached his religion in the Kyanian period of Iranian history. After the overthrow of that dynasty, there was a sudden revival of the Zorashtrian religion. The omnibus book called Yasna or Yezashne is the collection of Gathas and Avesta writings. The Visperad and Vendidad are writings of this period.> The entire library at Persepolis, containing a mammoth collection of books, manuscripts and other writings of learnings along with the entire Avesta writings were burnt to ashes by Alexander the Great. The Zoroastrian scriptures were once again neglected and disjoined until another great Zoroastrian, Ardeshir Papakan founded the last Zoroastrian empire in the Iran called Sassanian empire. It was during this period that a concise prayer book was composed called the 'Khorda Avesta', or 'Khordeh Avesta'. It contains Avestan prayers and passages in Pazand with commentaries on astronomy, medicine and cosmogony.> Zarathushtra insisted upon active good towards one's fellow man, the motto of the religion became "Good thoughts, good words, good deeds". > Parsi Rituals and Ceremonies> Birth> A child born of Zoroastrian parents is not considered a Zoroastrian till he is initiated into the fold by the Navjote ceremony. The word 'Navjote' means a new initiate who offers Zoroastrian prayers. The ceremony of initiation consists of the investiture of the child with the sacred shirt called 'Sudreh' and a sacred thread called 'Kusti'. The Navjote ceremony among the Parsi is performed at the age of seven or nine or eleven, up to fifteen. Therefore, the child continues to wear the Sudreh and kusti and perform the kusti ritual with the prescribed prayers, throughout life. The Sudreh is made of pure, white muslin or cotton while the kusti is woven of seventy-two threads of fine lambs wool. In the pahlavi Texts, the Sudreh or Sudra is described as "Vohu Manik Vastra", the Garment of Good Mind. The word 'kusti 'means a waist band. Being tied thrice round the waist ,it points to the trinity of good thoughts good words ,good deeds. These form a barrier> insulating the individual from all that is evil.> Marriage> Marriage is the another important ceremony in the life of a Zoroastrian. In former times, the ceremony began with the young couple sitting facing each other. The officiating priest would then place a cloth between and tie the ends round their chairs. He would then take the brides right hand and place it in the grooms right hand and tie their hands seven times with a piece of twine. An assistant priest, holding the Afarghan, would stand beside the senior priest. Prayers would be recited and the assistant fed the fire with sandalwood and incense. At this point, the cloth curtain between the young couple was removed. The bride and groom threw a fistful of uncooked rice on each other which they had been holding in their left hands. This action symbolised prosperity.> Today the bride and groom sit side by side during the marriage ceremony. The parents and relatives of the couple sit behind their respective children. Beside them stand the witness to the marriage. Two priests stand in front of the couple and the ceremony begins. During the recital of the legal formula, the priest asks some questions to the bride, groom and to the witnesses. If either party refuses to answer, the marriage ceremony is interrupted and no priest dare marry the couple against their wish.> Next, follow some beautiful admonitions and benedictions in Pazand and Avesta. While reciting these benedictions, the priest throw grains of uncooked rice on the couple to symbolize prosperity and plenty. The ceremony concludes with a final blessings. After embracing their parents, the couple leave and go to the Fire Temple to pay their homage to the sacred fire. While going to the grooms house, the bride holds a small wick lamp in a protective silver vase. The light should not go out on the way to her new home. At the threshold, her husband awaits her. The little wick lamp is kept burning in the bridal chambers all night.> Death> Funeral ceremonies of Zoroastrians continues for four consecutive days. On the tenth day after death, certain prayers are recited both in the home and in the Fire Temple. After a month, prayers are again recited and then annually on the death anniversary. The dead body is disposed of in 'Towers of silence' on the top of a hill. The flesh is devoured by birds of prey and after a few days, the bones are lowered into deep wells at the bottom of which are layers of charcoal, lime and other minerals which slowly dissolve the bones. Thus the mortal remains of the individual are disposed of in a most hygienic manner.> There are Various other religious ceremonies, such as the consecration of the Fire Temple, purifying ceremonies like the Riman, ceremonies in commemoration of the righteous dead such as the Muktad and elaborate ceremonies like The Izashne.> Fire Temples:> Zoroastrians build Fire Temples as places of worship. There are three grades of Fire Temples: Atash Behram, Atash Adaram, Agyary or Dar-e-Mehar and Atash dadgah or the house hold fire in every Zoroastrian home. The holiest Fire Temple in India is the Atash Behram at Udvada, about one hundred miles from Bombay, where the Sacred Fire brought by Iranian refuges from Iran has been continuously burning since 1741. The earliest Fire temple in India is the Atlash Behram at Sanjan believed to have been consecrated around 790AD.> > ============ ========= ========= =========>