Did You Know? Type 3 Qs

Zarathushtrish Scriptural Insights, particularly for those who ask ‘where is it written’.

Even though this section is immensely self-explanatory, a foreword becomes essential to emphasize that beginning from the very first salutation of Kshnothra Ahurae Mazda through to Gathas, our scriptures repeatedly indicate that ‘Respectful Endogamy’, the discipline of marrying within one’s own Ethno-Religio-Spiritual Culture is a given.

Our Ancestors could not have been who they were, how they conducted themselves and how those who appreciated them, were in awe of them, if they were anything but the merits of Endogamy where Mother & Father were not just united in the flesh, but also in mind and spirit dedicated to their children.

In between the Kshothra Ahurae Mazdao I mentioned to the Gathas, the representations of each of our prayers make it irrefutably clear that all insights and inferences were as though they were being addressed to women and men who well knew what the Mazdayasni Zarathushti religion is all about, unlike the apathy and ignorance of the last century and a half.

Here for your easy reference, these prayers happen to be.

Hoshbaam

What part of such homage composed countless centuries ago, would be relevant in the 21st century to any person who is not of Mazdayasni Zarathushti historical lineage? Such fine sentiments were clearly articulated for our flock of people who could relate to the entities stated in the Hoshbam.

Would it be even remotely plausible that an Assyrian or Babylonian, Chinese or Hindu, Phoenician or Roman, Egyptian or Turk, African or American Indian was the audience?

No. Zarathushti prayers were meant for Zarathushti people who could relate to the eco-system of our Religio-Culture, no different to other Religio-Cultures having their own eco-system.

All of the Kusthi prayer ritual – particularly Jasmay Avangahe Mazda’s words Mazdayasno Ahmi, Mazdayasno Zarathushtrish, meaning “My earlier first earlier was as a Mazda worshipper and later through Zarathushtra’s counsel, my identity is now Mazdayasno Zarathushtrish. Since times immemorial, clarity of Ahura Mazda as once Supreme God was embedded, perhaps through collective conscientiousness, was a way of life of early Aryans. Prophet Zarathushtra polished it to a spiritual art.

Afargaan, Satoom, Farokshi, Jashan, Farvardigaan/Mukhtaad, Boi, Navjote, Naavur with Yazashnay, Nirangdin, Vandidaad, Paidust, Oothmanu, Patel Pashemani (for self-repentance & atonement), Patet for the departed (for next-of-kin to repent on behalf of their parents or deceased ones), all leave absolutely no open-ended slighter to suspect that the whole Zarathushti Religio-Cultural-Spiritual system was anything but Endogamous.

The Gathas Warning

And before getting into even further minute detail, the Gathas have a warning very early in the piece in Ha 28, Paragraph 9.

Hence the words “Kshnothra Ahurae Mazdao” precede our prayers, meaning “May our goodness make God happy”. Always base your thoughts, words & actions on Ashem Vohu & Vohu Manah values. Do no manipulate or ill-influence anyone. Do not claim Avesta is dead as excuses to dodge praying. Seek to know & you’ll find all its Good meanings to enrich the gift that is your Life.

Wedding Blessings & Customs

And now to all those responsible for causing intra-communal carnage upon the sanctity of Endogamous marriage.

Ervad Dr. Sir (Knighted by the British Crown) Jivanji Jamshedji Modi beautifully writes the following in his encyclopedic book The Religious Ceremonies and Customs of the Parsis, words with which a Zarathushti Ervad (Priest) starts the Payvandnameh – Ashirwad wedding blessings which were conferred on all Parsi Irani ancestors before you. Were you aware that the following was decreed?

These are perhaps the most sublime words to ever grace anyone’s ears or eyes and they are found in Yasna 53.5 which corresponds to Vahishtoishti Gatha.

Again, what part of wedding blessings, composed countless centuries ago, would be relevant in the 21st century to any person who is not of Mazdayasni Zarathushti historical lineage? Such fine sentiments were clearly articulated for families whose youth were to unite together by being cognizant of the entities stated in the wedding blessings.

Would it be even remotely plausible that an Assyrian or Babylonian, Chinese or Hindu, Phoenician or Roman, Egyptian or Turk, African or American Indian would sit there, and nod, yes, yes to entities they had no clue of, let alone respect?

Furthermore, following is the gist of the wedding ceremony:

• "By the helping name of AHURA MAZDA, may your spiritual happiness increase. (not happiness from indulgence and material gains.)"
• May you be brilliant as Athro Ahurae Mazdao Puthra (Sun) and Pure as Mah Bokhtar (Moon). (symbolizing male/yang & female/yin).
• "May you learn to do Good deeds, Think of nothing but the truth, Speak nothing but the truth, Do nothing but what is proper, Shun all bad thoughts, Shun all bad words, Shun all bad deeds."
• Praise deeds of piety. Praise and be Loyal to the Mazdayasnan Religion and do nothing without mature consideration.
• "Acquire wealth honestly. Be self-reliant. Be courteous, humble and kind. Let your word be your bond. Do good to the pious & the virtuous."
• Keep yourself pure by way of truth. Be industrious in following good professions.
• Speak in an assembly after great consideration.
• "Be more glorious than your father. In no way berate your mother. Always be respectful & grateful to your parents. Revere the souls of your Ancestors, especially on days devoted to their remembrance."
• "Do not lie, swear or deceive. Avoid all evil thoughts & envy. Do not commit sins. Commit no acts opposed to piety. Deprive not others from what is theirs. Do not entertain wicked jealousy. Do not indulge in scandals. Do not quarrel with the quarrelsome. Do not be greedy with the greedy. Do not be a companion to gossipers. Do not co-operate with the ill-informed. Fight with your enemies with fair means."
• Be immortal like King Kaikhosru PadShah and other noble Kings of various Iranian dynasties.
• Be as fertile as the Earth.
• Be as illustrious as ASHO ZARATHUSHTRA.
• Praise ASHO ZARATHUSHTRA as your only Spiritual Leader.
• "Recognise only AHURA MAZDA, the Omniscient Lord, as your GOD."
• "May Ahura Mazda bestow upon you a good mind through Bahmaan, Good words through Ardibehest, Good actions through Shahrivar, Perfection thought Spendarmad, Sweetness through Khordad, Fruitfulness through Amardad."
• "May Ahura Mazda bless upon you Lustre through Aadar, Purity through Aavan, Nobility through Khurshed, Charity through Mohor, Liberty through Tir."
• "May Ahura Mazda bestow temperate habits through Gosh, Justice through Meher, Obedience & Loyalty through Sroash, Truthfulness through Rashne, Strength to do Good work through Farvardin, Victory of your Good Deeds & Endeavours through Behraam, Strength like Rustom through Govaad."
• "May Ahura Mazda bestow Spiritual knowledge upon you through Din, Wealth through Ashishwang for use in Good purposes, Good talents through Ashtaad, Noble activity through Aasman."
• "May you develop Inner-strength through Zamyaad, Foresight & wisdom through Mareshpand and Nourishment for your physical body through Aneraan."
• "May the marrying couple find divine light & glory, physical strength & health, victory & wealth that yields inner happiness, children blessed with innate wisdom and very long life in earthly paradise."
• "As soul is united with the body, so may you remain united with family and each other by keeping good faith & preserving good character."
• May the marrying couple be firm (with life-defining decisions) by means of Ashoi (conscientious righteousness) and with their (acquired) understanding of the Good Mazdayasnan Religion.
• May much desired Airyaman (noble thought) come joyously to the good mind of such Zarathushti men & women.
• May the Religion of Asho Zarathustra prosper (through you & your children).
• May it be so in accordance to AHURA MAZDA.
• Atha Zamyat Yatha Afrinami "(may it be so, as I pray the above to Thee)"

Jivanji further describes from the Vendiad (III, I) when Asho Zarathushtra asks “O Creator of the physical world!. Which is the second place on earth that feels happy to You?” The revelation is said to be “That (place is happy), over which a Holy man (Zarathushti) builds a house with fire, wife, children, cattle & good followers of the Mazdayasnan Religion.

Such clearly spelt-out descriptions show that the framework of our prayers are founded on blessings being sought from the nicest attributes represented by each of our Amesha-Spentas and Yazatas who preside over all aspects of life from a Zarathushtrish perspective.

There is absolutely no room for anyone unless outrightly unconscionable to contest that such thoughts, words and deeds could have meant that Ancestral Zarathushtees just married anyone willy-nilly.

Given our Persian calendar is affixed to the last Persian King’s accession to the throne of Zarathushti Iran, clearly demonstrates our Religio-Culture’s protocol is set to patriotically continue recording Zarathushti life-event milestones by our own long-prevailing historic measures and metrics relevant to our people, and not others. Just as other Religions expect their protocols to be respected, we too should be entitled for our protocols to be respected and not played football with.

Given that wedding benedictions (prayers) happen to be affixed to the Persian Solar calendar wherein each day is devoted to a presiding Amesha Spenta or Yazata, such prayed words have no relevance:

• To a Zarathushti who is breaching Religious by marrying a non-Zarathushtee.
• To a non-Zarathushti who has no relationship with the entities in the prayer.

Thus how paradoxical it is to seek Zarathushti protocol on one hand but breach it on the other! If people sincerely undertook to understand scriptural translations, significance, and symbolism, they would realise that the context in the prayers is no longer relevant. They have neither Ancestral, Ethnic, Religious, or Spiritual linkage, nor do they have any bonds with the Amesha Spentas and Yazata’s invoked in wedding blessing prayers.

Enabling this awareness to circulate amongst our people is particularly relevant to those mutinous Zarathushti Priests and Parents who impart Zarathushti wedding benedictions on mix-faith couples. Their militancy demonstrates they have no clue about Avesta, Persian & Sanskrit meanings and sentiments which constitute our Payvandh-Nameh and Ashirwaad.

Where Zarathushtrish perspective already stands to be disregarded, how relevant is it for Zarathushtrish origin blessings to become relevant to the mix-faith couple? Militantly enacting wedding blessing prayers by violating scriptural meaning & symbolism is,

• As incompatible or irrelevant as an Android programme upon an iPhone.
• As ill-fitting as a square peg in a round hole.

It is not just the pounding a square peg in a round hole which is hard work, but that such a conflicting act actually destroys the original integrity of both the peg and the hole and renders the end product in a far different shape than what would be originally achieved with compatibility.

Navjote Significance

Just as the Benedictions and Commandments of Zarathushtrish Wedding Blessings are hardly ever understood and thus sidelined in the pursuit of pageantry, passion, pomp, pride, partying and presents, so are the Scriptural Commandments of the Navjote obliterated in ignorance by un-informed Priests and Parents assuming that they have completed their obligations, in what is effectively a name-sake Navjote.

Where the Navjote is to symbolize being enjoined in a life-long spiritual partnership aligned with our Prophet who represents Ahura Mazda, ill-informed and under-guided people treat the ceremony as a side-show to the party that’s to follow.

Where the Navjote is to symbolise an Oath of Moral Loyalty to unfailingly uphold Zarathushti Commandments and Customs, ill-informed parents heave a sigh of relief that from thereon the innocent child will be responsible for its own actions, as if the innocent child can do better than its ignorant parents, all by itself.

Where the Navjote should be treated as being both an initiation and invitation to become a good Zarathushti, ill-informed parents think they can leave it to the child to suss out that path on its own. As a consequence, ill-informed create further ill.

Where the Navjote should be seen as an in-between milestone from birth to wedding, to parenthood, grandparenthood and demise, it is instead treated as a la-la land child matter. Given Navjote represents an Agreement (and Promise) to steadfastly practice & preserve our Religion and Culture, it is imperative to have it understood across our community, that Ashirwaad is only relevant when wedlock occurs between two Navjoted Zarathushtees who respect and practice our Religion and its mandates. Failing which, with parents inapt at prayer, or ignorant of history, with mothers not even dressed per our rather benign Religious protocols (unlike other religions), what the child sees is a lot of fanfare, where monkey see – monkey do drama continues from one generation to another.

Other Scriptural References

Moving next to the Holy Vendidad, our Book of Rules & Protocols, in paragraph 18.62, a question is posed “O Ahura Mazda, who grieves (you) with the greatest grief? Who torments (you) with the greatest injury?. The reply is revealed as “Certainly the Jahi, who causes the procreative seeds to be mixed with the aliens (those that follow a different religion. Jahi is translated as “religiously illegal” or “religious adultery”. Jahi is also referred to in later Persian as Juddin. Jud-means another, Din means Religion meaning Person of another Faith.

Similarly, in a Prayer called “Patet Pashemani” (a prayer to repent and ask for forgiveness), the 3rd paragraph declares inter-Religious marriage as “gunah-e-ravani” translated as Sin of the Spirit. It is listed under the various “akho paye gunah”, meaning sins that defile the Mazdayasni Zarathushti Religion from its very foundation.

The Pahlavi Text Dinkard, Book II compares the mixing of “seeds” between a Mazdayasni Zarathushti and a Juddin as a product which belongs to neither Religion.

The Farvardin Yasht, one of our most intact original prayers (from which the Satoom and Farokhsi Prayers are extracted, is packed with the reciter-devotee expressing reverence as being a descendant of Zarathushtee Ancestry and History and committing to Loyally uphold their Religion.

Our baseline Kushti recital is virtually a fiber-optic communication to Ahura Mazda, comprised of deeply intrinsic meanings imbedded within Ashem Vohu, Yatha Ahu Variyo, Kem Na Mazda, Hormazd Khodai, Jasame Avangahe Mazda, etc., asserting promises to lead a holistic Zarathushti lifestyle at a depth of conscientious detail.

Other prayers like Atash-Niyaesh, Khorshed & Meher Yashts, Vispa Humata, Doa Naam Satastyneh, Din-no-Kalmo, etc., too keep asserting that the Zarathushti reciting them is pledging “Loyalty” to our Faith, or that such is expected from him/her.