I do not know whether you have seen this magazine before.( National Geographic Magazine December 1905 issue). It gives full information about Parsee-Community such as History, Immigration, Religious beliefs, culture , personal traits, Last rites etc and importance of fire temple, etc. This exhaustive write-up (30 pages ) is written by William Thomas Fee the then (1905) Consul General of USA at Mumbai. I am attaching this rare copy of magazine which is not only worth reading but also worth preserving.
The worlds oldest religion, the Zoroastrian faith, has influenced all the major world religions. Research has determined that Zarathustra, the founder of the Zoroastrian religion, lived centuries before Moses and Abraham. Zarathustra was the first in human history to introduce the belief in one God. He was also the first to put forward ideas of states of existence such as heaven and hell; judgment day; resurrection; and the idea of apocalypse. Over time, Zarathustra’s teachings were corrupted by his followers. This book, based on extensive study and research, aims to dispel the myths and beliefs the Prophet’s followers introduced that have no bearing on Zarathustra’s profound teachings. Many Zoroastrians have never read or just have a cursory understanding of the Gathas, verses Zarathustra composed, for humans to live a productive, harmonious life. The Gathas are simplified based on the works of Gatha scholars. The book covers historical background of the religion as well as offers meanings behind abstract concepts that are often taken literally.
The book can be purchased by writing to Arnavaz Sethna at ahsethna@yahoo.com The cost of the book is $10.00 plus postage and handling. Arnavaz Sethna will inform the interested buyer of the cost and payment arrangements. The author is donating the entire profits to the Library Committee of the Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH.) There is no monetary incentive far the author in this self-published book. The Library Committee of the ZAH is dedicated to advance knowledge in all aspects of the Zoroastrian faith, history and culture.
About the Author
Meheryar N. Rivetna retired from Merck & Co., Inc. and now devotes his time to research and the study of the Zoroastrian religion.
He is an active member of the library committee of the Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH) as well as on the FIRES (FEZANA Information Research Education System) committee. The ZAH library committee is dedicated to advance knowledge of the Zoroastrian faith, history and culture to keep the flame of Zarathustra’s teachings eternally burning and bright.
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Adar Yazad is called “the Fire of Ahura Mazda” and “the son of Ahura Mazda” (Y.25.7:71.10) – “Atarsh Puthra Ahurahe Mazdao”.
Today is the Salgreh of Shreeji Pak Iranshah, as well as the Salgrehs of several Agiaries such as Banaji Limji Agiary at Fort Mumbai; Seth Maneckji Sett Agiary at Bazargate Street Fort; J.J. Mistry Adaran at Surat; P.A. Patel Daremehr at S.V. Road, Andheri, D.E. Mithaiwala Agiary at Grant Road Mumbai and several others…
Eternal glory be unto our Holy Fires! Blessings unto all humanity.May Adar Yazad smite the druj of the pandemic and restore health and happiness again.
A presentation by Khojeste Mistree given via Zoom on February 21st 2021 for the Beshara Trust. Khojeste outlines the Zoroastrian Story of Creation and through that window shows some key theological tenets moving away from a purely transcendent monotheistic God. See https://beshara.org/? for more about the Trust.
‘Ardvi Sura’ (Ava) is the Yazad (Angel) of the waters. She is described as ‘Anahita’, meaning undefiled, unpolluted or untainted. It is also the name of a mythological river in Iran, reports the Jam-e-Jamshed.
Ardvi Sura is of noble origin, courageous, strong, tall, fair, slender, pure, beautiful and glorious. Her duty on earth is to guard Ahura Mazda’s holy creations. Prophet Zarathushtra asked her to make king Vishtaspa his follower and think of, speak of and act for the religion.
Avan Ardvisur refuses to grant boons to wicked persons. Avan Ardvisur is displeased when anybody defiles the waters. It’s a sin to contaminate water with flowers, food items like ‘dal ni pori’ or offerings that rot and pollute the waters. Worse still is putting dead matter such as corpses into the waters.
May Ava Yazad’s healing grace bless humanity and restore health, happiness and harmony.
* Meher is one of the more prominent Yazads in the Zoroastrian religion. He is one of the few Yazads mentioned by name (Avesta – aokhto namano yazatahe) and who is one of the three Yazatas who finds a place among the Ameshaspands in the names of the 12 months of the Zoroastrian calendar.
* The Meher Yasht, dedicated to Meher Yazad, is one of the longest of all Yashts.
* Meher Yazad is chiefly associated with light. He looks after all cosmic light, including the light from the sun. In this role, He is closely associated with Khorshed Yazad (who looks after the Sun). That is why Khorshed and Meher Nyaishnas are always recited together.
* Meher Yazad presides over relationships, especially love. When one is wronged in a relationship, one can seek redress from Meher Yazad.
* Meher Yazad is respectfully referred to as Meher Davar, that is, Meher the Judge. He is one of the Divine Judges of the heavenly tribunal.
Here are 5 talks delivered online by Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia for the Australian Zoroastrian Association during the pandemic. Enjoy!
All the talks organised and recorded by the AZA President Ruzbeh Desai and Committee member Kainaaz Choksey and at times with our AZA Treasurer/ Vice President Kaizad Panthaky as the coordinator.
This series was sponsored by AZA, per kind courtesy of an anonymous AZA member, in memory of Late Bachoo and Ruttonshaw Nanabhoy
Sant Dasturji Jamshedji Ervad Sorabji Kukadaru Saheb was born at Surat on May 26, 1831, on Mah Avan, Roj Zamyad. Dasturji Jamshedji Kukadaru Saheb was a pious man who led a pure and righteous life. He remained away from worldly ways and personal publicity. His greatness lay in his simplicity and humanity. His material needs were restricted to the bare needs and necessities of life.
Dastur Azar Kaiwan Bin Azar Gushasp, who was Dasturji Kukadaru Saheb’s spiritual guru, gave to Kukadaru Saheb the following Nirang.
“NAMAJ-VA-DARUD-VASE-TAYESH-VA-AFREEN
BARVAJE-E-KAIWAN-SAFRE- HAR FE-NAAM
RA VAN-E-LA-TEEMAR-TEEN-E- U
ARMAN-SAZ-HARDE NAMANE-HOM”
Dasturji Kukadaru Saheb was the spiritual guide to Ervad Nadarsha Navroji Aibara and he gave him a special Nirang as under:
“YA NOORE DASTAGEER, YA DASTAGEERE NOOR
KARAM KAR KAREEMA RAHEM KARO YA PARVARDEGAR
MADAD KARO YA NABEE JARTHOST TARI PADSHAHI”
SIMPLE LIFE
Dasturji Kukadaru Saheb led a simple and frugal life. He would spend the whole day in prayers. A strict vegetarian, he would eat just one meal a day – usually khichdi and a little ghee. It is said that he used to cook the rice himself by placing the vessel in the sun while reciting certain holy Maanthras or Nirangs.
Dasturji Kukadaru Saheb served as Panthaky of the holy fire at Seth Shapurji Kappawalla Agiary in Mumbai. He commanded tremendous respect among the Behdins. Whenever he attended a wedding or Navjote, the whole gathering would stand up as a mark of respect.
Dasturji Kukadaru Saheb set a living example of how powerful a true prayer can be and how the recitation of the Avesta, with a clean heart, can get one really close to Dadar Ahura Mazda. He based his whole life on the three main tenets of Zoroastrianism – Manashni, Gavashni, Kunashni, to be pure in mind, words and deeds. Such holy souls are born once in several centuries.
MIRACLES
Dasturji Kukadaru Saheb performed several noteworthy miracles. He had also made many accurate predictions. It is said that his third eye had opened, due to which he was able to foretell future events accurately He had predicted accurately the time of death of Dastur Peshotan Sanjana, Sir Dinshaw Petit, England’s Queen Victoria and several others.
His great miracles are remembered by people even today. During the life of Dasturji Kukadaru, Anjuman Atash Behram was being constructed at Dhobi Talao. The Trustees were short of Rs. 10,000. All the Trustees were in a quandary as to where to get such a large sum from Some Zarathushtis, who were true devotees of Kukadaru Saheb, thought of approaching him and said he would show the way He also had opponents. One of them said: “Kukadaru Saheb is a very poor Mobed. From where can he give us Rs. 10,000?” But those who had faith in him went to him one day at 5 p.m. One Zarathushti, who opposed him, also went along.
Kukadaru Saheb was engrossed in prayer at Kappawalla Agiary. After finishing his prayers, he asked the Zarathushtis the reason for their arrival. His devotees stated that Rs.10,000 was the deficit for building a Hall at the Anjuman Atash Behram. Kukadaru Saheb, by a signal from his inner self, asked them to come next evening at 5 p.m. with a brick. He told them not to buy a new brick from a shop, but to bring one fallen by the wayside. The people went in search of a brick the next morning. From morning to noon and noon to evening, they could not find a brick on the road. By evening, the Zarathushti who used to speak against Kukadaru Saheb stumbled and fell on the road. When he got up with the support of a brick, the other Zarathushtis said: “We have found the brick. Now we must go before Dasturji Kukadaru Saheb.”
They all went to meet Kukadaru Saheb at the Kappawalla Agiary Dasturji Kukadaru was engrossed in prayers. After finishing his prayers, they showed him the brick. Dasturji Kukadaru told them to place the brick in a bounded square (Pavi) in the next room. Those people who had faith in Kukadaru Saheb said: “Tomorrow evening, surely there will be a miracle.” But the Zarathushti who used to criticize Kukadaru Saheb said: “Tomorrow Kukadaru Saheb will be put to shame.”
On the third day at 5 p.m., all the Zarathushtis went before Kukadaru Saheb. That day Kukadaru Saheb spent the entire day in prayer. After finishing, he told them: “Whatever you find in the bound square in the next room, take that.” Then the Zarathushti who was against him said: “We have come to collect Rs.10,000, not bricks and stones.”
Dasturji Kukadaru replied to that Zarathushti: “If bricks and stones are your destiny; you will get only that.” But those who had respect for Kukadaru Saheb went in and to their great surprise found that the brick had transformed into gold. This was a great miracle. Kukadaru Saheb had not even seen where the Zarathushtis had kept the brick in the adjoining room. But he had prayed to Dadar Ahura Mazda and urged that some path be opened to build a Hall at the Anjuman Atash Behram. The Zarathushti who used to speak against Kukadaru Saheb saw this grand miracle and bowed his head in shame. He sought forgiveness from Kukadaru Saheb.
Thereafter all the Zarathushtis took the golden brick to weigh it. It fetched exactly Rs.10,000; not a rupee more, nor a rupee less. Out of Rs.10,000, the Anjuman Atash Behram Hall was constructed. That Hall was named Dasturji Jamshedji Sorabji Kukadaru Hall. There is a portrait of Dasturji Kukadaru Saheb in this Hall, below which is a large plaque. Devotees, even today bow there in reverence, pray and light divas.
The North American Mobeds Council (NAMC) is a consortium of Mobeds of North America dedicated to service the Religious and Spiritual needs of the North American Zoroastrian Community,
The Institute of Zoroastrian Studies is an Educational Arm of NAMC with an objective to train Mobeds and impart knowledge of Zoroastrianism to fellow Zoroastrians and to the general public.
These monthly lectures by learned Mobeds is an initiative of the Institute of Zoroastrian Studies for the enlightenment of the general public.
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The worlds oldest religion, the Zoroastrian faith, has influenced all the major world religions. Research has determined that Zarathustra, the founder of the Zoroastrian religion, lived centuries before Moses and Abraham. Zarathustra was the first in human history to introduce the belief in one God. He was also the first to put forward ideas of states of existence such as heaven and hell; judgment day; resurrection; and the idea of apocalypse. Over time, Zarathustra’s teachings were corrupted by his followers. This book, based on extensive study and research, aims to dispel the myths and beliefs the Prophet’s followers introduced that have no bearing on Zarathustra’s profound teachings. Many Zoroastrians have never read or just have a cursory understanding of the Gathas, verses Zarathustra composed, for humans to live a productive, harmonious life. The Gathas are simplified based on the works of Gatha scholars. The book covers historical background of the religion as well as offers meanings behind abstract concepts that are often taken literally.
Sant Dasturji Jamshedji Ervad Sorabji Kukadaru Saheb was born at Surat on May 26, 1831, on Mah Avan, Roj Zamyad. Dasturji Jamshedji Kukadaru Saheb was a pious man who led a pure and righteous life. He remained away from worldly ways and personal publicity. His greatness lay in his simplicity and humanity. His material needs were restricted to the bare needs and necessities of life.
Institute of Zoroastrian Studies