Short Questions Answers

200

SHORT QUESTIONS – ANSWERS

ON

ZOROASTRIANISM

By

Ervad R. R. MOTAFRAM

BOMBAY

1988

Dedicated

to

the revered memory

of

insert here the picture of Dasturjee Kookadaru

Rushad Dasturji Jamshedji Sorabji Kookadaru

BIRTH : ROJ JAMIAD

MAH AVAN Y.Z. 1200

DEATH : ROJ BEHRAM

MAH FARVARDIN Y.Z.1270

Preface

“200 SHORT QUESTIONS-ANSWERS ON ZOROASTRIANISM” is designed to cater to the needs of the children and those desiring introduction to Zoroastrianism. They cover miscellaneous topics pertaining to Zoroastrianism, which are explaied in a simple, concise manner.

Today people scarcely find time to read long, rambling discourses on religious matters. Moreover, children in schools are burdened with heavy curriculum of studies. Hence, these 200 short question-answers will give them in a nutshell an idea of Zoroastrianism.

For a detailed study of Zoroastrianism sets of the following three books by the Author are available at the Parsi Punchayat, 209, Dr. Dadabhai Naoroji Road, Bombay – 400 001:

1)  Elements of Zoroastrianism.

2)  Salient Features of Zoroastrianism.

3)  Light on Zoroastrianism.

-  Author

Book consists of total 24 pages.

Q.1

/ What is Navjote ?
A. / Navjote is that ceremony in which a Parsi Zoroastrian child is invested with Sudreh and Kusti.
Q.2 /

What is the meaning of the word Navjote ?

A. / The word ‘Navjote’ means a new initiate who offers prayers.
Q.3 / Why has the child to undergo Naahn [Sacred bath] before the Navjote ceremony ?
A. / The child has to undergo sacred bath before the Navjote ceremony for the sake of external purification.
Q.4 / Why is the child given Nirang [consecrated bull’s urine] to drink before the Navjote ceremony ?
A. / The child is given Nirang to drink before the Navjote ceremony for the sake of internal purification.
Q.5 / Why is the child given a leaf of pomegranate tree to chew before the Navjote ceremony ?
A. / The child is given a leaf of pomegranate tree to chew before the Navjote ceremony because the evergreen pomegranate tree reminds one of the immortality of soul.
Q.6 / Why does the priest initiating the child holds his hand while investing him with sacred girdle ?
A. / Its significance is that the priest transfers his own magnetism to the child, who is to be invested with spiritual together with the sacred shirt [Sadra] and the girdle [Kusti].
Q.7 / What is the child’s responsibility after Navjote ?
A. / After Navjote the child enters a new phase of life which aim particularly at moral and spiritual uplift.
Q.8 / What confession does the child make at the Navjote ceremony ?
A. / The child declares his faith openly to the assembly on the Mazdayasni Zarathushtri religion.
Q.9 / What is ‘Sudra’ ?
A. / The word Sudra means ‘true or advantageous path’ and constantly it reminds every Zoroastrian t tread this path and not to abandon it even in the midst of the most adverse circumstances.
Q.10 / Of what is Sudra made ?
A. / Sudra is made of white cambric because white represents purity and it is also the
symbol of Mazdayasni religion (Meher Yasht – 126)
Q.11 / What do the two parts of Sudra signify ?
A. / The two parts of Sudra signify the material and the spiritual world.
Q.12 / What is the most important part of Sudra and what does it signify ?
A. / The most important part of Sudra is Kisseh I Kerfeh or bag of virtuous deeds and it signifies that man in the material world should fill this bag with virtuous deeds so that his future life would be secure.
Q.13 / Why should Sudra be worn next to skin ?
A. / Sudra should be worn next to skin because our body constantly gives off heat with other impurities from within and Sudra absorbs them.
Q.14 / What is Kusti ?
A. / Kusti shows the direction where every Zoroastrian should aim at and that is the direction of Light and Truth.
Q.15 / Of what is the Kusti made and why ?
A. / Kusti is made of lamp’s wool because lamp typifies innocence.
Q.16 / How is Kusti Made ?
A. / Wool is first spun into 72 threads which are then woven into a Kusti on a handloom.
Q.17 / Why is Kusti tied in the middle of the body ?
A. / Tying Kusti in the middle of the body signifies that a Zoroastrian should always put into practice the principle of moderation or golden mean in all his activities.
Q.18 / What do the four knots of Kusti signify ?
A. / The four knots of Kusti signify that Ahura Mazda is the only one unequalled, the religion of Mazda worship is the word of Ahura Mazda, Zarathushtra is the prophet sent by Ahura Mazda and he must always think good though, speak good words and practice good deeds.
Q.19 / What does Kusti symbolize ?
A. / Kusti serves as a permanent symbol of service to God.
Q.20 / Why should we wear Sudra and Kusti ?
A. / Sudra and Kusti play a vital part in the development of an overall personality.
Q.21 / When did the custom of putting on Kusti started ?
A. / It started from the time of King Jamshed of the Peshdadian dynasty and Zarathushtra
continued it. (Pahlavi Dadastan I Denik XXXVIII).
Q.22 / Is it proper for a Zoroastrian to move about without wearing Sudra and Kusti ?
A. / It is a sin for Zoroastrian to move about without Sudra and Kusti
Q.23 / What should a Zoroastrian do before untying and tying Kusti ?
A. / Before untying and tying Kusti a Zoroastrian should wash the external parts of the body. This is known as Paadyaab.
Q.24 / What is the importance of Fire in the Zoroastrian religion ?
A. / Fire is the most excellent and most useful of God’s creation.
Q.25 / What is Fire called in the Avesta ?
A. / In the Avesta Fire is called the Son of Lord Ahura Mazda.
Q.26 / What should a Zoroastrian do rising up early in the morning ?
A. / A Zoroastrian rising up early in the morning should put on clothes, wash his hands, search for fuel and enkindle the household fire. (Vandidad 18-19)
Q.27 / Where should the Fire be installed ?
A. / The Fire should be installed in a clean, decent and proper place after performing certain ceremonies.
Q.28 / What are the three grades of Fire among the Zoroastrians ?
A. / The three grades of Fire among Zoroastrians are Atash Behram, Atash Adaran and Atash Dadgah. The first two grades of Fire is worshipped only in the Fire Temple and the last one is the one which is worshipped at home.
There are only 8 Fire Temples in the entire world which are Atash Behram and the remaining ones are Atash Adaran. All the 8 Atash Behram are found in India – 4 at Bombay, 1 at Udvada, 1 at Navsari and 2 at Surat.
Q.29 / How are the different grades of Fire installed ?
A. / To install an Atash Behram 16 different kings of Fire are required, for an Atash Adaran four and for an Atash Dadgah only one Fire is required. They are installed after performing some ceremonies which are the most elaborate in the case of an Atash Behram.
Q.30 / Who should tend the Fire of an Atash Behram ?
A. / Befitting its exalted position fully qualified priests who have undergone the highest form of purification rituals (Barshnum) and observe Khub, that is who perform the Yasna ceremony, can tend Fire of an Atash Behram.
Q.31 / Why do the Zoroastrians pray before Fire ?
A. / When the Zoroastrians pray before the Fire they offer their worship to Lord Ahura Mazda through fire which is the symbol of Ahura Mazda (Yasna 36-1).
Q.32 / What constitutes a sin against Fire ?
A. / To burn dead, decomposing matter on Fire is regarded as a sin.
Q.33 / What are the objects of Zoroastrian rituals and ceremonies ?
A. / The first object of Zoroastrian rituals and ceremonies is to purify atmosphere with fire burning with incense, the second is to secure blessings of divine spirits and the third is to express gratitude to Lord Ahura Mazda for the seasonal bounties bestowed upon mankind.
Q.34 / What are the high ceremonies of the Zoroastrian religion ?
A. / These are mainly Yazashne, Visperad and Vandidad ceremonies.
Q.35 / By whom are these ceremonies performed ?
A. / These ceremonies are performed by those priests who have undergone Barshnum and are pure in body and soul.
Q.36 / Where are these ceremonies performed ?
A. / These ceremonies are performed in a specially reserved place in Fire Temples called urvies.
Q.37 / By what other names are these ceremonies known ?
A. / These ceremonies are also known as Paav Mahal ceremonies. Paav means pure and Mahal means building.
Q.38 / What are the requisites for the Yazashne, Visperad and Vandidad ceremonies ?
A. / The requisites for these ceremonies are derived from mineral, vegetable and animal kingdoms representing different creations.
Q.39 / What is the main object of Yazashne ceremony ?
A. / The main object of Yazashne ceremony is to show how different creations are inter-related and work for mutual benefit and hw man should be in tune with different creations represented by a variety of requisites in the ceremony.
Q.40 / What is the main part of Yazashne ceremony ?
A. / The main part of Yazashne ceremony is the pounding of Homa twigs and extracting Homa juice.
Q.41 / On what occasion is Visperad ceremony performed ?
A. / Visperad ceremony is performed at seasonal festivals (gahambaars).
Q.42 / When is Vandidad ceremony performed ?
A. / Vandidad ceremony is performed at mid - night after 12 O’clock, because evil
influences predominate especially in the dark of night.
Q.43 / What is Baaj ?
A. / Baaj is a religious prayer recited in honour of the divine spirit (Amesha Spentas and Yazatas) or the guardian spirit (Fravashis)
Q.44 / What is Afringaan ?
A. / Afringaan or prayer of blessing is a ceremony performed by two priests and sometimes by a single priest with few and simple requisites as fruits, flowers, water, milk and sandalwood.
Q.45 / What is Farokhshi ?
A. / Farokhshi is also a simple ceremony with the same requisites as those in Afringaan.
Q.46 / What is Stom ?
A. / Stom is a prayer of the guardian spirits (Fravashish)
Q.47 / What is Jashan ?
A. / Jashan is a prayer with ceremonies offerings performed by two priests with the attendance of other Zoroastrians who also pray.
Q.48 / Why are ceremonies after death necessary ?
A. / Ceremonies after death are necessary as they guard the soul of the deceased from evil influences because according to Zoroastrian teachings the soul of a person after is death remains within the precincts of this world for three nights.
Q.49 / Why are ceremonies during three days after death performed in honour of Sraosha ?
A. / This is because the soul is clothed in a more tenuous astral body and is under the guidance and protection of Sraosha who is the protector of men in both the worlds (Larger Srosh Yasht – 25) and the soul’s guide till its journey to the next world on the dawn of the fourth day.
Q.50 / Why are ceremonies during three days after death performed in honour of Sraosha?
A. / These ceremonies offer consolation to the souls of the dead in the spiritual world and they bless the living.
Q.51 / What are the Farvardegan or Muktaad days ?
A. / These are the ten days at the end of the Zoroastrian calendar year when the guardian spirits (Fravashis) move about freely in the material world’s expecting prayer and offerings from the living (Farvardin Yasht 49,50)
Q.52 / By what name is the supreme God called in the Zoroastrian religion ?
A. / The supreme God in the Zoroastrian religion is known as Ahura Mazda.
Q.53 / What does the word Ahura Mazda mean ?
A. / The word Ahura Mazda means ‘Omniscient Lord.’
Q.54 / How is Ahura Mazda portrayed in the Zoroastrian religion ?
A. / Ahura Mazda is portrayed in the Zoroastrian religion as the highest epitome of virtues (Yasna 1-1)
Q.55 / With what is the concept of Ahura Mazda associated ?
A. / The concept of Ahura Mazda is associated with light.
Q.56 / Can you see Ahura Mazda ?
A. / No, we cannot see Ahura Mazda because He is the most spiritual or invisible (Yasna 4-7) and pervades the entire creation.
Q.57 / What is the meaning of Amesha Spenta ?
A. / ‘Amesha Spenta’ means Bountiful immortal.
Q.58 / How many Amesha Spenta are there and what do they signify ?
A. / Amesha Spenta are seven in all – Ahura Mazda, Vohumana, Asha Vahishta, Kshhathra Vairaya, Spenta Armaiti, Haurvataat and Ameretaat and they signify the attributes of Ahura MazdA.
Q.59 / Over what creations do the Amesha Spenta preside ?
A. / The Amesha Spenta preside over mankind, animals, fire, metals, earth, water and plants.
Q.60 / Does the theory of Amesha Spenta lead to the worship of many Gods ?
A. / No. Amesha Spenta are by no means independent Gods, but they are of the same thought, word and deed with Ahura Mazda who is said to be their father and preceptor (Farvardin Yasht – 8 3), and who has created them all (Hormazd Yasht – 25).
Q.61 / What is the meaning of ‘Yazata’ ?
A. / ‘Yazata’ means adorable one.
Q.62 / How many Yazatas are there and what do they signify ?
A. / The exact number of Yazatas cannot be specified and they are in rank next to Amesha Spenta.
Q.63 / How are the Yazatas classified ?
A. / The Yazatas are classified as spiritual and material (Khurshed Nyaish – 9), the
former personifying some virtues and the latter presiding over material creations.
Q.64 / What is the meaning of ‘Fravashi’ ?
A. / ‘Fravashi’ means a guardian spirit.
Q.65 / What do the Fravashis signify ?