Zoroastrianism
The Religion of Ancient Persia
Nawaz Merchant
Sam Merchant
ZAGNY: Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York
Photo: Winged Lions in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
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The Middle East has been in the news often – but do you
know it’s history?
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http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/EMPIRE17.swf
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http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/EMPIRE17.swf
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Z-what? What is it?
• Zoroastrianism is the First Monotheistic religion in the world
• Name given to followers of Prophet
Zoroaster/Zarathushtra
• State religion of the Kings of Persia
• Cyrus the Great:
– Conquered lands from
Afghanistan to Egypt –
– Ruled justly,
– First Bill of Human Rights
• King Darius:
– Universal currency/coins (Dariks),
– First postal system
• Predominant from 1000 BC - 1000
AD
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So what did he say?
• Zoroaster had a simple message:
– Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds
• Below: Raphael's 1509 painting of “The School of Athens”.
– In it, Zoroaster and Ptolemy are having a discussion. The prophet is holding
a star-studded globe.
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Tenets of Zoroastrian-ism
Good Thoughts,
Good Words, and
Good Deeds
One God: The Amesha Spenta or the attributes of
Ahura Mazda (God)
1. Asha is Righteousness. God is Righteous therefore
He is Just and morally perfect.
2. Vohu Mano is the Good Mind. God has the perfect
mind and therefore he is incapable of choosing
anything evil.
3. Spenta Aramaity is Benevolence. God is
benevolent and loves and trusts his creation to
eventually become perfect as he has wanted it to be
from the moment he created it.
4. Kshathra Vairya is the power to do Good. God
uses his power to do only Good.
5. Houravatat is Perfection. God is Perfect.
6. Ameretat is Immortality. God is Immortal.
Our Role:
Human beings are expected to
develop these virtues. They
must:
Learn what Righteousness is,
and choose the right path.
Be benevolent (good to others),
and trust that God has
intended them to be good.
Evil is within people- (like being
selfish).
If all human beings choose to
use their power to do only
good and fight evil, then the
rule of reason will prevail.
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Zoroastrian-ism: History
• Founded in ~1000 BCE
– “Mazdaism” – since Ahura Mazda is the
Devine Creator
• State religion of Mede, Achemenian,
Parthian, and Sassanian Rulers
• The Persians (Achaemenid Empire) were
conquered by Alexander the Great of Greece
in 330 BCE
– Alexander was influenced by
Xenophon’s book – “The Training of
Cyrus the Great”
Popular Parsi Zoroastrian depiction.
This image emerged in the 18th
century
• In 670 AD, the Persian Sassanid dynasty was
overthrown by Arabs armies
– Many persians were killed, others
converted to Islam, some remained in
Iran
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– but a few escaped…and fled to India
Arrival in
Sanjan
Zoroastrian refugees (called Parsis) fleeing religious persecution in Iran, landed in Sanjan
(Gujarat), in 936 AD (some say 716 AD) and asked Jadhav Rana, King of Gujarat, for
refuge.
The King gave a glass full of milk to the chief Parsi priest, to say that that he had no place
for new settlers.
The Parsi priest took the glass of milk full to the brim, and added sugar to it. He implied:
Just as the sugar blended into the milk without displacing any of it, so too would the
parsis blend into and sweeten the land.
Impressed by this assurance, the King gave the Parsis refuge.
Pictures: Re-enactment of Kisse-Sanjan.
Commemorative Column installed 9in 1920
Parsees & Progress in India
• Sir Jamshedjee Jeejeebhoy (1783-1859) First Baronet – Highly esteemed parsi of
the 19 century.
• Dadabhoy Naoroji (1825-1917) was the
first Asian to become member of the
British Parliament credited with coining
the word “SWARAJ” or home rule.
• Madam Bhikajee Cama (1861-1936) was
the first to unfurl the future Indian flag in
public 1907.
• First Indian Cricket Team to go to England
was made-up of Parsis.
• Field Marshall Sam Maneckshaw, lead
India to victory in the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
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TATA’S Century of Excellence
Founded by JN Tata, the Tata Group has 98
Operating Companies and $28B annual sales.
Five core values: integrity, understanding,
excellence, unity and responsibility
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1903 – India’s First Luxury hotel.
1907 – India’s First Integrated steel factory.
1932 – India’s First Commercial air service.
1941 – India’s First Cancer Hospital.
1948 – India’s First International Commercial
flight.
• 1968 – India’s First Software service
company.
• 1998 – India’s First Indigenous car.
• 2007 – Tata Nano: $2500 Car for the masses
“A CENTURY OF TRUST”
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Migration to North America
• From the 1920s onward,
Zoroastrians migrated to UK,
• Zarathushtis who stayed in Iran
were persecuted with high
Australia, Europe and North
Jaziya tax, ban on travel, trade,
America.
etc
• In the 1800s, with the help of
• There are now ~25,000+
the British govt., parsees of
Zoroastrians in North America,
India rescued some of their
with over 25 ‘anjumans’ or
brethren from Iran.
associations.
• Others remained in Kerman &
Yazd (Iran), and flourished
• They continue to make sweet the
under the rule of the Reza Shah
lives of those they live and work
Pehlvi.
among.
• In Iran today, 5 minority
representatives have permanent
seats in parliament – one of
these is a Zoroastrian
representative.
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Customs and Traditions
The Jashan Ceremony performed by a priest or Dastoor to bless a Zoroastrian home
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Childhood Traditions
With one of the lowest birth
rates of any community,
the birth of a baby is
celebrated with great joy.
Childhood ceremonies:
Besna (when the child can sit
upright at about 6 months
old),
Puhg-laroo (When the child can
walk – at 10-14 months
old.)
Tradition: On the 5th night after the child’s birth, it is said, Vermai, an old spirit, visits the
family to write the child’s fortune.
At sunset, the grandmother prays by a deeva (candle), and leaves overnight a shesh (tray)
with a piece of paper and a pen filled with auspicious red ink.
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Navjote:
Initiation into
the Zoroastrian
Faith
The Navjote is when a child joins the
Zoroastrian religion. The word
Navjote is from: (1) Nao (new),
and (2) Jotë (one who offers
prayers).
The child (age 7-15) wears the Sudreh
(shirt) and Kusti (girdle) which are
the visible symbols of the faith.
Relatives and friends are invited to
witness the child’s acceptance of
the Zoroastrian religion
The priest prays for the health, wealth and wellbeing of the child by reciting the Doa
Tandarosti prayer.
He showers petals and rice upon the child's
head, symbolizing prosperity and plenty.
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Zoroastrian
Wedding
Ceremony
•
The bride and the groom sit opposite
each other, with a veil between
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them.
When the veil falls, and the couple toss
rice to “win the upper hand” in the
marriage!
The Priest asks the couple and witnesses.
Pasande kardi? “Are you willing?”
Chanted prayers ask the blessings of God and
of the Amesha-Spentas and of the Yazatas
upon the couple and the Priest advises them
on their conduct in life (called the Ashirwad,
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or blessing).
Parsi Ladies adopted the Sari
– and made it their own:
Ladies admire traditional Parsee
Sarees for their exquisite
embroidery:
Garo (A dark silk saree with white
embroidery is often a family
heirloom passed from mother to
daughter)
Kor-Sari and Kasab (silver)-kor
sarees (A richly embroidered border,
attached over the entire length of the
saree)
Teeli-saree (A sequined lace sari,
usually in pastel colors but often in
jewel tones as well.)
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The Exotic Flavors
of Parsi Cuisine
Parsi Cuisine has gained favor in India over
the years, and has also attracted followers
of ethnic food in the west.
Pictured:
‘Patra ni machi’ (fish in banana leaf)
‘Malido’ (a sweet semolina dessert)
Parsi Shrimp Curry,
Patrel..mmmm!.
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Picture Credits:www.sanjeevkapoor.com,
www.gourmetindia.com
www.tribuneindia.com www.binisparsicuisine.com
www.ispotpotpourri.blogspot.com
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The Parsi and
Iranian Zarthostis in
North America strive
to preserve their
heritage..
Traditional crafts like Torans or
bead garlands are still used
in traditional homes to
decorate the door-frame of
family rooms and bring
good luck.
Homes frequently have a shrine
or collection of devotional
pictures.
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Naurooz: New Year
(Haft-Sinn table)
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NauRooz is a spring festival,
representing renewal and growth.
Celebrates the Spring Equinox, March
21,
Official New Year for Zoroastrians
worldwide.
National holiday in Iran, Afghanistan,
& Tajikistan.
The Haft Sin items are:
– sabzeh – wheat sprouts growing in a
dish (symbolizing rebirth)
– samanu - pudding (affluence)
– senjed - dried oleaster fruit (love)
– sīr - garlic – (medicine )
– sīb - apples – (beauty and health)
– somaq - sumac berries – (for sunrise)
– serkeh - vinegar – (age and patience )
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Sadeh – Ancient Feast celebrating ‘Creation of Fire'
Some rituals remain national holidays in Iran: Nowruz (New Year), Chahar-Shanbe Suri
(the Wednesday Feast in March) and Yalda, in winter
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Bridal clothing is placed in a
large khumcha (tray) with
garland of white tube-roses
and red roses
· The Zoroastrian bride usually
wears a white lace sari, hand
embroidered with delicate
sequin-work or silver thread.
· It is worn with a white satin
sari blouse and white satin
petticoat.
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A white lace sudreh is
worn under the blouse.
An heirloom piece of
jewelry presented by the
grooms family.
A red wool shawl is
placed in the shesh (tray),
The bride and groom are
welcomed into the
wedding ceremony with
a garland of white tuberoses and red roses.
Lagan ni Jori:
Bridal Clothing
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The Groom wears a white
traditional ‘dugli’ or outer
jacket which is fastened at the
neck and side with small
bows or white cloth
fastenings.
A new white shirt and pair of
trousers accompany the
formal dugli.
An heirloom pair of cuff-links
or a new watch is gifted by
the bride’s family. It is likely
that this is a tradition from an
era when a time-piece was a
rarity and therefore an
auspicious gift.
The black pheta or pugri gives
the groom a distinguished and
mature appearance. For many
Zoroastrian men, their
wedding is the only occasion
when they wear a pheta or
pugri. Others wear it on
important festivals22
and family
occasions as well.
Traditional
Clothing
Sudhreh and Kushti: Religious Vestments
(clothing)
Sudhreh (or Sadra) is the sacred Shirt and
Kushti (or Kusti) is the Sacred Thread
worn by Zarathostis after their Navjote
(Initiation).
Each morning a Zoroastrian bathes, dons a
fresh sudhreh and then prays a daily
prayer, during which he re-ties the
sacred thread. The Main prayer is “Jasa
Me Avenghe Mazda” a prayer where he
reaffirms his faith, saying “I follow the
Zoroastrian Religion”.
Zarthostis cover their heads to pray:
Topis are worn by children and men
while in prayer or in the Firetemple.
Women can wear a scarf, or topi, or use
the ‘sohr’ of the saree (drawn over
the head) during religious events.
Traditional Parsee women frequently
wore “maathu-banu” or a scarf
under their saree or in the home.
Traditional hats such as Pheta or Pagri are
still worn by Parsi men
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