Zorastrianism is an ancient religion. Zorastrians are
the followers of the great Iranian Phophet " Zorasthustra" meaning "He of
the golden light". The majority of its adherent live in India and are known as Parsis
which means "Persians". A lesser number still live in Iran, where they were
known as Gabars.
Little is known of Zoraster himself. He is said to have lived for 77 years after being
killed by a Turnian called Bradres. Zoraster lived in 500 B.C and that the Greek
philosopher Pythagoras shedied with him.
Teaching
Zorastrianism is a struggle between the good and evil. He taught that there is one
eternal god "Ahura Mazda" who is Lord of Wisdom. The principle of evil was name
abriman. A struggle between the two resulted in the creation of the world. Since its
creation the whole world has been embroiled in the battle between good and evil, light and
darkness. Ahura Mazda called upon a number of lesser good sprits to destroy the evils.
Zorastrians believe that the souls of dead will be reunited with their resurrected bodies
on the last day.
Observances
Prophet Zoraster instructed his followers to pray in the prescence of fire. Fire
was a symbol of order and justice. Zorastrians must pray five times every 24 hours.
Sunrise, noon, sunset, midnight and dawn. They pray standing while untying and tying a
sacred cord around the waist. It as called the "Kusti ". There are two major
things that the person entering the faith must have and this should be with them at all
times
The Sudreh
A fine Muslims cloth that symbolizes the purity of thought and is believed to
influence the mind along the correct path of thought. The sudreh is made of ore fold which
is believed to represent the garment of good mind.
Kusti
The kustic is a sacred the made around the waist.
Navjote
Navjote is the word used within the faith to mean "the new initiate" of the
faith or a new member.
This event is meant to bring the child into the faith to make the child directly
answerable to Mazda for all of its thoughts, words and deeds. The child is taught to be a
responsible Zoroastrain. This ceremony usually takes place when the child is between 6 to
10 years of age.
Novroz
The most important as Novroz the parsi New year. This day is observed at the spring of
Equinox.
People took special care of the purity of fire, water and earth. They disposed of the dead
by exposing the corpses in the barren places or on stone towers called 'Tower of Silence'
where they are eaten by vultures.
Zorastrians practice a number of rites for regaining lost purity.
