Installing the fire in a Fire Temple, a Zoroastrian place of worship is treated like the coronation of a Monarch; in fact the Consecrated Fire itself is addressed as “Padsha” meaning Ruler.
In a Fire Temple the installation of the Aatash Behram is a sacred and long drawn out process which may take anything from one to three years. to begin the process of installing the ‘Aatash Behram’ in the sanctum sanctorum of a Zoroastrian temple, first the various kindling is collected (http://www.mumbaiblogg.com/zoroastrian-cultural-heritage/collection-kindling-for-fire-temple/) , ‘the fire resulting from each kindling is purified by prayers, consecrated and then enthroned in the Sanctum Sanctorum of a Temple with a proper walls and a roof.
Consecration of the fire called ‘Aatash Behram’ (Fire of Knowledge/Victory). (For meaning of Behram see Behram Yasht http://www.mumbaiblogg.com/zoroastrian-zen/avesta-translations/behram-yasht-translation/)
For the consecration, one needs a selected and segregated place in Pavi*,
Fires ignited from kindling collected from **16 different places (see table at the end of this article),
Are each placed in a separate afargan
At the start of the consecration ceremony, each of the 16 fires, are treated as under and each consecrated separately:
On day 1 of the Consecration, A pair of ‘Yaozdathragar***’ undergo the ‘Barashnum’.
The two priests take a small part of the fire from an afargan (a tall, large chalice-shaped vessel covered with a plate on which the fire burns the resultant ashes are stored in the cup of the chalice), containing one of the 16 purified but not yet consecrated fires and place this portion in a separate afargan.
Over this separated portion, the priests perform one Yasna (in the morning) and one Vendidad (at mid-night) along with a ‘Khushnuman’ to a particular Yazad who rules the particular trade from where the fire originates.* (See Table). Thus, on the first three days the Khushnuman the dedication is not to the same Yazad in all 16 cases.
To pray the necessary Yasna it takes the entire hours of the Hawan Geh (morning) and so also to complete the Vendidad takes the entire Hushain Geh (minutes after mid-night to dawn) of each day. Assuming that only one pair of priests was permitted to perform the entire consecration; it would take years (1,128 days approximately) to consecrate an Aatash Behram.
Therefore, pairs of priests pray in tandem so as to complete the process within a plausible time.
The small part of the fire which was segregated from the original afargan and prayed upon is further fed to increase its size.
Simultaneously, the fire in original afargan continues to be fed and kept alive and so also, is the fire which was consecrated on day 1.
On day 2, once again, a small part of the fire from the original afargan is taken and treated separately as done on the previous day.
Now there are three afargan, the original fire, that started on day 1 and the one started on day 2.
Once the Day 2 fire is consecrated, a small portion of the fire consecrated on Day 1 is added to the consecrated fire of day 2. All three afargans continue to be fed and the fires are kept alive.
On Day 3 to Day 30, the process is repeated so that on the 30th day after the 30th bit of fire is consecrated, 29 previously consecrated fires are added to it.
At the end of these thirty days, the process is repeated until the required number of days for the consecration of that particular fire is completed**. (See Table).
For example, the fire from the pyre of a burning corpse is to be consecrated 91 times. So the 30 day process of consecration with the Yasna and Vendidad Ceremonies will be repeated for another thirty days and thereafter for another 28 days, thereby totaling to 3+ 30+30+28= 91.
Each of the 16 fires is so purified and consecrated for the required number of days.** See Table.
All the 16 fires, thus consecrated, are each placed in a separate afargan and each afargan in a separate ‘Pavi’*. All the fires thus consecrated are continued to be fed and kept alive.
DEDICATION OF KHUSHNUMAN TO RELEVANT YAZAD:
As mentioned above, the consecration of fire requires the recitation of Yasna and Vendidad with Khushnuman to the relevant Yazad.
The Khushnuman for the first three days of the consecration are always dedicated to a particular Yazad who rules the particular trade** from where the fire originates.
It is not mandatory to start the process of consecration on the first day of the month; what is necessary that the first three days of consecration of the fire be dedicated to the Yazad who rules the trade-hearth from which the fire was originally lifted.
To understand better, the fire from the pyre is ruled by Hormazd. The first three days of prayers will be dedicated to Hormazd; from the 4th day the Khushnuman will be dedicated to the Yazad whose Roj it is on that day. Assuming the 4th day falls on Zamyaad Roj, the prayer ceremony will be dedicated to the Yazad Zamyaad.
The fire from the Dyer’s hearth is ruled by Boman. So, the prayers on the first three days of purification will be dedicated to Yazad Boman and from the fourth day onward will be dedicated to the Yazad of that particular Roj.
As a further example, the fire from the hearth is ruled by third Yazad, Ardibesht. The prayers for the first three days will be dedicated to Yazad Ardibesht.
Even with the priests praying in Tandem, The consecration of the Aatash Behram easily takes little over a year. The annual feast days like the days of Jashan (feast days) and Ghambhar**** are, therefore, bound to intervene. On such days, the Khushnuman is dedicated to that particular Jashan or the Ghambhar.
All 16 fires thus purified and consecrated are placed one in each afargan, an afargan in each Pavi; so, now we have 16 fires in sixteen afargans in 16 Pavis.
UNITING THE 16 CONSECRATED FIRES TO MAKE THE AATASH BEHRAM:
Uniting these fires must be done on the 1st Ghambhar (five intercalary days added annually to complete the Solar Year).
The unification is made in a huge afargan.
A pair of Yaozdathragar form a paean to seal off any pollution of the consecration,
Then, the Yaozdathgar remove with a ladle, the consecrated pyre fire from its own afargan and place it in the huge afargan.
Similarly, they remove each of the other 15 consecrate fires in order of their consecration (as stated in the Table*) into the huge afargan.
The 16 purified and consecrated fires are thus united in the huge afargan.
The huge afargan is then carried to the Ijashne Gah for the final consecration of the united fire.
CONSECRATION OF THE UNITED FIRE:
For the first three days, The Yasna and Vendidad are prayed over the united fire with Khushnuman to Yazad Sarosh,
From the first day of the immediate next month to the end of the month (Hormazd to Aneran Roj), each day a Yasna and Vendidad are prayed with Khushnuman to the presiding Yazad of that day,
Then, on the next day, which is the last day, another Yasna with Khushnuman to Sarosh is prayed over the united fire and a ritual performed.
The united fire, now consecrated, is then installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Zoroastrian Temple or ‘enthroned’ (Takht-Nashini).
FIRE TEMPLE AATASH BEHRAM INSTALLATION :
The Daityo Gah (proper place) itself, where the united fire is to be installed, is consecrated for three days prior to the installation by Yasna and Vendidad prayed with Khushnuman to Yazad Sarosh.
The actual installation is a very solemn ceremony conducted with great dignity like any princely coronation.
A Pavi* is drawn alongside the path to the Daityo Gah over which the united consecrated fire will traverse,
The path itself is also broken into several squares by Pavis,
A Pavi is also drawn around the center of the sanctum sanctorum where the united fire will reside.
The head priest leads a procession of all the Yaozdathragar who participated in the consecration,
Two Yaozdathragar carry the united fire,
Each Yaozdathragar in the procession holds either a sword or a mace in his hand,
During its journey to the Daityo Gah, no other Yaozdathragar will step into the same Pavi that is occupied by the united fire and the two priests carrying it,
The united fire is carried to the sanctum sanctorum and installed/enthroned in an afargan standing on a pedestal within the central Pavi,
The fire thus installed is fed with sandalwood and loban and an ‘Aatash ni Nyaesh’ in praise of the fire is prayed.
A Jashan (celebratory prayers) with three Aafringans, is performed in the hall of the temple,
The first Aafringan is prayed with the Khushnuman of Sarosh, the second with Khushnuman of Dahman and the last again, of Sarosh.
The installation/coronation ends with a recitation of the ‘Baaj’*****.
The Aatash Behram is now ready to receive and protect its laity.
* PAVI literally means ‘sacred’ or ‘consecrated’. In Zoroastrian rituals it is a permanently constructed space enclosed and segregated from its surroundings in by a ritual runnels carved in the floor to form a ‘Karsh’ (an intangible curtain of protection against defilement).
**A TABLE TAKEN FROM JIVANJI MODI’S ARTICLE, “THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AND CUSTOMS OF THE PARSEES” (BOMBAY, 1922.)giving the particulars about the different kinds of Fires that are united to form the Sacred Fire of the Aatash Behram and showing the number of the processes of Collection, Purification, and Consecration. |
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*** YAOZDATHRAGAR literally meaning ‘purifier’. Yaozdathragar is a Zoroastrian priest who has undergone the rituals of ‘Barashnum’ and ‘Khub’.
****GHAMBHARs are the five intercalary days introduced in the Zoroastrian Calendar, annually, at the close of the year, to complete the 365 days of a Solar Year.
***** BAAJ= Literally means ‘framing’. It also, denotes a ritual silence; also a ritual utterance /prayer which frames an action with the power of the manthra; a high liturgical service . The monthly day (Roj) or the anniversary of death is also called ‘Baaj’.
Bibliography
The Religious Ceremonies and Customs of the Parsees by Jivanji Modi,B.A., PH.D., C.I.E., Fellow of the University of Bombay (1887), Dipl. Litteris et Artibus (Sweden, 1889), Shums -Ul-Ulama (India,1893), Officier D’Acdemie (France, 1898), Officier Publique (France, 1902), Campbell Medalist, B.B.R. Asiatic Society (1918).
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Behram Yasht is in praise of a ‘mazdadhate’ meaning a giver of knowledge. Knowledge which assists us to live in the way and within the Law of Ahura Mazda; and thereby vanquish all evil from within and around us and make us impervious to hurt and harm. In the Behram Yasht this omniscient knowledge is described metaphorically to take on different forms from the gentle breeze and growing over time into a great invincible warrior. The ten Kardas of the Behram Yasht speak in metaphors of the growing strength of the knowledge given by Behram eternally safeguarding from all harm, the true believer and practitioner of Asha and Ashoi (rectitude) the Natural, Eternal Law of Ahura Mazda brought down to us by Zarathustra —– the ‘Ahuirish Jarthutrish’. Writers have often remarked that the ten forms of knowledge correspond to the ten avatars of Vishnu in the Puranas. I’d say, well, how different can the one and only truth and the greatest knowledge ever be?!
BEHRAM YASHT —- TRANSLITERATION
Greatness of Hormazd!
(Pray Ashem Vohu)
In the name of Khoda Hormazd Sahib who promotes /gives progress!
May his splendour/majesty and a u r a (khoreh) increase!
Eternally victorious and vanquisher of enemies, Behram Yazad (the energy of Knowledge), beautiful celestial, ceaseless helper, come to my aid!
In this world, all the evil thoughts I may have brought to my mind, ill words that I may have spoken, bad deeds that I may have done, those that I have induced or I have begun or that I have encouraged — those sins of thoughts, of words, of deeds, of my body and soul, of this world, of the next world— for these I am remorseful and abstain from them, I do penance for these by observing the three intrinsic goodness ( good thoughts good words good deeds).
(Pray ‘Fravaraane Mazdsyasno’) translation on http://www.mumbaiblogg.com/zoroastrian-zen/avesta-translations/sarosh-baaj-translation/)
KARDO 1
1) Reverence to Behram, emanated from Hormazd!
Asked Zoroaster of Hormazd:
“Hormazd, from who emanated the spirit of bounty /progress during our sojourn in the corporeal world, giver of the spirit of purity/Eternal Law/Tao,
who is the most brilliant/brightest among the venerable energies (Mino Yazads)?”
Then said Hormazd, “Behram, the giver of knowledge, O Zoroaster of the Spitmaan family!”
2) “For this (to give bounty/progress) /for him (one sojourning on this earth), Behram, the giver of knowledge (mazdadhate), first takes wing in the form of the zephyr ( a soft, great joy-giving wind) the giver of knowledge (mazdadhate); having good luster/radiance/gloss/brilliance (noor) of goodness, mazdadhate; keeping the light of spiritual strength (*khoreh), mazdadhate; remedies / cures for the physical body and also having great strength.
3) Then, therein is the greatest might/power of triumphant aggression amongst strengths/powers of triumphant aggression (irresistible aggressive force);
Amongst those who smite resistance (**Verethre), the most successful/ victorious to smite resistance;
Amongst those having k h o r e h, the holder of the strongest khoreh;
Amongst the donors/dispensers of gifts, I am the greatest donor/dispenser/receptacle of gifts;
Amongst benefits/profits/welfare/ advantage, I am the most beneficial/advantageous;
Amongst the remedies /cures I am the most efficacious remedy/ cure;
4) Thus, all ills will be vanquished; all that causes pain/harm, of the demigods/demons (div), of mortals (mashyanamcha), of wizards (yaathvaam), of fairies, of despots/ tyrant (saathraam), of those who refuse to see the truth despite having good eyes (kaoyam), those who refuse to hear the truth despite having good ears ((karafanamcha).
5) For his brilliant light and majesty, thus I worship him with praise/reverence which brings him eminence. With the ritual #Baresman, Behram, emanated from Hormazd, we venerate/ propitiate/worship in accordance with the first Laws of Ahura Mazda.
(Pray ‘Yange Hatem’)
*KHOREH (Pazend) = (Avesta) Khvarenangh. Light/halo/aura/glory stemming from the spiritual strength built in sages and holy individuals; their faces radiate a brightness (noor or halo), which is the extension of their Khoreh.
**VERETHRE = literally meaning “smiting of resistance” against the Law, which is the hypostasis (underlying-state) of ‘victory’. Therefore, Behram/Verethregano is also translated as Victorious.
# BARESMAN: The Baresman is the sacred bundle of twigs we see in frescos and pictures of religious worship. The barsam is considered “a conduit for the archetypal principles and powers to manifest their presence and receive the offerings.” it is a ritual necessity to solemnize religious ceremonies.
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In the Avesta the Sarosh Baaj is one consolidated prayer, I have broken it into parts for better comprehension of the things we appeal for to the Ultimate, every morning when we pray the Sarosh Baaj.
Sarosh Baaj part IV, consists of transliteration of the Yasnemcha Vahmemcha, Hazem Garem, ‘Kerfe Mazda’.
On reading the entire Sarosh Baaj prayers in English, one understands that after a Zoroastrian sings the praise of Sarosh Yazad and boldly professes through Fravarane Mazdeyasno, his faith in the religion handed down by Ahura Mazda and propagated by the Prophet Zoroaster, the adherent turns to Ahura Mazda for succour against persecution, both personal and religious, and abjures the destructive mind emanating from the evil of Ahriman and Angre Mainyu (Kemna Mazda).
Then in Yasnemcha Vahmemcha, the Zoroastrian asks Ahura Mazda for strength, and enlightenment to follow the Right Path (Asha) to prosperity.
Next, the Zoroastrian believer declares his delight in having professed the Zoroastrianism by articulating his desire to be born within the religion time and time again, ad nauseam.
For his piety and sticking to the Path of Asha, the adherent of Zoroastrianism appeals to Ahura Mazda for the blessings of the various Energies that originate in Him.
‘YASNEMCHA VAHMEMCHA’
To me, the brilliance and strong aura, physical strength, bodily comforts, success in this world, wealth of all happiness, children with innate intelligence, longest life ever, enlightenment born of holiness and purity, and attainment of the heaven with all the comforts/happiness . May my wish be fulfilled!
‘HAZEM GAREM’
A Thousand heavenly births; Ten thousand heavenly births; A Thousand heavenly births; Ten thousand heavenly births; A Thousand heavenly births; Ten thousand heavenly births.
‘JASHME AVANGE MAZDA’
Come to my aid O Hormazd! Succour me the aid of: The innately pure/ good, beautiful, Um (energy that imbues courage), Behram Yazad issued forth from Hormazd, 
Vannati Upartat (energy that oversees environment), Mino Ram (nourishes/ induces of nourishment in food), Vaey Yazad (who works in exists in the upper layers of the atmosphere), O Vaey Yazad, that part of you that is concerned with the birth of the Spentomino, The Sky that acts in accordance with the natural laws of creation, Limitless existence (infinity), The Guaranteed Perpetuity.
‘KERFE MAZDA’
For the Liberation, as my sins so may I in return, receive the reward for the essence of my deeds, for the love of the soul sent to all on the seven continents, the reward is as per spiritual merit to all the pious — tremendous amount of purity/ holiness (Ashoi), as wide as the earth, as long as the river and as exalted as Khorshed May the pious live long! May my wish be fulfilled!
At the end of this entire sequence of prayers for the Sarosh Baaj, Zoroastrians pray the ‘Tandarosti’ for the well being of self, family, friends in particular and the cosmos in general.
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KEMNA MAZDA –A TRANSLITERATION
The Sarosh Baaj of the Avesta is a farzeyaat prayer; a daily requirement. Though in the Avesta the Sarosh Baaj is one long prayer with no parts, I have broken it into parts so as to better understand what it is that we pray daily since our childhood.
Sarosh Baaj part III of these transliterations, consists of transliteration of the ‘Kemna Mazda’. On reading these prayers in English, one understands that after a Zoroastrian sings the praise of Sarosh Yazad and boldly professes (in Fravarane Mazdeyasno) his faith in the religion handed down by Ahura Mazda and propagated by the Prophet Zoroaster, the adherent turns to Ahura Mazda for succour against persecution, both personal and religious, and abjures the destructive mind emanating from the evil of Ahriman and Angre Mainyu.
For a better understanding of this religion received from Ahura Mazda an and brought to us by Zarthushtra, please refer to notes in Sarosh Baaj, Part II— a transliteration.
‘KEMNA MAZDA’
From “Kemna Mazda” to “ya ahmai vashi aahmai chit”
O Hormazd, when a bad man looks at me for revenge or to harm me; who, but 
you, will protect me and mine, the aatash and my mind?
O Hormazd! For the sake of the Religion, reveal to me that, which by the act of both, leads me further on the Path.
When in difficulty, who is he who will vanquish the foe by dint of the verses on your Avesta; which verses are those that bring purity. O Hormazd, show me the leader who can guide me through both lives (here and hereafter). O Hormazd! For He who you love may His life proceed with a good mind and with Sraosh* (yazad).
From “Yatano tabishyant” to “***Armaitish ijaich”
O Hormazd and Aspendamard, save us from the jealous/envious! Go away /leave us! Oh Evil of the demigod; 
Leave us Devidruj (falsity of idols)! O the brave, discard the thoughts of demigods! Leave us Oh the seeds sown by demigods! Leave us Oh the follower of the way of evil demigods! (which way has succeeded so far) ; Disappear! Oh Falsehoods (druj**)! Oh Evil run away from here! Oh Evil be vanquished! Go to the North! The realms of purity (ashoi) are not to be harmed, let good thoughts and prosperity prevail.
*‘Sraosh’ or ‘Sarosh’, the literal meaning of the name is ‘listening’ or ‘sound’; from the root word, ‘Sru’– meaning to obey and hence, obedience to the will of God. This Sraosh or energy of sound is today, treated as an Angel of the Lord who brings us inspiration and who is the guardian of our souls. Sraosh coming with good mind means that men should listen to the inner inspiration of the voice within and then, by voluntary obedience to the divine will his mind be filled with love and thus, be purified.
**‘Druj’ literally means the enemy in ancient Iran the word was used for untruth, the greatest of our foes. In this passage it generally means Evil. North, in ancient Iran was the direction Evil the Abode of the Demons. Asha is also taken to signify divine law and the entire manifest universe emanating from Ahura Mazda including the Eternal Laws of Nature/Tao.
*** ‘Armaiti’ the spirit of the earth is the fourth of the 6 Ameshaspends. She represents piety and faith. Faith, as devotion personified on the Abstract side and as the genius of Earth on the concrete side. Spenta Armaiti Aspendamard ‘Holy devotion’ retains her dual nature in the younger Avesta. She is the first of the mother Trinity of the Holy Immortals she represents firm unswerving faith in and loyalty towards God and his commands she watches over religion and inspires the Faithful she works with Asha she rules over Earth and in places she represents Mother Earth and is our mother both physical and spiritual. When a Zoroastrian dies he is left in her care after the body is placed inside the Tower of silence and its destruction has begun. The people outside the Tower recite the unfinished portion of Sarosh Baaj which they will have commenced by chanting from the last line of Kemna Mazda.
]]>FRAVARANE MAZDAYASNO —- TRANLITERATION
‘FRAVARAANE MAZDAYASNO’
A Promise (fravarane) to the Mazdayasne religion
I, the brave follower of Hormazd, follower of the Path revealed by Zoroaster, renounce the Demons (Div also means senses), a person who behaves in 
accordance with the way/command of Hormazd (the Geh is prayed here) promise (fravarane) in order to please, O Sarosh, the strong , whose body is made up of prayers, owner of lethal weapons, follower of the way of /manner of Hormazd, to worship, to sing his praises, propitiate his greatness, laud him so that, the great spirit/ meaning of ‘Yatha Ahu Vairyo’ be revealed to me; the pure sage /expert the learned ‘Atha Rathush Asha Chit Hasha’, be revealed to me.
We Praise the beautiful, victorious, one who gives the world progress, Holy and Pure Sarosh, the leader of sanctity (ashoi).
Ahunavar Shields the body from harm!
‘KEMNA MAZDA’ (Transliteration already given during kushti prayers)
*THE PATH REVEALED BY ZARTHUSHTRA AND AHUNAVAR PRINCIPLE:
Mazdayasni simply means the worship of or devotion to wisdom. The religion of Zoroaster in middle Persian was known as ‘Behdin’ or ‘good religion’. Hence the word ‘Behdinan’ means ‘adherents of the Zoroastrian religion’.
The religion exalts wisdom. The name given to the highest divinity is ‘Ahura Mazda’. ‘Ahura’ meaning ‘Being’ and ‘Mazda’ meaning ‘knowledge/wisdom’; the highest divinity in Zoroaster’s religion is therefore, not a personified creator but the intangible being made up of the energies of wisdom. ‘Ahu’ is often translated as ‘Lord’ ‘High Being’, a meaning deduced from the original meaning of ‘Ahu’, ‘a life-giving force’; ‘Mazda’ translated as the supreme intelligence/intellect/wisdom.
Zoroaster attributes this supreme entity with both a mind and a being which are immanent; meaning inherent and indwelling within the divinity itself leading to the belief in a universe that is immanently conscious and self-creating.
However, while this being, Ahura Mazda, the creative mind/principle, is Almighty, but He is not omnipotent; there also exists Ahriman (the destructive mind/principle), who is finally defeated before the end of time and wisdom, the pure and good mind, alone exists thereafter. On Ahriman’s defeat time will end and the Cosmos — including the dark souls – will be renewed and reunite in Ahura Mazda.
Thus the religion has a duality in its cosmogony (how the cosmos/universe
originated), but a monotheism in its eschatology (the part of theology which speaks of the final destiny of the world and humankind). This makes Zoroaster’s religion unique amongst the religions of the world.
The creation emanating from Ahura Mazda is ‘Asha’ (eternal order); that from Ahriman is ‘Druj’ (chaos). Humanity and all Universe have a duty to actively resolve the conflict between Asha and Druj and rise in wisdom and purity. According to Zoroastrian beliefs, Ahura Mazda , patently made clear His ultimate triumph over Ahriman by the enunciating the “Ahuna Vairyo” (Yasna 19: “this utterance is a thing of such a nature, that if all the corporeal and living world should learn it, and learning hold fast by it, they would be redeemed from their mortality.”). The primordial sound, pronounced by Ahura Mazda before the universe manifested itself but after the emergence of the unmanifest, is the ‘Ahuna Vairyo’. It is ascribed with ‘talismanic virtues’ to destroy evil and ‘a most sacred gift’ and ‘healing recitation’ to assist mankind in distress.
Wisdom is immanent in the Universe and in mankind; through it, the self creating wisdom interacts with its created facet. During the temporary state of life manifest, the religion enjoins a duty upon the Universe, including mankind, to actively combat chaos (Ahriman and Angre Mainyu) by performing good deeds and ensuring happiness. This duty of conscious and voluntary participation by Zoroastrians in the war of good versus evil is pertinent to the idea of Free Will in Zoroaster’s teachings; Zoroastrianism abjures any form of monasticism.
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I am doing the Sarosh Baaj in parts at the request of many readers .
Sarosh Baaj is the prayer Parsi children learn immediately after they learn the ‘Kusti’ prayers. Every morning, after doing the Kusti, every Zoroastrian prays the Sarosh Baaj. This prayer may be recited at any time of the day or night. However, the recitation of the ‘Geh’ in ‘Fravarane Mazdayasno’ will change depending on the time of the day. The Sarosh Baaj is a prayer to the Ameshaspand (energies ) that protect and heal and give prosperity. Check out the translation/transliteration of Haptan Yasht also, on this Blog.
From “Paname Yazdaan……pa patet hom.”
The greatness of Hormazd!
In the name of Khoda Hormazd Sahib who promotes /give progress!
May his splendour/majesty and *a u r a (khoreh) increase!
Pure Sarosh! Strong, made up entirely of sounds/prayers, wielder of therapeutic appliances, bearer of victorious weapons, the general of Ahura Mazda Khodai, come to my aid! I do penance for all my sins and become cleansed.
in this world, all the evil thoughts I may have brought to my mind, ill words that I may have spoken, bad deeds that I may have done, those that I have induced or I have begun or that I have encouraged — those sins of thoughts, of words, of deeds, of my body and soul, of this world, of the next world— for these I am remorseful and abstain from them, I do penance for these by observing the three intrinsic goodness ( good thoughts good words good deeds).
*AURA: All creation has an aura from natural to man-made goods.
From time immemorial, man has been in awe of the phenomenon of the aura, investing it with great spiritual value and importance. It has been the constant endeavour of humans to prove the existence of this energy which they call the ‘subtle body’.
Since the 1890s, man had been trying to photograph this phenomenon. Simply put, the aura is natural heat emanating from a body producing subtle images . This aura of a body will change with the internal changes in the body. We have
SEE THE DIFFENCE IN THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE EMNATIONS.
already seen in Sarosh Yasht Hadokth Ni Nirang that any vibrations (sound) appear to have colours depending on the length of the waves of that body’s vibrations or vibratory level. All creation, generates and radiates electromagnetic energy, photons of light, scents, sounds, heat, in keeping with the internal state of it’s body. These radiations contain a wealth of information about the body in question.
Therefore the energy emanating from a body will also have colour in
keeping with the waves that make up that particular energy.
In 1939, Russian electrician Semyon Davidovich Kirlian and his wife, Valentina, accidentally discovered that energy can be photographed. This ‘Kirlian Photography’ uses 50,000 volts and a broad range of frequencies, ultra low current to make visible invisible energy fields , giving us unique insights.
NIRANG OF SAROSH YASHT HĀDOKHT
THE POWER OF SOUND
TRANLITERATION OF THE TEXT OF THE NIRANG:
May the majestic glory/magnificence/ brilliance and aura increase; of Sarosh the pure, strong, whose body is made up entirely of * holy words (manthravani), keeper of nourishing instruments, wielder of victorious/ triumphant weapons, the first amongst all creation! Come to my aid! So let it be! (May my above prayer be answered!) (Aedunbaad).
*word Sarosh stems from the root ‘Sru’ meaning to hear. Look at notes below for further understanding.
TEXT:
“Gorje khoreh awazāyād Sarosh asho, tagī tan-farmān shekaft-zīn zīn-awazār sālāre dāmāne Ahura Mazda berasād; aedūn bād.”
Pray one Ashem Vohū (Recite the Nirang thrice).
USES: 1. For Curing Psychological ailments can
- For spiritual development;
- To develop our Khoreh (aura);
- To drive away ignorance with sincerity (the ignorance mentioned here is not the temporal but spiritual)
NOTE:
Sarosh Yasht Hadokht is to be prayed only in the daylight hours, i.e. in Haavan, Rapithvan or Uziren Gehs.
Sarosh stems from the root word ‘Sru’ meaning to hear. For the soul to evolve it needs to reach a certain vibratory level. Depending on the evolution of each soul, the kind of vibrations and effort required are different in quality and quantity. That does not mean one is better or worse than the other; all will pass through all levels of development, sooner or later. Nature always arrives at the mean and permits no vacuum. Manthravani does the needful for the soul’s progress.
EFFECT OF PLEASANT WORDS AND ABUSES.
Waves caused by each sound, has a certain colour. These vibrations (sound waves and colour) made by the spoken word, are named ‘Staota’ in Zoroastrianism; a simple scientific fact and nothing mysterious about it. Now, Sarosh/Sraosh is the personification of that energy in the universe made of these sound vibrations/resonance. We receive the vibrations from this stronghold of sound energy we call Sarosh/Sraosh. Just as an aside note, the personification of the various energies in the universe, spoken of in Zoroastrianism, started with the compilation of the Zend Avesta. To understand, there is no such personification in the Gathas of Zarathustra. The Manthravani of Sarosh Yasht Hadokht Nirang goes a long way in raising the vibrations of a Zoroastrian making the soul more able to respond to the Universal vibrations.
However, as mentioned earlier, the soul’s progress will most certainly depend on its particular state and stage of being. Zoroaster has therefore, recommended the principle of ‘Ashoi’ , commonly understood as purity of heart, mind ,soul and body; the word in fact means the Tao, the eternal law, the laws of nature, the world order. The purity is, therefore, to be understood in context of the refinement of vibrations resulting from living in keeping with this Eternal law, the law of nature that maintains the world order what is also termed as Righteousness or Rectitude. The law that creates, governs and recycles the existence and working of the transpiring phenomena.
Hence, Sarosh is also considered the lord of rectitude and conquers the ‘corporeal druj’ like germs and attacks to the body born of a disturbed/ perturbed environment and incorporeal druj’ like falsehoods, greed, envy, jealousy, vendetta caused by the angry mind or Angre Manyu.
It stands to good reason that living by the laws of the Great Wisdom, Ahura Mazda, the laws of Asha or rectitude, is bound to refine one’s vibrations to a level where it repels all evil (druj), tangible and intangible, and is thus ‘protected’ by Sarosh.
So, while continuing to pray to Sarosh, Improving the self and working towards one’s own Human revolution becomes obligatory for better and faster results.
Remember, it is the meeting of refined vibrations that matters and is not a mysterious, magical handout.
To better understand the effects of sound vibrations, I highly recommend reading the research done by Dr. Masuru Emoto. Also, view the videos pasted here at leisure when you have the time.
EFFECT OF WORDS ON FOOD.
]]>NIRANG OF SAROSH YASHT VADI — USES
TRANSLITERATION OF THE TEXT OF THE NIRANG and its USES:
May Sarosh Yazad protect us!
May the Aura and Glory of the pure Sarosh increase! May He always be strong and victorious!
The saviour of all souls;
Guardian of the souls of all men;
The righteous sentry watching over all who abide by the Eternal Law (Tao); May Sarosh safeguard, all day and night, all through every month of the year (mahe-o-shabaan), us Iranians, all first teachers/ancient sages/early disciples of Zoroaster/ pre-Zoroastrian teachers of religion (Paoiryo-dakeshaan), all born on this earth, laymen, all *idolaters who wear the Kusti (*Taaziaan, ** baste kustiaan), Zoroastrians and all noble (Nikaan) and pure persons of the seven continents. May Sarosh Yazad preserve us!
TEXT:
“Gorje khoreh awazaayaad,
Sarosh asho, tagi, pirozgar baad,
Dastagire ravaan, hamaa tan paasbaan,
Ashoaan asho negehdaar;
Roz maah o shabaan, hame Iraaniaan,
O paoiryo-dakeshaan gehaan daamaan,
Behdinaan, *taaziaane **baste kushtiaan,
Zarathushtiaan nikaan o paakaane
Haft keshvar zamin,
Sarosh yazad panaah baad.
Pray one Ashem Vohu . (The Nirang is to be recited thrice).
USES: The Nirang like the Sarosh Yasht (Vadi) itself helps to keep in balance a person’s psyche (Mithra). If the Nirang is prayed before going to sleep, while in the subconscious state of sleep, the forces of thought are regulated and balanced.
1.for a sound sleep;
2. to have a healthy mind and body;
3. to psychological ailments;
4. Cleanse the home of disturbing /bad /evil vibrations.
NOTE:
Sarosh Yazad variously described as protector, preserver, guard, guardian, shield, minder, mask (as in shield/covering), defender, armament, armour, bodyguard, is the only energy who may be invoked in two latria (Yashts).
It is believed that praying the Nirang just before going to bed protects one from the onslaught of Ahriman and his dark forces. Many people pray it at the entrance door of the house before locking up for the night. It is believed that it keeps all evil out and brings good vibrations to the home.
While the Sarosh Yasht Hadokht may be prayed only during Day-light hours, the Vadi Yasht must be recited only between sunset and mid-night, in the Avisutram Geh. It is the recommended duty to all Zoroastrians to pray this Yasht every night. Sarosh Yazad comforts, guides and protects from darkness of circumstance and of the mind every soul within the living and the released soul after death.
Therefore, He is prayed to at night, to protect a Zoroastrian from the dangers of the dark vibrations of the night until dawn.
*the meaning of the words ‘Taaziaan, baste kustiaan’ in the Nirang have been debated through the years. I have personally been very uncomfortable with the interpretation of ‘Taaziaan’ as ‘Arabs’ or ‘Taazian’ being interpreted as ‘a wearer of the crown’; arising from the present day word ‘Taj’.
So, I decided to break up the phrase into separate words and discovered the word ‘taazian’ occurs in the Rustom Nameh in the chapter where Zaal rallies Rustom to avenge the death of his (Zaal’s) grandfather, Narimaan (father of Saam) by destroying the fort at Mount Sepand and its idol worshipping occupants (the pagan Devyasna). The word ‘taaziaan’ is used for these idolaters:
“Ba khune Nariman kamar-ra be-band;
Berav taaziaan taa ba Kuh-e- Sepand”
‘Ba Khune Nariman’ [regarding the murder of Narimaan],
‘Kamar-ra be-bund’ [gird/tighten your belt/girdle];
‘Berav’ [despoil/ debase, (this word ‘berav’ though otherwise obsolete is still found in the English dictionary and interpreted as “to spatter with dirt or filth; especially: to defile with excrement” in other words, to sully/degrade/despoil/dishonour)]
‘Taaziaan’ [the idolaters [as the occupants of the Mount Sepand were idol worshipping Devyasna and since Zaal is referring to them in the conversation, I would translate the word as ‘idolaters’]
‘taa ba Kuh-e-Sepand’ [hasten you (therefore) to Mount Sepand)]
Its steep incline and the narrow path leading upwards for almost three miles left any besieging army open to fatal assaults from the defending forces. This gave Fort of Mount Sepand the reputation of being invincible. Under orders from King Faredoon, Narimaan’s attempt to conquer the bastion resulted in his death under the boulder cast downhill by the idolaters.
**bastem/basta means bound/tied/ imprisoned.
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SAROSH BAAJ — A TRANSLITERATION. Prayer to the energies of protection
Sarosh Baaj is the prayer Parsi children learn immediately after they learn the ‘Kusti’ prayers. Every morning, after doing the Kusti, every Zoroastrian prays the Sarosh Baaj. This prayer may be recited at any time of the day or night. However, the recitation of the ‘Geh’ in ‘Fravarane Mazdayasno’ will change depending on the time of the day. The Sarosh Baaj is a prayer to the Ameshaspand (energies ) that protect and heal and give prosperity. Check out the translation/transliteration of Haptan Yasht also, on this Blog.
From “Paname Yazdaan……pa patet hom.”
The greatness of Hormazd!
In the name of Khoda Hormazd Sahib who promotes /give progress!
May his splendour/majesty and aura (khoreh) increase!
Pure Sarosh! Strong, with body made of prayers, wielder of therapeutic appliances, bearer of victorious weapons, the general of Ahura Mazda Khodai, come to my aid! I do penance for all my sins and become cleansed.
In this world, all the evil thoughts I may have brought to my mind, ill words that I may have spoken, bad deeds that I may have done, those that I have induced or I have begun or that I have encouraged — those sins of thoughts, of words, of deeds, of my body and soul, of this world, of the next world— for these I am remorseful and abstain from them, I do penance for these by observing the three intrinsic goodness ( good thoughts good words good deeds).
‘FRAVARAANE MAZDSYASNO’
A Promise (fravarane) to the Mazdayasne religion
I, the brave follower of Hormazd, follower of the Path revealed by Zoroaster, renounce the Demons (Div also means senses), a person who behaves in accordance with the way/command of Hormazd (the Geh is prayed here) promise (fravarane) in order to please, O Sarosh, the strong , whose body is made up of prayers, owner of lethal weapons, follower of the way of /manner of Hormazd, to worship, to sing his praises, propitiate his greatness, laud him so that, the great spirit/ meaning of ‘Yatha Ahu Vairyo’ be revealed to me; the pure sage /expert the learned ‘Atha Rathush Asha Chit Hasha’, be revealed to me.
We Praise the beautiful, victorious, one who gives the world progress, Holy and Pure Sarosh, the leader of sanctity (ashoi).
Ahunavar Shields the body from harm!
‘KEMNA MAZDA’ (Transliteration already on this Blog)
‘YASNEMCHA VAHMEMCHA’
To me, the brilliance and strong aura, physical strength, bodily comforts, success in this world, wealth of all happiness, children with innate intelligence, longest life ever, enlightenment born of holiness and purity, and attainment of the heaven with all the comforts/happiness . May my wish be fulfilled!
‘HAZEM GAREM’
A Thousand heavenly births;
Ten thousand heavenly births;
A Thousand heavenly births;
Ten thousand heavenly births;
A Thousand heavenly births;
Ten thousand heavenly births.
‘JASHME AVANGE MAZDA’
Come to my aid O Hormazd!
Succour me the aid of:
The innately pure/ good, beautiful, Um (energy that imbues courage),
Behram Yazad created by Hormazd,
Vannati Upartat (energy that oversees environment),
Mino Ram (nourisher/ inducer of nourishment in food),
Vaey Yazad (who works in exists in the upper layers of the atmosphere),
O Vaey Yazad, that part of you that is concerned with the birth of the Spentomino,
The Sky that acts in accordance with the natural laws of creation,
Limitless existence (infinity),
The Guaranteed Perpetuity
‘KERFE MAZDA’
For the Liberation, as my sins so may I in return, receive the reward for the essence of my deeds, for the love of the soul sent to all on the seven continents, the reward is as per spiritual merit to all the pious — tremendous amount of purity/ holiness (Ashoi), as wide as the earth, as long as the river and as exalted as Khorshed
May the pious live long!
May my wish be fulfilled!
At the end of this entire sequence of prayers for the Sarosh Baaj, Zoroastrians pray the ‘Tandarosti’ for the well being of self, family, friends in particular and the cosmos in general.
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