of the worst of sins. Industry, in as much as it is never unfruitful, and is a guard to innocence and a bar to temptation, is highly recommended, while idleness is represented as the parent of want and shame. Principles of hospitality, general philanthropy and benevolence, are strongly inculcated.* -DOSSABHAI FRAMJI. To every student of the Zoroastrian religion and its Scriptures, it will be obvious that the highest importance is given therein to purity of life in Thoughts, Words, and Deeds, which ideas are expressed by the words Humata or Manashni, Hukhata or Gavashni, and Huvarashta or Kunashni. Passages in praise of these three Sublime Concepts will be found scattered in profusion throughout the Avesta. In fact the entire magnificent fabric of the religion of the High and Holy Zarthustra rests on these triune ethical concepts of observing absolute purity of life on the physical, mental, moral and spiritual planes. Almost every prayer in the Avesta begins and ends with the praise of "Ashoi" or purity. Thought is the motive as well as the creative power which brings into objectivity all the phenomena of nature that we see around us; in other words all the objects that we see on earth or in heaven. Thought lies at the bottom of every human joy and suffering, down to every sentient being crawling on this earth. In fact the whole Universe is a thought of God. It was apparently on these considerations that the Holy Sage Zarthustra inculcated the paramount necessity of the strict practice of purity of thought, words, and deeds, the latter two being merely the audible and visible outcomes of the invisible intangible * From The Parsees; their history, manners, customs and religion. thought. Words and deeds therefore being the manifestations of thought, unless the latter is kept pure, the other two cannot be so. Purity of thought is consequently the main object to be attained.* 1. Thou art exalted, O our Lord! 2. From Thee is praise, and to Thee is praise ! 4. Thou art worthy of the adoration of adorers, but Thee! 5. Thou art One excelling in glory; 6. And of mighty praise: 7. And Thy light exceeding powerful and brilliant; 8. And Thy grandeur passing great; 9. Thy perfection is perfect; 10. And Thy bounty complete ; 11. And Thy goodness most expansive, 19. The Creator of All! -"DESATIR."† Here praise I now Ahura-Mazda, who has created the cattle, who has created purity, the water, and the *From A Scientific Exposition of Purity of Thoughts, Words, and Deeds, as taught in Zoroastrianism. † Translated by Mulla Firuz Bin Kaus, edited by D. J. Medhora. good trees. Who created the splendour of light, the earth, and all good. To Him belongs the kingdom, the might, the power. We praise him first among the adorable beings, which dwell together with the cattle. Him praise we with Ahurian name, Mazda, with our own bodies and life, praise we Him. The Fravashis of the pure men and women, we praise. The best purity (Asha-Vahista) we praise. What is fairest, what pure, what immortal, what brilliant, all that is good: The good spirit we honour, the good kingdom we honour, and the good law, and the good rule, and the good wisdom. -YASNA XXXVII.* 1. Purity is the best good. 2. Happiness, happiness is to him: 3. Namely, to the best pure in purity. -ASHEM-VOHU.† 1. As is the will of the Lord, so (is He) the Ruler out of purity. 2. From Vohu-manô (will one receive) gifts for the works (which one does) in the world for Mazda. 3. And the kingdom (we give) to Ahura when we afford succour to the poor. -YATHA AHU VAIRYô.t • From Ancient Iranian and Zoroastrian Morals, by D. J. Medhora, who adds that "The English translation of this Yasna has been taken from the Bleeck's translation, rendered from the German of Professor Spiegel" "The word cattle' is not to be understood always in literal sense. It sometimes means the souls of mankind.” + From Khordah-Avesta, from Bleeck's translation, rendered from the German of Prof. Spiegel. I praise the well-thought, well-spoken, well-performed thoughts, words and works. I lay hold on all good thoughts, words and works. I abandon all evil thoughts, words, and works. I bring to you, O Amesha-spentas, praise and adoration, with thoughts, words, and works, with heavenly mind, the vital strength of my own body. -YASNA XII.* 1. All good thoughts, words, and works are done with knowledge. 2. All evil thoughts, words, and works are not done with knowledge. 3. All good thoughts, words, and works lead to Paradise. 4. All evil thougts, words, and works lead to Hell. 5. To all good thoughts, words and works (belongs) Paradise-so (is it) manifest to the pure-Ashem-Vohû. -VISPA HUMATA.† The investiture of the child with the Sudra or white linen shirt and Kusti or a thin woolen cord or cincture of 72 threads (which represent the 72 chapters of the Sacred Book of the Parsees, called Izashné) takes place after it has attained the age of 6 years and 3 months. The Kusti is wound These both are emblems of purity. thrice round the waist, signifying the good thoughts, words and deeds incumbent on the wearer, and is tied with 4 knots during the chanting of a sort of hymn. • From Ancient Iranian and Zoroastrian Morals, by D. J. Medhora who adds, "The English translation of this has been taken from the Bleeck's translation, rendered from the German of Professor Spiegel." † From Khor dah-Avesta, from Bleeck's translation, rendered from the German of Prof. Spiegel. At the first knot the person says "There is only one God, and no other is to be compared with him;" at the second, "The religion given by Zurtosht is true;" at the third, "Zurtosht is the true Prophet, and he derived his mission from God;" at the fourth and last, "Perform good actions, and abstain from evil ones."* Let Ormazd be king, and let Ahriman, the wicked holder-aloof, be smitten and broken. May Ahriman, the Devas, the Drujas, the Sorcerers, the evil Kikas and Karapas, the oppressors, the evil-doers, the Asmogs, the wicked, the enemies, the Paris be smitten and broken. May the enemies be afflicted. May the enemies be far off. Ormazd, Lord! Of all sins I repent with Patet. All the evil thoughts, evil words, evil deeds, which I have thought, spoken, done, committed in the world, which are become my nature-all these sins, thoughts, words and deeds, bodily, spiritual, earthly, heavenly, O Lord, pardon: I repent of them with the three words. Contentment for Ahura-Mazda, contempt for AnraMainyus. What is highest for the wish of manifest works Thy praise will I announce, O Mazda! with the mouth so long as I, O Asha, can and am able, Let the Creator of the world bestow through vohu-manô what is best for the wish of those working openly. Ashemvohu (1), Yatha-ahu Vairyo (2), Ashem-vohu (1). -NIRANG-KUSTI.† From The Parsees: Their History, Manners, Customs, and Religion, by Dossabhai Framji. From Ancient Iranian and Zoroastrian Morals, by D. J. Medhora, who adds, "The English translation of this has been taken from Bleeck's translation rendered from the German of Professor Spiegel." |