1)What is Navjote?
Navjote is that ceremony in which a Zoroastrian child
is invested with Sudreh and kusti.
2)What is the meaning of the word Navjote?
The word Navjote means ' a new initiate who offers
prayers '.
3)Why has the child to undergo Naahn
or sacred bath before the Navjote ceremony?
The child has to undergo sacred bath before Navjote
ceremony for the sake of external purification.
4)Why is the child given Nirang or
consecrated bull's urine to drink before the navjote ceremony?
The child is given Nirang to drink before the Navjote
ceremony for the sake of internal internal purification.
5)Why is the child given a leaf of pomegranate
tree to chew before the Navjote ceremony?
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.
6)Why does the priest initiating the child
holds his hands while investing him with sacred girdle.
Its significance is that the priest transfers his
own magnetism to the child, who is to be invested with spiritual strength together with the sacred shirt and the girdle.
7)What is the childs responsibility after
Navjote?
After navjote the child enters a new phase of life
which aims particularly at moral and spiritual uplift.
8)What confession does the child make at
the navjote ceremony?
The child declares his faith openly to the assembly
on the Mazdayasni religion.
9)What is Sudreh?
The word Sudreh means true or advantegeous path and
constantly it reminds every Zoroastrian to tread this path and not to abandon it even in the midst of the most adverse circumstances.
10)Of what is Sudreh made?
Sudreh is made of white cambric because white represents
purity and it is also the symbol of Mazdayasni religion (Meher Yast - 126)
11)What do the two parts of Sudreh signify?
The two parts of the Sudreh signify the material
and the spiritual world.
12)What is the most important part of Sudreh?
The most important part of Sudreh 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 the future life would be secure.
13)Why should Sudreh be worn next to skin
?
Sudreh should be worn next to the skin because our
body constantly gives off heat with other impurities from within and Sudreh absorbs them.
14)What is Kusti?
Kusti shows the direction where every Zoroastrian
should aim at and that is the direction of Light and Truth.
15)Of what is Kusti made up of and why?
Kusti is made of lambs wool because lamb typifies
innocence.
16)How is kusti made?
Kusti is first spun into 72 threads which are then
woven into a kusti on a handloom.
17)Why is kusti tied in the middle of the
body?
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.
18)What does the 4 knots of the kusti signify?
The four knots of the kusti signify that:
-
Ahura Mazda is the only one unequalled
-
The religion of Mazda worship is the word of Ahura
Mazda
-
Zarathustra is the prophet sent by Ahura Mazda
and
-
One must think good thoughts, speak good words
and practice good deeds.
19)What does kusti symbolize?
Kusti serves as a permanent symbol of service to
God.
20)Why should we wear sudreh & kusti?
Sudreh & kusti play a vital part in the development
of an overall personality.
21)When did the custom of putting on kusti
start?
It started from the time of king Jamshed of the Peshdadian
dynasty and Zarathustra continued it. (Pahlavi Dadastan i Denik XXXVIII)
22)Is it proper for a Zoroastrian to move
about without sudreh and kusti?
It is a sin for a Zoroastrian to move about without
sudreh and kusti.
23)What should a Zoroastrian do before untying
and tying kusti?
Before untying or tying kusti a Zoroastrian should
wash thr external parts of the body. This is known as paadyaab.
24)What is the importance of fire in the
zoroastrian religion?
Fire is the most excellent and the most useful of
Gods creations.
25)What is fire called in the Avesta?
In Avesta fire is called the son of Ahura Mazda.
26)What should a Zoroastrian do rising up
early in the morning?
A Zoroastrian risiing up early in the morning should
put on clothes, wash hands, search for fuel and enkindle the household fire. (vendidad 18-19)
27)Where should the fire be installed?
The fire should be installed at a proper place after
performing certain ceremonies.
28)What are the three grades of fire amoung
the Zorastrians?
The three grades of fire amoung the Zoroastrians
are Atash Behram, Atash Adaran and Atash Dadgah.
29)How are the different grades of fire
installed?
To install an Atash Behram sixteen different kinds
of fire are required, for an Atash Adaran four and for 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.
30)Who should tend the fire of an Atash
Behram?
Befitting its exalted position fully qualified priests
who have undergone the highest form of purificatory ritual (Barshnum) and observe Khub, that is, who perform the Yasna
ceremony, can tend the fire of an Atash Behram.
31)Why do the Zoroastrians pray before fire?
When the Zoroastrians pray before the fire they offer
their worship to Ahura Mazda through fire which is the symbol of Ahura Mazda.
32)What constitutes a sin against fire?
To burn dead, decomposing matter on fire is regarded
as sin.
33)What are the objects of Zoroastrian rituals
and ceremonies?
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 Ahura Mazda for the seasonal bounties bestowed upon mankind.
34)What are the high ceremonies of the Zoroastrian
religion?
These are mainly Yazashne, Visperad and Vandidad
ceremonies.
35)By whom are these ceremonies performed?
These ceremonies are performed by those priests who
have undergone Barshnum and are pure in body and soul.
36)Where are these ceremonies performed?
These ceremonies are performed in a specially reserved
place in fire temples, called urves.
37)By what other names are these ceremonies
known?
These ceremonies are also known as paav Mahal
ceremonies. Paav means pure and Mahal means building.
38)What are the requisites for these ceremonies
known?
The requisites for these ceremonies are derived from
minerel, vegetable and animal kingdoms representing different creations.
39)What is the main object of Yazazne ceremony?
The main object of Yazashne ceremony is to show different
creations are inter-related and work for mutual benifit and how man should be in tune with different creations represented
by a variety of requisites in the ceremony.
40)What is the main part of Yazashne ceremony?
The main part of Yazashne ceremony is the pounding
of Homa twigs and extracting Homa juice.
41)On what occasions is Visperad
ceremony performed?
Visperad ceremony is performed at seasonal festivals
(Gaahambars)
42)When is Vendidad ceremony performed?
Vendidad ceremony is performed at mid-night after
12 O clock because evil influences predominate especially in the dark at night.
43)What is Baaj?
Baaj is a religious prayer recited in honour of the
divine spirits (Amesh Spentas and Yazatas) or the guardian spirits (Fravashis)
44)What is Afringaan?
Afringaan or prayer of blessing is a ceremony performed
by two priests and sometimes even by a single priest with few requisites as fruits, flowers, water, milk and sandalwood.
45)What is Farokhshi?
Farokhshi is also a simple ceremony with the same
requisites as those in Afringaan ceremony.
46)What is stum?
Stum is a prayer in praise of the guardian spirits
(Fravashis)
47)What is Jashan?
Jashan is a prayer with ceremonial offerings performed
by 2 priests with the attendance of other Zoroastrians who also pray.
48)Why are ceremonies after death neccessary?
Ceremonies after death are neccessary as they guard
the soul of the deceased from evil influences because according to Zoroastrian teachings the soul of a person after death
remains within precincts of this world for three nights (Fragments of Haadokht Nask chs II and III)
49)Why are ceremonies during three days
after death performed in honour of Sraosha?
This is because the soul is clothed in a more tenous
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 guides till its journey to the next world on the dawn of the fourth day.
50)Why are ceremonies performed for the
souls of the dead after the dawn of the fourth day after death?
These ceremonies offer consolation to the soul of
the dead in the spiritual world and they bless the living.
51)What are the Farvardegan or Muktad days?
These are the ten days at the end of the Zoroastrian
calender year when the Guardian Spirits (Fravashis) move about freely in the material world expecting prayer and offerings
from the living. (Farvadin Yasht 49,50)
52)By what name is the supreme god called
in Zoroastrian religion?
The supreme god in the Zoroastrian religion is known
as Ahura Mazda.
53)What does the word Ahura Mazda mean?
The word Ahura Mazda means 'Omniscient Lord'
54)How is Ahura Mazda potrayed in the Zoroastrian
religion?
Ahura Mazda is potrayed in the Zoroastrian religion
as the highest epitome of virtues (Yasna 1-1)
55)With what is the concept of Ahura Mazda
associated?
The concept of Ahura Mazda is associated with light.
56)Can we see Ahura Mazda?
No we cannot see Ahura Mazda because He is the most
spiritual or invisible (Yasna 4-7) and pervades the entire creation.
57)What is the meaning of Amesha Spenta?
Amesha Spenta means Bountiful Immortal.
58)How many Amesha Spentas are there and
what do they signify?
Amesha Spenta are seven in all: Ahura Mazda, Vohumana,
Asha Vahista, Khshathra Vairaya, Spenta Armaiti, Haurvataat and Ameretaat and they signify the attributes of Ahuara Mazda.
59)Over what creations do the Amesha Spenta
Preside?
The Amesha Spentas preside over mankind, animals,
fire, metals, earth, water and plants.
60)Does the theory of Amesha Spentas lead
to the worship of many gods?
No, Amesha Spentas 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 (Fravardin Yasht
-83), and who has created them all. (Hormuzd Yasht -25)
