Fundamentals of the faith

An Overview of Zarathushtrianism by Adil F. Rangoonwalla. Published in 2002 by the author, M/4, Dalal Estate, Lamington Road, Bombay 400008. Pp: 101. Price: Rs 160.

Adil Rangoonwalla in his book An Overview of Zarathushtrianism takes us on a religious journey, giving us an insight into some of the concepts and fundamentals of the faith.

He starts by describing Prophet Zarathushtra as the most righteous, brilliant and victorious among all human beings — one with the divine glory passed on to him by Ahura Mazda.

Rangoonwalla next discusses the realm of Ahura Mazda — the Supreme Creator, who is the genesis of all creation. The paradox of His being present in each and every element of nature, yet Himself being invisible, the concept of Amesha Spentas (Ame­sha­spands or the holy immortals), the Yazatas (the Adorable Ones), the virtues they symbolize and their role as caretakers of God’s creations is then recounted.

To counter Ahriman (the evil spirit) is recommended the protective gear in the form of sudreh and kusti. Among the Spenta Manthra or benficent prayers he lists Yatha Ahu Vairyo, Ashem Vohu and Yenghe Hatam. The Airyama Ishyo prayer is referred to as the best, strongest, victorious, most supreme and the most efficacious among all prayers according to the Ardibhesht Yasht.

From there, we move on to understand more about the importance of atash (holy fire). It is through atash (Ahura Mazda’s representative or son in the corporeal world) that our prayers reach Ahura Mazda in the spiritual world and His blessings are delivered to us.

Rangoonwalla: valuable insights

The importance of Zarathushtrian ceremonies like ja-shan, navjote and lagan and the opportune time to perform them are then discussed.

When it is time for a man to say farewell to this corporeal world the Zarathushtrian way of disposing the dead (by dakhme-nashini and Khurshed Nigerashni) is deemed the most environment friendly. On the fourth day after death the tribunal of Meher Yazad, Sarosh Yazad and Rashne Yazad take stock of an individual’s doings in the corporeal world and assign him a place in heaven, hell or purgatory, until it is time for renovation, states the author.

Well-written and logically structured, An Overview of Zara­thus­htrianism lives up to its title, providing the reader with valuable insight into the concepts and ceremonies pertaining to one of the most profound and oldest surviving religions of the world.

Darayus Bajan