Zoroastrian astrology

Parsiana reader Ervad Burzin Atashband — an Iranian mobed currently on professional assignment in the Ukraine — had briefly attended a meeting of the international Zoroastrian leaders hosted by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (see "A Zoroastrian Conclave” p 16). Atashband who has been holding Zoroastrian religious classes in Kiev has shared with us his interview with Pavel Pavlovitch Globa whom he describes as leader of the Zoroastrian Astrological Society of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) count­ries. The following account emerges from Atashband’s interview:

Gleanings of Zoroastrianism are to be found in centers in Moscow and St Petersburg in Russia, in the Ukraine, Byelorussia, Tash­kent and other places in the CIS countries. They celebrate Zoroastrian festivals like Navroz, Mehergan, Tirgan, etc and follow the Fasli calendar. Globa says his great-grandfather Nikolie Gantamore was half Russian, half Iranian, as his mother was a Zoroastrian lady named Tehmina. Gantamore had preserved a secret text on Zurvanism and Zoroastrian astrology which he declared were a part of the mystic side of Zoroastrianism. According to Globa "they are from our sacred fifth Namdar Nask.” He says that the Bahman Yasht, Jamaspi, Behram Yasht, Khordad Yasht, Bundahis­hn and other Zoroastrian scriptures are full of astrology. Hence their people are taught Zoroastrianism via astrology. "Persons who have learnt the religion and are ready for a higher spiritual life get their navjotes performed,” says Globa.

Atashband (left) with Globa and (above) readying for a jashan in Kiev

These CIS Zoroastrians make their own kustis and have common prayers for the benefit of all, Globa told Atashband adding, "they are not complete Zoroastrians but with knowledge, dedication and love (they) will slowly evolve into true Zoroast­rians. In the very near future we will have Zoroastrian centers that will... spread the true teachings of Lord Zarathushtra in all our countries.”

Globa believes that Prophet Zara­thushtra hailed from the Russian steppes — specifically from the Ural Mountains and the Arkaim region of Russia. "Our ancestors were the ancient Aryans and we have the right and the will to be Zoroastrians,” he de­clares.

They have published books on Zoroastrian mythology, the Zoroastrian calendar, Mithraism, Zoroastrian astrology, etc and have translated the Avesta into Russian. A quarterly magazine Mithra in Russian is a regular feature and Globa’s book The Fire Alive is going into a second print while a new book Zar­athushtra, the Aryan Prophet is due for publication. However any books on Zoroastrianism are welcome as they "will add to our knowledge,” says Globa though these would need to be translated into Russian. They also require sudrehs, kustis, afargans, priestly clothes, copies of the Avesta, Avestan grammar books and pictures of Zarathushtra.

So far they have established contact with the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) and Dr Meher Master-Moos’s Zoroastrian College and are grateful for her help and support. They would like to depute some of their leaders and priests for training to India. They would also welcome schol­ars and priests prepared to teach Zoroastrianism to their people.

"We are an open society and everyone is welcome to join us. We are against the Gatha alone cult and have complete faith in all the teachings of the holy Avesta. We understand the importance of dakhmenashini and (are) proud of its scientific knowledge. Even in the remote past Zoroastrianism speaks about ecology and it’s valid for all times to come,” Globa told Atashband.