Table of Contents
Can a Zoroastrian marry a non Zoroastrian?
In Zoroastrianism, mixed marriages are frowned upon. Not only that, but the rules are different for men and women. A Zoroastrian man who marries a non-Zoroastrian woman can at least ensure that his children are raised in the faith. But the same is not the case for a Zoroastrian woman who marries a non-Zoroastrian man.
What are the three principles of Zoroastrianism?
The core teachings of Zoroastrianism include: Following the threefold path of Asha: Humata, Hūxta, Huvarshta ( lit. ‘good thoughts, good words, good deeds’). Practicing charity to keep one’s soul aligned with Asha and thus with spreading happiness.
Why do Zoroastrians cremate?
Vanishing Vultures A Grave Matter For India’s Parsis Parsis brought their Zoroastrian faith, and unique funeral rituals, to India from Iran a thousand years ago. Parsis believe burying or cremating the dead pollutes nature and traditionally relied on birds of prey to devour corpses.
What do Zoroastrians do with dead bodies?
“We have an unusual method of disposal of the dead. The Parsi corpse is exposed to the rays of the sun, and the corpse is consumed or devoured by birds of prey — vultures, kites and crows,” Mistree says. For Zoroastrians, burying or cremating the dead is seen as polluting nature.
What do Parsis do with dead body?
We all know that Parsis do not bury or cremate their dead. They have their own belief system which does not allow them to do either. The Parsis, instead, have their own structure called “Tower of Silence” or dakhma where the dead lie in peace. The carcass is left to be eaten by vultures.
What are the rituals of Zoroastrianism?
Zoroastrian rituals (even those performed by lay women in Iran; see Phalippou for a detailed but sometimes speculative treatment) are verbal events, mainly comprising recitation of texts.
Why do Zoroastrians wear their sedreh and Kusti?
After the ceremony, Zoroastrians are encouraged to wear their sedreh (ritual shirt) and kusti (ritual girdle) daily as a spiritual reminder and for mystical protection, though reformist Zoroastrians tend to only wear them during festivals, ceremonies, and prayers.
How did Zoroastrianism begin?
Zoroaster began teaching followers to worship a single god called Ahura Mazda. In the 1990s, Russian archaeologists at Gonur Tepe, a Bronze Age site in Turkmenistan, discovered the remains of what they believed to be an early Zoroastrian fire temple.
What are the symbols of Zoroastrianism?
Faravahar (or Ferohar), one of the primary symbols of Zoroastrianism, believed to be the depiction of a Fravashi or the Khvarenah. In Zoroastrianism, Ahura Mazda is the beginning and the end, the creator of everything that can and cannot be seen, the eternal and uncreated, the all-good and source of Asha.