VIDEO (ENGLISH) INITIATION CEREMONY
INITIATION CEREMONY
A Production of Nilgoon Farhangi
Music Composed by Shahrooz Ash
The Zoroastrian Religion is a religion of Personal Choice. One has to make a careful study of its Divine Doctrine, and then decide to accept it as his/her Way of Good Life in the World Fellowship.
The video prepares the candidate for his/her Initiation Ceremony of the Day of choice.
INITIATION
(Sadreh-pûshi — Navjote)
Ali A. Jafarey
Aryan Age of Majority
Since the day humans consolidated their primitive bonds into a well-knit society, they have evolved a process to admit the matured young as adult members. The initiation rite is therefore as old as human society, the acceptable age being as low as nine years among certain primitive tribes and as high as 21 years in certain more advanced societies. It has even branched into various modern graduation ceremonies in education, training and achievements, which are generally not restricted by age limits. Other initiations into a social order or a religious fellowship are also not governed by age limits. The initiation may be a simple or an elaborate ceremony, depending on the people and their times.
The ancient Aryans, ancestors of the people of Iranian culture, considered fifteen years as the age of attaining majority and consent for both the sexes. It was the right age when a boy had learned most of the trades of agriculture and animal husbandry from his father, and the girl had acquired most of the skills of homemaking and housekeeping from her mother. The two became fully qualified to take their respective responsibilities in the household and society.
The initiation ceremony was simple. The initiate had to receive a work band from an elder ‘to gird the loins’ and make a solemn vow that, once girded, one would serve the family and the folk. Prayers by an elder and blessings by the attendees made the ceremony more significant.
The antiquity of the ceremony, later tradition says, goes back to Yima Khshaeta (Middle Persian Jamshed, modern Persian Jamshid), a legendary leader of the southward migrating Aryans of the ice and post-ice ages, from 15,000 down to 8,000 years ago. It may be even older. The phrase “to gird” in almost all the Indo-European languages, meaning “to prepare for action,” “to undertake a task,” and “to invest with authority,” proves its origin in a hoary past.
Original Zoroastrian Form
Zarathushtra came to found a monotheistic religion of Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds, and to eradicate ignorance, superstition and both spiritual and social ills. However, he did not interfere with the daily life and the way of living of an industrious people. Rather, he purified and beautified it. His famous sermon on the “Freedom of Choice” and the “Great Event” (Gathas: Song 3.2 = Yasna 30.2), and the eventual turning point in one’s life through this prudent choice, is further illustrated by his mentioning of certain major initiations: The day King Vistaspa joined “the Great Zoroastrian Fellowship,” and the occasions on which Ferashaushtra was granted “the best bliss of righteousness,” and sage Jamaspa “united with righteousness.” He speaks of his cousin Maidyoimaha and other near relatives joining the Fellowship (Gathas: Songs 11.14-15, 14.9, 16.16-19 = Yasna 46.14-15, 49.9, 51.16-19). His last song states that his best wish had been fulfilled because all those who chose the new order were initiated into the Fellowship and even his earlier opponents had learned the words of the Good Religion and acted accordingly. (Gathas: Song 17.1 = Yasna 53.1).
How the initiation was actually performed, his ever-guiding sublime songs, the Gathas, do not elaborate. However, Haptañhâiti, the Avestan songs chronologically next to the Gathas, shows the “greatest event of decision” was held in a fire-enclosure, the earliest prototype of today’s temples and the ceremony was performed facing the fire altar (Yasna 36). Another text, Fshusho Mânthra (Thought-provoking Message of Prosperity–Yasna 58), also in the Gathic dialect, breaks into a prayer for the prosperity of the settled industrious people and their useful animals, and ends with the same stanza of Haptañhâiti by asking for “perfection and eternity”… of initiation in an agricultural settlement.
The term yâh (from the root yah, meaning “to strive”) is translated as “the event of decision or choice.” It is mentioned in three places in the Gathas (Songs 5.2, 11.14, 14.9 = Yasna 32.2, 46. 14, 49.9). It occurs twice again in post-Gathic Avestan pieces. Seraosha (Listening to the Divine Voice) is “the true word most victorious in the event of decision, (because) the Mazdayasna Religion is the true law among all the good and righteous principles.” (Yasht 11.3). And “Righteous Zarathushtra, leader of the material world and the head of mankind, revered the Choice of Religion in all the events of decision” (Yasht 13.41). It shows the continuations of the ceremony long after the passing of Zarathushtra and his companions.
Initiation
It is Fravarti, the “Choice of Religion” text (Yasna 11.17 to 12.9), again in the Gathic dialect, which provides a clearer picture of the early form of the ceremony. It is a long piece of eleven stanzas. It depicts an “initiation” ceremony in which adult initiates renounced their previous beliefs and professions–polytheism, superstitions, sorcery, arbitrariness, robbery, and other “mental and physical illnesses,” each for his or her self, and joined the Zarathushtrian fellowship. It must have been quite interesting to see persons of diverse beliefs and practices come to share with those present by telling them of their past and how sorry they were for it, and how glad they felt to give it up by choosing the Religion of Good Conscience which “overthrows yokes, sheaths swords, promotes self-reliance and is righteous.” The main part of the Fravarti, which concerns the declaration of the choice of religion, is also known as the Âstuyê (Appreciation).
The initiation, originally the ceremony aimed at admitting an adolescent into the adult society at the age of fifteen, was now applied to give the initiate the opportunity to declare his or her choice of religion and thus become a responsible adherent of the religion. It meant the commitment for a radiating useful life of righteousness. The ceremony was climaxed by the girding of the waist with the koshti over the next-to-skin shirt sadreh, and the recitation of the Fravarti formula of the “Appreciation.” It was also performed for the initiates who chose the religion at an older age. It is this initiation that has been elaborated as well as contracted into the modern “navjote.”
The koshti was the ceremonial girdle of commitment to service, a service aimed at the continuous renovation of the living world for a progressive prosperity and a radiating happiness, and towards wholeness and immortality. The sadreh was the simple shirt worn next to the skin. The prayerful girding of the koshti every day was aimed at reminding the person of his sacred commitment to serve, a solemn way of reminding oneself of the duty one had to discharge. Although the Fravarti does not indicate that any officiant led the adult initiation ceremony, the current tradition and anthropological observations at large suggest that there was some one who directed the procedure and that there were some people who witnessed it.
Koshti and Sadreh
It has been historically established that the Indo-Iranians were among the first who made and wore cap, shirt, trousers, girdle, stockings, shoes and overcoat. It was the girdle that maintained the shirt and trousers in their place. It was the girdle that every man and woman tied to start his/her work in the morning. That has made girdle the symbol of preparation for work and action. It is called Koshti in Persian.
Bas-reliefs left by the Medes, Achaemenians, Parthians and Sassanians, all Zoroastrians, show them girded with Koshti over their shirt. They also show that the girded clothe was next to the skin.
The Avesta, Pahlavi and Persian scriptures show that the Koshti was made of the hair or wool of goat, sheep, camel or any of the hairy or wooly animals. At present, it is exclusively woven of the wool of white sheep. It consists of 72 threads, divided into six strands of 12 each. They are knitted at the end to form three tassels of 24 threads on each end. The strands are woven to form a hollow in the middle through which a continuous thread is passed. Modern books in Persian, Gujarati and English provide us with the interpretations, perhaps, come down by word of mouth from unknown authors. The interpretations differ but the following is a fairly concise representation: The 72 threads symbolize the 72 chapters of the Yasna; the 24 threads in each of the three tassels symbolize the 24 chapters of the Vispered; the 12 threads in each of the six strands symbolize the 12 months of the year; the six strands symbolize the six Gahanbars, the seasonal thanksgiving festivals; and the three tassels symbolize Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds.
Sadreh, the shirt, was made from leather, wool, hair, silk, or from the fibers of any good vegetable. At present, it is exclusive made of white cotton cloth. It is made of one piece of cloth, folded at the top to form the front and back parts. The side seams are sewn. It has an opening for the head and very short sleeves are sewn on it. As tailored today, it has nine seams (1 and 2) the main body has its left and right sides sewn to yield to seams; (3 and 4) the two sleeves; (5) the neck with its pocket, called “garibân;” (6) a semi-circular patch at the back of the neck, called gerdeh in Persian and girdo (meaning “small circle”); (7 and 8) two triangular seams at the bottom on one of sides of the shirt; and (9) two small vertical seam on the opposite sides of 7 and 8. While this holds true of the Indian version, it is relaxed in the case of the Iranian version. It may be noted that the garibân pocket is called kîse-ye-kerfeh, the pocket of merits and the gerdeh stands for the addition storage of good deeds. The Sadreh, whether as a shirt or undershirt, with the Koshti tied around it, must always be worn next of skin.
Ceremony
The initiate, an adult of sound discretion, may either be a person born in a Zarathushtrian home or one who, originally of an alien belief and ideology, has chosen the religion of Good Conscience through study and conviction. He or she should understand and memorize as much as possible of the Fravarti formula, either both in the Gathic language and the native or national tongue, or if he or she prefers, only in one of them. The officiant will, of course, be at hand to prompt him or her in the recitation. He or she should know how to tie the girdle, koshti. Relatives and friends are invited for the occasion, which according to the Gathas and Haptañhâiti, is a great, rather the greatest, event of decision in one’s life. Preferably all should wear white on this occasion, because white represents light, and it symbolizes the unity of the three basic colors–red, blue, and yellow–and therefore, the unity of mankind into an enlightened Fellowship.
A table is laid with a white cloth. A fire-vase lit with sandalwood or any other sweet-smelling incense, candles (preferably white), flowers, trays of dry and fresh fruits, a tray with rice and rose petals or any other showering matter, another tray with the koshti placed on it, and other decorative articles are placed on the table in a beautiful array. The decorated table symbolizes prosperous future in a beautiful environment.
The initiate, wearing the sadreh, next to his or her skin, and if preferred under his or her upper garment, stands facing the sun or a light in such a way as to be close to the table but between the table and the audience. A hall may provide a platform for the purpose. The officiant, dressed in white, stands facing the initiate, preferably on the other side of the table. It may as well be made clear that (1) it is the initiate who “performs” the ceremony, (2) that the officiant gives only a guiding help, and (3) that the officiant and others present are, in fact, there to witness the Fravarti, the Choice of Religion ceremony.
The ceremony starts with the officiant, or an assistant, stating the significance of initiation, especially the main object of girding oneself and preparing to keep the world new and fresh with true actions. Then the initiate, if he or she prefers, gives the reason for choosing the religion of Good Conscience. The officiant recites the first song from the Gathas, offering a sincere prayer to please the Wise God and to serve the world. He then hands over the girdle, also placed in a decorated tray on the table, to the initiate, who, in turn, prepares for the main initiation procedure as follows:
1. He doubles the koshti with the tasseled ends on one side and holds it in his hand with his middle finger between the two strands, and puts the loop around the middle finger of the other hand. He stands erect and ready.
2. He begins by reciting a piece from the later Avesta:
“Khnaothra ahurahê mazdâo — For the pleasure God Wise.”
3. Then he turns to the Gathic texts to gird him/herself for service to maintain a renovating world:
“At ve staotâ aojâi, Mazdâ, añhâ-châ
yavat ashâ tavâ-châ isâi-châ
dâtâ añheush aredat vohu manañhâ
haithyâ vareshtâm hyat vasnâ ferashotemem.”
(Song 15.11)
“I am, Wise One, Your praiser and shall continue to regard myself
so as long as I have the strength and the will through righteousness.
This shall promote the laws of life through good mind,
for true actions (here the initiate places the koshti on his or her waist) make life most renovated as God wishes.”
The initiate winds the koshti and recites:
“Ashem vohû vahishtem astî. Ushtâ astî
Ushtâ ahmâi hyat ashâi vahishtâi ashem.”
“Righteousness is the best good. It is radiant happiness.
Radiant happiness comes to the person
who is righteous for the sake of righteousness alone.”
The initiate recites the following formula twice and when pronouncing the word shyaothananâm (meaning “acts”) ties the first half of the reef-knot and on the second occasion the second half of the knot. He or she may first recite the original text and then use the translation for the second recitation.
The formula:
“Yathâ ahû vairyo
athâ ratush ashât-chît hachâ
vañheush dazdâ manañho
shyaothananâm (here tie the first half knot) añgheush Mazdâi khshathrem-châ Ahurâi â
yim drigubyo dadat vâstârem.
Both the Lord and the Leader
are to be chosen because of their righteousness.
These two appointments are made with good mind,
so that the acts (here tie the second half knot) of life are done for the Wise One.
And the dominion of God is well established,
in which the chosen person is appointed
as the Rehabilitator of the rightful who are oppressed.”
The initiate then winds the ends at his or her back and ties the two half knots at the two ushtâ (radiant happiness):
“Ashem vohû vahishtem astî. Ushtâ (here tie the first half knot) astî. Ushtâ (here the second half knot) ahmâi hyat ashâi vahishtâi ashem. Righteousness is the best good. It is radiant happiness.
Radiant happiness comes to the person
who is righteous for the sake of righteousness alone.”
With the koshti tied, the initiate stands with thumbs hooked into the koshti, or hands folded to recite Fravarti, the Choice of Religion declaration.
4. The Choice of Religion declaration restores one’s appreciation for the beauty of Good Conscience:
“Mazda-yasno ahmi, Mazda-yasno Zarathushtrish
fravarâne âstutas-châ fravaretas-châ.
Âstuye humatem mano,
âstuye hûkhtem vacho,
âstuye hvarshtem shyaothanem.
Âstuye daenâm vañuhîm Mazda-yasnîm
fraspâ-yaokhedhrâm, nidhâsnaithishem,
khvaetvadathâm, ashaonîm,
yâ hâithinâm-châ bushyeintinâm-châ
mazishtâ-châ, vahishtâ-châ, sraeshtâ-châ,
yâ Âhuirish Zarathushtrish.
Ahurâi Mazdâi vispâ vohû chinahmî.
(Aeshâ astî daenayâo Mazda-yasnoish âstuitish)
I, with my appreciations and convictions, choose for myself
to be a worshiper of the Wise One and a Zarathushtrian.
I appreciate good thoughts,
I appreciate good words,
I appreciate good deeds.
I appreciate Good Conscience,
the religion of worshiping the Wise One,
which overthrows yokes yet sheaths swords,
teaches self-reliance, and is righteous.
Therefore, of the religions that have been and that shall be,
this is the greatest, best, and sublimest.
It is divine and Zarathushtrian.
I attribute all good to the Wise God.
(Such is my appreciation for the Good Religion of worshiping the Wise One.)”
This completes his/her “Gathic” Choice of the Religion formula.
The initiate then may recite any of the following pieces in the Later Avesta and Persian with the intermitting Ashem Vohu:
Jasa mê avañhê mazda: Come to my help, Wise One. (three times)
“Ashem vohû vahishtem astî. Ushtâ astî
Ushtâ ahmâi hyat ashâi vahishtâi ashem.
Righteousness is the best good. It is radiant happiness.
Radiant happiness comes to the person
who is righteous for the sake of righteousness alone.”
May we unite in strength! May we unite in strength and righteousness! May we unite in strength and enjoy more merits! May we join meritorious people in merits! May we be far from sins of the sinful! May we join the koshti-wearing, the pious, and the good people of the seven continents of the earth!
O Creator God help us pass over the great Bridge of Discernment in light, easy, happy and smooth way. O Creator God, may we reach the best of abode of the righteous, the bright paradise, full of comforts.
“Ashem vohû vahishtem astî. Ushtâ astî
Ushtâ ahmâi hyat ashâi vahishtâi ashem.
Righteousness is the best good. It is radiant happiness.
Radiant happiness comes to the person
who is righteous for the sake of righteousness alone.”
May the special glory of the Good Religion of Mazda-worship be victorious. (Three times)
(Here repeat “Ashem vohû formula)
May God and the eternal progressives be successful. May it be so. May it be more so.
(Here repeat “Ashem vohû formula)
Formula of Faith (Persian)
This Avestan and Pahlavi prayer has been added to the Initiation Ceremony and has become central to it in modern times:
Razishtayâo chistayâo Mazda-dâtayâo ashaonyâo daênayâo vañhuyâo Mazda-yasnoish.
Dîn-e Behi rast-o dorost ke khoda bar mardom ferestadeh în ast ke Asho Zartosht peighambar âvardeh ast. Dîn dîn-e Urmazd, dâd-e Zartosht.
(Here repeat “Ashem vohû formula)
Dâdâr yek, Dîn-e Behi yek, Peighambar-e pâk-râh Asho Zartosht-e Espantamân-e anûsheh-ravân. Dânesteh-o bîgomân be râsti-o dorosti-ye Dîn-e pâk Urmazd.
(Here repeat “Ashem vohû formula)
Translation:
The God-given Perception, the most right, the righteous (is) the Good Religion of worshiping the Wise One.
The true and right Good Religion sent by God for humanity is the one brought by Righteous Zarathushtra, the Messenger.
The (true) religion is the religion of God given by Zarathushtra.
(Here repeat “Ashem vohû formula)
God is one, the Good Religion is one, and the Messenger of the proper path is Righteous Zarathushtra Spitama, the eternal. I understand and have no doubts about the truth and essence of the noble religion of God.
For the righteous.
(Here repeat “Ashem vohû formula)
The serene ceremony concludes with a benediction.
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KOSHTI PRAYERS IN AVESTA
1. “Khnaothra ahurahê mazdâo.”
2. “At ve staotâ aojâi, Mazdâ, añhâ-châ
yavat ashâ tavâ-châ isâi-châ
dâtâ añheush aredat vohu manañhâ
haithyâ vareshtâm hyat vasnâ ferashotemem.”
(Song 15.11)
“Ashem vohû vahishtem astî. Ushtâ astî
Ushtâ ahmâi hyat ashâi vahishtâi ashem.”
“Yathâ ahû vairyo
athâ ratush ashât-chît hachâ
vañheush dazdâ manañho
shyaothananâm añgheush Mazdâi khshathrem-châ Ahurâi â
yim drigubyo dadat vâstârem.”
“Ashem vohû vahishtem astî. Ushtâ astî
Ushtâ ahmâi hyat ashâi vahishtâi ashem
3. “Mazda-yasno ahmi, Mazda-yasno Zarathushtrish
fravarâne âstutas-châ fravaretas-châ.
Âstuye humatem mano,
âstuye hûkhtem vacho,
âstuye hvarshtem shyaothanem.
Âstuye daenâm vañuhîm Mazda-yasnîm
fraspâ-yaokhedhrâm, nidhâsnaithishem,
khvaetvadathâm, ashaonîm,
yâ hâithinâm-châ bushyeintinâm-châ
mazishtâ-châ, vahishtâ-châ, sraeshtâ-châ,
yâ Âhuirish Zarathushtrish.
Ahurâi Mazdâi vispâ vohû chinahmî.
(Aeshâ astî daenayâo Mazda-yasnoish âstuitish).”
This completes his/her “Gathic” Choice of the Religion formula.
* * * * *
KOSHTI PRAYERS IN ENGLISH
1. “For the pleasure God Wise.”
2. “I am, Wise One, Your praiser and shall continue to regard myself
so as long as I have the strength and the will through righteousness.
This shall promote the laws of life through good mind,
for true actions make life most renovated as God wishes.”
“Righteousness is the best good. It is radiant happiness.
Radiant happiness comes to the person
who is righteous for the sake of righteousness alone.”
“Both the Lord and the Leader
are to be chosen because of their righteousness.
These two appointments are made with good mind,
so that the acts of life are done for the Wise One.
And the dominion of God is well established,
in which the chosen person is appointed
as the Rehabilitator of the rightful who are oppressed.”
“Righteousness is the best good. It is radiant happiness.
Radiant happiness comes to the person
who is righteous for the sake of righteousness alone.”
“I, with my appreciations and convictions, choose for myself
to be a worshiper of the Wise One and a Zarathushtrian.
I appreciate good thoughts,
I appreciate good words,
I appreciate good deeds.
I appreciate Good Conscience,
the religion of worshiping the Wise One,
which overthrows yokes yet sheaths swords,
teaches self-reliance, and is righteous.
Therefore, of the religions that have been and that shall be,
this is the greatest, best, and sublimest.
It is divine and Zarathushtrian.
I attribute all good to the Wise God.
(Such is my appreciation for the Good Religion of worshiping the Wise One.)”
This completes his/her “Gathic” Choice of the Religion formula.
* * * * * *
BENEDICTION (in Avesta)
Ahmâi raês-cha khvarenas-cha
Ahmâi tanvo drvatâtem
Ahmâi tanvo vazdvare
Ahmâi tanvo verethrem
Ahmâi ishtim pourush-khvâthrem
Ahmâi âsnâm-chit frazantim
Ahmâi dareghâm daregho-jitim
Ahmâi vahishtem ahûm
ashaonâm raochanghem vispo-khvâthrem.
Atha jamyât yatha afrinâmi
BENEDICTION (in English)
May he (or we) have glory and splendor!
May he (or we) have bodily health!
May he (or we) have bodily strength!
May he (or we) have bodily soundness!
May he (or we) have wishes with full contentment!
May he (or we) have children with innate wisdom!
May he (or we) have a long life!
May he (or we) have the best life of the
righteous people, splendid and fully content!
May it be as I wish!
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