Meher Yazad and Mehergan:
The worship of Meher Yazad is pre-Zarathushtrian. During the glorious Peshdad dynasty, Faredoon Padshah, a 'peshrav', i.e. a forerunner of Asho Zarathushtra, performed a Yasna dedicated to Meher Yazad to get divine help in defeating the evil 'Azidehak' (Zohak). The day on which Faredoon Padshah performed this Divine Yasna was Meher mah, Meher roj and this celebrated day when Zohak or 'Azi' (snake/venomous) 'dehak' (epitome of 10 evils) was defeated and chained on Mount Damavand is commemorated as Mehergan.
On this day, the Parsis, wherever they live, perform the Mehergan Jashan and pray for Meher Yazad's help to eradicate evil or 'druj' (Zohak), in all its manifold forms, physical as well as spiritual, and to bring the Divine Light of Meher Yazad into their home, heart and in all creations so that the army of Angre-mainyu in all its varied characteristics is destroyed and Frashogard is attained as ordained!
The Holy Avesta calls Meher Yazad, "Mithrem". Meher Yazad and Khorshed Yazad are inseparably paired together with each other because they each embody the two aspects of the Sun (radiance/light and radiation/heat) without which our Solar System would not exist and there would be no life on Earth. Consequentially, without Khorshed and Meher Yazads, the Divine Aim of Frashogard to progress the souls from Hasti (spiritual world) to Nisti and Geti (the semi-spiritual and the physical worlds), and back to Ahura Mazda at the pre-appointed Divine Event of Frashogard, would not be attained!
It is a fact that our Solar System and our Sun are only a part of the vast Universe which contains many other Solar Systems and Suns. There is a Central Sun for the whole unimaginably vast Universe and then there is our Sun around which our Solar System with its own planets revolves. Therefore, in our Holy Avesta Meher Yazad is described as the most glorious of the spiritual Yazads. He is given the highest reverence and importance together with Ahura Mazda. The Sun and the Moon are taken as the two eyes of Ahura Mazda. It is said that Meher Yazad is inseparably united with every other Yazad. Meher Yazad's chariot is surrounded by a host of Yazads who spread the Sun's radiance and radiation throughout all the corners of our solar system as well as in the Universe. It is stated that whosoever worships the Sun worships Ahura Mazda, the Holy Ameshaspands, one's own soul and all the heavenly and earthy Yazads.
'Evil' is generally personified as the absence of light, which is darkness, a time when the 'devs', or druj, under the leadership of Angre-mainyu attack the good creations in order to stop Frashogard from being achieved. 'Druj', as "Angre-mainyu", is seen as well as unseen; it manifests in varied forms as evil tendencies such as greed, jealousy and falsehood, spiritual ignorance, all kinds of physical, mental and moral sufferings, stench and pollution which creates bad wind which in turn gives rise to diseases, germs, viruses, also as immoral men who lead people astray, men who destroy the religious faith of other followers, etc. Neither the Earth nor any creation would be able to sustain itself without the divine light and radiation of the Sun (namely Khorshed and Meher Yazads) which purify everything by eradicating the physical, mental, moral and spiritual darkness/pollution.
Both Khorshed and Meher Yazads are closely associated with the stars Tishtriya and Vanant, Govad Yazad (wind), Chisti - the wisdom of the Mazdayasni Religion, with the Good Mazdayasni Religion itself and with the Fravashis. With reference to the close connection between Govad Yazad and Meher, it is explained that Meher means the light; 'Ram Khvastar' is equivalent to 'ether', and 'vayu uparo-kairyo' is the wind, the air between the sky and the earth - both in charge of Govad Yazad. Without air and 'ether' the light of the Sun (and Moon) cannot reach the Earth.
Further, it is revealed in the Khorshed Niyayesh, "When the light of the Sun is warmer, when it shines, there stand hundreds and thousands spiritual yazads." In connection with this statement, Ervad Dr. Minocher Dadabhoy Karkhanavala writes, "The American astronaut, John Glenn in 1962, when he first orbited the earth, orbited three times within a day which means, he had within that day three mornings, three dawns. He has reported that every time he came out, from the shadow of the earth into light (dawn) he observed millions of luminous objects. I am quoting his words, 'luminous objects' which nobody has been able to explain. In science we simply call it the Glenn Effect." (Religious Discourses, p. 88)
Meher Yasht begins by paying homage to Ahura Mazda which is the accepted commencement of all our prayers. Elucidating the divine status and role of Meher Yazad, the Yasht reveals that Meher Yazad is "faragayod davare rast berasad", i.e. he is the wise lord of wide pastures and the just Judge of all actions; may he come to help the devotee! Allegorically, Meher is described as the divine farmer who tills the soil of all the wide pastures making it fertile and empty of hurdles (namely, weeds and stones or 'bad karma') which hinder the growing of "crops" or "ashoi"/"guv" which in turn also delay the divine event of "harvesting" Frashogard. Here, "soil" indicates human inherent frailties of the flesh.
Meher is endowed with thousand ears and ten thousand eyes meaning nothing escapes his all-seeing eyes and hearing which makes him the Judge of all good as well as bad thoughts, words and actions performed on all the 7 regions of the Universe. (With regard to the 7 "regions", Kangaji writes, Khordeh Avesta, English Edition, 1993, p.35 footnote, "According to Avesta writing, the entire Universe is divided into seven regions which are called 'keshvar'." After naming the 7 Haft Keshvar regions, he adds, "Even at present we call the entire Universe as 'Haft Keshvar Zamin'." This absolutely negates the erroneous theory of some that "haft keshvar zamin" indicates the 7 continents of this Earth!) Meher Yazad is also called the "rathestar" or defender of righteousness. He is in charge of light, truth, promises, friendship, devotion, justice and contracts.
Meher Yasht, kardas 1, 2 and 3 reveal that the path of light, spiritual illumination or righteousness is bestowed by Meher Yazad upon those who do not break promises; the Fravashis of the righteous also grant offspring of innate wisdom to those who do not break promises. On any battlefield, Meher Yazad, together with 'Dami Upamana'(the Yazad of spiritual wisdom), helps the armies of the righteous to overthrow the wicked. These "armies" refer to the armies of men who are the opponents of the righteous on the earthly battlefields due to greed of wealth and power, and also to the evil armies of thought-created spiritual forms which manifest their own ugly forms in the spiritual world. Meher Yazad, together with Dami Upamana destroys both these evil "armies" (of men as well as the thought-created hostile, hideous forms in the spiritual world), both armies created by Angre-mainyu. The armies are described as "riding on the backs of the horses" signify the power of thoughts considering that thoughts or the 'mind' is equated with the speed of a galloping 'horse'.
Meher Yazad is seen riding a chariot of 4 perfectly white horses (karda 11) since white represents purity, virtues and symbolizes the Divine Light. Ashi Yazad is the charioteer and the wide road on which this chariot drives swiftly is the Mazdayasni Daen (karda 17). The number 4 signifies the 4 elements of fire, water, earth and air which compose the entire nisti and geti regions. The horses' front hoofs are shod with gold and hind ones with silver.
Further, Rashne Yazad drives his own chariot on the right side of Meher Yazad's chariot and on the left of Meher Yazad's chariot drives the most upright Chisti, the Yazad who is synonymous with 'Daena', Din or Religion, who has put on white garments (karda 31). It is revealed here that white is the sign of the Mazdayasni religion! White light contains the entire spectrum and Meher Yazad is in charge of the Divine Light. It is Chisti who makes the path broad and smooth for the chariots, meaning she shows the Path of Religion so that Frashogard is achieved as planned. In certain kardas, Sarosh Yazad is also said to be driving his own chariot next to Meher Yazad's. The Yazads, to name a few, who assist Meher Yazad are Adar, Dami Upamana, Sarosh, Rashne, Chisti, Ashishvangh, Behram (destroyer of the enemies of good and victorious over the armies of evil), Govad, Neryosang Yazad, Parendi, the Kayani Glory and the Fravashis of the righteous people.
It is further revealed in karda 5 that whosoever breaks a promise or utters falsehood is deprived of Meher Yazad's spiritual protection. The "horses" of such people do not reach their destination (i.e. Frashogard); they cannot go "forward" in spite of galloping, meaning the horses get tethered. Those who break a promise cannot progress further on the path of righteousness. Such persons may acquire physical wealth and so-called worldly happiness for time being only but finally, they suffer because such physical wealth and happiness are not long lasting.
If a promise-breaker throws his well-aimed lance or arrow to pierce the body of a righteous opponent it still does not wound the righteous because these weapons are made ineffective by Meher. A righteous person is always protected against evil, pain and distress by Meher Yazad. He makes the unrighteous deaf and blind, i.e. spiritually ignorant and confused. He brings devastation and dread upon the armies of Angre-mainyu. No one escapes the divine justice of Meher Yazad!
On the spiritual battlefield, fighting the spiritual armies of Angre-mainyu, Meher Yazad leads the attack, Sarosh Yazad generates the strong wind (Vayu/Govad Yazad) all around the battlefield warping the weapons used against the righteous and Rashne Yazad protects the righteous army from the front. A righteous person is protected against all and any evil by Meher Yazad and his divine companions!
Further, Karda 7.25 calls Meher Yazad "tanu-mathrem", meaning Word Incarnate, which title is also given to Sarosh Yazad! He is all-knowing and un-deceivable. To drive away the malevolent forces, the devotee asks for the spiritual wealth of a healthy body and mind, courage, increase of the family, a good reputation, idyllic state of the soul after death, spiritual wisdom and knowledge of the Holy Manthra.
For his devotee, Meher Yazad (karda 8) is said to build and uphold the pillars of a high-built house making it strong and indestructible. He also blesses the righteous with multiple of cattle and family but destroys the houses of the wicked. The "house" is not any physical house built on Earth but refers to the "kuniyat" or the collected good thought-forms which give shelter and protection to the righteous in both the worlds. Earthly houses go to dust but the spiritually fortified "houses" in the spiritual world are indestructible and hold everlasting peace and happiness. These are the dwellings of those who achieve tanpasin, the final resurrected body of light! Meher Yazad is strictly objective/just and appropriately rules over peace and discord of the countries, families and over each individual.
Meher Yazad is most pleased when men worship him with the yasna dedicated in his honor. He acknowledges that if men offer their worship to him, he will certainly hear their sincere prayers and help the devotee by granting him spiritual wisdom to overcome all and any evil by teaching the laws of the Religion, thereby showing the path leading to Farshogard. He gives courage and strength to perform all duties because work/duty is worship and everyone must do their duties with faith, patience and humility. Not to be "faraz-na chor" is the motto stated in Karda 9! Poverty is spiritual as well as worldly. Meher Yazad is said to remove "poverty" from the houses of the righteous by showering blessings of virtues – for example, contentment and the wisdom to obey His Will! Without content, even a rich person is poor because such an individual is always in need of something more due to greed.
Additionally, it is stated that Meher is the Chieftain in the Divine Assembly where justice is given to souls; he also replenishes the sacred flowing "waters", indicating that he spreads Ahura Mazda's "blessings" in the form of water; he causes the waters to flow to avoid pollution (stagnancy), and increases the growth of plants and cattle. Meher Yazad possesses extensive and sharp powerful intellect for the protection of the excellent Mazda Worshiping Religion.
Karda 12 declares the Creator Ahura Mazda built an abode for Meher Yazad on the shining Harbarez (Hukaira) Mountain around which the stars revolve, where there is neither night nor darkness, neither cold nor where the hot winds blow, where there is no sickness or pollution but complete ushta, from where the entire corporeal world is surveyed by Meher Yazad. When any wicked person tries to cause damage to the righteous, Meher Yazad rushes forward to stop and defeat the wicked and the mighty Sarosh Yazad, Rashne Yazad, together with the wise Neriosang Yazad and the victorious Behram Yazad also go to assist Meher Yazad in the battle against the evil doers.
The Holy Avesta, written thousands of years ago, teaches through the Meher Yasht, karda 24. 95, that long after the setting of the Sun, Meher Yazad protects Ahura Mazda's good creations between the Earth and the Heavens. This is so because although the Sun may appear to be 'setting', it never really 'sets'; it is always spreading its radiance and glory over the Earth 24 hours a day, 365 + days a year and has been doing so from the time the Earth materialized and Life manifested on planet Earth.
Both Khorshed and Meher Yazads will incessantly carry on their divine task of spreading the energy of Light and eradicating 'druj' till the Divinely Appointed Event of Frashogard is attained! The physical Sun may appear to be 'setting' due to the rotation of the Earth but the beneficial influences left behind by Khorshed and Meher Yazads continue to work effectively even when darkness is spread since it is established that the beneficent radiation from the Sunlight containing Gamma Rays, Micro Waves, Radio Waves, the Infra-Red rays, Ultra-Violet Rays, etc. still continue to protect the Earth after sunset. (It is with a deep sense of reverence that we bow our head to the occult wisdom pertaining to the laws of energies created by sound, light, kinetics, also to the knowledge of astronomy/astrology, bacteriology, medicinal as well as numerological and all branches of sciences including mysticism that is revealed in our sacred Avesta thousands of years ago by our Paigambar Saheb, Asho Zarathushtra, who was Himself a Divine Yazad!)
Further, in Karda 24. 96 and .97, it is revealed that when, after the 'setting' of the Sun, although all the forces of evil, 'druj', under the command of Angre-mainyu, such as, Aeshm dev (anger), Akoman dev (bad thoughts of greed, lust, etc.), Bushyastu dev (demon of laziness) and the other devs try to get strengthened, the ever wakeful Meher Yazad 'turns up everywhere', holding a mace in his hands, which is one of the most powerful of all weapons. Allegorically, the "mace" is the potent, all-powerful energy of Sound, the Divine Manthra Spenta! The mace is cast of yellow brass and gold and has a hundred knobs and edges. When struck, the victorious mace renders all the evil devs and the unrighteous, powerless! In the Vendidad, the evil Angre-mainyu is seen running away from Asho Zarathushtra as soon as the sacred Manthra of Ahunavar is recited! Additionally, the 'golden' mace transforms those it strikes from unrighteousness to the 'golden' qualities of righteousness, or spiritual wisdom by punishing offenders through the immutable law of karma because Meher Yazad is also in charge of Justice in this life and the next.
Repeatedly, in the Yasht, Meher Yazad is referred to as the Chief Custodian of Contracts, i.e. Promises, Truth, Justice and Friendship. He is called the Just Judge. After a soul passes away, Meher Yazad proceeds towards the Chinvat Bridge on the fourth day at dawn, where, together with Sarosh and Rashne Yazads, after weighing the actions committed in this world, they assign the soul its proper place in heaven, purgatory or hell.
Karda 23 declares Hom Yazad as the dispenser of the blessings of Ahura Mazda. Meher Yazad performed a Yasna dedicated to Hom Yazad on Mount 'Hukaira', with the consecrated barsom, with the holy 'zohr' (libations) and with the recitation of the sacred Manthra. For this act, Ahura Mazda and the Ameshaspands appoint Meher Yazad as a 'Zaotar' (Priest). The benefits and blessings arising from this Yasna performed by Meher Yazad reach the light of the starry heavens, then spread over the Earth and also penetrate through the 7 'keshvars' or 'regions' of the Universe. Meher Yazad is described pounding the sacred Hom ceremoniously in the 'havanim' (mortar) which is star studded, made by the Spirits in the Spiritual World. Karda 23.92 asserts that due to the efficacy of this sacred Yasna performed by Meher Yazad (on Mount Hukaira), he was acclaimed for his dedication to the Mazdayasni Zarathushti Religion, the Religion of Ahura Mazda which He Himself revealed to Asho Zarathushtra, the Yazad of Renowned Name.
The 'pounding' of the Hom plant/twig in the 'havanim' indicates the lessons of karma which Meher Yazad dispenses and thereby brings forth divine wisdom by uniting with Hom Yazad and the other Divine Spirits. He fashions the destiny of the world, striking down the evil forces with his mace and subsequently leading the physical creation step by step towards Frashogard. In whatever Meher Yazad does, he merges with Khorshed Yazad and also with the entire Divine Assembly. This proves the necessity of reciting the Khorshed-Meher Niyayeshes daily as mandatory so that Khorshed and Meher Yazads hear our prayers, are pleased, come to our help in getting rid of the vices and Frashogard is attained at the appointed time! Those who keep the alaat (thoughts) pure and perform the Paragna and Yasna ritual with jivam, ritual purity (of body, mind and soul), barsom, pound the hom (acquire wisdom) as ritually prescribed are blessed by Meher Yazad.
Just as Meher Yazad performed the Yasna with dedication and piety, we are also encouraged to perform the rituals with dedication and piety and as prescribed in the Holy Avesta by our Asho Paigambar Saheb!
In the Meher Yasht (and in all our prayers), the individual, particularly the priest, who invokes Ahura Mazda, Meher Yazad or any other Divinity with the prescribed yasna and manthra, performs the ritual with dedication and piety, is blessed with good health, wisdom and spiritual progress. Meher Yazad is the Protector of the Religion and shows the Path of Religion to his devotees. Homage is paid to Asho Zarathushtra as the Leader and the Purifier of Ahura Mazda's Creation.
Conversely, karda 32.138, irrefutably reveals that if a 'zaotar" (priest), in spite of being the spreader of the required barsom and the consecrator of the yasna ritual, is immoral, impious and not keeping his body under the control of manthra (i.e. religious commandments), such a priest is guilty of performing the yasna unlawfully. He does not please Ahura Mazda, the Ameshaspands or Meher Yazad. Instead, he acts against Ahura Mazda, against the Ameshaspands, against Meher Yazad, against the Law of Zarathushtra (against the Religion), against Rashne and Ashtad Yazad and against the fulfillment of the Divine Event of Frashogard. Such a person is punished by Meher Yazad who is never deceived because of possessing the power of hearing equivalent to ten thousand ears and vision equivalent to ten thousand eyes! This is a warning to all who do not subscribe to the dictates of the Revealed Word, the Laws prescribed in the Divinely Revealed Scriptures, but insist on following the religion and the established rituals with impurity of mind (thoughts), body, environment and unrighteous deeds that such persons shall be punished by Meher Yazad in this life and also on the dawn of the fourth day at Chinvat for their acts against the Religion!
Further, karda 31.133 reveals that after the smiting of all the devs and the promise-breaking persons, after crossing all the 7 regions named Arezahi, Savahi, Fradadafshu, Vidadafshu, Vouru-bareshti, Vouru-jareshti and this region of Khvaniratha (the Earth), Meher Yazad proceeds further to the starry heavens to establish divine law and order throughout.
Meher Yazad is called a "warden in darkness" who cannot be deceived by anyone even in the looming shadows of darkness. He is always alert, never sleeps and is the strongest among the strong! Moreover, he is victorious, possessed of divine radiance, possessed "of a thousand ears and of ten thousand eyes", has ten thousand spies, is brave and all-knowing.
Meher Yazad is self-shining. He is thus called self-manifested. Karda 34 declares that the Moon receives radiance from the Sun (Meher Yazad) and spreads this radiance far and wide to other regions in space. Meher's face is compared to the brilliance of the star Tishtriya (the brightest star in the night sky), and this radiance increases the powers of the creatures of Spenta-mainyu. Meher Yazad works in conjunction with the Moon (Mah Yazad) to spread ashoi throughout the Universe. Frashogard must be celebrated; to celebrate this Divine Event, the requirements needed are given by Meher Yazad. Therefore, to worship Meher Yazad and pray the yasna, i.e. the niyayesh and yasht in his honor with complete dedication is the fundamental tenet of our religion. The Mazdayasni Zarathushti Religion is based on Asha which is Truth! Truth is law, order, beauty, purity, and justice. Meher Yazad is in charge of Truth (Asha) and there is no religion higher than Truth!
May we all celebrate the Divine Mehergan with knowledge and commitment to destroy the vices, the evil tendencies within us that gain strength due to the inherent spiritual ignorance or darkness within! May we dispel all darkness from within and without through brining in the white radiance of Khorshed and Meher Yazads into our heart, mind and soul! May we be worthy of offering prayers dedicated to Khorshed and Meher Yazads, and to all the Divine Beings!
Atha jamyat yatha afrinami!
Pervin J. Mistry
Mehergan, Meher mah, Meher roj, March 1, 2015
Bibliography:
Ervad Kavasji Edulji Kanga, Yasht-Ba-Maani, 2001(English Edition)
Dr. Faramroze Sohrabji Chiniwalla, Meher Yasht, 1991(Gujarati)
