Date: Jul 9, 2007 7:22 AM
Subject: Bahman Yasht - in Pazand and in Avestan
Baname Khuda!
Dear Zarathushti friend,
thank you for your email sharing information with us on the topic of
Bahman Yasht.
You are right - the Avesta Bahman Yasht was withdrawn from common
men/priests when its power was not used in the right manner.
But fortunately for us, a portion of the Avesta Bahman Yasht resides
in the existing Hormazd Yasht (which could well be paragraphs 24 to 32
as you write - I will confirm that).
So those who want to worship Bahman Ahmeshaspand and pray for Vohu
Manah / Good Mind (Gujarati: sadbuddhi) may do so by instead praying
the entire Hormazd Yasht devotedly, not only the parahraphs 24 to 32.
As an old song says: "Bahman Ahmeshaspand ni bandagi karnar Parvar ne
che pyaaro"
I have learnt that the currently available Bahman Yasht in Pazand form
is not a Avestan prayer as such and has no maanthric composition, it
is only an essay or description of the original Avestan Bahman Yasht.
All our prayers have a maanthric composition and intoning them
correctly produces a beneficial effect in the reciter as well as in
the physical atmosphere. Having said that, this effect is NOT produced
when one recites the Pazand Bahman Yasht narration or essay. Those who
wish to pray to Bahman Ahmeshahspand may well pray the Hormazd Yasht
as described earlier or Mah Bokhtar Nyaish, Mah Bokhtar Yasht, Gosh
Yasht or Raam Yasht.
I have a small audio talk on this topic which I may share with all
readers and yourself when I locate it.
But till then, lets all not forget Bahman Ahmeshahspand in this month
and look after His animals on this geti of ours.
Thank you once again for your letter.
Sincerely,
Tehemton B. Adenwalla
=========== Message received ===========
MR. Tehemton B. Adenwalla.
I recieved a message of yours through a friend of mine, as he knows that I
am Very interested in the Bahman Yasht.
You have mentioned the following about this prayer......
"Incidentally, the Bahman Yasht floating in Parsee houses and some agiaries
is not the Avesta Bahman Yasht. It is actually the Pazand version, and it
reads like an essay. If possible, that "essay" is not to be recited as a
normal prayer"
I would be grateful if you could give me more details about this. I have
heard that the origional which is lost - Avesta Bahman Yasht, was too
powerful, and was being missused. Later on, a toned down version was brought
out in Pazend, during the Sassanian times. The latter portion of the Hormazd
Yasht (paragraphs 24 to 32) contains parts of the lost Vohuman Yasht.
I have no idea if this is true, but will be most obliged if you could kindly
enlighten me and send me some infomation on this subject.
thanking you,
- Zarathushti friend
_________________________________________________________________
On 7/6/07, Tehemton B. Adenwalla <tba@xtra.co.nz> wrote:
Baname Khuda!
Dear fellow Zarathushtis,
today is Ram roj, the last of the hamkar day in this month Bahman.
Hope you all are having a good and pious Bahman mah.
If some readers would like to share experiences of how they worshipped
Bahman Ahmeshaspand, or His Hamkars Mohor, Gosh and Raam; please share
them with us.
Or, if you wish to narrate what special effort you or your family took
to look after animals and animal needs, then please enlighten us.
Incidentally, the Bahman Yasht floating in Parsee houses and some
agiaries is not the Avesta Bahman Yasht. It is actually the Pazand
version, and it reads like an essay. If possible, that "essay" is not
to be recited as a normal prayer.
Does someone knowledgable want to comment on this?
Sincerely
Tehemton B. Adenwalla
----- Original Message -----
From: Tehemton B. Adenwalla
To: TZML
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 4:02 PM
Subject: [Traditional Zs] Bahman mah - Bahman roj - on Sun, 17 June 2007
Baname Khuda!
Dear fellow Zarathushtis,
today on Sunday 17th June 2007 is Bahman mah, Bahman roz.
It is also called "Bahman nu parabh"
Bahman Ahmeshaspand presides over the animal kingdom.
The Yazads which help Bahman Ahmeshashpand are:
* Mohor
* Gosh
* Raam
Many Zarathushtis follow an "unrojo" in respect of Bahman
Ahmeshahspand and refrain from eating meat for the whole month. Some
of them do not even eat eggs.
Some Zarathushtis follow the "unrojo" during all the hamkar/parabh
days of Bahman Ahmeshahspand, i.e. on rojs Bahman, Mohor, Gosh, Raam
in all the 12 months of the year.
Traditional Zoroastrianism does not frown on meat eating but if we eat
meat, we are enjoined to eat meat of the goat/lambs and chicken and
fish only, beef (cow's meat) and port (pig's meat) are traditionally
shunned.
Respect and good treatment for the cow, the most sacred animal to our
Hindu brethren in Hindustan, too is important.
Whatever be our dietary habits, we must look after our animal friends.
If we have dogs in our houses, we must see that these faithful
creatures are well fed, exercised and looked after. Those of us who
use domestic animals like bull and horses in our farms, must ensure
that these majestic animals too are cared for, well fed and not
overworked fed.
Otherwise, "janavaro ni hai lage"
Some Zarathushtis donate money to associations like "Society of
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals" in the month of Bahman. Some years
ago, there were victorias in Mumbai, which were pulled by retired
racecourse horses. These poor animals were made to work and not rest
even when their mouths use to bring out foam and no water breaks were
given. Hope the victoria-wallas look after their horses well. Stray
dogs too are a big sight in Indian cities and some of these dogs are
in so deplorable a state (some are injured on one leg and go around
with just 3 legs; some have rabies, etc); that one's heart goes out to
them.
In school, I had some friends from Gujarat and because they had a
farm, they had many animals. These friends of mine always included
their animals as part of their families and really looked after them!
Such incidents were really inspiring.
By the way, the modern science of genetic manipulation where they
implant animal genes in the vegetable products (and vice-versa) is
really deplorable. We are not here on Planet Earth to tinker with
Mother Nature's creations, She has created animals under Bahman
Ameshaspand and plants under Amardad Ameshaspand - these creations are
not to be mixed and inter-produced.
Sincerely
Tehemton B. Adenwalla
