Zoroastrian Rituals

 Fire is a central symbol in Zoroastrianism, representing purity and the divine presence of Ahura Mazda, the supreme god. Zoroastrian temples house the sacred fire, which must be kept burning perpetually. The care of the fire is a sacred duty, and it must be tended to at least five times a day with offerings of wood or other fuel.

Ceremonies Related to the Sacred Fire

1. Founding of a New Fire: Establishing a new sacred fire is an elaborate and lengthy process that can take up to a year. During this ceremony, fires from various sources (such as a household fire, a craftsman’s fire, and a fire struck from lightning) are brought together and ritually purified before being united in the temple’s sacred flame. This process involves precise rituals and invocations to ensure that the new fire is imbued with divine purity and power.
2. Purification of the Fire: Periodically, the fire must undergo a purification ceremony to ensure its continued sanctity. This involves prayers and ritual acts performed by the priests to remove any impurity that may have affected the fire.
3. Regeneration of the Fire: Similar to purification, this ceremony revitalizes the fire, ensuring its spiritual strength and power to protect the community from evil and chaos. Like other fire-related rituals, it requires careful observance of traditional rites and recitations from the Avesta.

Daily Prayers

Zoroastrians are expected to pray five times a day, a practice that aligns with the five times the sacred fire is tended. These prayers are recited in the presence of the fire or at home while facing a source of light, symbolizing Ahura Mazda. The prayers include recitations from the Avesta, especially from the Yasna, and reinforce the connection between the individual, the community, and the divine.

Burial Rites

In Zoroastrianism, burial rites are deeply rooted in the religion’s emphasis on purity and the avoidance of defiling the natural elements. The process of handling the dead reflects the belief that a corpse is ritually impure and must be disposed of in a way that prevents the pollution of sacred elements like earth, fire, and water. The burial rites are both symbolic and practical, reflecting the Zoroastrian focus on maintaining cosmic order (asha) even after death.

Rituals Before the Removal of the Corpse

Immediately after death, specific rituals are performed to ensure the deceased's soul is protected and guided properly, while also preventing any spiritual or physical contamination:

1. The Dog Rite (Sagdid): One of the first rituals performed after death involves bringing a dog to gaze upon the corpse. Ideally, this should be a "four-eyed dog," meaning a dog with spots above each eye. The belief is that the dog’s gaze possesses the power to ward off evil spirits and to protect both the living and the soul of the deceased from the forces of decay and corruption. This rite is repeated five times a day until the corpse is removed.
2. Sacred Fire: After the first Sagdid ritual, a fire is lit in the room where the body lies. The fire, a symbol of purity and the divine presence of Ahura Mazda, is kept burning constantly to drive away evil forces and protect the sanctity of the space. The fire is maintained for three days after the removal of the corpse to ensure that the area remains spiritually pure.
3. Time of Removal: The body must be removed from the home during the daytime, as Zoroastrians believe daylight brings greater spiritual protection and purity. Nighttime is associated with the presence of evil forces, and removal during this time is avoided to protect the living and the soul of the deceased.

The Tower of Silence (Dakhma)

The disposal of the body takes place in the Tower of Silence (or Dakhma), a circular, open structure built to prevent the contamination of the earth and elements. This method of burial, known as exposure, is unique to Zoroastrianism and reflects its focus on environmental purity.

1. Structure of the Tower: The interior of the Tower of Silence is built with three concentric circles, each designated for a specific group—men, women, and children. This structured layout maintains order even in death, a reflection of Zoroastrianism's emphasis on cosmic order.
2. Exposure of the Corpse: The bodies are laid naked on stone platforms in the circles. The purpose of exposing the body is to allow vultures, considered purifying agents, to consume the flesh quickly. The vultures typically strip the body of its flesh within one or two hours. The use of vultures is seen as a way to prevent the decay of the body, which would otherwise lead to contamination of the earth and natural elements.
3. Final Disposal of Bones: Once the vultures have stripped the body, the sun further dries the bones. The bones are then swept into the central well of the Tower. In earlier practices, the bones were stored in an ossuary called an astodan, which helped protect them from rain and animals. However, this practice has largely been replaced by the central well system, which ensures the complete disposal of bodily remains.

Spiritual Significance of the Fourth Day

The fourth day after death is the most significant in Zoroastrian burial rites. On this day, the soul is believed to leave the physical world and make its way to the spiritual realm, where it is judged based on its earthly deeds.

1. Soul’s Journey and Judgment: Zoroastrianism teaches that after death, the soul remains close to the body for three days, during which time it is protected by the rituals performed by the living. On the morning of the fourth day, the soul embarks on its journey to the next world. It must cross the Chinvat Bridge, a spiritual bridge that separates the world of the living from the afterlife.
2. Encounter with Deities: As the soul crosses into the next world, it appears before the deities Mithra, Sraosha, and Rashnu, who pass judgment over it. The judgment is based on the individual’s good thoughts, good words, and good deeds during their lifetime. If the soul is righteous, it is welcomed into paradise; if it is wicked, it falls into hell. There is also an intermediate place for souls whose good and bad deeds are in balance.

The fourth day is marked by solemn observances, including prayers and rituals, performed by the living to ensure the soul's successful passage into the afterlife and to honor its memory.

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