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This digital document is an article from Journal of Church and State, published by J.M. Dawson Studies in Church and State on January 1, 1997. The length of the article is 412 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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Title: Contemporary Zoroastrians: An Unstructured Nation.(Brief Article)
Author: Susanna Dokupil
Publication: Journal of Church and State (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 1997
Publisher: J.M. Dawson Studies in Church and State
Volume: 39Issue: n1Page: 164-165

Article Type: Book Review, Brief Article

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A History Survey Of The Zoroastrian Religion Brought Up-To-Date And An Encyclopedia Of Things Iranian. ... Read more

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Chapters: Shikand-Gumanic Vichar. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 124. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt:Shikand-gumanic Vichar is a Zoroastrian theology book of 9th century Iran, written by Mardan-Farrukh. What little is known of the person Mardan-Farrukh (Martnfarrux-i Ohrmazddtn) comes to us through the pages of his book, written in Middle Iranian using the Pahlavi script. Its title Shkand-Gumanik Vichar has been rendered Analytical Treatise for the Dispelling of Doubts, or Decisive Solution for Doubts. A published text, as translated into English, runs 135 pages. The Muslim conquest of his native Persia was completed by 651 C.E. Based on references made in his book to the then editions of other Zoroastrian works (e.g., the Dinkart), Mardan Farrukh has been dated to the 9th century. "t is evident that he lived after the time of Roshan, son of Atur-frobag, son of Farukh-zad. ...Abalis, the Zandik, had a religious deputation with Atur-frobag, son of Farukh-zad, in the presence of the Kalifah Al-Mamun who reigned A.D. 813-833." Near the beginning of his book he states, "his composition is provided by me, who am Mardan-farukh son of Auharmazd-dad." He goes on to say, "I have been fervent-mindedly, at all times in my whole youthful career, an enquirer and investigator of the truth." He declares, "The possession of the truth is the one power of the faithful, through the singleness of truth." "Now, as I have said above, I have always been earnestly anxious to know God and have been curious in searching out his religion and his will. In this spirit of inquiry I have traveled to foreign countries and (even) to India... for I did not choose my religion simply because I inherited it, but I wanted (only that religion) which was most firmly based on reason and evidence... ." Apparently Ma...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=20370565 ... Read more

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With Texts And Translations. Also With Pahlavi Translation For The First Time Edited With Collation Of Manuscripts, And Now Prepared Form All Known Codices, Also Deciphered, And For The First Time Translated In Its Entirety Into A European Language, With Neryosangh's Sanskrit Text Edited With Collation Of Five Mss, And With First Translation, Also With The Persian Text Contained In Codex 12b. Together With A Commentary Being The Literary Apparatus And Argument To The Translation Of The Gathas In The 31st Volume Of The Sacred Books Of The East. ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Shikand-Gumanic Vichar, Sheriar Mundegar Irani, André Hossein, Abu-Lu'lu'ah, Azar Kayvan, Iraj Kaboli, Farhang Mehr, Keikhosrow Shahrokh, Behafarid, Jamshid Bahman Jamshidian. Excerpt:Abu-Lu'lu'ah Al-Nahawndi (Arabic : ; Abu-Lu'lu'ah al-Nahawndi); (Persian name: Pirouz Nah vandi ) was a Persian slave who assassinated the Muslim ruler, or caliph , Umar al-Khattab in 23 AH (644 645) CE. His original name was P r z (Arabicized: F r z , "the victorious"; other transliterations of his name include Feroz, Firouz, Abu-Lo'lo'a, Abu Lulu, Abu Lolo, and Baba Shuja-e-din). Early life Not much is known about Piruz, except that he was born in Nahavand . Move to Medina In addition to his superb military skills, Pirouz was a skilled workman, a carpenter and artisan, and his owner allowed him to live in his own household in the Islamic capital of Medina (although according to Ibn Sa'd, Mughira ibn Shu'ba , his owner who was also the governor of Basra , had written 'Umar from Kufa; and then 'Umar had given Mughira special permission to send Abu Lu'lu'ah to Medina since captives were not permitted to live in Medina). Some controversial stories (all stemming from one Arab source) say that Abu Lu'lu'ah hired himself out as a carpenter, and gave two dirhams a day to his owner in return for his limited freedom . He supported a wife and child on the rest of his earnings. This version of the story is highly unlikely since as a slave, Pirouz would not have been allowed to earn wages. A more likely version of the story is that Mughira, who was present at the battle of Nahavand, captured and brought Pirouz to his home on main land Araba as a slave. He then sold Pirouz to Omar, who kept Pirouz in his home as a slave, where Pirouz was able to plan and execute his assassination plan. Additionally, it is un... ... Read more

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Chapters: Darius I of Persia, Cyrus the Great. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 20. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Darius I, known as Darius the Great, was the third "king of kings" (emperor) of the Achaemenid Empire. Darius held the empire at its peak, then including Egypt, northern India, and parts of Greece. The decay and downfall of the empire commenced with his death and the coronation of his son, Xerxes I. Darius ascended the throne by assassinating the alleged usurper Bardiya with the assistance of six other Persian noble families; Darius was crowned the following morning. The new emperor met with rebellions throughout his kingdom, and quelled them each time. A major event in Darius's life was his expedition to punish Athens and Eretria for their aid in the Ionian Revolt and subjugate Greece. Darius expanded his empire by conquering Thrace and Macedon, and invading the Saka, Iranian tribes who had invaded Medes and had previously killed Cyrus the Great. Darius organized the empire, by dividing it into provinces and placing governors to govern it. He organized a new uniform monetary system, along with making Aramaic the official language of the empire. Darius also worked on construction projects throughout the empire, focusing on Susa, Pasargadae, Persepolis, Babylon, and Egypt. Darius created a codification of laws for Egypt. He also carved the cliff-face Behistun Inscription, an autobiography of great modern linguistic significance. Darius left a tri-lingual monumental relief on Mount Behistun which was written in Elamite, Old Persian and Babylonian between his coronation and his death. The inscription first gives a brief autobiography of Darius with his ancestry and lineage. To expand on his ancestry, Darius left a sequence of events that occurred after the death of Cyru...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=800012 ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt:Farvardigan is a festival in Zoroastrianism . It is widely celebrated among Zoroastrians around the world, including Parsis and Iranis . Celebrations and prayers are done. Attendance at the fire temples are high.A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at Part of a series onZoroastrianism Khordad Sal is the birth anniversary (or birthdate) of Zoroaster . Zoroastrians all over the world, specifically in India celebrate the day in a great glamor. Parties and ghambars are held. Special prayers and jashans are also held throughout the entire day.Clean, rangoli-strewn homes, children with vermilion spots on their foreheads, new clothes, fragrant flowers and delicious meals, all form part of the rituals. A grand feast is prepared to mark the occasion.Since the Parsi community is especially tight-knit, its celebrations bring kith and kin together; so does Khordad Sal.The festival is also an opportunity for the Parsis to review their lives and actions, and make resolutions for the future.A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at Mehregan (alternatively: Mihrag n , Persian : ) or Jashn-e-Mehreg n is a Zoroastrian and Iranian festival celebrated in honor of Mithra (Persian : Mehr or Mihr), the divinity of covenant , and hence of interpersonal relationships such as friendship, affection and love. It is also widely referred to as Persian Festival of Autumn . Introduction Mehregan was once an Iranian festival, and possibly even older, but what forms it then remains in the realm of speculation. By the 4th century BC, it was observed as one of the Zoroastrian name-day feasts, a form it retains even today, even in (predominantly) Islamic Greater Iran where it is of the few pre-Islamic festivals that continue to be celebrated by the public at-large.As mentioned above, Mehreg n is a name-day ... ... Read more

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Chapters: Converts to Christianity From Zoroastrianism, Mar Abba I, Anastasius of Persia, Bademus, Eustathius of Mtskheta. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 18. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Aba I (or, with his Syriac honorific, Mar Aba I) was the Patriarch of the Church of the East at Seleucia-Ctesiphon from 540 to 552. He introduced to the church the anaphora of Theodore of Mopsuestia and Nestorius, supplanting the previous liturgical rite of Addai and Mari. Though his tenure as catholicos saw Christians in the region threatened during the Persian-Roman wars and attempts by both Sassanid Persian and Byzantine rulers to interfere with the governance of the church, his reign is reckoned a period of consolidation, and a synod he held in 544 as instrumental in unifying and strengthening the church. He is thought to have written and translated a number of religious works. Aba is a highly regarded and significantly venerated saint in the Assyrian Church of the East and the Chaldean Catholic Church of the East, which has a seminary in San Diego, California, USA, is named after him. His feast day is celebrated on both the seventh Friday after Epiphany and on February 28. He is documented in the Ausgewählte Akten Persischer Märtyrer, and The Lesser Eastern Churches, two biographies of Eastern saints. Born in a Zoroastrian family in Hala, Mesopotamia, Mar Aba was secretary to the governor of Beth Garmai province before he converted to Christianity, studied, and later taught at the School of Nisibis. Highly regarded as a scholar, he studied Greek in Edessa and is attributed with the translation (or with having overseen the translation) of key texts, including the works of Theodore and Nestorius, from Greek into Syriac. He is also remembered as the author of original works including Bibl...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=11255389 ... Read more

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Chapters: Zoroastrian, Irani, Tishtrya, Jamasp Namag, Peshotanu, Vohu Manah, Zend, Godrej Sidhwa, Zoroastrianism in Azerbaijan, Rashnu, Dasatir-I-Asmani, Vanant, Tiregan, Darvand, Mobad, Hvare-Khshaeta, Hamistagan, Vayu-Vata, Kushti, Chihrdad, Epistles of Manushchihr, Zartosht No-Diso, Burz, Mahabad, Bai Pirojbai Edulji Chenai Parsi Dharamshala, Ashem Vohu, Khordad Sal, Sedreh, Dastur, the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America, Zandik, Sad-Dar, Farvardigan, Menog-I Khrad, Nasu. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 102. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: A Zoroastrian is an adherent to Zoroastrianism, which along with Judaism is one of the first monotheistic religions, that is based on the teachings and philosophies of Zoroaster. Since the Muslim conquest of Persia, Zoroastrianism has become increasingly marginalized, and by the 9th century Iran had become predominantly Islamic. During the 10th century onwards several groups of Zoroastrians emigrated to Western India and Pakistan, where they became known as the Parsis. Today, Zoroastrianism has its stronghold in India and Pakistan, but Zoroastrianism still survives in Iran proper (where Zoroastrians are now a constitutionally-protected minority). There is also a Zoroastrian diaspora, the largest groups of which are in North America and in the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. Although Zoroastrianism was once widespread through many of the Iranic peoples, Zoroastrians generally live as scattered minorities in Iran, Pakistan and India today. ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=4436774 ... Read more

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Chapters: Iranian Zoroastrians, Shikand-Gumanic Vichar, Zoroastrians in Iran, Dari, Sheriar Mundegar Irani, André Hossein, Abu-Lu'lu'ah, Chak Chak, Iran, Azar Kayvan, Iraj Kaboli, Farhang Mehr, Keikhosrow Shahrokh, Behafarid, Sedreh, Jamshid Bahman Jamshidian. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 68. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt:Shikand-gumanic Vichar is a Zoroastrian theology book of 9th century Iran, written by Mardan-Farrukh. What little is known of the person Mardan-Farrukh (Martnfarrux-i Ohrmazddtn) comes to us through the pages of his book, written in Middle Iranian using the Pahlavi script. Its title Shkand-Gumanik Vichar has been rendered Analytical Treatise for the Dispelling of Doubts, or Decisive Solution for Doubts. A published text, as translated into English, runs 135 pages. The Muslim conquest of his native Persia was completed by 651 C.E. Based on references made in his book to the then editions of other Zoroastrian works (e.g., the Dinkart), Mardan Farrukh has been dated to the 9th century. "t is evident that he lived after the time of Roshan, son of Atur-frobag, son of Farukh-zad. ...Abalis, the Zandik, had a religious deputation with Atur-frobag, son of Farukh-zad, in the presence of the Kalifah Al-Mamun who reigned A.D. 813-833." Near the beginning of his book he states, "his composition is provided by me, who am Mardan-farukh son of Auharmazd-dad." He goes on to say, "I have been fervent-mindedly, at all times in my whole youthful career, an enquirer and investigator of the truth." He declares, "The possession of the truth is the one power of the faithful, through the singleness of truth." "Now, as I have said above, I have always been earnestly anxious to know God and have been curious in searching out his religion and his will. In this spirit of inquiry I ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=20370565 ... Read more

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THIS 11 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Theosophist Magazine July 1924-September 1924, by Theosophical Publishing . To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 076615176X. ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Thalaba the Destroyer is an 1801 epic poem composed by Robert Southey. The origins of the poem can be traced to Southey's school boy days, but he did not begin to write the poem until he finished composing Madoc at the age of 25. Thalaba the Destroyer was completed while Southey travelled in Portugal. When the poem was finally published by the publisher Longman, it suffered from poor sales and only half of the copies were sold by 1804. The poem is divided into twelve "books" with irregular stanza structures and unrhymed lines of poetry. The story describes how a group of sorcerers work to destroy the Hodeirah family in an attempt to prevent a prophecy of their future doom from coming true. However, a young child named Thalaba is able to escape from the slaughter. After one of the sorcerers hunts down Thalaba in order to kill him, the sorcerer is defeated by a great storm and his powerful magical ring comes into Thalaba's possession. With the ring, Thalaba travels across the Middle East in order to find a way to defeat the evil sorcerers. In the end, Thalaba is able to stay true to Allah and is guided by the prophet Mohammad in destroying the sorcerers. Southey uses the poem in order to describe various superstitions and myths, with a heavy reliance on repetition of various themes that link the myths together. Although based in Islamic theology, most of the action is mechanical instead of emphasizing possible moral truths that can be drawn from the plot. Critics gave the work mixed reviews, with some emphasizing the strong morality within the work or the quality of the poetry. However, other critics felt that the lack of a strong lyrical structure and the use of Middle Eastern myths took away from the poem. The basis for Southey wishing to w... More: http://booksllc.net/?id=24471711 ... Read more

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Chapters: Dharma, Arya, Gavaevodata, Pendar. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 45. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: ·) (Sanskrit: dhárma, dhamma) is a multivalent term of great importance in Indian philosophy and religions. In a Hindu context, it means one's righteous duty, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by a person's age, class, occupation, and gender. In modern Indian languages it can be equivalent simply to religion, depending on context. The word dharma translates as that which upholds or supports, and is generally translated into English as law. According to the various Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, beings that live in accordance with Dharma proceed more quickly toward dharma yukam, moksha or nirvana (personal liberation). The antonym of dharma is adharma meaning unnatural or immoral. In traditional Hindu society, dharma has historically denoted a variety of ideas, such as Vedic ritual, ethical conduct, caste rules, and civil and criminal law. Its most common meaning however pertains to two principal ideals: that social life should be structured through well-defined and well-regulated classes (varna), and that an individual's life within a class should be organized into defined stages (ashrama, see dharmasastra). Dharma also refers to the teachings and doctrines of the founders of Buddhism and Jainism, the Buddha and Mahavira. In Buddhist philosophy, dhamma/dharma is also the term for "phenomenon". In the Rigveda, the word appears as an n-stem, , with a range of meanings encompassing "something established or firm" (in the literal sense of prods or poles), figuratively "sustainer, supporter" (of deities), and semantically similar to the Greek ethos ("fixed decree, statute, law"). In Classical Sanskrit, the noun becomes thematic, . It is a d...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=8753 ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Tiridates I of Armenia, Magi, Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla, Kartir, Herbad, Jivanji Jamshedji Modi, Godrej Sidhwa, Azar Kayvan, Meherji Rana, Mobad, Dastur. Excerpt:Azar Kayvan zar Kayv n (b. between 1529 and 1533; d. between 1609 and 1618), was a Zoroastrian high priest of Istakhr and native of Fars who emigrated to the Gujarat in Mughal India during the reign of the Emperor Akbar and became the founder of a Zoroastrian school of ishraqiyyun or Illuminationists . Exhibiting features of a Zoroastrianized Sufi order, this school became known as the Sepassian. According to Kevin Shepherd, Meher Baba described Azar Kayvan as the "last true dastur there has been no realized perfect saint amongst the Zoroastrians". Citations References (URLs online) Websites (URLs online) A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at A dast r is a Zoroastrian high priest who has authority in religious matters and ranks higher than a Mobad or Herbad . In modern usage the term dast r refers mostly to Parsi priests in India. References (URLs online) A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at Godrej Sidhwa Ervad Godrej Sidhwa was born in Karachi , Pakistan , in 1925, and studied Avesta, Pahalvi, Persian ... Read more

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Chapters: Meher Baba, J. R. D. Tata, Sam Manekshaw, Zubin Mehta, Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla, Zerbanoo Gifford, Astad Deboo, Ness Wadia, Nari Gandhi, Shenaz Treasurywala, Shayan Italia, Honey Irani, Daisy Irani, Jivanji Jamshedji Modi, Neville Wadia, Meherji Rana, Adi Godrej, Zarin Mehta. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 89. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Meher Baba (Devanagari: ), (February 25, 1894 January 31, 1969), born Merwan Sheriar Irani, was an Indian mystic and spiritual master who declared publicly in 1954 that he was the Avatar of the age. He led a normal childhood and showed no particular inclination toward spiritual matters. At the age of 19, however, a brief contact with the Muslim holy woman Hazrat Babajan triggered a seven-year process of spiritual transformation. Over the next months he contacted four additional spiritual figures whom, along with Babajan, he called "the five Perfect Masters". He spent seven years in spiritual training with one of the masters, Upasni Maharaj, before beginning his public work. The name Meher Baba means "Compassionate Father" and was given to him by his first followers. From July 10, 1925 to the end of his life, Meher Baba maintained silence, and communicated by means of an alphabet board or by unique hand gestures. With his mandali ('circle' of disciples), he spent long periods in seclusion in which he often fasted. He would intersperse these periods with wide-ranging travels, public gatherings, and works of charity, including working with lepers, the poor, and the mentally ill. In 1931, he made the first of many visits to the West, gathering many followers. Throughout most of the 1940s he worked with an enigmatic category of persons whom he said were advanced souls and for whom he used the term masts. Starting in 1949, along with s...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=20860 ... Read more