Friday, January 15, 2016

Are Parasis, Brahmins?

Are Parsis, Brahmins?

Parsis brought sacred fire "Atash Behram" (consecrated 18 types of fire) with them. Fire (Agni) is the common deity of Hindus and Parsis. The yagya pooja of Hindu and akhand jyot in temples have some commonality with the akhand (unbroken) fire of Parsi.

Parsis (Persian) may be same like the Brahmins of Hindus. Or may be from one origin, the two groups of the two sons of Aditi; the Devas and the Asuras. The name of Parasi God is Ahura ('s' in pronounced 'h' in central Asia) Mazda. Asuras (Mitra, Varuna) of Rigveda were not demonized during Vedic time. Zoroatian considered "angra mainyu" (manu of hindu?) as evil spirit and declared "daevas" (devas of hindu?) as false gods. Later Vedic period, the Hinduism also divide the forces into Devas and Asuras.

Another probability is that, Aditi had 3 sons; Agni, Aditya (Asur) and Aryaman. Agni became the medium of worship for other two. The descendants of Aditya became Zoroastrian and the descendants of Aryaman (Aryans) became Aryan Hindus. Rigveda describes 5 tribes as offspring of Manu. These two may be from that five.

Indra (289 hymns) a heroic god; Agni (218 hymns) the sacrificial fire and messenger of the gods; and Soma (123 hymns), the ritual drink dedicated to Indra, are the most prominent three deities of Rigveda.

Agni is a medium to pray God. Sun is the natural representative of Agni in the sky, therefore, worshiping Sun deity was common in many parts of the world. The Hindus worship the rising Sun in the east and setting Sun in the west. The lighted lamp (deep jyot) in the pooja place of the house or in the temple is a symbol of worshiping the God through it's messenger, the Agni.

Agni is common deity of Hindus and Zoroastrians. During the religious rituals, the Parasis face the Sun in the east in the morning, in the west in the evening and face the moon (indirect light of Sun) in the night. They do light lamp while performing rituals and poojas.

Surprisingly, the Navjot sanskar of Parasi and the upabayan/janeu sanskar of Hindus have many common factors.

In Hindu culture, thread (yagyopavit/janeu) ceremony is one the important Sanskars out of forty four Sanskars. Thread ceremony is also important ceremony amongst Parsis or Zoroastrian community which is called Navjot. In both cases yagyopaveet/janeu or navjot is related to rebirth for knowledge/religion.

In Janeu (yagyopavit) sanskar, three or seven threads put on right upper hand at age 8y (Brahmin), at 11y (kshatriya) and at 12y (Vaishya).

In  Navjot (nav means new and jot means worshipper) (the light of the lamp is called jyot, jot); the child 7-15 put on a sacred shirt called sudre (advantageous path) and a sacred thread called kusti (aiwyaongana) (direction of the path). Kusti is made from 72 threads and tied on the waist.

Except at the time of bathing, a Zoroastrian must always have the sacred shirt and thread on his body. Again, the thread is to be untied and regirded several times: i.e., immediately on leaving bed in the morning, after ablutions and answering the calls of nature, before saying prayers, after bath, before meals.

The Hindus/Brahmin place Janeu on right ear during natural call. Janeu is kept above naval level all the time. To attend or perform any auspicious ceremony, one should wear 'janeu' hanging from the left shoulder (Upaviti). For attending or performing inauspicious event, one should wear 'janeu' hanging from the right shoulder (Prachnaviti). In case the person wears 'janeu' round the neck like a garland, then, he is called as 'Niviti'. While going for daily ablutions or doing impure tasks, the holy thread must be raised and its upper part ought to be put behind ear.Males and females both can wear 'janeu', yet females should wear it around the neck. Following a birth or death in the family, 'janeu' should be removed and again a new thread ought to be worn after 15 days of event. One must replace the old or broken thread with a new thread.

The ceremony in both are more or less the same with pooja samgri (kumkum, rice, flowers, joss stick, etc) and ritual of bath etc, in both the events. As you know Rigveda and Zend Avesta have many common verses.

In short, there is direct relationship between Hindu/Brahmins of India and Parasis of Iran/Persia. Both are the descendants of the sons of Mother Aditi.

Whether Aryans migrated to India from Greater Persia/Bactria or Parasis went to Persia from India can be debated by the historians. But in Gujarat (Iran had trade relation with west coast of India, Gujarat), 1000 Parasis first landed in Diu, then went further south to Sanjan in 660 AD. Later on more came. Muslim Jehad/invasion was extended to India too later. Parsis stood by the then king and fought. Fire during the time was shifted to different places settling finally at Udvada, the final abode for our sanctum sanctorum. They did try to keep all the promises given to the then king and living in India like a sugar merge into the milk. They became Gujarati. They came with Durry language but now Gujarati us their mother tongue. Their Contribution to India is fit to be written in golden letters.

It is interesting to note that the sacred shirt of Parasi is called Sudre. It's weaving is considered sacred and weaving the threads is a privilege of the priest or the women. In India, the threads are weaved by weavers. The thread is sud(t)re, sutra, sutar. Many villages in Gujarat demands thread weaved (sutar) by weavers to tie circumference of the village on Akhatrij (Vaishakh Shukla 3) day for the prosperity of the village. The people who weaved are called, Sudre, the Shudras! What a contrast of sacredness and backwardness!

Mahatma Gandhi weaved the thread to get us independence. Saint Kabir weaved the threads to give us knowledge. And the weavers are weaving the threads to cover our nudity with clothes!

Punamchand
15 January 2016

NB:

1. The word "Paras" may be used for Persian Aryans that converted the iron (ethnic Indian blacks) into Gold, making them cultured or creating a new race of brown population through inter colour marriages! A wild presumption!

2. Rus (people )..Russia and Persis (empire).. Persia, the special people. Russian language carry many Sanskrit words and the same grammar rules. There was some strong link amongst the people of Russia, Persia (Greater Iran) and India. Arabs were nomadic tribes, became first Muslims after the arrival of Prophet Muhammad. And thereafter...

3. There are few parsis in Iran even now, living a life of second class citizens. They can't take up services. They have to do either farming or be self employed. There exists a Dreconian law. If any one of the siblings marries to a Muslim; all the inheritance will got him or her. Others will not get anything.

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