Yes, I've studied Prophet Mani.
Mazdaism or Mazdiyasniism is what the world knows as Zoroastrianism.
We are the Mazdiyasni Zarathushtrish in our own Avestan tongue.
Cheers, Doc
@jamahir your question about the Dadgah.
This was the only one possible and allowed (after much debate .... over 8 years .... between the community worldwide and our high priests, including the Vada Dasturji - our Pope) for the purpose of a common community cum prayer religious and social area for born Zarthostis and those of mixed parentage ... even the rule of a single Zarthoshti parent has been relaxed for those who are genuinely interested but not of Zoroastrian lineage.
Look at it as somewhat of a Zoroastrian ISKON movement using the Indian Hindu analogy for non-born Hindus ....
Such are already present in Iran originally, and the US, Europe, and now northern Iraq. We even have some in the CAR -stans. All Zoroastrian people. Many reverting. Or nominal Muslims but cultural Zoroastrians, and wanting a place to worship. Religious libraries. Learn more about the religion and its customs. Prayers. As well as buy typical Zoroastrian stuff that is usually not available anywhere else (these shops typically are always found in fire temple compounds or just outside).
Today, there are three grades of fires:
• Atash Bahram (or Atash Behram),
• Atash Adaran, and
• Atash Dadgah.
The three grades of fires have given rise to three principle (and somewhat arbitrary) grades of temples:
• Atash Bahram (or Atash Behram),
• Agiary (in India) or Atashkadeh (in Iran), and
• Darbe Meher/Dar-e-Mehr.
An Atash Bahram and an Agiary (also spelt Agiari) or Atashkadeh have an inner sanctum where the fire is maintained and where ceremonies of the inner circle are conducted. This rectangular sanctuary, demarcated by furrows, is called the
pavi. Only ritually purified priests can enter the pavi. The afringan or fire urn, is placed on an elevated marble platform at the south end of the pavi. Towards the north end of the pavi is the ritual instrument table, or alat-khwan.
An Atash Adaran or fire of fires, is the second grade of fire and is generally housed in an Agiari (also spelt Agiary, Agyari, Agiyari - India, Gujerati) or Atashkadeh (Iran, Farsi), both meaning a house of fire.
Agiaries and Atashkadeh do not require a high priest and can be attended by Mobeds.
The fire is built from the hearth fires of representatives from four professions: the asronih (priests), the (r)atheshtarih (soldiers and civil servants), the vastaryoshih (farmers and herdsmen) and the hutokshih (artisans and labourers). The consecration of the Adaran fire requires eight priests and can take between two and three weeks. With some Agiaries, the priest maintains a consecrated fire at home, brings the fire to the Agiary when required, and later takes it back home.
The Atash Dadgah, the court fire, is the third grade of fire. Dadgah means court in Persian. For an explanation of the development of this grade, see Dadgah - Courts above. The grade came to include home and heart fires. Today, the Atash Dadgah refers to any fire used in worship that is not consecrated. This grade of fire does not require a priest in attendance and can be attended to by the laity.
For the pragmatic, consecrating the Atash Dadgah is optional. For the orthodox, every fire used in worship is consecrated. If preferred, the fire can be consecrated within the course of a few hours by two priests who take turns reciting the 72 verses of the Yasna (a book of the the Zoroastrian scriptures - the Avesta). Consecration may also include the readings from the Vendidad.
Dar-e-Mehr or Darbe Mehr means the door of kindness and love. The name was used by Fasli Zoroastrians for their temple and by the Iranian Zoroastrians for the Tehran fire temple. The name by itself does not imply the grade of fire used within. However, because it is the name given to the Zoroastrian places of worship financed by an endowment from Arbab Rustam Guiv, and because the fires in these Darbe Mehrs were not necessarily consecrated or attended to by priests, the name Darbe Mehr is frequently associated with the Atash Dadgah grade of fire.
Source:
https://www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/temples/agiary.htm
This is a Priest lighting an Atash Dadgah (such fires are also used for house Jashan ceremonies and rituals, like a new office or home). With the Chasni and Malido (like prasad) given to the family members after the prayers are over. Mainly fruits (apple, pomegranate, mausambi, banana) and a halwa with sweet oil rotli.
Cheers, Doc
3. So inter-religion marriage is being accepted more and more ??
These sort of places and movements are specifically targeting mixed faith/race families. So that they have a Zoroastrian place which accepts them, which is the next best thing to a Fire Temple and a consecrated Atash.
It is quite heart rending to see non Parsis stand outside Fire Temples while their Parsi relatives go in to pray.
I remember my wife and I coming out of the fire temple after the Uthamna evening prayers of a very loved Irani gentleman of Poona.
His son and grand-kids had gone inside the fire temple to pray for him, as had his bereaved wife, but his non-Parsi daughter-in-law (who was really close to him) was standing outside in the compound, in tears.
A lot of my fundamentalist conservatism and orthodox traditionalism about this aspect of our ancient faith went out of me that day. Forever.
There are tens of thousands of people in India today who are cultural Zoroastrians in their heart. But have never been inside a fire temple. They keep that pain inside their hearts so as not to offend those they love.
They pray at home. In front of a photo frame and an oil divo. They wear the Asho Farohar around their neck. But they cannot wear the Sudreh and Kusti. But they are as Zoroastrian in their heart as I am.
This is for them. And this is being replicated around the world.
@ranjeet @third eye @lastofthepatriots @I.R.A
Cheers, Doc