JASA ME AVANGHE MAZDA

is43 the praise46 of the religion44 of Mazda-worship.45

Explanation: Some essential features of the Mazda-worshipping Religion are noticed from the above passage. Besides this, many other excellent features of this pure religion we find in Vendidad, Yazishna and Vispered as well. In the Vendidad fargard V paras 22-24 it is stated that just as the sea Vouru-Kasha is greatest of all other seas and just as the great tree overshadows other small plants and just as the sky encompasses the entire earth around, in the same way Zoroastrian Religion in its greatness, goodness and excellence, covers all other religions. See Yasna Hā 44, stanza 10.

BĀZ (PRAYER) FOR SAYING GRACE

xBa nāme yazade,1 bakhshāyandeh2 bakhshāyeshgare3 meherbān4 Hormazd5 Khodāy6 ithā7 āt8 Yazamaide9 Ahurem10 Mazdām10, ye11 gāmchā12 ashemchā13 dāt14 apaschā15 dāt16 urvarāoschā17 vanguhīsh,18 raochāoschā19 dāt20 būmīmchā,21 vīspāchā22 vohū23 Ashem Vohū 3.

(After reciting the above prayer the person eats the meals, thanking the Almighty God for all good things and after washing hand and mouth, he prays as follows):-

Ashem Vohū 4. Yathā Ahū Vairyō 2, Ashem Vohū 1. Ahmāi Raēshcha, Hazangrem, Jasa me Avanghe Mazda, Kerfeh mozd.

Translation: In the Name of God1 and with His help (I begin to recite this prayer) (who is) the Lord6 Hormazd5 the bestower of all good things,2

the forgiver of sins3 and loving.4 Thus here8 we revere9 Ahura Mazda10 who11

created the animals12 and ygrain,13 who created16 water15 and good18 vegetation17 who created20 lights19 (of the sky) and the earth21 and all (other) good things (over and above these).

BĀZ TO BE RECITED BEFORE PASSING URINE AND

ANSWERING THE CALL OF NATURE

(The person standing three paces from the place of the toilet recites the sentence as below:)

zGuneh1 Shekasteh2 Sad hazār-bār.3 Yathā Ahū Vairyō 1.

x The portion of this Bāz for saying Grace from the beginning up to Ahura Mazda Khodāe is in Pazend language and the portion from “ithā āt yazamaide” up to “Vīspāchā vohu” is taken from yasna Hā 37. para 1.

y The original meaning of ashem is equivalent to Persian ārd i.e. flour, powder. In such a meaning this word occurs in Vendidad Fargard V as regards the treatment of a woman who has been delivered of a still-born child.

z In the Persian Rivayets of Darab Hormazdyār these Persian words “gunesh shekasteh sad hazār bār” is not written for recital; but in it is mentioned to recite only one Yathā ahū Vairyō instead, whilst passing urine or answering the call of nature.