Rites and Practices

Man's first duty on earth is to profess the religion and to practice and worship according to it; not to turn from it, but to have belief in the Good Religion of the Mazda-worshipers ever in mind; to distinguish profit from loss, sin from virtue, goodness from badness, light from darkness, Mazda-worship from daeva-worship.

— The Teachings of the Magi

A great number of ritual practices are performed as part of the Mazdean faith. For pious Mazdeans, their faith is not a set of doctrines or a system of belief, but rather a faith that is lived through its prescribed rites and sets of behavior that shape their lives and endow them with meaning and purpose.

Like all faiths, the level of observance of the rites varies from person to person. Most Mazdeans observe the major rituals and ceremonies of their faith, recite the main prayers and genuinely believe in the tenets of Mazdeanism.

Like the sacraments and other religious rites of other Divine religions, properly performed prayers, ceremonies and rituals have a real spiritual and mystical effect. In Ars Magica, purification rituals really do spiritually cleanse the person who performs them, burial rites allow a person's soul to reach the afterlife, and prayers really do result in miracles.

The recitation of prayers is a major element of all Mazdean rites. There are hundreds of prayers recorded, although three have special prominence and are used most frequently. Their potency and sacredness is so great that they are recorded in every Zoroastrian library and form a part of almost every ritual and religious ceremony. Their recitation is considered one of the most effective prayers to Ohrmazd.

Ahuna Vairya: "Just as God is powerful, so is Zoroaster, because of His power of Asha. The gift of Vohuman is for the person who serves Ohrmazd. Any person who helps the needy shall receive help from Ohrmazd."

Ashem Vohu: "Righteousness is good, it is best. According to our wish it is, according to our wish it shall be. Righteousness belongs to Asha Vahista."

Yenhe Hatam: "We worship those male and female beings whom Ohrmazd knows are best for worship according to righteousness."

The sacred cord of the Mazdeans (called a kusti) is a long woven cord, tied three times around the waist. The cord is central to many of the rituals and symbols of the faith, representing the connection between heaven and earth. All practicing Mazdeans have a kusti.

Videvdat

A major liturgical service of the mobeds, the Videvdat is performed in the fire temple by qualified priests. It takes place between midnight and dawn, with recitations from the Yasna, the Visparad, and the Videvdat (see Mazdean Scriptures, later) to invoke divine spirits and ward off demons. Offerings are made to Ohrmazd and the Ameshaspand to coincide with sunrise.

Purity Rites

The ritual link between purity and impurity symbolizes each Mazdean's personal participation in the cosmic war against evil. The purification ritual practices and symbolic gestures of Mazdeanism symbolize this struggle on a daily basis.

There are three categories of purification rituals. The most important is the Bareshnum, which is undertaken by each Mazdean at least once in their life. The second comprises three rituals observed on specific occasions: Padyab, Nahn and Riman. The final type of ritual includes various ritual actions to ensure continuous purification, both personal and communal.

All of the purification rituals (excluding padyab and the daily rituals) drive away any possessing spirit, infernal or otherwise and cancel any non-permanent, non-Divine supernatural effects.

Bareshnum

This rite is required for all candidates for the priesthood, but its function is to regain and maintain ritual purity. It also aids the soul's journey to heaven, and is often performed when someone is about to die.

The ritual itself consists of three ceremonial baths performed with the aid of two priests at a fire temple over a ten-day period; a total of 18 applications of consecrated bull urine (nirangdin), sand, and water; the presence of a dog 13 times; and the recitation of various prayers. The candidate similarly meditates, prays, and observes ritual acts during the ten days.

The ritual does not work if any of the ingredients used are contaminated during the ritual's performance, if any impurity enters the fire temple, it rains during the ceremony, or if the candidate dies before the end of the ceremony.

In addition to the purifying effect described earlier, the subject of this ritual also gains a Faith Point, although he only gains it once (the first time), even if the rite is performed again on subsequent occasions.

Padyab

A simple ablution ritual performed several times a day: in the morning after rising, after answering calls of nature, before taking meals, and before saying prayers. The rite consists of a short prayer formula, the washing of the face and exposed parts of the body (generally hands and feet), and the untying and re-tying of the sacred cord.

Nahn

A sacred bath purification requiring the services of a mobed, it can be conducted either at home or in a fire temple. It is only performed during the day, and

is observed during the Navjote ceremony, marriage, forty days after childbirth, and on any one day during the Farvardegan holiday marking the end of the Mazdean year. The ceremony involves chewing a sacred pomegranate leaf, drinking a few drops of consecrated bull urine, reciting of the Repentance Prayer, applying unconsecrated bull urine (gomes) over the body from the head down, performing the sacred bath, and dressing in a new set of clothes. A longer, more complex purification ritual similar to this is administered to those who are particularly impure — this is called the Si-Shuy Nahn.

Riman

This purification ritual requires two attendants (one of whom must be a priest), and is only performed on those who have come into contact with corpses in the course of ministering to the dead. It involves chewing pomegranate leaves, drinking consecrated bull urine, and ritually washing. The two attendants must also purify themselves. If the subject is a woman, she performs the ritual behind a partition.

Daily Rites

When a Mazdean comes into contact with substances considered impure, he or she is rendered ritually impure. Impure substances include hair, skin, nails, blood, saliva, urine, feces, semen, and menstrual blood when they leave or are separated from the body. Carrion, rotting flesh, or plant matter, and foul-smelling air are also considered impure. There are thus specific rituals to be performed when cutting hair and nails, sneezing and yawning, urinating and excreting, as well as after sex (the act of which is not impure or sinful in itself, although the resulting excretions are). There are purification acts for purifying utensils, tools, furniture, and rooms.

The Yasna

The Yasna ("sacrifice") is the most important ritual for Mazdeans, and is performed daily each morning by priests in the fire temple. Performing the Yasna is considered a key weapon in the struggle against evil. This ritual is a priestly function and requires no witnesses or lay participants.

It takes about two and a half hours, and is performed by two priests in a special area in the fire temple called the pawi. The Yasna establishes a connection between the spiritual (menog) and material (getig) worlds, inviting the tangible presence of Ohrmazd and the Ameshaspand to the fire temple.

During the ceremony, Ohrmazd and his angels are reverently invoked, and the 72 chapters of the Yasna are recited as the priests walk symbolically around the pawi. At the end of the ceremony, consecrated haoma is poured onto the floor as an offering to the Wise Lord. The remaining libation and bread is consumed by the priests and other attending worshipers. This consumption mystically links the attendants of the ceremony with the divine forces present.

Once the ritual is complete, the Dominion Aura around the holy fire increases by three points (but not beyond eight), decreasing by one point every five paces from the fire until returning to normal; this effect lasts for only an hour. The priests who perform the ritual and attendant worshipers gain a Faith Point. Worshipers in a state of sin do not get this benefit, and if any of the priests are impure during the ritual, there is no benefit.

There are four ceremonies that coincide with significant times in a Mazdean's life. There are prayers, purification rituals and devotions coinciding with birth, initiation of a child into the community, marriage, and, finally, burial.

Birth

Before birth, at the fifth and seventh months, a sacred lamp is lit to ward off demons that may seek to harm unborn babies. Forty days after the birth of the child, the mother is given a purifying bath (the Nahn). A child is taken to the fire temple on his or her first birthday and has ashes from the sacred fire applied to his or her forehead.

The lamps lit in this ceremony increase the Dominion aura in the room the lamp is in, by one point (up to a maximum rating of 3; there is no effect if there is no base Dominion aura, or if the Dominion is already at level 3 or higher).

Initiation

This ritual, called the Navjote, makes a child, aged 12 to 15, responsible for honoring Mazdean religious observances. The child receives his or her sacred cord (kusti) and sacred white shirt (sedra), takes purifying baths, and makes the declaration of the articles of faith (fravarane): "I profess myself a Mazdean, a follower of Zoroaster, opposing the demons, accepting the doctrine of Ahura, one who praises the beneficent immortals, who worships the beneficent immortals. I accredit all good things, those that are indeed the best, to Ohrmazd the good."

A character who undergoes the Navjote receives a Faith Point, which can be used as normal. It is lost if the character performs a significant sin. Additionally, the rites performed in this ceremony have the effect of rendering the child's name unusable as a True Name for supernatural activities, in the same way that baptism does.

Marriage

The ceremony of marriage is an important religious occasion, involving the bride and groom taking purifying baths, with the ceremony itself happening just after sunset. A procession of priests, officials, the bridegroom, and his family (and sometimes musicians) enters the bride's home; the bridegroom stays outside, where his head is marked in red. After this, he enters and sits before the priest. The bride enters some time later and sits next to the bridegroom, with a cloth hanging between them. Prayers are said, vows are exchanged, and benedictions are made. A sacred fire and candle are present throughout. At the end of the ceremony, there is typically a feast.

The marriage ceremony grants both bride and groom a Faith Point that may be used to strengthen their resolve in the face of adversity or temptation.

Festival: Maidhyoi-shema

			Purpose: Midsummer
Day	Divine being	Area of responsibility	Related Ameshaspand: Haurvatat
1	Dadvah Ohrmazd	Creator, God	Related Creation: Water
2	Vohu Mana	Good Purpose	Dates: 26 – 30 Apr. (S), 26 – 30 May (F)
3	Asha Vahishta	Best Truth
4	Khshathra Vairya	Desirable Dominion	Festival: Paitishahya
5	Spenta Armaiti	Holy Devotion	Purpose: Bringing in Corn
6	Haurvatat	Wholeness	Related Ameshaspand: Spenta Armaiti
7	Ameretat	Immortality	Related Creation: Earth
8	Dadvah Ahura Mazda	Creator-by-Adar	Dates: 24 – 28 Jul. (S), 23 – 27 Aug. (F)
9	Atar	Fire
10	Apo	Waters	Festival: Ayathrima
11	Hvar khshaeta	Shining Sun	Purpose: Homecoming of the Herds
12	Mah	Moon	Related Ameshaspand: Ameretat
13	Tishtrya	Dog star (Mercury)	Related Creation: Plants
14	Geush Urvan	Ox-soul	Dates: 23 – 27 Aug. (S), 22 – 26 Sep. (F)
15	Dadvah Ohrmazd	Creator-by-Mihr
16	Mithra	Loyalty	Festival: Maidhyairya
17	Sraosha	Hearkening	Purpose: Midwinter
18	Rashnu	The Judge	Related Ameshaspand: Vohu Manah
19	Fravashayo	All Souls	Related Creation: Cattle
20	Verethraghna	Victory	Dates: 23 – 27 Oct. (S), 22 – 26 Nov. (F)
21	Raman	Peace
22	Vata	Wind	Festival: Hamaspath-maedaya
23	Dadvah Ohrmazd	Creator-by-Din	Purpose: All Souls
24	Daena	Religion	Related Ameshaspand: Spenta Mainyu, Ohrmazd
25	Ashi	Recompense	Related Creation: Man
26	Arshtat	Justice	Dates: 25 Jan. 1221 (S), 24 Feb. 1221 (F)
27	Asman	Sky
28	Zam	Earth	Festival: No Roz
29	Manthra Spenta	Holy Word	Purpose: New Day
30	Anagra Raocha	Endless Light	Related Ameshaspand: Asha Vahishta
			Related Creation: Fire

Holy Festivals

Although each day is holy, there are seven special holy festivals in the Zoroastrian calendar, dedicated to each Ameshaspand. Each festival goes for five days. The seventh festival, known as No Roz ("New Day") is the greatest holy festival of the Mazdean calendar, prefiguring the final "New Day" of eternal bliss. Note that the festival dates, although associated with seasons, have drifted significantly from their original dates. The dates are given in Imperial (S) and Ancient (F).

Festival: Maidhyoi-zaremaya Purpose: Mid-spring

Related Ameshaspand: Khshathra Vairya

Related Creation: Sky

Dates: 26 Feb. – 2 Mar. (S), 27 – 31 Mar. (F)

The Twelve Months (in 1220)

Dates: 27 Jan. 1220 (S), 26 Feb. 1220 (F)

Month	Divine Being C	orresponding Month
1	Farvadin	January/February
2	Ardvahisht	February/March
3	Hordad	March/April
4	Tir	April/May
5	Amurdad	May/June
6	Shahrevar	June/July
7	Mihr	July/August
8	Avan	August/September
9	Adar	September/October
10	Dai	October/November
11	Vahman	November/December
12	Spendarmad	December/January

Haoma (hom) is a sacred plant used to make an intoxicating drink. The drink is made by pounding the leaves and stems of the plant. The plant is so sacred that it has its own powerful yazata to protect and nurture it. When prepared according to sacred principles it increases health and fertility, and can even aid in the pursuit of immortality. Haoma is especially important for many Mazdean purification rituals, prayers, and invocations.

When used in alchemical and herbal potions and brews, haoma grants a +3 bonus for effects that promote health or fertility and for effects that allow the consumer to see invisible, spiritual beings. When used in effects promoting longevity, it grants the character a +5 bonus.

Consumed without mystical preparation, but properly fermented, haoma has mild hallucinogenic effects (temporarily granting the Visions Flaw), increases arousal, and increases strength (character gain a +1 bonus to acts of strength). The effects last between one and three hours.

Burial

The ceremonies of death and burial are the most difficult, especially for those Mazdeans in Muslim lands, where they are forced to comply with local laws and customs. Traditionally, the corpse is ritually washed and dressed. A dog is presented, so it gazes at the corpse, both to ensure the person is really dead, and to ward off evil spirits (this ritual is called sagdid, "dogsight"). The Ahuna Vairya prayer is recited by priests, and then the body is taken to the funerary tower (dakhma, "Tower of Silence"), a massive tower-like building exposed to the sun and flesh-eating birds. The bones of the dead are left to dry, and then thrown into a deep well filled with lime and phosphorus.

The soul of a Mazdean buried according to this way (or any Divine ritual) can never be affected by any form of magic. This puts it beyond the reach of Hermetic and other forms of magic.

The Zoroastrian calendar has a year of twelve months with thirty days each, with an extra five days inserted after the eighth month in Persia, or at the end of the year elsewhere. There is no seven-day week for the followers of Zoroaster. Each day is dedicated to a divine being, to whom the faithful should dedicate their good actions and thoughts on that day. Each month is also dedicated to a divine being. Consequently, once a month, the day and month have the same name, which is the cause for special reverence. The ninth day of the month, sacred to fire, is favored in any month for visits to the fire temple, but especially so during the ninth month (also sacred to fire).

There has been periodic reform of the calendar to stabilize the months in relation to the seasons, but over the decades and centuries the dates have drifted to become out of sync with the seasons (with no leap year, the day drifts by one day ever four years). This has resulted in different Mazdean communities using different calendars — the Shenshai ("Imperial") and Fasli ("Ancient") — so that they hold their holy days at different times.

During the five days of the holy festivals, the Dominion Aura radiating from the fire temples takes on a nature abhorrent to the forces of Ahriman. Any creature with Infernal Might that seeks to enter the Aura is unable to do so if their Might Score is less than the Dominion Aura x10. Should they succeed in entering the Aura, they suffer an amount of damage per hour equal to the Dominion Aura rating (which can be Soaked as normal). On the final day of each holy festival, the damage inflicted on Infernal beings cannot be Soaked.

Zoroastrianism emphasizes its oral traditions and all priests learn the scriptures by heart. The words of Zoroaster were written down over his lifetime to form the Avesta. There are many books making up the Avesta, many of which have been lost, destroyed or pillaged following the Muslim conquest of the Sasanid Empire. While some fire temples may possess copies of parts — even large parts — the chief role of the priesthood is to act as living scriptures, memorizing every word and prayer.

Avesta

The Avesta contains the hymns, formulas, laws and stories of the Mazdean faith. There are two main parts to the Avesta. The Avesta is also written in multiple languages, Avestan and "Gathic," a liturgical language for prayers. The Ability Dead Language: Avestan grants knowledge in both. There are translations into Parsi (and other languages, like Latin, Arabic, and Greek), although they are not considered holy.

The Yasna

The Yasna is the chief liturgy of the Mazdeans. "Yasna" literally means "sacrifice", and includes confessions, rituals, prayers, exhortations, praise, and worship of Ohrmazd. The Yasna is formed from six Gathas (hymns), and has a total of 72 chapters. Five of the six Gathas are considered to be the direct word of Zoroaster himself. The sixth was written by his disciples. (Summa, Theology: Zoroastrian, Quality 4, Level 9.)

The Visparad

The shorter liturgy, the Visparad ("to all the lords") is 23 chapters of invocations, praise, and hymns to Ohrmazd, the yazdan, and the other powerful divine beings, and also includes the seasonal festivals (gahambars). (Summa, Dominion Lore, Quality 3, Level 4.)

The Videvdat

The Videvdat (Vendidad, "law abjuring demons") has 22 sections containing the religious, civil, criminal, and purification laws of Mazdeanism. It also details the life of Zoroaster and the origins of medicine (medicine by knife, herbs, and sacred rites). (Summa, Theology: Zoroastrian, Quality 6, Level 6.)

The Khordeh Avesta

Often combined with the Yasht (see later), the Khordeh Avesta ("Little Avesta") is for use by priests and lay folk in private devotion. It is a summary of the Avesta, containing prayers, invocations, and blessings. (Tractatus, Theology: Zoroastrian, Quality 6)

The Yasht

The Yasht ("worship") is a collection of 22 hymns and prayers invoking yazdan and angels. Each prayer invokes only a single being, such as Ohrmazd, each of the Ameshaspand, and the sun, moon, stars, Mithra, and Sroasha respectively. (Tractatus, Theology: Zoroastrian, Quality 6)