| Nine colours of Navratri : Navratri, meaning "nine nights" in Sanskrit, is a vibrant and culturally rich Hindu festival celebrated throughout India. While this festival is celebrated four times a year, the Shardiya Navratri is the most popular, celebrated in the month of Ashwin (September-October) as per the Hindu lunar calendar. In 2023, the Shardiya Navratri commences on October 15 and culminates with Vijaya Dashami or Dussehra on October 24. During these nine days, devout Hindus pay homage to Goddess Durga, seeking her blessings for prosperity, happiness, and protection from evil. The festival holds a unique charm with each day associated with a specific color, adding to the festive spirit and joy of Navratri. Here, we unveil the 9 splendid festive colors for Navratri 2023. Pratipada - Shailaputri in vibrant orange. On the auspicious occasion of the first day of Navratri, known as Pratipada, devotees gather to pay homage to Goddess Shailaputri, often referred to as the "daughter of the mountains." This form of the divine embodies nature and purity. She is typically depicted riding a bull, radiating strength and grace. To honor Shailaputri, vibrant orange is the chosen color for this day, symbolizing energy, enthusiasm, and new beginnings. It's the color of the rising sun, signifying the dawn of a new chapter and the promise of a bright future. Wearing orange on this day is believed to invoke the blessings of Shailaputri, filling one's life with courage, vitality, and boundless joy. Dwitiya - Brahmacharini in peaceful white. The second day of Navratri, known as Dwitiya, is dedicated to Goddess Brahmacharini, the embodiment of wisdom and knowledge. She is the epitome of peaceful devotion and spiritual awakening. In her tranquil, white attire, she carries beads and a water pot, signifying her commitment to austerity. White symbolizes purity and peace, as well as the pursuit of knowledge and intellectual enlightenment. By wearing white on this day, devotees invite the blessings of Brahmacharini into their lives, promoting clarity of thought, calmness, and unwavering devotion to the divine. Tritiya - Chandraghanta in fiery red. As the third day of Navratri, Tritiya celebrates Goddess Chandraghanta, a symbol of beauty and bravery. This fierce and valiant form of the goddess is often depicted riding a majestic tiger. She radiates confidence and power, making her a force to be reckoned with. To honor Chandraghanta, devotees adorn themselves in fiery red attire. Red is the color of passion, love, and courage. It signifies the intensity of life and the warmth of the heart. Wearing red on this day is a tribute to Chandraghanta, invoking her blessings for unwavering courage, confidence, and an irresistible charisma that leaves an indelible mark. Chaturthi - Regal blue for Goddess Kushmanda. Chaturthi, the fourth day of Navratri, is dedicated to Goddess Kushmanda, the creator of the universe. She is the source of all creation, radiating strength and grace. In her depiction, she is often seen riding a lion, a symbol of her ferocity and valor. To honor Kushmanda, the color of choice is regal blue. This majestic hue symbolizes dignity, abundance, and creative energy. It represents the vast expanse of the sky and the endless opportunities that life holds. By donning royal blue attire, devotees seek the blessings of Kushmanda, inviting joy, creativity, and a life filled with abundance. Panchami - Sunshine yellow with Skandamata. The fifth day of Navratri, Panchami, is dedicated to Goddess Skandamata, the mother of Lord Kartikeya, who is often portrayed seated on a lion. Skandamata signifies motherhood and compassion. To honor her, devotees don the vibrant and cheerful color of sunshine yellow. Yellow is associated with happiness, optimism, and the warmth of the sun. It symbolizes the bright and joyful aspects of life, filling one's heart with hope and positivity. Wearing yellow on this day is an invitation to the blessings of Skandamata, ushering in joy, prosperity, and a harmonious existence. Shashthi - Katyayani's green aura. Shashthi, the sixth day of Navratri, is a day dedicated to Goddess Katyayani, a symbol of courage and victory. She rides a lion and radiates a sense of power and bravery. To honor Katyayani, devotees adorn themselves in the soothing and refreshing hue of green. Green symbolizes growth, balance, and the bountiful qualities of nature. It's a color that reflects fertility and the well-being of the earth. By wearing green on this day, one seeks the blessings of Katyayani, fostering courage, success, and robust health in all aspects of life. Saptami - Kalaratri's mysterious grey. The seventh day of Navratri, known as Saptami, is dedicated to Goddess Kalaratri, a fierce form representing destruction and liberation. In her depiction, she is often seen riding a donkey, a symbol of her fearless nature. Kalaratri is known for her strength and power, and she is the remover of obstacles. To honor her, devotees choose the color grey. Grey is a mysterious color that signifies subtlety and the enigmatic aspects of life. It represents the vastness of the cosmos and the strength to confront challenges head-on. Wearing grey on this day is believed to invoke the blessings of Kalaratri, providing protection, the ability to let go, and a transformation of one's life. Ashtami - Mahagauri's elegance in purple. Ashtami, the eighth day of Navratri, is dedicated to Goddess Mahagauri, the embodiment of beauty and grace. She is depicted riding a bull, symbolizing her calm and composed nature. To honor Mahagauri, devotees opt for the rich and opulent shade of purple. Purple is a color often associated with luxury, grandeur, and nobility. It signifies regal elegance and the pursuit of a life filled with abundance. By donning purple attire, one seeks the blessings of Mahagauri, inviting opulence, richness, and a life characterized by grandeur. Navami - Siddhidatri in majestic peacock green. The ninth and final day of Navratri, Navami, is dedicated to Goddess Siddhidatri, the bestower of supernatural powers or siddhis. She is the source of perfection and fulfillment, often depicted riding on a lotus or a lion. To honor Siddhidatri, devotees choose the majestic peacock green, a color that signifies richness, diversity, and the splendor of the natural world. It symbolizes the beauty of nature and its majesty, reflecting the vibrancy of life. Wearing peacock green on this day is an invitation to Siddhidatri's blessings, ushering in perfection, fulfillment, and enlightenment in one's life. Samudra Manthan or the churning of the ocean is one unique occasion when the Devas and their arch-nemesis, the Asuras, unite for an important reason. The churning of the ocean was a result of a curse by Sage Durvasa. Once, he offered a garland to Indra, the king of Devas. Indra accepted the garland and showed his happiness, putting the garland on his elephant, Airavata, as an ornament. Airavata, irritated by the scent of the garland, picked it with his trunk and threw it on the ground. Durvasa was furious and cursed Indra and the devas to lose their kingdom, power, and glory. Airavat : As a result, Indra’s mighty vahana instantly went into oblivion. Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, could no longer stay in the same realm as the Devas, and parted ways with her consort, Vishnu. She made the depths of Kshir Sagar her new home. Due to Lakshmi’s absence in Devlok, the devas lost all their riches. The luminous Chandra, adorning Shiva’s matted hair, disappeared too. Robbed of their power, the devas were soon defeated by the asuras in battle. The defeated devas approached Lord Vishnu for a solution, who advised them to churn Kshir Sagar, to obtain Amrit. Amrit or the elixir of immortality would help the devas regain their powers. The Asuras willingly offered to assist their half-brothers since they too wanted immortality and invincible powers by consuming Amrit. Mount Mandara was used to churn the ocean, which was kept afloat in the ocean by Kurma, Vishnu’s turtle avatar. The Naga king, Vasuki, who Shiva wears as a garland, became the churning rope. Several precious items, ratnas, emerged from the cosmic ocean which were distributed amongst the Devas, the Asuras and the Sages. Halahala:- The Halahala was a deadly poison that had the potential to destroy all beings in the three realms. None amongst the armies of asuras and devas stepped in to stop the poison from spreading into the universe as they feared the poison would destroy them too. Lord Shiva descended from Mount Kailash to consume the poison. Goddess Parvati, Shiva’s consort, used her powers to stop the Halahal in Shiva’s throat, and as a result, his throat turned blue. Thus he came to be called Neelkanth. Airavata Airavata, the king of elephants, was a white coloured winged being with six trunks and six pairs of tusks. He said to dig his trunk deep into the ground and reach water which is inaccessible to humans. He uses his trunk to spray the water in the form of monsoon showers. After appearing from the cosmic ocean, Airavata chose to serve his master Indra, who was delighted to reunite with his loyal vahana. Uchhaisravas Often considered as the king of the horses, the seven-headed, snow-white horse, was one of the three animals that appeared during the Samudra Manthan. The magnificent steed was taken by Indra. Eventually, Uchhaisravas came into the hands of King Mahabali, the asura king, who ruled over the three worlds. Once Goddess Lakshmi was spellbound by the beauty of Uchhaisravas and forgot to pay attention to her consort, Vishnu. This infuriated him and he cursed Lakshmi to be born as a mare. The colour of Uchhaisravas’ tail once became a topic of debate for two sisters, Kadru and Vinata. The sisters studied the horse from a distance and Vinata declared that the horse’s tail was white, while Kadru insisted that the tail was black. The sisters decided to come back and see the horse the next day. Whoever of the two had guessed the wrong colour, would have to become the slave of the other. Kadru won the bet by treachery as she commanded her sons, the Nagas, to cover the tail of the horse. Thus Vinata ended up becoming Kadru’s slave. Kamdhenu: Kamdhenu was one of the precious ratnas obtained from the cosmic ocean and is considered to be the mother of all cattle. Kamdhenu is depicted with the face of a woman, the body of a cow with a pair of wings and the tail of a peacock. She was given to the Saptrishis as she provided them with ample milk. The milk was used to prepare curd and ghee which were regularly required for their sacred rituals. According to the Mahabharata, Kamdhenu was in the possession of one of the Saptrishis, Jamadagni. The sage invited King Kartavirya Arjuna to a feast. The greedy king learnt about the resourcefulness of Kamdhenu and forcefully took Kamdhenu and her calf away from the sage. The sage’s son, Parshurama, the sixth avatar or incarnation of Vishnu, single-handedly defeated the king and his army, successfully retrieving the sacred cow and her calf. Apsaras Apsaras are female heavenly spirits of Devaloka or the home of the gods. They are associated with music and dance. After appearing from the cosmic ocean, they chose Gandharvas as their companions. The Gandharvas served as musicians in Indra’s court. Indra, who was constantly insecure about his throne, often commanded the enchanting apsaras to distract sages or asuras from their tapasya to achieve his own ends. Parijat From the depths of the ocean, sprung a divine flowering tree called the Parijat. The flowers of the tree were white, with a tinge of orange at the stalk. Indra decided to keep the beautiful flowering tree with the enchanting fragrance for himself and planted the tree in his garden in Devaloka. Yugas later, Krishna and Indra duelled over the tree as Krishna wanted to bring the tree bearing the scented flowers to Prithvilok for his wives Satyabhama and Rukmini. Eventually, Krishna defeated Indra, and took the tree. The tree has a special significance in Hinduism, as it is forbidden to pluck its flowers and only the fallen flowers can be used to worship deities. Vishnu’s Sharanga bow, Panchajanya Conch, and Kaustubh Mani : The Sharanga bow was one of the two divine bows crafted by Vishwakarma, the architect of the gods. Vishnu used the bow in his Parshurama, Rama and Krishna avatars. Before returning back to his holy abode, Vishnu, in the form of Krishna, left the bow in the possession of Varuna, the god of oceans. In ancient times the sound of the conch signified the beginning of a war. Vishnu’s conch, Panchajanya is a symbolic way of portraying his role as the preserver of the universe. God steps into battlefields again and again, in different avatars to save humanity. Kaustubh Mani is a sacred precious gemstone that is embedded in the necklace worn by Vishnu. The gemstone is said to be as beautiful as an exotic lotus and as radiant as the sun. Chandra The moon God Chandra appeared as one of the precious ratnas and took refuge in the matted hair of Shiva. His father-in-law, Prajapati Daksha once cursed him for not being a good husband to his daughters. Due to the curse, Chandra lost his powers and his body started withering. After extensive prayers, Shiva came to the deity’s rescue and wore him as an ornament in his hair to neutralize the curse. However, Chandra still waxes and wanes as a result of that curse. Lakshmi: Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, prosperity and fortune. She is one of the three supreme goddesses, with Saraswati and Parvati. She emerged from the cosmic ocean draped in her red and gold saree while seated on a grand lotus with smaller lotuses in her hands. After a long time of separation, the goddess was finally reunited with her consort, Lord Vishnu. Her return brought back the riches of the devas, giving Devaloka its earlier splendour. The arrival of Lakshmi was followed by her counterpart and elder sister, Alakshmi, who had unkempt hair and was draped in a single white cloth. She is the goddess of misfortune, poverty and misery and is said to visit houses filled with ego, pride, selfishness, and envy. Unlike her sister Lakshmi, who likes sweet food, Alakshmi has an appetite for hot, sour and pungent food. So, many Hindu households often hang lemon and chillies at their doorstep to satisfy the appetite of the goddess of misfortune. Dhanvantri:- Dhanvantri, the physician of the gods, appeared from the turbulent ocean carrying the pot of Amrita. Dhanvantri was responsible for teaching the ancient knowledge of medical science, Ayurveda, to mortals. Brahma created Ayurveda, before he created mankind, but the vast knowledge of medical science was difficult for mortals to understand. So, Dhanvantri split the original text into eight divisions and taught his disciples. Amrita: As soon as Dhanvantri appeared with the pot of Amrit, the Asuras snatched the pot and planned to consume the entire pot of elixir. Vishnu devised a plan and took the form of an enchanting woman, Mohini. Mohini used her charm to lure the asuras out of hiding and used the opportunity to take the pot back to the Devas. While the devas were consuming the elixir to regain their divine strength back, one of the asuras, Rahuketu disguised himself as a deva to taste the Amrit. However, he was discovered just as he was pouring the liquid into his mouth. Vishnu instantly hurled the Sudarshan Chakra and beheaded Rahuketu but the amrita had already reached the asura’s throat. Rahuketu’s head and body were flung on opposite sides of the universe and became Rahu and Ketu. Mahalaya Amavasya 2023: Mahalaya holds great religious and spiritual significance in Hindu culture, particularly as a day dedicated to honoring one's ancestors and forefathers. This occasion is also referred to as Sarvapitri Amavasya, Pitra Moksha Amavasya, or Pitru Amavasya. It marks the conclusion of the 15-day-long Shraddha rituals and is set to be observed on October 14, 2023, falling on the Amavasya Tithi during the Ashwina Month. Date and Time for Mahalaya Amavasya 2023: Amavasya Tithi Begins - October 13, 2023, at 09:50 PM Amavasya Tithi Ends - October 14, 2023, at 11:24 PM Kutup Muhurat - October 14, 2023, from 11:09 AM to 11:56 AM Rohina Muhurat - October 14, 2023, from 11:56 AM to 12:43 PM Aparahna Kaal - October 14, 2023, from 12:43 PM to 03:04 PM Significance of Mahalaya Amavasya: Mahalaya Amavasya holds immense religious importance within Hinduism. It is a day when people offer prayers to their ancestors, also known as Pitru. Various rituals are performed during the Pitru Paksha period for the well-being and prosperity of one's forebears. It is believed that by conducting Pitru Tarpan and Pind Daan on the final day of Pitru Paksha, ancestors attain salvation and are freed from the cycle of birth and death. Hindu scriptures mention that if an individual is unable to perform Shradha for their ancestors during the first 15 days or forgets the date of a death anniversary, then they can perform 'tarpan' on the day of 'Sarvapitra Moksha Amavasya.' This is the day when all ancestors return to their realm, known as Pitru Loka. If these rituals are not conducted, the ancestors return unhappily and may curse their descendants, leading to what is known as Pitra Dosha. According to astrology, the mistakes or unresolved matters of the ancestors can affect their descendants' horoscopes as 'Pitra Dosh.' This can result in various problems and obstacles. These unsettled souls do not attain salvation and continue to wander. Hence, it is recommended that people perform Shradha, Pitru Tarpan, and Pind Daan on the day of Amavasya to ensure their ancestors find peace in Lord Vishnu's abode. Those who conduct these rituals help their ancestors return to Pitru Loka joyfully, blessing their descendants with good health, wealth, and prosperity. Rituals for Mahalaya Amavasya 2023: Begin the day by waking up early and taking a purifying bath. Cleanse your home and offer Arghya to the Sun. Prepare pure, sattvik food at home and invite a male and a female Brahmin. Seat the Brahmins on the floor and perform the Tarpan ritual. Before offering the food to the Brahmins, feed cows, dogs, ants, and crows. After completing the rituals, the male head of the family should provide food, clothing, and dakshina (monetary offering) to the Brahmins. Once the Brahmin bhoj (meal) is concluded, all family members can partake in the food. Geeta- what is about Geeta , we know in very simple words ? ( by Lokanath Mishra, Katy, USA) —————————————————- The first day of the Mahabharata war in the war field of Kurukshetra. The beginning of the war is imminent. Dhritrastra asked, Sanjay about , what is happening "In the field of religion war of Kurkshetra? In answer to Dhritrastra's question, Sanjay said, "O king, I am narrating before you the first-hand account of the battle, listen. Kurupati Duryodhana told Guru Drona about the strength of the great heroes on his side . He also told about the strength of the heroes on the side of the Pandavas . Pita Maha must bring Jayalakshmi to the Kauravas as the captain of this war is himself Pita Maha Bhisma, then he blew his conch with joy . Drona, Karna, Karpa, Ashwatthama etc. Seeing the sounding of the conch they blew their conches . The Pandavas also held their own conch . Krishna blew the Panchjanya, Arjuna blew Devadatta, Bhima blew Pundraka, Yudhishthira blew Anantavijaya, Nakula blew Sughosa, Sahadeva blew Manipuspak Conches . Other kings also blew their own conches. Kurukshetra vibrated with the sound of the conches. At this time the middle Pandava Partha said to the charioteer Srikrishna, O Madhava, place my chariot in such a place between the two armies, where I can see the heroes who have come to fight with me. Shrikrishna placed the chariot in the middle position . Arjuna saw, in front of him great grandfather, acharya, brother, son, grandson and friends ready to fight with him and they may die or be killed . Seeing them, Gandiva fell from Arjuna's hand he felt a burning pain in his skin and symptoms of restlessness and delirium appeared in his heart . He left his bow and sat down on the chariot in a heavy body . Thrice in his voice he said, "O Ananta, O Achyuta, O Madhava, I have no need of a kingdom , Ι do not desire wealth , I do not wish to enjoy the happiness of victory in battle . O Gopala, these enemy soldiers or captains should rather kill me, no sorrow . I will not be able to kill them even in the tribhuvana exchange. In the chaos that will be caused by this war, many women will suffer. All we know what Shrikrishna had told to Arjuna here is called Geeta. Not only Hinduism, wise critics of various religions have honored Srimad Bhagavad Gita . Since its composition, it has been spoken, listened to and discussed repeatedly by various sages, monks, preachers, writers and researchers . For the welfare of the world, it has sounded the bell in the house of doubt. The great advice He gave to mankind has been helping us for ages to set the course for the great war that is going on or is going to happen in our minds. According to the Bhagwad Gita, the pre-eminent, holy text of Sanatan Dharma, that which elevates us, helps us reach the goal of life, attain true knowledge and liberation is dharma, righteousness; that which drags us into worldliness, makes us irreligious is adharma, unrighteousness. The Gita teaches that dharma is not just a set of rules and rituals but a profound inner wisdom, ethical and moral principles that guide us in fulfilling our duties, living a righteous life, and ultimately, attaining spiritual realisation. One of the key aspects of dharma is performing our duties with righteousness, to the best of our abilities, without being attached to, or concerned about results. The Gita also teaches that controlling our mind and senses is essential for understanding and following dharma. Disciplining the mind helps us make wise choices and by following dharma, the mind and heart are purified, we progress on the spiritual path and get fulfilment in life. Dharma is the path to lasting peace and happiness. The second chapter of the Gita tells us that “the self-controlled man moving amongst objects with the senses under restraint and free from attraction and repulsion, attains real peace.” It further says, “To the un-meditative, there can be no peace; and to the man who has no peace, how can there be happiness?” The Gita makes clear the connection between ethics and spirituality, between a life of virtue and liberation, underlining the universal principles of dharma that apply to everyone – truthfulness, non-violence, compassion, and integrity. These virtues are the mark of people who are endowed with and live by divine qualities, which help them justify their human existence and move towards liberation. The Gita describes peacefulness, compassion, modesty, and absence of hatred as qualities of a person having divine qualities. On the other hand, hypocrisy, arrogance, conceit, harshness, and anger belong to those of a demoniacal nature and character. Sanatan, which means eternal, is an adjective that denotes the universal and everlasting nature of values that represent dharma. With the passage of time, values may get eroded, and when this erosion reaches acritical point, God Himself rejuvenates dharma. “Whenever there is a decline of righteousness and rise of unrighteousness, then O Arjun, I manifest Myself. For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked, and for the establishment of righteousness…,” Krishn says in the Gita. He revives dharma by reminding us of our innate virtues, pointing out how, by forgetting the fact that we are souls, and that goodness is our original nature, we have drifted into vices and have ended up being weak and full of sorrow. He teaches us to connect with Him by remembering Him and by contemplating His virtues and powers regularly. When we remind ourselves again and again that we souls are children of the Supreme Soul and His attributes belong to us as well, and that we are basically strong and virtuous, we begin to become like that. This is how souls are purified and empowered, whereby true dharma of all beings is restored in the world. In essence, righteous conduct and virtuous living are the best means of preserving Sanatan Dharma. Jewish, Parsi, Muslim, Christian & Hindu:- ( part-1) ( by Lokanath Mishra, Katy, USA) ————————////—-/—/—-////////- The English term Jew originates in the Biblical Hebrew word Yehudi, meaning "from the Kingdom of Judah".God in Judaism has been conceived in a variety of ways. Traditionally, Judaism holds that Yahweh, the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the national god of the Israelites, delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and gave them the Law of Moses at Mount Sinai as described in the Torah. According to ancient history, there was interaction between the ancestors of the Parsis and the Jews, when Cyrus the Great, a Zoroastrian King of ancient Persia freed the Jews from captivity in Babylon, and rebuilt their temple in Jerusalem with funds from the Persian treasury. After this event, Jews were free to return to their homeland or stay in Iran. Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. Zoroastrianism was the state religion of three Persian dynasties, until the Muslim conquest of Persia in the seventh century A.D. Zoroastrian refugees, called Parsis, escaped Muslim persecution in Iran by emigrating to India. Zoroastrianism now has an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 worshipers worldwide, and is practiced today as a minority religion in parts of Iran and India. The prophet Zoroaster (Zarathrustra in ancient Persian) is regarded as the founder of Zoroastrianism, which is arguably the world’s oldest monotheistic faith. Zoroaster is thought to have been born in what is now northeastern Iran or southwestern Afghanistan. He may have lived in a tribe that followed an ancient religion with many gods (polytheism). This religion was likely similar to early forms of Hinduism. According to Zoroastrian tradition, Zoroaster had a divine vision of a supreme being while partaking in a pagan purification rite at age 30. Zoroaster began teaching followers to worship a single god called Ahura Mazda. In the 1990s, Russian archaeologists at Gonur Tepe, a Bronze Age site in Turkmenistan, discovered the remains of what they believed to be an early Zoroastrian fire temple. The temple dates to the second millennium B.C., making it the earliest known site associated with Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism shaped one of the ancient world’s largest empires—the mighty Persia Empire. It was the state religion of three major Persian dynasties. Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, was a devout Zoroastrian. By most accounts, Cyrus was a tolerant ruler who allowed his non-Iranian subjects to practice their own religions. He ruled by the Zoroastrian law of asha (truth and righteousness) but didn’t impose Zoroastrianism on the people of Persia’s conquered territories. The beliefs of Zoroastrianism were spread across Asia via the Silk Road, a network of trading routes that spread from China to the Middle East and into Europe. Some scholars say that tenets of Zoroastrianism helped to shape the major Abrahamic religions—including Judaism, Christianity and Islam—through the influence of the Persian Empire. Zoroastrian concepts, including the idea of a single god, heaven, hell and a day of judgment, may have been first introduced to the Jewish community of Babylonia. When Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 B.C., he liberated the Babylonian Jews. Many returned home to Jerusalem, where their descendants helped to create the Hebrew Bible. Over the next millennia, Zoroastrianism would dominate two subsequent Persian dynasties—the Parthian and Sassanian Empires—until the Muslim conquest of Persia in the seventh century A.D. The Muslim conquest of Persia between A.D. 633 and 651 led to the fall of the Sassanian Persian Empire and the decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Iran. The Arab invaders charged Zoroastrians living in Persia taxes for retaining their religious practices and implemented laws to make life difficult for them. Over time, most Iranian Zoroastrians converted to Islam. Parsi are followers of Zoroastrianism in India. According to Parsi tradition, a group of Iranian Zoroastrians emigrated from Persia to escape religious persecution by the Muslim majority after the Arab conquest. Experts speculate that the group sailed across the Arabian Sea and landed in Gujarat, a state in western India, sometime between 785 and 936. The Parsi are an ethnic minority in India and Pakistan. Today there are about 60,000 Parsi in India and 1,400 in Pakistan. Zoroastrian Symbols and Beliefs The Faravahar is an ancient symbol of the Zoroastrian faith. It depicts a bearded man with one hand reaching forward. He stands above a pair of wings that are outstretched from a circle representing eternity. 🔥 Fire is another important symbol of Zoroastrianism, as it represents light, warmth and has purifying powers. Some Zoroastrians also recognize the evergreen cypress tree as a symbol of eternal god.
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