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| Origan Sudreh & Kusti S.R.Patel Agiary J.J.Agiary Pictures Home |
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NAVJOTE CEREMAONY |
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Navjote : |
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The word means "the new initiate" of the faith. |
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Significance : |
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The child becomes directly answerable to Mazda for all one's thoughts, words and actions. In other words, the young initiate. |
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The Navjote or Initiation
ceremony is one of the most essential and inspiring Zoroastrian
ceremonies through which every Parsi child must undergo soon
after the attainment of the age of seven.
In the term “NAVJOTE”- the
“Nav” denotes ‘New life’ for one who is admitted into
the fold of the ancient Zoroastrian religion.
The word “NAVJOTE”
religiously means “a new disciple of God”.
“The Navjote” – is the
initiation into spiritual responsibility.
In very ancient times, before
Prophet Zoroaster, the wise shepherd king, Jamshed Vivangum of
Iran introduced the ‘Sudrah’ and the ‘Kusti’.
The ceremony itself consists of
the purification of the body and the soul, as purity or Ashoi is
the very essence of Zoroastrianism.
The ceremony begins with giving
the child a holy bath.
The initiate is then brought
before the priest who says certain prayers and makes the child
wear a “Sudrah” and “Kusti” – the emblems of the
Zoroastrian religion, which the wearer binds himself to follow
conscientiously, as an armour of God for the war against evil.
The Sudrah (meaning ‘Sud” =
right or true & “rah” = path) which means ‘Right Path’ or the ‘advantageous
path’, is like a vest made of spotless white muslin cloth
and this garment’s main characteristic being the “GAREBAN”
– a small pocket or a spiritual purse at the neck which should
symbolically, be kept full with good thoughts, words and deeds.
The Kusti is made of white lamb
or sheep’s wool.
White colour is symbolic of
purity, religion, innocence & brightness and as such is the
symbol of the Zoroastrian Religion.
These symbols thus act as
perpetual monitors, advising the wearer to lead a life of Purity
– physically as well as spiritually.
“One alone is the Path, and
that is of Purity” said Persian Prophet Zoroaster.
The
Kusti (Scared thread) of white sheep’s wool is symbolic of the
Kundalini Shakti (Serpent Power) which is used to drive away the
evil force and of the fact that the wearer should lead a simple
& innocent life as that of the sheep. It's 72 threads
represent the 72 chapters of Zoroastrians Scripture – Yasna
Whilst the priest and the child recite the prayers, the priest
ties the Kusti round the child’s waist in three rounds which
are intended to remind the wearer of the basic cardinal
principles of Zoroastrians Religion “HUMATA, HUKHTA,
HUVARESHTA” meaning “GOOD THOUGHTS, GOOD WORDS AND GOOD
DEEDS”. Whilst tying the Kusti, two knots are formed – one
in front and one at the back. A knot is always held to be a
symbol of resolution or determination. Thus, two knots of the
Kusti symbolize, as it were, two resolutions, viz.
After the Kusti is tied around
the waist of the initiate on the Sudrah, the priest recites
benediction, showering grains of rice, raisins and small pieces
of coconut over the child’s head.
Rice is the symbol of
prosperity & good fortune and as every part of the coconut
tree serves some useful purpose, the use of the coconut is
suggestive to the child to lead a useful and noble life.
The Sudrah and Kusti protect
the child against all the forces of evil and falsehood. And
makes his path in the right direction. Thus the child treads
upon the path of Truth & Righteousness, like a true
Zoroastrian. Wearing the Sudrah & Kusti is important primarily because it is a declaration of the covenant of faith in Ahura Mazda. |
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