ZoroastrianZoroastrian

Jen McIntyre - Crysta Terry - Katie MerklingJen McIntyre - Crysta Terry - Katie Merkling

History:History:

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism - pre-Islamic religion of Persia - pre-Islamic religion of Persia Date founded: Date founded:

– c.c.6th cent. BC 6th cent. BC Place founded: Place founded:

– Ancient PersiaAncient Persia Founder: Founder:

– Zarathustra (Zoroaster) Zarathustra (Zoroaster) Adherents: Adherents:

– 150-200,000150-200,000– contains both monotheistic and dualistic featurescontains both monotheistic and dualistic features

Purification RitualsPurification Rituals

Physical purity is strongly connected with spiritual Physical purity is strongly connected with spiritual purity purity – One of the reasons washing is such a central part of One of the reasons washing is such a central part of

purification rituals purification rituals – Conversely, physical corruption invites spiritual Conversely, physical corruption invites spiritual

corruption corruption – Decomposition is traditionally viewed as the work Decomposition is traditionally viewed as the work

of a demon known as Druj-I-Nasush, and the of a demon known as Druj-I-Nasush, and the corrupting influence of this process is viewed as corrupting influence of this process is viewed as contagious and spiritually dangerous.contagious and spiritually dangerous.

– So Zoroastrian funeral customs are primarily So Zoroastrian funeral customs are primarily focused on keeping contagion away from the focused on keeping contagion away from the communitycommunity

Preparation and Viewing of the Preparation and Viewing of the Body Body

The body of the recently deceased is washed in The body of the recently deceased is washed in gomez gomez (unconsecrated bull’s urine) and water(unconsecrated bull’s urine) and water

The clothes the dead body will wear and the room in The clothes the dead body will wear and the room in which he will lie before final disposal are also washed which he will lie before final disposal are also washed clean.clean.– The clothes will be disposed of afterward as contact The clothes will be disposed of afterward as contact

with a corpse has permanently defiled themwith a corpse has permanently defiled them The body is then placed on a clean white sheet and The body is then placed on a clean white sheet and

visitors are allowed to pay their respects, although they visitors are allowed to pay their respects, although they are are forbiddenforbidden to touch to touch

A dog will twice be brought into the corpse’s presence to A dog will twice be brought into the corpse’s presence to keep away demons in a ritual called keep away demons in a ritual called sagdidsagdid

While While juddinsjuddins, or non-Zoroastrians, are allowed to initially , or non-Zoroastrians, are allowed to initially view the body and pay respects to it, they are generally view the body and pay respects to it, they are generally not allowed to witness any of the actual funeral ritualsnot allowed to witness any of the actual funeral rituals

Wards Against ContaminationsWards Against Contaminations Once the body is prepared, it is handed over to professional Once the body is prepared, it is handed over to professional

corpse-bearers, who are now the only people allowed to touch corpse-bearers, who are now the only people allowed to touch the corpsethe corpse

Before attending to the corpse, the bearers will ritually wash Before attending to the corpse, the bearers will ritually wash and put on clean clothes in at attempt to stave off the worst of and put on clean clothes in at attempt to stave off the worst of the corruptionthe corruption

The cloth on which the body rests is wound around it like a The cloth on which the body rests is wound around it like a shroud, and then the body is placed either on a stone slab on or shroud, and then the body is placed either on a stone slab on or in a shallowly dug out space on the groundin a shallowly dug out space on the ground

Circles are drawn on the ground around the corpse as a Circles are drawn on the ground around the corpse as a spiritual barrier against corruption and as a warning for visitors spiritual barrier against corruption and as a warning for visitors to keep a safe distanceto keep a safe distance

Fire is also brought into the room and fed with fragrant woods Fire is also brought into the room and fed with fragrant woods such as frankincense and sandalwoodsuch as frankincense and sandalwood– This too is meant to drive off corruption and disease.This too is meant to drive off corruption and disease.

Final Rites at the Tower of Final Rites at the Tower of SilenceSilence

The body is traditionally moved within one day to the The body is traditionally moved within one day to the dakhmadakhma or Tower of Silence. The movement is always done during the or Tower of Silence. The movement is always done during the day, and it always involves an even number of bearers, even if day, and it always involves an even number of bearers, even if the dead is a child that could be carried by a single person. the dead is a child that could be carried by a single person. Mourners who follow the body also always travel in pairs, each Mourners who follow the body also always travel in pairs, each pair holding a piece of cloth between them known as a pair holding a piece of cloth between them known as a paiwand.paiwand.

A pair of priests makes prayers, and then all in attendance bow A pair of priests makes prayers, and then all in attendance bow to the body out of respect. They wash with to the body out of respect. They wash with gomezgomez and water and water before leaving the site and then take a regular bath when they before leaving the site and then take a regular bath when they return home. At the return home. At the dakhmadakhma, the shroud and clothes are , the shroud and clothes are removed through the use of tools rather than bare hands and removed through the use of tools rather than bare hands and are then destroyed.are then destroyed.

Final Rites at the Tower of Final Rites at the Tower of SilenceSilence

The The dakhmadakhma is a wide tower with a platform open to the is a wide tower with a platform open to the sky. Corpses are left on the platform to be picked clean sky. Corpses are left on the platform to be picked clean by vultures. This allows a body to be consumed before by vultures. This allows a body to be consumed before dangerous corruption sets in. The bodies are not placed dangerous corruption sets in. The bodies are not placed on the ground because their presence would corrupt the on the ground because their presence would corrupt the earth. For the same reason, Zoroastrians do not cremate earth. For the same reason, Zoroastrians do not cremate their dead, as it would corrupt the fire. The remaining their dead, as it would corrupt the fire. The remaining bones are deposited into a pit at the base of the bones are deposited into a pit at the base of the dakhmadakhma. .

Ritual Morning and Remembrance Ritual Morning and Remembrance After the Funeral After the Funeral

Prayers are regularly said for the dead for the first three days Prayers are regularly said for the dead for the first three days after death, for this is the time that the soul is understood to after death, for this is the time that the soul is understood to remain on earth. On the fourth day, the soul and its guardian remain on earth. On the fourth day, the soul and its guardian fravashi ascend to Chinvat, the bridge of judgment. During this fravashi ascend to Chinvat, the bridge of judgment. During this three-day mourning period, family and friends generally avoid three-day mourning period, family and friends generally avoid eating meat, and no food is cooked in the house where the eating meat, and no food is cooked in the house where the body was prepared. Instead, relatives prepare food in their own body was prepared. Instead, relatives prepare food in their own homes and bring it to the immediate family. homes and bring it to the immediate family.

At the home, fragrant woods continue to be burnt for three At the home, fragrant woods continue to be burnt for three days. In the winter, no one may enter the immediate area days. In the winter, no one may enter the immediate area where the body rested for ten days and a lamp is left burning where the body rested for ten days and a lamp is left burning during this time. In summer this is done for thirty days.during this time. In summer this is done for thirty days.