| They came to India
and settled on the banks of the river Sanjana in Gujarat 300 years ago. A Rajput king by
name Jadi Rana gave them Permission to live in his State. From that time they have lived
in India. They follow their old religion, but have adopted India as their country. Zarathushtra wrote his teachings in the Avesta language. Twenty-one Holy
Books were written by him. These books contain
certain mantras. These mantras teach us that there are two
forces at work in the world. One is the force of good, and the other is the force of
evil. God wants man to follow the good, and fight the evil. Man should think good, speak
good and do good.
Zarathushtra asked his followers to be merciful.He asked them
to use their wealth for the good and welfare of the poor. He taught them the mantra of
service and sacrifice for the sake of others.
Zarathushtra had an ever-burning Fire in his hands.God Ahura
Mazda gave it to him. It is believed that the sight of fire can turn the evil in man into
good.
The temples with such Holy Fire are called Fire-Temples. Parsis
offer their prayers to the Holy Fire. The most sacred and also the most famous Fire-Temple
in India is at Udwada in Gujarat. The Holy Fire in this temple is called 'Iran
Shah'. |
