By Parzor Foundation
Parzor Foundation
Ava in Yasna (2016-03-21) by Parzor FoundationParzor Foundation
Zoroastrian religious philosophy & practice foregrounds environmental consciousness.
Yasna - the daily prayer ritual honouring all Creation begins by drawing water from the Agiary or the Fire Temple well.
Ava in Yasna (2016-03-21) by Parzor FoundationParzor Foundation
The Gathas recording the wisdom of Zarathushtra mention the rights of plants, animal, mineral & waters, of reverence and nurturing of all Spenta (Bounteous) Creation as Asha - the Divine Law.
Ava in Yasna (2016-03-21) by Parzor FoundationParzor Foundation
The Zoroastrians treat water as a living element guarded by the guardian angel 'Ava', also known as 'Anahita'.
The Alat or the metal implements are purified in water before the Yasna ceremony.
Ava in Yasna (2016-03-21) by Parzor FoundationParzor Foundation
Alat includes mortar & pestle, plates & cups, crescent shaped moon stands, twigs or metal wires, Varas ni Viti - the ring entwined with the hair of the sacred bull, and the knife kept in the water vessel.
Ava in Yasna (2016-03-16) by Parzor FoundationParzor Foundation
The Haoma Ceremony is the core of the Yasna when using mortar and pestle, Haoma or ephedera with its strengthening power is prepared.
Water is the sacred enabling element in this preparation.
Pir-e-Chak ChakParzor Foundation
This reverence to water can be seen in the Sasanian myth of Pir-e-Chak Chak with Chak Chak being the sound of water falling into a little fountain made of stones.
Pir-e-Chak Chak (2016-03-21) by Parzor FoundationParzor Foundation
According to legend, the last and youngest Sasanian Princess, Nikbanoo, escaping her captors in the heat of the desert, using a staff of maple to support her, reached this mountain site in complete exhaustion and thirst.
Pir-e-Sabz (2016-03-21) by Parzor FoundationParzor Foundation
In despair and anger, she threw the maple stick at the mountain and water is believed to have miraculously started to drip out, quenching her thirst giving the name Chak Chak to this site. Pir-e-Sabz is its other name as the sacred water is believed to have made the area green with the maple tree still standing.
Tanka Water Harvesting System of the Parsi CommunityParzor Foundation
Zoroastrians regularly offer prayers to Ava Yazata - the guardian of waters.
In this video Prof. Kavas Kapadia and Mobed Firouzgary, Zoroastrian High Priest of Iran speak of the water harvesting and wind towers of Zoroastrian settlements around Yazd.
Cylinder Seal with Patterned Fish (2016-03-21) by National Museum, TehranParzor Foundation
Water and its life forms have also been adopted in everyday material culture from ancient times.
Fish and water in this Cylinder Seal, represent fertility and the continuous movement of the waters of life, date back to the 2nd Millenium B.C, Khuzestan.
Fish Gara, 19th Century (2016-03-21) by Courtesy : Zenobia PestonjamaspParzor Foundation
This Fish Gara, in auspicious red, was probably an engagement Sari, made to order in China by Parsi merchants from Western India dealing with opium, tea, textiles and other trade.
Textile Embodiment of Ava (2016-03-21) by Parzor FoundationParzor Foundation
The element of Ava is again seen in traditional lifestyle usage.
In this table cover, it is characterised by a sequence of Tortoise, Simurgh from the epic - 'Shahnameh' and aquatic plants embroidered inside a boundary of water.
Silver Toran with Zarathushtra on Water (2016-03-21) by Parzor Foundation and Courtesy : Mobed Koroush NiknamParzor Foundation
A Silver Agiary Toran with Zarathushtra on water.
Ava in Embroidery (2016-03-21) by Parzor FoundationParzor Foundation
Ava Yazad, Angel of Water is depicted in this Parsi Jhabla or Tunic with the Water Lily, her representative flower.
Tir-O-Baad (2016-03-21) by Parzor Foundation and Courtesy : Mobed Koroush NiknamParzor Foundation
These bracelets called 'Tir-O-Baad' or rainbow bands are named after Tir or Tishtra, Yazata of Rain and Govad, Yazata of Wind. Worn for ten days from the Tirgan or Water Festival in Iran, they are then let loose into the blowing wind with this little verse -
'Tir! You go away! Let the wind come!
Sorrow, go away! Happiness, come in!
Suffering, leave! Sustenance, come!'
The Well of Healing, Hajira Belt, Gujarat (2016-03-21) by Parzor FoundationParzor Foundation
Wells across the ancient Zoroastrian lands and in Parsi-Gujarat are believed to have Waters of Healing. It is considered improper to disturb water at night. Water bodies are to be respected especially on 'Ava Parab'.
Tanka Water Harvesting System of the Parsi CommunityParzor Foundation
One of the most useful adaptations of this reverence to water, from Iran to India by the Zoroastrians, has been that of the Tanka System.
Rohinton Jambusarwala at Gulshan, Bharuch speaks about this system of harvesting rain water falling on the roof top, locally known as the Tanka, practised by the Parsi Zoroastrians in Gujarat.
Tanka (2016-03-21) by Parzor FoundationParzor Foundation
Tanka Water on scientific analysis by WHO standards, has been proved to be purer than bottled water.
Left : Bharuch, Gulshan Tanka
Tanka (2016-03-21) by Parzor FoundationParzor Foundation
Pipes leading to the Boiya or Copper Colander at the vertical mouth of the well from which water is drawn. The Tanka is placed horizontally so that no sunlight can enter and therefore without bacterial growth, the water stays pure.
Tanka Water Harvesting System of the Parsi CommunityParzor Foundation
Manu Bhatnagar, Principal Director, Natural Heritage, INTACH and Prof. Kavas Kapadia elucidate the need and the practicalities of reviving community practices of water conservation.
Rohinton Jambusarwala and Farida Jambusarwala, Bharuch
Sahapedia in Collaboration with Parzor Foundation & India Picture
Prof. Kavas Kapadia, Advisor, Parzor Foundation
Mobed Mehrban Firouzgary, Zoroastrian High Priest of Iran
Pir-e-Chak Chak Film, Courtesy Mobed Mehrban Firouzgary
Dushyant Mehta, Hemant Mehta and Sanha Kohli of India Picture
National Museum, Tehran
Curated by Dr. Shernaz Cama and Vanshika Singh
