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PRAYERS AND RITUALS

of their goodness everywhere.[1] May the Izads bring prosperity and joyous and happy life of 150 years unto the worshippers of Mazda and may the knowledge and renown and glory of the good Mazda-worshipping religion spread over the seven zones.[2] May joy and pleasure and goodness come unto all from the south and may sickness and trouble and harm flee towards the north. May he get more who needs more. May good come unto him who deserves good. May he get a wife who longs for a wife. May he be blessed with a child who prays for a child. May the good Mazda-worshipping religion spread over the seven zones and live.[3]

While showering their blessings on the occasion of a wedding, the priests wish the bride and the groom' the special virtues, qualities, and characteristics possessed by Ormazd, Amshaspands, Izads, Zaratusht, kings, heroes, wise men, Time, sun, moon, stars, earth, water, fire, river, winter, spring, gold, musk, amber, wine, myrtle, jasmine, sweet marjoram, basil and other good objects.

Confessional prayers. The worshipper confesses that he accepts the religion that Ormazd taught Zaratusht and Zaratusht taught Gushtasp and which Adarbad Mahraspand purified and organized. Unto the end of his life, he says, he will adhere to the good thoughts, good words, and good deeds, and will embrace the deeds of merit and discard sinful deeds.[4] He avows his faith in Ormazd and Amshaspands, and believes in heaven and hell, resurrection and renovation. Good thoughts, good words and good deeds he accepts and evil thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds he renounces.[5] At the ceremony of investing a child with the sacred shirt and girdle, it is made to recite the Pazend formula of the Confession of Faith in which it says that the good and true religion is sent by God upon earth and Zaratusht has brought it Such is the religion of Ormazd and Zaratusht that it accepts.

Penitential prayers. There are four Pazend Patits extant, called Patit-i Pashimāni, Patit-i Khud, Patit-i Irānik, and Patit-i Vidardakān. A short expiatory prayer included in the Kusti formula is recited by every Zoroastrian as many times a day as

  1. ↑ Afrin-i Rapithwin in Pāzend Texts, p. 100.
  2. ↑ Afrin-i Gahanbār Chāshni in Pāzend Texts, p. 105, 106.
  3. ↑ Afrin-i haft Amshāspand in Pāzend Texts, p. 89.
  4. ↑ Patit-i Pashimāni in Pāzend Texts, p. 123, 124.
  5. ↑ Ba nām-i Izad in Pāzend Texts, p. 208.
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