Selections from Zoroastrianism’s Sacred Book “Sad Dar”: Chapters 1-6, Part 2 of 2

“The fourth subject is this, that it is not desirable for anyone that he should become hopeless of the pity and forgiveness of Ohrmazd, and fix his heart outwardly on this, that our sin is excessive and it is not possible to arrive in Heaven. Because it happens that a small quantity of duty and good work is performed, and it may be that for that quantity Ohrmazd, the good and propitious, may have pity on him and may make him arrive in Heaven.”

“Therefore, although a sin has happened to anyone, it is not necessary for him to become hopeless. And whoever has the power is to endeavor to perform good works, so that there may be an atonement for the sin thereby; because the sacred Being, the good and propitious, is kind to everyone.”

“The fifth subject is this, that it is necessary for all those of the good religion that they make a thorough effort, so that they celebrate the ritual and become Navazud (qualified priest). For in our religion there is no good work more ample than this. And it is declared in revelation, that, although much duty and good work be performed, it is not possible to attain to the supreme Heaven except on that one occasion when the Navazud ceremony is performed, or they have celebrated a Getig-kharid (a ceremony of redemption). And on any occasion if they are not able to perform it with their own hands, it is requisite to order it; and then it is inevitably necessary that the celebration of the Getig-kharid should be in the same manner as they would have performed it with their own hands. Man and woman are both equal in this good work; therefore, it is not proper to neglect this duty, for it is the chief of all the good works of the religion. Because it is declared in revelation, that on the day that they are performing the Navazud ceremony, or are celebrating a Getig-kharid on his account, three times the soul of that person arrives at Heaven, and they show it a place therein, and offer it a profuse greeting.”

“The sixth subject is this, that of the many good works there are those which, when they accomplish them, obtain great rewards; and if one does not perform them severe punishment seizes upon one at the head of the Chinwad bridge. One is the celebration of the season festivals; the second is keeping the days of the guardian spirits; the third is attending to the souls of fathers, mothers, and other relations; the fourth is reciting the Khwarshed Niyayesh [Sun Litany] three times every day; the fifth is reciting the Mah Niyayesh [Moon Litany] three times every month, once when it becomes new, once when it becomes full, and once when it becomes slender; and the sixth is celebrating the Rapithwin ceremony once every year. If not able to celebrate them oneself, it is requisite to order them, so that they may celebrate them every single time. These six good works are things indispensable unto everyone.”