Zoroastrians.net

Significance of the Godhas

yazdi — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:57:11 +0000

PEARLS OF WISDOM

Insights By Erv. Zarrir Bhandara

1: WHAT DO THE TWO GODHAS AT THE ENTRANCE OF OURAGIARY REPRESENT? WHAT ARE THEIR NAMES?

BY ERV. ZARRIR BHANDARA

(Erv. Zarrir Bhandara is the Head Priest of the Zarathushti Association of California Atash Kadeh and is a beacon of compassion with encyclopaedic knowledge on our Zarathushti religion and scriptures. Readers are encouraged to mail in their Queries to Erv. Zarrir Bhandara at: zbhandara@gmail.com)

(Erv. Zarrir Bhandara shares timeless nuggets of wisdom from our Zarathushti religion, exploring its spiritual insights, ethical teachings and relevance in today’s world. Whether drawn from the Gathas, sacred traditions, or the lived experiences of the Zarathushti community, each piece of wisdom serves as a guiding light in the journey of life, continuing to inspire and illuminate)

QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS:

Q: WHAT DO THE TWO GODHAS AT THE ENTRANCE OF OURAGIARY REPRESENT? WHAT ARE THEIR NAMES? (Aloo Khajotia)

ERV. ZARRIR: Dear Aloo, the two majestic statues of human-headed winged bulls flanking the entrance of an Agiary (or Atash Behram) are known in our Parsi and Zarathushti tradition as Gopatshah (also written as Gopat-Shah or Gopatha).

Historically and archaeologically, they are derived from the ancient Persian and Mesopotamian guardian figures known as Lamassu (or Shedu).

WHAT THEIR NAMES MEAN

• Gopatshah: Translates literally to ‘King of the Bulls’ or ‘Lord of the Cattle’ (Gopathacomes from ancient Iranian roots where Go = cow/bull and Patha/Shah = king or lord).

• Gopat-Shah in Zarathushti Mythology: According to Middle Persian texts (Bundahishnand Dadestan-i Denig), Gopatshah refers to a mythical, righteous king – represented as a half-bull, half-human entity – who stands near the sacred sea Vourukasha continuously purifying ritual waters and keeping spiritual evil at bay.

WHAT THEY REPRESENT

In our religion the Gopatshah statues serve as spiritual guardians (apotropaic entities) meant to ward off evil, pollution, and negative energies from entering the holy precinct of the Agiary. They represent a combination of three distinct attributes:

ELEMENT SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION

Body of a Bull Represents physical strength, productivity, and protection. In Zarathushti cosmology, the bull is deeply sacred, tracing back to Gavyodad (the primordial creation of animal life).

Wings of an Eagle Represents heightened spiritual awareness, elevation, and the ability to soar above worldly impurities.

Head/Face of a Man Represents human intellect, divine wisdom (Khrad), and moral reasoning.

Together, they remind every devotee entering the Agiary to approach the sacred fire with physical strength, high spiritual ideals, and clear intellectual wisdom.

The Gopatshah statues are strictly exterior guardians rather than interior purifiers:

• Threshold Sentinels:Their role is apotropaic – to guard the boundary between the outer world and the sacred inner space. They prevent external spiritual pollution (Druj) and negative thoughts from crossing into the Agiary.

• Passive Symbols:Unlike Yazatas (divine beings) who actively intercede in human worship, the Gopatshah statues serve as visual reminders to devotees before they step inside to align their own mind, strength, and intellect.

Once you pass the Gopatshah and stand before the fire, the responsibility for guiding your prayers falls to your devotion, Sarosh Yazata, and the holy fire itself.

From: Parsi Times 12-9-2026

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Back to the Motherland

yazdi — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 02:35:51 +0000

The Bombay Local History Society and Iran League invite you to the third session in the series of talks exploring Bombay-Iran connections.

Back to the Motherland: Parsi Travelogues to Iran from the 1920s

Saturday, 10 October 2026 at 5 pm.

Venue: Iran League, Navsari Building 2nd floor,

Dadabhai Naoroji Rd, Mumbai 400001.

Very few Parsis travelled to Iran before 1920. The eclipse of the Qajar dynasty in the early 1920s and the establishment of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1925 created an environment in Iran less hostile to Zoroastrians. Many Parsis took the opportunity to visit their motherland during this decade and a few of them wrote detailed accounts of their travels. As Parsis sought stronger ties with Iran, travellers examined investment and employment opportunities and wondered if they could permanently go back to the motherland. Using extracts and translations, this talk explores some of the travelogues and the context in which they were published.

Murali Ranganathan is a writer and translator. His interests include printing history and culture, travel accounts, and urban history. He has written extensively on Mumbai and its communities including the Parsis, the printing history of Mumbai and on themes related to book history and travelogues.

Registration via Google Forms required; register on https://tinyurl.com/BLHS10October26

You will receive a confirmation email.

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Leadership Programme for Emerging Priests – SOAS

yazdi — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 23:30:12 +0000

Future Zoroastrians 2027

We are delighted to announce that applications for the second edition of the Future Zoroastrians: Leadership Programme for Emerging Priests are officially open!

Designed for Zoroastrian priests across global communities, this programme supports the next generation of leaders who are committed to thoughtful and effective leadership. Through a blend of scholarly learning, practical skills development and personalised coaching, participants will explore contemporary community challenges and build the confidence and competencies needed for meaningful leadership.

The programme includes a one-week intensive residential course at SOAS in London, taking place 26–30 April 2027. All selected participants will have travel and accommodation fully funded, thanks to the generous support of Dr Zar Amrolia, whose commitment to nurturing future generations of Zoroastrian leaders we gratefully acknowledge.

Applicants will be assessed on their potential for leadership and positive community impact. The deadline for submission is 15 November.

Click Here to Apply

Inaugural cohort of participants and instructors with the Senior Advisory Panel of the Shapoorji Pallonji Institute of Zoroastrian Studies. ©SSPIZS, 2026.

Applications Open: 1 October
Deadline for Submission: 15 November
Programme: 26-30 April 2027
Venue: SOAS University of London

For any inquiry, please write to sspizs@soas.ac.uk.

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🧠✨ XYZ BRAINIAX 2026!

yazdi — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 06:22:28 +0000

Over 200 participants, 25+ competitions and countless brilliant minds came together for a day of quizzes, puzzles, Sudoku, mental maths, creativity and science!

From our Juniors, Kids & Seniors to parents, volunteers and XYZ Silvers, BRAINIAX truly brought every generation together!

XCELLERATE saw teams get creative with XYZ songs, with Behram’s Battalion taking the win!

After a day of fierce competition, Jamshed’s Giants emerged as the BRAINIAX Trophy winners!

A day filled with learning, laughter, creativity, competition and the never-ending XYZ spirit!

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GCZT Launches Career Counseling Program to Help Parsi/Irani Students Find Their Path

yazdi — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 02:52:57 +0000

GCZT is excited to introduce its Career Counseling Program (CCP) — a warm, structured four-phase journey built for Parsi/Irani students in Grades 8 through 12 who are ready to discover their strengths, explore career pathways, and make confident decisions about their future. Rather than leaving students to figure things out alone, the program pairs each young person with an expert counselor and keeps parents engaged every step of the way, moving from an initial inquiry all the way to a personalized career pathway recommendation.

The journey itself is refreshingly clear and hands-on. It begins with a simple inquiry form that students complete themselves, followed by a welcome email and a mandatory parent-student orientation session. From there, students move into the operational phase with a scientifically validated 90-minute psychometric assessment that surfaces their aptitudes, personality traits, and natural interests, before sitting down for three one-on-one counseling sessions — starting with self-awareness tools like SWOT analysis and the Johari Window, progressing through interest mapping and tailored university and course recommendations, and concluding with a finalized career direction built just for them.

The financial side stays refreshingly straightforward too: a fully refundable INR 5,000 deposit (applicable to Indian students, payable by online transfer only) covers enrollment and is returned in full once the program is complete.

The experience wraps up with a closing feedback session for students and parents, followed by a short feedback form due within three days — the final step that unlocks the full deposit refund. “The GCZT Career Counseling Program is more than a service — it’s a partnership between students, parents, and expert counselors working together toward one goal: a clear, confident vision of the future,” the organization notes.

Students interested in getting started can fill out the inquiry form at www.gczt.org or reach the team directly at office@gczt.org.

Contact: office@gczt.org | gczt.org

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3 BPP Trustees clarify their stand regarding the issue of converting Leave & License to Tenancy

yazdi — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:37:10 +0000

We—Anahita Desai, Adil Malia, and Hoshang Jal—believe we owe our community a clear and candid explanation of our position on the contentious issue of converting Leave & License Agreements into Tenancies. Our purpose is clear: to protect the larger interests of our dear community and help every member form an informed opinion. We speak with sincerity and conviction, presenting our understanding truthfully and to the best of our knowledge and belief. Our concerns arise from a deep sense of responsibility towards the community we serve and the generations who will inherit the consequences of decisions made today. Do share the interview with fellow community members. These issues deserve our collective attention and thoughtful consideration…afterall, it is about all of us collectively coming together to protect our community baugs, reserving it for Parsis only and preserving our unique heritage.

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Heartiest congratulations to Kynan Chenai

yazdi — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:47:28 +0000

A Proud Moment for the Parsi Community
Heartiest congratulations to Kynan Chenai on his outstanding achievement at the Asian Games in Japan 2026.
Kynan, a talented trap shooter, has made the nation and the Parsi community immensely proud by winning Gold for India in the Mixed Trap event, alongside his partner Neeru Dhanda.
This remarkable achievement is a testament to his dedication, discipline, focus and years of hard work. To see a young Parsi athlete represent India and bring home a Gold medal on the international stage is truly a moment of immense pride for our entire community.
Congratulations, Kynan! We are incredibly proud of you and wish you many more victories and greater glory ahead!

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