geh-sārnā, chinwad pul, dokhmenashini, and more
The Geh-sārnā is a distinctive ritual with specific temporal requirements:
During the Geh-sārnā, the body is ritually prepared for its final journey. The ceremony includes recitation of sacred texts, particularly the Ahunavad Gatha, which is the first Gatha composed by Zarathushtra himself.
The sun's rays are believed to have purificatory powers that assist in the separation of the soul from the body. This is why the timing of the funeral is carefully planned to ensure this solar exposure.
This specialized ritual is performed on the first, second, and third days after death:
Sarosh Yazad is particularly important in Zoroastrian eschatology as the divine being who protects the soul during its vulnerable three-day period in the material world after death. This ritual reinforces that protection.
The Afrinagan ritual involves the use of fire, sandalwood, and specific liturgical recitations. The priests sit facing each other with ritual implements between them, creating a sacred space for the invocation.
The Chinwad Pul is not a physical ritual but a crucial spiritual concept that influences several rituals:
This allegorical bridge connects the material and spiritual worlds. Souls must cross it on the fourth day after death (Chahrom), and their passage is determined by their deeds in life:
Multiple rituals during the three days after death are specifically designed to prepare and assist the soul for this crossing. The Uthamnā ceremony performed before dawn on the fourth day is particularly focused on this transition.
Dokhmenashini refers to the entire system of exposure of the dead in the Dakhma. This process involves several specialized rituals:
This ritual ensures the corpse is properly exposed to the purifying rays of the sun when placed in the Dakhma. The timing of the funeral and the positioning of the body are carefully managed to achieve this solar exposure.
The Nasesalars (corpse-bearers) follow specific ritual procedures:
The Nasesalars' work is considered both essential and hazardous in a spiritual sense, requiring special training and protective practices.
This ritual involves prayers toward the four directions (north, south, east, west) at specific moments in the funeral process, symbolizing the universal nature of the soul's journey and the all-encompassing nature of Ahura Mazda's creation.
The Sagdi is a sacred building within the Doongerwadi complex with specific ritual purposes:
Since the Sagdi fire is not a consecrated fire temple fire, it cannot be desecrated by the presence of mourners who have been in proximity to death. This makes it accessible for prayer immediately after funeral rituals.
Special ceremonies are performed at the Sagdi:
On each monthly anniversary of the death (particularly the first month), special ceremonies may be performed:
The anniversary of death (Salroz) is particularly important:
These memorial ceremonies ensure that the connection between the living and the departed remains strong, providing comfort to both the living and the souls of the deceased.