Faravahar, believed to be a depiction of a Farvashi, or Guardian Spirit. Faravahar, The depiction of the Human soul before birth and after death.

THE THING ABOUT CALENDARS

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Zoroastrian calendar is a religious calendar used by members of the Zoroastrian faith, and it is an approximation of the (tropical) solar calendar. To this day, Zoroastrians, irrespective of geographic location, adhere to (variations of) this calendar for religious purposes.

Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). Mazdaism is the religion that acknowledges the divine authority of Ahura Mazda, proclaimed by Zoroaster to be the one uncreated Creator of all (God). Zoroastrianism was once the dominating religion of much of Western- and Central Asia but is today practiced only by a small worldwide community, with its largest center in India.

Prior to the calendar reform of Sassanid emperor Ardashir I (226-241 CE), the calendar in common use since at least the mid-5th century BCE had a 360-day year, and was based systemically on the Babylonian calendar. The tradition of naming the days and months after divinities was based on a similar Egyptian custom, and had been previously instituted at some point between 458 BCE and 330 BCE, very probably during the reign of Artaxerxes II (404-358 BCE).

The calendar introduced by Ardashir I had a 365-day year based even more closely on the Egyptian calendar. It still had 12 months of 30 days each, and the months and days of the month that had been named in Achaemenid times remained as they were. However, the 12th month was followed by five additional Gatha or Gah days, after the ancient Avesta hymns of the same name. In addition, all forms of intercalation were discarded, and the first day of the religious year was shifted from the 1st day of the 1st month to the 1st day of the 9th month.

The new system created confusion and was met with resistance, and many Zoroastrian feasts and celebrations had two dates, a tradition that is maintained by some Zoroastrians to this day. Many rites were practiced over many days instead of one day and duplication of observances was continued to make sure no holy days were missed.

The situation got so complicated that another calendar reform was implemented by Ardeshir's grandson Hormizd I (272-273 CE). The new and old holy days were linked together to form continual six-day feasts.

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FURTHER DETAILS TO BE FOUND AT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrian_calendar

 

Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Faravahar.png

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