DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22901#0256
240
HISTORY OF THE PARSIS.
[chap. v.
the Yasna ceremony) in reciting the Yasna prayer, he
acting as the Zaota and the initiating priest as the
Rathwi. During the clay he performs the Afringan
and the Baj ceremonies. For four consecutive days
he is required to repeat similar ceremonies, and he is
then fully qualified as a Navar. This entitles him to
adopt the prefix of "Ervad" (Herbad), from Avesta
aithra-paiti, before his name, just as the word
"reverend" is applied to Christian priests. Though
he has obtained the grade of a Navar, he is still not
allowed to take part in the higher rituals of Zoroas-
trian ceremonies. He can, however, officiate at the
Afringan, marriage, or thread ceremonies, and the
like; but he cannot perform the Vendidad, Yasna,
Baj, and similar high religious offices. Then, again,
he is not entitled to the right or privilege of initiating
any other candidate into the order of priesthood. To
entitle him to take part in these higher rituals he
must pass through the degree known as that of
Maratab.
For this high degree he must study the Vendidad,
in addition to what has already been acquired by
him. Yet the ceremonies in connection with it are
simpler than those of the Navar. He has only to
undergo one Bareshnum ceremony, and then, in con-
junction with a duly qualified priest, has to perform
the Yasna ceremony during the morning. On the
same day, or the following, he performs a similar
HISTORY OF THE PARSIS.
[chap. v.
the Yasna ceremony) in reciting the Yasna prayer, he
acting as the Zaota and the initiating priest as the
Rathwi. During the clay he performs the Afringan
and the Baj ceremonies. For four consecutive days
he is required to repeat similar ceremonies, and he is
then fully qualified as a Navar. This entitles him to
adopt the prefix of "Ervad" (Herbad), from Avesta
aithra-paiti, before his name, just as the word
"reverend" is applied to Christian priests. Though
he has obtained the grade of a Navar, he is still not
allowed to take part in the higher rituals of Zoroas-
trian ceremonies. He can, however, officiate at the
Afringan, marriage, or thread ceremonies, and the
like; but he cannot perform the Vendidad, Yasna,
Baj, and similar high religious offices. Then, again,
he is not entitled to the right or privilege of initiating
any other candidate into the order of priesthood. To
entitle him to take part in these higher rituals he
must pass through the degree known as that of
Maratab.
For this high degree he must study the Vendidad,
in addition to what has already been acquired by
him. Yet the ceremonies in connection with it are
simpler than those of the Navar. He has only to
undergo one Bareshnum ceremony, and then, in con-
junction with a duly qualified priest, has to perform
the Yasna ceremony during the morning. On the
same day, or the following, he performs a similar