lördag 5 december 2009

Zoroastrianism and Yazidism

Dear Friends

Ardeshir is right!!!
The Yazidis in Sweden call themselves both Yazidis and "Kurdish Zoroastrians" out of free choice (Sweden has complete freedom of faith). They have not been forced to take on these umbrella identities at all.
I agree with my Kurdish friends that Yazidism is closely related to what I call "folk Zoroastrianism", the popular Zoroastrian religion as practiced by most bedins througout most of Iran's history and very much the religious practice of most Parsees in India too.
In addition to folk Zoroastrianism there is also as we know "philosophical Zoroastrianism" which is what we try to define for example here on Ushta. It is for this practice that we use the term "Mazdayasna" since this term is identical to the Greek term "Philo-Sophia" in meaning.
The relationship between the two practices is very similar to the relationship between Hinduism (as practiced by the masses) and Brahmanism (as practiced by the yogi) in India. We need and should tolerate and encourage both!
Consequently, many Kurds take a strong interest in Mazdayasna too, also here on Ushta, without feeling alienated by the folk religion of Yazidism in any way. This should be most welcomed.
That's my ten cents on the issue. Let's pursue these issues further and with open eyes and minds.


2009/12/5 ardeshir farhmand

Hi Yezad,

"yazat," comes from the root "yas" meaning to "yearn," to "adore," to "intensly desire." "yazata" is hence an adorable being/energy, a being or concept that is "fervently desired." "Yasna" which is my son's name also means "fervent adoration." it should be noted that "yas" is both in sound and etymology connected to "yaj," yoke, CONNECT. sanskrit "yajna" or "yoga" all come from the same root and have extremely close meanings with "yas," "yasna" and "yazshn."

so simply put, the root we discussed means "intense desire," "yearning," "fervent adoration" that invoke a CONNECTION (avestan:yaoja sanskrit: yoga) to what is worshipped/desired.

so "yazeshn" or festivity/ceremony is really an act of adoring the desired ahuric concepts/beings and establishing a connection with them.

In other words, "connecting" to a higher relam of vision, understanding and consciousness via intense desire/yas.

yezidi is a dregatory arab name. however, it is almost certain that their name is originally Yazdani, from the ancient "Yazata" or adorable/angelic beings.

they seem to have an elaborate anglogy. They do indeed worship a great number of the zoroastrian divine concepts and adorable spiritual manifestations and hence the origin of their names.

they are known as Yazata/Yazdani, people who worship adorable, angelic beings and an adorable supreme FORCE/Yazdan.

On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 7:02 PM, wrote:

Can anyone enlighten me on the Yezidi community?

When I was born the official name registerd was Yezdi, until a scholar, Behramgor Anklesaria, told my parents that the correct word is Yezad and not Yezdi. Is there a distinction between Yezdi as a name and the Yezidi as a community? Surely there has to e a connection!.


----- Original Message -----
From: Alexander Bard
To: Ushta@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 2:10 AM
Subject: [Ushta] "Zoroastrian" in Turkey

Dear George and Bahman

I agree that it is a pity that people in Turkey apparently have to declare their religious affiliation.
But at least they accept Zoroastrianism as a viable alternative. And Yezidis are of course welcome to declare themselves as Zoroastrians. The Yezidi community in Stockholm often refers to itself here as "Kurdish Zoroastrians".
Thank you for sharing this most interesting news with us, George!


2009/12/4 Bahman Noruziaan

I did not expect that in secular Turkey also, people need to reveal and declare their religious beleifs.


To: Ushta@yahoogroups.com
From: sarideve@yahoo.gr
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 17:35:49 +0000
Subject: [Ushta] "Zoroastrian" in Turkey

Dear friends,

I just came across a turkish website. For the first time in Turkey the word "Zarathushtra" was written on an id card (in Turkey religion is declared) for the religion of a person. It's the id card of a Kurd that lives in Turkey and wanted to identify himself as "Yezidi", without success. Instead of Yezidi the officers accepted the name "Zerdust", Zoroaster in Turkish.
You can see the id card on: http://www.zekirdek.com/forum/226729-turkiyede-ilk-din-hanesine-zerdust-yazildi.html


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