Mankind and his Cosmic Tryst with other Worlds - Part 1

Editor’s Note:- To understand our deen we need to have Holistic approach because everything is connected with one another. Hence for understanding Arvahi, Jinn, Pari and queries like:- Who are they ?; From where did they come from ??; Where do they live ?; How different are they from Humans ???; What is their place in Cosmos and where do humans stand in their comparison?; How different are they from Humans ?. For answering such queries there is a need for one to go back and start from scratch. Cosmo genesis is a complex subject and absolute patience is required here as there is no short cut method here to understand it. One has to go step by step to follow it, and that is what I have done below. This is a subject of “Sezda” and only a photogenic narration or a visual treat can do justice to this topic although I have tried to put all of it in words along with necessary illustrations. Reference:- The under mentioned article has been taken from Parsee Avaz dated 29.02.1967 Volume 20, Issue 31, and in-between references has been given from various sources of Khshnoom literature as and where need seems to arise. I believe that for a student instead of relying solely on memory references are very important to be noted down from the very vast Khshnoom literature present with us. I have tried to make it simple and have not included too much details in one place. The additional details can be given separately later on. Also Tables summarizing the narration will be given in the end having Bird’s Eye view on the subject.

Mankind and his Cosmic Tryst with other Worlds - Part 1

As explained before, Arvahi are of two kinds. 1) Ulvi Arvahi 2) Sephali Arvahi. Ulvi Arvahi do not harm or interfere with anybody. Sephli Arvahi means lowly hovering Spirits who are invisible to us, but yet can show their appearance if they want to be seen by us and can change into any form. They are prone to deceive humans into committing sins and thereby getting sadistic pleasure of misleading them.
We Zarathusti Bastekustians are forbidden to have any contact or enter into any sort of Karmic obligations with any kind of above mentioned Arvahi’s. In our holy Avesta Manthra itself we can find many references. The daily Kusti prayers that we pray every day mention in Ahuramazda Khudai Pazend Nirang prayers as under:-

Ahuramazda Khodai Ahreeman Avadshan dur avaz dashtar Zad Shekasteh Baad, Ahreeman devan Darujan, jadooan darvandan, keekan, karfan, sastaran, gunehgaran, ashmogaan, darvandan, dushmana, freeyan, Zad Shekasteh Baad.Zad Shekasteh Baad= may the evil intentions of evil persons meet failure and defeat. Such Mithra in Kusti prayers are for those with evil intent. The male Arvahi is called as Jinn and the female Arvahi is called as Pari. But the word “Freeyan” is more relevant to low natured Seephli Arvahi group who are very evil in nature and especially belonging to female “Pari” category. There is no offence meant here, as this has got nothing to do with gender bashing or any show of Chauvinism but what we are discussing here are the truths in nature.

As per explanation in ilme-khshnoom given by Ustad Saheb Behramshah Shroff, Zarathosti Deen has explained in Bundahesh, can also can be known as Zoroastrian Cosmology or “Shrusti Rachna”, there is mention of 12 Hazara. Hazara should not be taken as thousand years or literally as 12 x 1,000 years. Detailed explanation is given later about Hazara. Where it is mentioned that in First Hazara Hasti or Immortal world was created – (Emanations). In the second Hazara Nisti or mortal world was created – (Creation). This planet Earth also known as “Geti” where we human being reside is destined to be destroyed and change itself. This planet Earth which is gross and earthy in nature is situated at the end of Mortal world of Nisti. It can be said that planet Earth is small part of Nisti. That Nisti is represented by vast sea, and in comparison to that vast sea our Earth is like a drop of water in the Sea of vast space known as Nisti.

On that earth where humans reside with their gross body is passing now through evolutionary stage of earthy Ushi. Before that earth and humanity along with it has already passed through Firey, Airey, and Watery stages of Ushi or Orbs. During evolutionary stage of humanity from Earthy Ushi his physical body is now composed of Fravashi+Ruvan+Baodangh+ Keherp+Tevishi+Ushta+Tanu+Azda+Gaetha or nine seams of Divine, Ultra Physical and Physical bodies. He was divided into Male and female parts and finally for his Cataclysmic journey towards attaining perfection was made ready to descend on this earth for his necessary evolution.

Zarathosti Deen Literature we have mention of many “Technical Terms” also known in Khshnoomic parlance as “Loghat”. The terms that concern our understanding of this subject better will be taken now. They are:- 1) Garo-Naman 2) Garo-Deman 3) Drujo-Deman. It is very important for us to understand these three words and its true meaning.

1) Garo-Naman:- a)The dwelling place of Yazats in immortal world of Hasti……..(Ref:- Yajasneh ni Buland Kriya Page 254)
b) A part of heaven in Minoi Asman ……………………………(Ref:- Dr Saheb F.S. Chiniwala Khordeh Avesta Page 173 footnote)
c) Burjisi or 6th Asman of immortal world of Hasti, where Hormuzd works as Spenamino and has “Khales” Adare Froba. (Khales= Ungraded Atash energy on 6th plane, found in its purest form) ……………….(Ref:- Nikiz 2 page 41K)

2)Garo-Deman or Garothman:- The dwelling place Earth or Geti similar to heavens when Ahriman had not yet been able to enter. (In time frame of 3rd Hazara period as explained below).

3) Drujo- Deman:- The dwelling place Earth or Geti when Ahriman managed to tempt human and thus was able to enter. (In time frame of 4th Hazara period as explained below)

Starting from third Hazara till the end of it, the initial Souls that had started descending for their soul-cleansing process on the dwelling place of earth were Souls or Ruvan belonging to “Naman” and had lesser drossiness or “Hoviyat” in comparison to those souls that will follow later on in 4th Hazara. The ignorance varies from soul to soul and those souls having lesser ignorance were send first for their necessary evolution. During that time frame of third Hazara, Yazats themselves would descend this earth, and guide those souls towards path of perfection. During the time frame of third Hazara no need for Paegambar Saheb Zarathustra to descend on this earth with Vendidad or Vedeavodat- law for redemption of Daev as Daevs and Satan had not yet arrived on this earth. The souls in question on the surface of earth did not require much effort, and they were known as original Burjisi Ruvans and for their salvation Yazats themselves stepped on this earth. Although Satan had surrounded the planet Earth but they were unable to step inside. The reason being, original Burjisi Souls having very little “Huviyat” within them were almost on the road to Salvation and were well within their limits and did not heed to the temptation of Satan and hence Satan’s inability to enter Earth. It will be very difficult for us to comprehend the time frame at that time. The Oceans at that time was of sweet water whereas now we have salty Oceans.

At the end of Third Hazara and beginning of Fourth Hazara, Souls belonging to “Deman” having grosser “Hoviyat” than souls of “Naman” of previous Third Hazara started Reincarnating on the earth. These souls having more Hoviyat or Druj within their physical body were more inclined to temptation of Satan. Their weakness was exploited immediately by Satan and he managed to infiltrate on this earth. The “Deman” souls were prone to succumbing to carnal Passions and temptation of Ahriman worked effortlessly like a hot knife melting and cutting the butter with ease. This is allegorically explained in other scriptures as well as our Zoroastrian School of Thought of “Ilme-Khshnoom ni Maktab” as below:-

Initially Adam and Eve were residing in Garden of Eden (Garothman). They were forbidden to taste certain fruits. Satan in form of Snake tempted them into eating that fruit. The moment Adam tasted the forbidden fruit offered by Eve they realized of their nakedness and their folly.

Adam & Eve succumbing to Satan’s temptation in Garden of Eden

King Zohak with 2 snakes on his shoulders





It was from beginning of fourth Hazara that this planet Earth became Drujo-Deman literally meaning dwelling place of Druj. Except for one third of earth which in Avesta is called as “Aivithrishwa” remained free from Druji pollution on earth. Even today we all are residing on this earth known as Drujo-Deman.

In Shahnamah another allegory of King Zohak who had two serpents growing on his shoulder, which represented in-satiated greed. Every day victims brain was offered to satiate snakes hunger, and snakes refused to die even though their head was cut off. Mankind was now in total control of Azidahak the evil Satan.Rule of Zohak marked the beginning of Drujo-Deman world and Self-gratification, sensuousness and depriving others from their rightful share became order of the day.

During the time frame of Third Hazara when Satan was unable to enter this earth because the Original Burjisi souls of “Naman” did not take heed to Satan’s temptations and Yazats resided and guided them on earth. Their rule extended to“HaftaKeshwar” and covered whole of Nisti. With their righteous powers they were respected even by “Pari’, who were so infatuated, obsessed and attracted towards man of “Naman”. But the original Burjis “Naman” Souls had complete control over the passions and they did not take heed to temptation of Satan who had surrounded the earth but were unable to enter it so far.

At commencement of Fourth Hazara when weak minded “Deman” souls having grosser “Hoviyat” and deficiency of divine knowledge thus sinful, started descending this earth Although they were descendants from Original Burjisi Souls of third Hazara, they succumbed to temptations of Satan which Arvahi Pari offered to them. The “Ishaq-bazi” or Romantic Rendezvous between Humans and Sephli Arvahi Pari remained unhindered and humanity was now in complete clutches of Satan. It is for the above mentioned reason that in our Pazand Kusti prayers says “Zad Shekasteh Baad” or defeat to “Freeyan” which applies to “Sephli Arvahi” and particularly “Pari” or female counterpart of Arvahi souls. That is how humanity did succumb to the Satan’s temptations.

In Nisti also called as Mortal World, evolution of an Arvahi is completely different from that of a human being. The unlawful union or “Ishaq-bazi” between Pari belonging to “Arvahi Alam” or other planes where Arvahi dwell, and humans with earthy physical body dwelling on this earth reached to such proportion that there was faceoff or Wars between them, and humanity had to accept defeat from Arvahi. This is narration and events that happened during fourth Hazara.

Reverting to Zarvan, we are in the fourth Zarvane Akarneh Boundless cycle of Time. As per “Zarvane Daregho-khadat Tavil” taught in Khshnoom it may be stated that the boundless time frame known as Zarvane Akarneh consists of innumerable Zarvaneh Dareghokhadateh ( Siroza 21) of 81,000 years each. According to nature’s curriculum every cycle of 81,000 years of a Zarvaneh Daegha is followed by a World Deluge caused by glaciers due to a slight rise in temperature over the freezing point towards the North Pole. This deluge while it submerges the whole of known material world, opens up the Aivithrishwa ( Yt. 13,3) the holy one-third of the earth globe(unknown to scholars) which has been buried under the mountain deep snow (Vendidad 2,22) in the Arctic region. In this Paragraph of Vendidad the falling of this snow was foretold to King Jamshid by AhuraMazda. “Yim” which is the “Humkar” or Co-worker of Khurshed Yazat revive this planet earth before Gayomard and his Anjuman come down on this earth.

Here in Aivithrishwa is “Airyana Vaeja” (literally land bearing noble seeds engendering righteousness etc) where holy Zarathustra was born. After an average period of some 27,000 years there is intense cold on “Airyana Vaeja” owing to which the population moves down to the plains from “Mount Alborz” and Airyana Vaeja is again buried under the snow, and the known material world becomes active again.

During each of the 81,000 years within the current 4th Zarvana Akarana (literally meaning Zarvan or time frame without any end or beginning akar neh=without any “Kinara” or border, boundary),souls with deficiency of divine knowledge and hence sinful, pass through the processes of spiritual Reformation, in which they are bifurcated into sexes, and 1/10th of both sexes is sub-divided into animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms, and then they take birth on this earth, benighted by the Veil of Darkness and governed by the laws of Akem-akai (Ysn. 43,5) evil to evil. On the earth they undergo condign punishments, which may be as severe as the pouring of burning, ore (Ysn. 51,9) over the body. Then at death they go to the sky (Thwasha), the Veil of Darkness disappears, and there gradually develop their Rae, inward divine knowledge, and come to the earth again with the Veil of Darkness -- and so the story repeats and repeats automatically (khadata), till Druj, which is the objective point in all these come-and-go is transmuted into Gao, blissfulness (as of cow-kind). This automatic shuttling between the sky and the earth is called in Avesta “Thwasha-khadata” (Vd. 19,13). Thwasha is the cycle of one human life-time, which is the smallest among Zurvans.
Reference:- Manual of Khshnoom by P.N. Tavaria Page 199

Parallel to above mentioned narration as disclosed by Ilme-Khshnoom we can find such references also available in other holy scriptures such as Bible in Chapter of “Genesis” mentioning Noah’s Arch.

So coming back to our main topic that this earth becomes fit for habitation after the previous deluge. In the beginning of latest 81,000 years’ time cycle of Zarvaneh Daregho-Khadateh (ZDK) that we are living in, after the waters of previous deluge recedes and after a lull of 27,000 years period of time the righteous souls that had lived together in Airyana Vaeja in “Mount Alborz” starts descending down under able leadership of “Gayomard”. As previously explained this world is now called as Drujo-Deman since Satan has already entered this planet earth because of weakness shown by humans in 4th Zarvaneh Akerneh as mentioned in allegory of Adam and Eve narration and humans succumbing to the temptations. Compared to the Arvahis or Daevas who poses knowledge upto 4th Gahambar humans are of no match to them. As soon as this Earth again becomes ready for habitation the Daevas or Arvahi who are companions of Ahriman,Satan descends down on this earth first and take control, before Gayomard and his Anjuman comes down from Mount Alborz. The Daevas or Seephli Arvahi, who are evil in nature have no knowledge of the fifth Gahambar of give and take or “Kharid-Farokht”, thus spread materialism, destruction and Dev-yasni amongst few mislead humans who do not follow path as shown in various religions take control of this earth once again.

As mentioned in Firdausi’s Shah-namah there is constant war going on between the “Turanians”, “Iranians” and the “Daevas”. One should be clear when we talk about those three. The Turans and Iranians are both humans and related to one another. The Iranians are followers of white side “Yazdan Parast” and follow righteous path as shown in our deen, whereas Turanians are descendants of Iran only but they are followers of Evil ways of Daevas. For example King “Afrasiab” or King “Zohak” who are both Turanians follow the path of Devyasni whereas “Rathestar” or warrior Rustom the Paladin destroyer of many Daevas was on the side of Iran. Although Afraisab seemed to be on side of Daevs, he possessed “Ture Frangaz” as mentioned in Avesta with which he used to antagonize Daevs and their Sorcery out of the hiding, and thereby exposing them to Iranian Warriors or Rathestars and thus in the process he being the reason for their destruction. ……………Reference:- Parsee Avaz. dated 30.8.1959

Whereas Rustam has special place in Shah-namah, just as Paigambar saheb is called as “Aivo”, so too Rustom is the one and only one who is unconquerable, and not even his Son Sohrab could defeat him. The tragic tale of Rustom and Sohrab is heart rendering in Shah-namah. Jehan Pehlvan Rustam had been passed from certain Yasnas and he had for his protection “Dami Upman” Yazat. To his right side was protection of Sherevar Ameshahspand and to his left side was protection of Fatehgar Firozgari Behram Yazad. He with help of Simurg Abed or (Sin Amru Abed) got his Horse Raksha. The armour that he wore known as Babrebiyan was kept in a Talimanic Abode of Jamshed Var which was to be given to him for his use later. Ruvan of Rustam was “Aojomand” and always protected him in different form and many ways unknown to us at the time of his need.
…………..Reference:- Parsee Avaz dated 6.9.1959

The need for Shah-namah and its above mentioned descriptions is solely to channel our thoughts in right direction that only “Rathestars” and other “Nar” with such Calibre and Superhuman strength belonging to white side of nature can fight against these Daevs.

The Daevas on one side and “Peshdadian” and “Kyanian” Emperors along with many “Rathestar” Like Gev, Jaal, Zarir, Bejon, Burjor, Faramarz and Rustom “Paoryotakesh Nar” and “Nabanazdiz Nar” on other side were at constant loggerhead wars between one another. For a period of 4,000 years the Irani Mazdayasnan Parast Shah and many Pehelvans kept check of onslaught of Daevas, Arvahis whose main aim was to stall spiritual progress and bring to halt the very machinery that aimed for Frashogard. The Daevas succeeded up to a certain extent but when elemental clouds of “Saen Daruji” blew to unimaginable proportion known as “TurehBradvaksh” or “Turbaratur” which threatened the very existence of this planet Earth then Geush –Urva soul of this Mother earth lamented for a Saviour. Paigambar Saheb can only dissipate the elemental of “Turbaratur” that too in the end after his final mission of eliminating Daevas from surface of this earth was over. The under mentioned image is just a picturesque representation for better understanding deadly clouds of “Turbaratur” threatening to destroy the planet Earth.

Destructive Elemental clouds of “Turbaratur” hovering over Mother Earth

Next we will discuss Nisti sequentially and many worlds within.

……………………..to be Continued in Part 2

Kind regards,

Firdosh