Navjote

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Parsi Navjote ceremony

The Navjote or Sedreh pushi ceremony is the Zoroastrian ritual in which an individual is inducted into the religion. The term navjote is used primarily by the Zoroastrians of India (the Parsis), while sedreh pushi is used primarily by the Zoroastrians of Iran.

1 Derivation
2 Age Significance
3 Significance of the Sacred Thread and Sacred Shirt
4 Preparation for the Ritual
5 The Ceremony
6 Concluding
7 Helpful site

[edit] Derivation

Navjote is derived from nav meaning new and zote meanig one who offers prayers.

[edit] Age Significance

Although there is no upper limit to the age of the individual for which the ceremony takes place, in common practice it occurs before a girl or boy reaches maturity. Under no circumstances is it permitted to be done for a child less than seven years of age since the child is expected to comprehend the significance of the event. The age that children should undergo this ceremony is any age under 15, for if they turn 15 and are not wearing the 'Sacred Shirt' and 'Sacred Thread,' they are said to have committed the sin of 'kushad davarashni' (or running about improperly clothed)[Menog-i Khrad ("The Spirit of Wisdom") chap. 2, 35, (S.B.E. Vol. XXIV, p.11). The Book of Arda Viraf, chap. 25, 6. Patet 10.]

[edit] Significance of the Sacred Thread and Sacred Shirt

The sacred shirt, called the sudre, and the sacred thread, called the kusti, are quite important to this ceremony. The sacred clothing signifies parental responsibility as well as responsibility for the one who is undergoing this ceremony. When the child wears the sacred clothes, it means the parents are now obligated to morally and religiously educate the child. If the child commits a wrongful act, it is their responsibility, as they may also take some pride in themselves when their child commits a righteous act. The sacred thread and shirt also teach the child responsibility, as they are to untied before certain practices, such as prayer, bathing, and before meals, and re-tied, shortly after the task is completed. The shirt has a construction extremely specific to this culture.

[edit] Preparation for the Ritual

The child must bathe in sacred water before the ceremony. This represents a cleansing and purification. A full tray of rice is also placed in the room, to be given to the officiating family priest, after the ceremony. Flowers are also placed in the room, to be given to the assembling guests after the ceremony. A tray bearing a mixture of coconut, pomegranate grains, raisins, and almonds, are in the room as well, and will be sprinkled on the child after the ceremony to symbolize prosperity.

[edit] The Ceremony

The Ceremony is quite intricate, consisting of many recitals of faith and prayer.

Like most Zoroastrian rituals, Navjote takes place in the presence of a fire (see Atar). In the case of this ceremony, which takes place in a public place, the fire is not sanctified and following the event it is allowed to die out.

Following the ceremony, an individual from a lay family is addressed in the liturgy as a behdin, "follower of the [good] religion". This may be distinguished from the title for a member of a clerical family who is henceforth addressed as an osta (for males) or an osti (for females). This does not change unless the individual actually joins the priesthood.

[edit] Concluding

After the ceremony concludes, the child can be officially viewed as a member of Zorroastrianism, bearing responsibility with its rewards and reprocussions.