Chapter 21
Holy Matrimony
What a splendid occasion!
Never before has there been such joy and festivity in a single time!
The sun has descended the skies to adorn the throne at the head of the assembly. The moon too has left its orbit to reside beside the sun and to lend more luster to the gathering. The star of Tir rains forth its blessed drops to quench the earth and to allow the blossom of the flowers. The immaculate Anahita, that music of the skies and guardian of the waters of the rivers and seas, has lifted her harp to sing forth her loving hymns. There is happiness all about, happiness intermingled with beauty. Revelers dance in a frenzy of foot beatings. The celebrations are as exquisite as those of the Nou Rouz and the magnificent festivity of the Mehregan . This celebration is as brilliant as the Sadeh and the birthday of the prophet. It is a marriage celebration—the wise Djamaspa has taken Pourvachista to wife.
Zarathustra’s daughter, that resplendent star, has wed the ever brilliant Djamaspa, the life-giving sun. They have embarked upon a mutual path in life—a life of housewifery, motherhood and a quest for knowledge for Pourvachista is the child of knowledge. As a mother she is to be as illuminating as an ever blazing torch in order to illuminate the way of her children. She is also faced with the task of advancing her religion, truth and righteousness. She has to adorn her home, her city and her nation with her creative being.
Pourvachista walks side by side with Djamaspa wearing a joyous countenance and a beaming heart. For wheresoever the holy institution of marriage is upheld there does love and tenderness spill forth from all tongues and eyes. The same prevails in this ceremony where everything stands at perfection. The prophet is standing by singing his hymns and basking in the joy about him:
Reader, hear his song:
O divine Pourvachista,
Youngest daughter to the holy Zarathustra,
Ahura Mazda doth in holy matrimony wed onto thee one
Who has pledged himself to purity and truth.
Hence, abide by thy wisdom and act in accordance
With righteousness and divine knowledge.
(Gathas, chapter 53, verse 3)
When Zarathustra sings this hymn Pouruchista rises to answer her father in a heart-rending response:
Undoubtedly will I choose he who has been chosen
As father and lord by my friends and family.
May I be blessed with the brilliance of divine thoughts!
May I come to be a virtuous and chaste wife and dwell
amongst the pure!
May Ahura Mazda forever grant me the benevolent creed!
(Gathas, chapter 53, verse 4)
Zarathustra warmly hears the words of his beloved daughter and turns to address the young people:
This say I unto all ye newly weds,
Hearken to this advice through your thoughts and
Forget them not but grasp them by thy understanding
and abide by them!
Choose thy spouse through the aid of divine thoughts!
Strive to outdo your neighbors in truth that you might
benefit of a good life and home.
(Gathas, chapter 53, verse 6)
The reward of the Council of the Wise will be thine
whilst thou doth abide by thy spouse both in comfort
and in need.
Live in love and understanding!
Should false thoughts take hold of thee and tempt thee
to abandon the creed of this council thou will come
to repent thy deeds.
(Gathas, chapter 53, verse 7)
And in the end will the wicked ones be deceived.
Thy will be mocked and reprimanded.
But through divine rule and benevolent leadership men
and women will abide in friendship and peace in their
homes and in their nation.
All crimes and wicked sins will be uprooted.
Then will the great Mazda Ahura come unto us!
(Gathas, chapter 53, verse 8)
After these warming hymns are sung Pourvachista and Djamaspa are joined in holy matrimony. Then are the vows of matrimony taken and the prayers of the Govahgriran sung:
Be pure in heart, just and obedient!
Be kind, hopeful and humble unto thy friends.
Refrain from malicious gossip!
Forsake advice!
Do not be unduly offended!
Covet not!
Forbear envy!
Forsake pride!
Lust not!
Look not to thy neighbor’s goods!
Look not to thy neighbor’s wife!
Strive in benevolence!
Help the good and the Lord!
Seek not the company of the avaricious!
Forsake all falsehoods!
Treat thy enemies with justice!
Do unto thy friends as thy will!
Fight not the needy!
Speak with maturity of thought amongst men!
Be as honorable as thy fathers!
Grieve not thy mothers!
Work and abide by truth!
The matrimonial celebrations start and the guests lose themselves to the entertainments at hand. They laugh, dance and strew Pourvachista and Djamaspa with flowers. The celebration ends with as much merriment as it began. The newly weds are led to their new home in the midst of the joyous cries of the revelers.