Another Navroze will be ensuing on 21st March very soon.
But the prayers are to begin not necessarily on Navroze day, but after the Vernal Equinox (VE) kicks in.
VE is the time when the sun enters the constellation of Aries.
This year the VE is at 4:33 pm (16:43 hrs) IST, which is on a day before 21st March.
Zarathushtis have been given a certain set of prayers that they may recite in the 3 day-time gehs after Navroze has set in.
These prayers are a wonderful opportunity for us to charge our spiritual batteries and hopefully in this year of 2013, and let us hope there is positive change in the world and its people.
The prayers have to be prayed after Navroze has set in, meaning in the Haavan, Rapithwan and Uziren geh periods which follow the Vernal Equinox (VE).
The prayers contain of certain sets of Khorshed Nyaish, Meher Nyaish and Vispa Humata, along with your usual kusti and geh prayers.
Which geh to begin the prayers after the VE has ushered?
The rule is to pick up the first daylight geh after VE has ushered, taking into consideration that the prayer-set for that Geh must be complete in that geh.
The actual prayers are given below:
HAAVAN Geh :
Pray 3 times:
* Khorshed Nyaish – 3,
* Meher Nyaish – 1
* Vispa Humata – 1
RAPITHVAN Geh : (Since Avan Mahino will commence on March 16th ie. before Navroze, please recite Haavan Gah in Sraosh Baaj and also recite Haavan Gaah only and not Rapithwan Gaah).
Pray 2 times:
* Khorshed Nyaish – 3,
* Meher Nyaish – 1
* Vispa Humata – 1 (since Avan mahino has commenced and Rapithwan is replaced by Haavan)
UZIRAN geh:
Pray 1 time:
* Khorshed Nyaish – 3,
* Meher Nyaish – 1
SUMMARY
———————————————————————————–
KhorshedN MeherN VispaH Frequency
Haavan Geh 3 1 1 3
Rapithvan Geh 3 1 1 (*1) 2
Uziran Geh 3 1 - 1
———————————————————————————–
(*1) – Vispa Humata prayed in Rapithwan since Avan mahino has commenced.
Some additional information for the theoretical minded:
Spring begins at the Vernal Equinox (VE), also called Spring Equinox for the Northern Hemisphere.
Since these prayers involved Khorshed and Meher Nyaishes, they are to be done only in the daylight gehs, which are Haavan, Rapithvan and Uzirehen.
The prayers contain of certain sets of Khorshed Nyaish, Meher Nyaish and Vispa Humata, along with your usual kusti and geh prayers.
Which geh to begin the prayers after the VE has ushered?
The rule is to pick up the first daylight geh after VE has ushered, taking into consideration that the prayer-set for that Geh must be complete in that geh. Some examples will illustrate:
Example-1: If VE is 5:15 pm local time on 20th March in Mumbai, and the sunset is 6:00 pm, then though it is Uzirehen geh, it will be very difficult to squeeze in kusti prayers plus the set of Khorshed-Meher Nyaishes in the 45 mins before sunset, hence do not pray anything on 20th. Instead wait till the Haavan of 21st and then pray the sets.
Example-2: If VE is 5:15 pm local time on 20th March in Mumbai, and the sunset is 6:40 pm, then the time available in Uzirehen geh is 85 mins, and many people will be able to complete the Uzirehen set. Hence the sequence will be Uzirehen on 20th, followed by Haavan and Rapithvan on 21st..
An additional adjustment is to be done for Avan month, but that will be shown below.
For other cities and countries not listed above, go to
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=44
and then use the “Change Location” option.
Another helpful website it http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
and then to be more accurate, please make adjustments for the actual longitude of the city you are residing in, as shown in the Mumbai example above.
Use an almanac to find your city’s local time as opposed to your country’s national time.
Other links:
http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/march-equinox.html
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html
http://24timezones.com/
Important sites are:
http://www.tpub.com/content/administration/14220/css/14220_153.htm
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/DDDMMSS-decimal.html
Standard Times and Local Times: Please note that it is best to use the actual local time of the city for prayer calculations. The local time depends on the longitude and latitude of the city.
The local time of Mumbai is 40 mins before IST, hence it it is 3:40 pm IST, the local time of Mumbai is 3:00 pm.
Some examples (taken without considering local timings) will illustrate. Note that you may want to adjust the above calculations by taking the local time factor and its difference vis-a-vis the standard time of the time zone in which you reside.
If you are in Mumbai [VE for 2013 is at 4:33 pm IST on Wed, 20th March]
[Sunset is 6:50 pm, hence prayers start on 20th]:
Pray Uzirehen geh prayers on 20th March
then on the next day:
Pray Haavan geh prayers on 21st March,
Pray Rapithvan geh prayers on 21st March
If you are in USA – New York: [VE for 2013 is at 7:03 am on Wed, 20th March]
Pray Haavan geh prayers on 20th March
Pray Rapithvan geh prayers on 20th March
Pray Uzirehen geh prayers on 20th March
If you are in USA – Dallas: [VE for 2013 is at 6:03 am on Wed, 20th March]
Pray Haavan geh prayers on 20th March
Pray Rapithvan geh prayers on 20th March ,
Pray Uzirehen geh prayers on 20th March
If you are in London, UK [VE for 2013 is at 11:03 am on Wed, 20th March]
Pray Rapithvan geh prayers on 20th March
Pray Uzirehen geh prayers on 20th March
then on the next day:
Pray Haavan geh prayers on 21st March
If you are in Sydney: [VE for 2013 is at 10:03 pm EDT pm on Tues, 20thMarch]
[hence prayers start on 21st]:
On the next day:
Pray Haavan geh prayers on 21st March,
Pray Rapithvan geh prayers on 21st March
Pray Uzirehen geh prayers on 20th March
If you are in Auckland, New Zealand: [VE for 2013 is at 0:03 NZDT am on Wed, 21st March]
[prayers starts on 21st]:
Pray Haavan geh prayers on 21st March
Pray Rapithvan geh prayers on 21st March,
Pray Uzirehen geh prayers on 21st March
Undoubtedly, the above email describes many complex calculations and rules, and there could be errors you spot. If so, please share them with us.
Thank you.
Best wishes once again for the New Year.
- Tehemton B. Adenwalla
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