- HOMAGE
- ZOROASTRIAN TRADITION
- Dua e Behram Yazad
- Ek Mishkeen Tatha Mushkil Asaan Ni Vaarta
- CHRISTIAN TRADITION
- St. Michael's Prayer
- ISLAMIC TRADITION
- Naadey Ali
- The Woodcutter's Tale
- CONTACT
BEHRAM YAZAD
Behram is the name of one of the angels (yazads) in the Zoroastrian celestial hierarchy and depicts the Zoroastrian concept of "victory over resistance". He was known as Verethraghna in the ancient Avestan language, meaning, "Killer of enemies." Later, his name morphed into Warharan in Pahlavi and Behram in Persian/Gujrati.
In the Avestan scriptural texts, in particular in the Behram Yasht, Behram has the attributes of a mighty force that overcomes all resistance. There, Behram, addressed as Verethragna, is called "the most highly armed" (Yasht 14.1), the "best equipped with might" (14.13), with "effervescent glory" (14.3), has "conquering superiority" (14.64), and is in constant battle with men and demons (14.4, 14.62).
Behram was invoked by armies about to go into battle to side with them in defeating the enemy. Later, he was invoked in times of personal trouble as well. Although a warrior’s angel, some scholars believe that essentially he represent spiritual rather than physical victory over evil. John R. Hinnells states in this passage from Persian Mythology (1973):“Unlike his Indian counterpart, Indra, or his Armenian counterpart Varhagu, the Persian Verethraghna has no myth in which he is said to defeat a monster or a dragon. Instead he defeats 'the malice of men and demons' administering punishment to the untruthful and wicked.” Therefore, for Zoroastrians, the highest order of places of worship [as a cathedral is to a church] is called Atash-i Vahram or Atash Behram, literally: "victorious fire". [Fire is integral to Zoroastrian ritual as a symbol of God’s radiance]
In the Behram Yasht, Behram/Verethragna was not exclusively associated with military might and victory. He represents with sexual potency and "confers virility" (Yasht 14.29), has the "ability to heal" (14.3) and "renders wonderful".
Behram is also known to shape-shift in order to bring victory to those who invoke him. The Yasht begins with an enumeration of the ten forms in which the divinity appears: As an impetuous wind (14.2-5); as an armed warrior (14.27) and as an adolescent of fifteen (14.17); and in the remaining seven forms as animals: a bull with horns of gold (14.7); a white horse with ears and a muzzle of gold (14.9); a camel (14.11-13); a boar (14.15); a bird of prey (veregna, 14.19-21); a ram (14.23); and a wild goat (14.25).
The common way of invoking him in times of trouble in Gujrati/Farsi is “Panah e Mushkil Asaan Behram Yazad” (Protect me, angel Behram, Remover of all Difficulties)