Bahman: the glow of happiness
Bahmangan, on Bahman Day of Bahman month
Bahman: the glow of happiness
Is it possible to find an equation for Bahman and express it in words? In Gathas it is written that Zarathushtra was chosen as prophet with the help of the most superior angel, Bahman. How Zarathushtra was selected as Messenger, with the help of Bahman Amshaspand, is one of the wonders of this divine book.
In the spiritual world Bahman is the symbol of the divine and good features, and it is by the will of Ahura Mazda that Bahman goes towards Zarathushtra and unites the Messenger with the divine will and words, and then only can Zarathushtra talk with his beloved.
Bahman guides the Messenger to know about equity and the law and order of existence (Asha) and his guidance goes so far that Zarathushtra finds the source of the unity of creation and loves him so deeply that he starts speaking on his behalf and talks to the people in the form of hymns that no one has recited upto this day.
In Avesta, paradise is likened to the house of Bahman… and good people will receive heavenly reward in the house of Bahman (paradise).
In the Pahlavi scripts, like Deenkerd and Bondahesh, Bahman is the first creature of God.
To be able to understand Zarathushtra’s teachings well we should first know Bahman.
Is Bahman the holy insight? Or the power of nature, or good thought, or best thoughts? Should we stop searching for him, because the more we search the farther we get from him? Should we look for him in the depth of our hearts or the depth of our thoughts? Where should we look for him?
Once again we will follow Zarathushtra’s thoughts and maybe we will find the secret of Bahman.
Zarathushtra first asks and searches. He probes into everything and everywhere, to find the secret of creation and the source of life. He tries tirelessly in search of “the reason of being” and to unfold the secret of existence and being, and how to live a better life. So, the first step is to think and ask and search.
The divine radiance glows in his mind, because his will is to know. His thoughts are enlightened with wisdom and insight, and takes him to the unknown world and then he discovers, step by step, whatever he wishes to know.
The monster of darkness and ignorance has yet not been defeated. The struggle and battle to gain knowledge and awareness cannot bring him to his knees. He nourishes in himself the God given will, mind and insight, to an extent that he finally finds the source and root of the cosmos order and equity ruling over the universe and names it Asha. He finds that over such a huge and orderly universe equity rules and this equity is so powerful and intelligent that it holds the whole of creation in his powerful hands and no will can stand against this power, and till the day the world exists ‘Asha’ will exist. Upto this stage the struggle against ignorance has won and the Messenger has succeeded to unfold one of the big secrets of the world of existence. But, he is not content with this discovery. He continues searching till his unquenchable thirst for knowing, lights a fire in his heart: “joy of discovery” mingles with the “love for his
findings” and join together, and the rays of this happiness appears like a new path for Zarathushtra. This inner fire guides his mind, and the radiance from this joy, like the sun that has just come out from behind dark clouds, brings to light the role of the mind. From then onwards the Messenger’s days of infatuation and sagacity start. Whatever he discovers he falls in love with and looks upon the whole creation with wisdom, insight, love and affection. In everything he sees the sign of his beloved.
He starts thinking about this change in him. Something new has developed in him. He finds a friend and ally in his self, who has newly come to live with him. Though they have been together all this while, but had not come so close to each other before.
He names him Bahman and from then onwards he continues his search with his light and radiance. He can see far beyond. In the quiet, where no sound is heard, he starts talking. Bahman takes him to a place full of light and joy, to bill and coo with Ahura Mazda. For the first time he feels great joy in himself and this inner joy and fire bring such warmth into him that he starts talking. He talks about all the untold secrets of his time and thus gains eternal happiness and pleasure, and finally he units with eternity.
We love Bahman. We choose Bahman and believe that light and clarity come from Bahman Amshaspand. The white lilac is his sign. He loves all creatures. He comes one day after Urmazd day… we wish that joy gained from Bahman festival will unite our hearts.
Translation by Rowshan Lohrasbpour