History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

204 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. IV.

Yasna and the Vendidad prayers and ceremonies in honour of Srosh for three consecutive mornings and nights. On the morning of the fourth day a Yasna prayer is repeated in honour of Ahura Mazda. After that these priests say four “baj” prayers in honour of Ahura Mazda, Spendarmad, Srosh, and Ardafrosh. These ceremonies are performed in the tower itself. Afterwards in a pavilion erected outside the “dokhma” a Jasan ceremony is held, in which a large number of priests and laymen take part. This consists of “afrmgan” prayers, of which we shall speak more fully in the chapters on Religion. In connection with these prayers the name of the donor —.e. of the gentleman or lady at whose expense the tower has been built—is publicly mentioned by the officiating priest, and all the assembled priests join in beseeching blessings upon the founder. During the celebration of the Jasan ceremonies, and after its completion, the ‘“‘dokhma” is visited by thousands of Parsi men, women, and children, who all throw into the “bhandar,” according to their means, silver and copper coins; some even throw in their gold rings and petty ornaments. ‘This they do as contributing their mite towards the expenses of building their last resting-place. If the “dokhma” is built by public subscription, the collection, which sometimes amounts to thousands of rupees, goes in aid of the work, but if it is built at the expense of one or two individuals, it