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A mobed /ˈmoʊ'bɛd,-bæd/ or mobad (Middle Persian: ����������) is a Zoroastrian cleric of a particular rank. Unlike a herbad (ervad), a mobed is qualified to serve as celebrant priest at the Yasna ceremony. A mobed is also qualified to train other priests.
In general (lay) use, the term is also used as an honorific to denote any priest, of any rank. For instance, Hormizd I appointed Kartir moabadan-moabad, which is frequently translated as "priest of priests", but more precisely indicates "high priest of high priests".
The term "mobed" is a contraction of Middle Persian magu-pati, the first half of the expression apparently deriving from Avestan �������� maga- or magu-, and with Avestan ���������� -paiti meaning "guardian" or "protector" (Persian root of پاییدن) as in azarpäd. Through Old Persian ������ magush and Ancient Greek μάγος magos, Old Iranian magu- is also identified as the origin of the Latin word magus, a "magian". Through the Greek adjective μαγικός magikos and Old French magique, 'mobed' is distantly related to the English language word "magic".
Zoroastrian priests in India are required to be male,[1] but women have been ordained in Iran and North America as a mobedyar, meaning an assistant mobed.[2][3]
References
- ^ Nigosian, Solomon Alexander (1993), The Zoroastrian Faith: Tradition and Modern Research, Montreal, Quebec: McGill-Queen's University Press, p. 104, ISBN 077351144X, OCLC 243566889
- ^ Wadia, Arzan Sam (March 9, 2011), "The Jury Is Still Out On Women as Parsi Priests", parsikhabar.net, Parsi Khabar
- ^ Khosraviani, Mahshad (June 19, 2013), "Sedreh Pooshi by Female Mobedyar in Toronto-Canada", parsinews.net, Parsi News, archived from the original on October 9, 2014, retrieved October 10, 2014
Sources
- Boyce, Mary (2001) [1979], Zoroastrians, their religious beliefs and practices, London: Routledge, ISBN 0415239028, OCLC 45438877