Tishtrya and rains During certain months, the star Sirius is not seen in the sky.

When it is seen again, the rains start. Hence, people eagerly await the sight of
Tishtrya, as it is the harbinger of rains. Tishtrya Yazad is instrumental in
bringing rains to this world. A part of Tir Yasht tells us about the process of
formation of rain and how Tishtrya helps in creation and distribution of rains. A
Jashan with the invocation khshnuman of Tishtrya is done when there are no rains
even after the advent of the monsoon season. Tishtrya is the co-worker Hamkara of
Khordad, who is the Ameshaspand who presides over waters and water bodies which
depend on rains like the lakes and the oceans. Rain is not just the bringer of
water, it is also the bringer of divine currents and healing, which cleanses and
rejuvenates the earth. Hence Tishtar is said to be the Ahu and Ratu that is it
works at a physical as well as a spiritual level to heal the world. Tishtrya
against evil Another important function of Tishtrya is to fight against elemental
evil entities like pairikas and keep them at bay. That is why all Evil forces are
afraid of Tishtrya. According to the Pahlavi book Bundahishn rains helps crop grow
and it also kills noxious creatures on earth. Tir Yasht Tir Yasht is dedicated to
Tir Yazad. It is the 8th in the list of Yashts. It has 16 kardas chapters having 61
paragraphs. Though it is considered a larger Yasht, it is comparatively shorter
among the larger Yashts. The 16 kardas of Tir Yasht can be briefly summarized as
follows 1 Tir Yazad brings rain and combines as the Ahu and Ratu of the world. He
also works with the moon and is the giver of luck and fortune. 2 Its origin is from
Apam Napat the root of Divine Energy and Water. The star is visible from afar. 3
Man and animals alike wait for Tishtrya to rise so that springs may get water. 4
Teshtar comes near Sea Vourukasha with the speed of the arrow of Erekhsha. Ahura
Mazda and Mithra opens the path for Tishtrya. 5 Tishtrya destroys physical and
spiritual evil. With the help of Satavaesa he brings rains to the Iranian nations.
6 Tishtrya complains to Ahura Mazda that man is not invoking me and so I am weak
and Apaosha the demon of drought is strong. Ahura Mazda tells the people to pray to
Tishtrya and also to Satavaesa Haptoiring and Vanat. Tishtrya takes 3 forms for 10
days each. These may be astronomical formations. For the first 10 days of the month
Tishtrya comes in the form of a 15 year old Youth. For the second 10 days he comes
in the form of a Bull with golden horns. For the third 10 days, he comes in the
form of a white Horse with yellow horns and a golden caparison. As Tishtrya
approaches the sea Vourukasha in the form of a white horse, Apaosh comes in the
form of a black horse. They fight for 3 days and nights. Apaosh defeats Tishtrya
and drives him away from the vicinity of the sea Vourukasha. Tishtrya complains to
Ahura Mazda that people don�t pray to him, if they did he would get the strength of
10 horses 10 camels 10 bulls 10 mountains and 10 rivers. Hormazd invokes Tishtrya
and he gets the above strength. Tishtrya once again fights with Apaosha defeats him
in half a day and drives him away from the vicinity of the sea Vourukasha. Tishtrya
rejoices at his victory. He approaches sea Vourukasha and the waters of the sea
rejoice, flow and agitate. Now water, in the form of vapour rises up from the sea
and becomes clouds. Then Tishtrya brings wind from the path of Hom and the 7
Keshvars regions. Apam Napat distributes the water and the Divine Energy with the
help of wind and the Fravashis. 7 For the happiness of Ahura Mazda and Ameshaspands
Tishtrya travels from one side of the earth to the other. 8 The way Tishtrya rises,
one can know whether it will be a good year of rains or bad year. Hence all
mankind, creatures and plants eagerly look forward to his rising. 9 Till Tishtrya
reaches Mount Khanvant Ahura Mazda Ameshaspands Mithra Ashi and Parendi helps it.
10 Tishtrya fights Pairikas evil entitits which oppose stars and blows them out of
sea Vourukasha. Then rain bearing clouds gather and it rains on the 7 regions of
the earth. 11 All types of water bodies stagnant, flowing and spring, long for the
rising of Tishtrya. 12 Tishtrya purifies the waters and cleans all harmful things
from them. 13 Ahura Mazda has appointed Zarathushtra the leader of all men and
Tishtrya has been appointed leader of all stars. 14 Tishtrya goes in the form of a
white horse to the waters of the sea Vourukasha. When Tishtrya is worshipped, he
gets the benefit and healing waters from sea Vourukash and distributes them to all
places. 15 All creations humans, animals and birds wait for the coming of Tishtrya.
16 He who makes Tishtrya happy gets many boons whether he asks for them or not.
Tishtrya was created to defeat the evil of draught. If Iranian countries invoke
Tishtrya he will protect them. The last 5 paragraphs of the 16th Kardeh gives the
dos and donts of ritual participation. Ways of invoking Tishtrya According to the
last Kardeh of Tir Yasht the people who invoke and pray to Tishtrya should be clean
of body and mind, and should have good intent. Priests in fire temples invoke
Tishtya by performing the baj, Yasna or Afringan rituals with the invocation of
Tishtrya. The best way for a layman to invoke Tishtrya is to pray the Tir Yasht. It
is what Tir Yazad looks forward to. It gives him happiness and strength to help the
world. However for some reason one is not able to pray the Yasht, one can pray the
short prayer with the invocation of Tishtrya, which is available in the authentic
book of Nirangs by Ervad Phiroze S. Masani. If for some reason one cannot even say
the Nirang, than one can recite the short Pazand invocation: Ya teshtar tir yazad
beresad 21 times, and follow it up with the recitation of one Ashem Vohu,
especially everyday during the month of Tir. Invocation of Teshtar Tir Yazad is of
great physical, mental and spiritual benefit to all devotees. If not round the
year, then Tir Yazad needs to be invoked during the roz and the mah dedicated to
it, or at least once a year on the festival of tirangan, that is on Tir roz of the
tir mah, the special day of the year dedicated to Teshtar Tir Yazad.