Tadany Um refúgio para a alma e um convite à consciência.
(Praying for My Ancestors)
Acharya Tadany
Evening Prayers
Pune, July 29, 2026.
Today, the garden became a sanctuary. As I prayed for my father’s soul, the physical and the subtle worlds seemed to intertwine.
Suddenly, a crow cut across the sky directly before my eyes and, with graceful ease, it traced a perfect circle in the air before settling on the branch of a nearby tree, almost within reach of my fingertips. There it remained, still, watchful, a silent guardian, throughout the entire time that my prayers and intentions were offered to my father’s soul.
Only when the final prayer had dissolved into the silence did it spread its wings and depart.
In the wisdom of Hindu mythology, the crow is the ancestral link, the messenger from the depths that moves freely between the visible and the invisible, carrying messages from one realm to another. To me, it was a visitation, a gentle and affectionate sign of presence.
Then, as is my custom, with my heart still warmed by devotion, I continued praying, now directing that same current of reverence toward the soul of my paternal grandmother. And, as though echoing the first mystery, a white butterfly appeared from nowhere. It danced softly before my eyes, then drifted among the leaves, remaining there for as long as my prayer endured.
And, just like the crow, it waited until the prayer had come to its close before continuing on its way.
In its delicate beauty, the butterfly is the universal symbol of the soul, of transformation, and of rebirth.
Today, as I connected with my ancestors through prayer, the universe answered in the language of symbols.
What I received was not merely the reassurance of their presence, but the living strength of a bond that can never be extinguished, together with a clear message of transformation, for life does not simply fade away; it renews itself.
The physical body reaches its limit and perishes. Yet the love that lives within our hearts, the power of sincere prayer, and the purity of noble intentions transcend time itself and echo throughout eternity.
Acharya Tadany
Translated from Portuguese by ChatGPT.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Zoroastrian Gathas have started from today. There are 5 days of Gathas, when it is said that those who have died visit the earth to give blessings to their family, friends. There are special prayers during these 5 days with flowers kept in vases in fire temples to welcome them.