Fwd: Who are we to Reform?, asks Dr.Coyaji from Pune. The Vendidad mentions the various spiritual ill-effects of inter-marriages.

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From: TZML Admins
Date: Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 11:02 PM
Subject: Who are we to Reform?, asks Dr.Coyaji from Pune. The Vendidad mentions the various spiritual ill-effects of inter-marriages.
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WHO ARE WE TO REFORM?

Jame Jamshed Weekly, 24 January 2016

The Vendidad mentions that the religion is against marriage of a Parsi Zoroastrian (man or woman) outside the faith and explains the various spiritual ill-effects of such a marriage.

If we pray in Jasme Avangahe Mazda that our religion is the Shresht (best), then isn't it pompous to reform this Shresht (best) religion? 

It pains me to know that at the recently concluded Udvada Utsav, the Vada Dasturji of Udvada (Khur­shed Dastoor) endorsed a speech supporting conversion and inter-marriage.

All our rites, rituals and ways of living are prescribed in the Vendidad, but does anyone want to listen?

They say all this was not written by Zarathush­tra, only the Gathas were written by Him. So, was the Bible written by Jesus Christ; was the Quran written by Prophet Mohammed  and, was the Bhagwad Gita written by Lord Ram?

My guide in religious matters was firstly and mainly, my father, who was a Navar and Maratab. His eldest brother, Darashaw Coyaji, and their father, were practicing Mobeds in Surat. My father was very well-versed in religion. He stated that according to the fundamental principles of religion, there are several great religions and each has a Prophet; a person from one Prophet's fold cannot leave and go to another.

The Vendidad has 22 chapters (Fragard). In chap­ter 18, verses 63, 64 and 65 mention that the religion is against marriage of a Parsi Zoroastrian (man or woman) outside the faith and explain the various spiritual ill-effects of such a marriage.

It is often argued that at the time of Zarathushtra, people must have been converted to the Zoroastrian religion. That is not so. From ancient times we were Mazdayasnis (our scrip­tures state: Mazdayasno Ahmi, Mazdyasno Zarathush­trish).

So, we speak of Din-e‑Mazdayasni, Dad-e-Zarathushti (i.e. of Mazadayasni religion and of the laws of Zarathushtra).

Now all these Parsis are out to 'reform' our own great Zarathushtra's religion? Even those Parsis who pray just one short Kusti prayer in the whole day must be reciting "Mazishtaacha, Vahistaacha, Sreshtaacha" in Jasme Avenghe Mazda.

Do they know the meaning? We are thanking Zara­thushtra for giving as the Shresht religion (best reli­gion). We are going to reform this Shresht (best) religion? How pompous have we become!

- Dr. Goolcheher D. Coyaji

Pune