Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Fwd: Protest by a Devout Parsi Family - Was the Udvada Utsav just an excuse to promote conversion?


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From: TZML Admins
Date: Tue, Jan 26, 2016 at 12:26 AM
Subject: Protest by a Devout Parsi Family - Was the Udvada Utsav just an excuse to promote conversion?
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>


Protest by a Devout Parsi Family - Was the Udvada Utsav just an excuse to promote conversion?

Jame Jamshed Weekly, 24 January 2016

Was the Udvada Utsav just an excuse to promote conversion? We strongly feel that this was part of the agenda.

Why did our ancestors leave Iran to save our fire and faith? If a certain speaker is known for his radical views, he should not have been on the dais in the first place. We don't want anyone else other than Parsi Irani Zoroastrians entering our Agiaries and Atash Behrams. This kind of propaganda proposed by the reformists must be protested against. Since we are a tolerant community it doesn't mean they can talk anything and get away with it.

Zoroastrians at a senior level need to think when they speak as they are icons of the community. Nature doesn't let the wrong things go by. In the long run, everybody has to pay for their sins. We are completely against such events that go against our ancestors' beliefs and religion.

- Hoshang F. Bapuna, Katy H. Blapuna, Neville H. Bapuna, Filly H. Bapuna, Keki H. Bapuna


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.
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>


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