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>
The Tenets of the Mazdayasni Zarathushtri religion, as believed in by thousands of faithful Parsis/Irani Zoroastrians. Standing up for our Glorious religion on the internet since the mid 1990s. The complete tenets and many articles are on http://tenets.parsizoroastrianism.com
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