[Traditional Zs] Re: Salgreh of some Atashbehram/Agiaries/Dadgahs in the coming days (of Tir mah)

From: Tehemton B. Adenwalla
Date: Dec 17, 2007 2:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Traditional Zs] Re: Salgreh of some
Atashbehram/Agiaries/Dadgahs in the coming days (of Tir mah)
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>

Baname Khuda!

Dear brother Khushroo,

Very good report.

It seems the buildings themselves are being deserted, but the Atash
Padshah Sahebs are given a new house.

Nothing wrong in itself, we are still doing good as long as we take
care of consecrated Atashes.
The kathi supply problem you mentioned is to be handled on a
war-footing basis, it seems.

Perhaps our Mr Rustom Chothia, who manages a kathi fund can comment on
how to assure kathi supply to these far-flung Agiaries and Dadgahs.

Your writing about Ellav was very apt. This is where the Elavias come from.
From Kudiana hail the Kudianiwallas and from Olpad hail the Olpadiwallas.

In your future trips, could you arrange to have a small (digital)
camera so that you can take some photos of these places and share them
with us on TZML.

You will be surprised as to how many Zarathushtis indirectly get TZML
emails by them being forwarded by their friends.

Good information and deals on digital cameras and other
electronic/electrical appliances can be found on this very useful site
http://www.compareindia.com/

Do keep up the good work, this is our collective faraz (duty) and lets
see how we can best mitigate these problems.

Perhaps some common-sense solutions and direction action bypassing
bureaucracy could be the solution.

Lets take name of Behram Yazad and pray for Victory in these matters.

Sincerely
Tehemton B. Adenwalla

On 12/17/07, KHUSHROO PASTAKIA wrote:
>
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> KSHNO THARO AHURE MAZDAO (Victory of Pak Dadar Ahuramazda),
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> Thanks a lot for informing the Salgreh information one day earlier, so I could visit the Elav Adarian, which is now converted into Dadgah.
>
> Elav is around 40 Kms. from Surat and surprisingly there was no visitor on the Salgreh day, as per the feedback from its caretaker Mr. Jemi Patel. He told that there are only 2 families remaining and there was no Kathi left. Well I will ensure for the supply of immediate Kathi, but the future of this Adaryan is once again doubtful.
>
> Once upon a time Elav was well known for big PROSPEROUS Parsee community and where every house was blessed with extremely good wealth, when one enters Elav, there is a big school in the name of Ratanshaw Koyaji, which itself shows the past glory, but thereafter everyone went off for Foreign destinations and now there is nobody left to take care of the Dadgah Saheb.
>
> While returning back to Surat, we also visited to Olpad Dadgah Saheb and that was my most miserable visit to any Adaryan / Dadgah Sahebs. Huge property, but like a KHANDAR, walls with big holes and swinging bricks, just waiting to fall upon. Only three families left in Olpad and nobody to take care of the Dadgah Saheb, except of one family and one never knows when the building will fall down, its in EXTREMELY poor condition. As per the feedback from that family, next month they are shifting the Dadgah Saheb in Surat's Shahenshahi Atashbehram. One more Dadgah Saheb getting closed and the same is the position of Kudiana Dadgah Saheb, nearby Olpad at the verge of closure.
>
> With best regards,
> Khushroo A. Pastakia
>
>

Salgreh of Illav Dadgah on Marespand roj, Tir mah, YZ 1377 (which is Sun, 16th Dec 2007)

From: Tehemton B. Adenwalla
Date: Dec 16, 2007 4:25 PM
Subject: Salgreh of Illav Dadgah on Marespand roj, Tir mah, YZ 1377
(which is Sun, 16th Dec 2007)
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>

Baname Khuda!

Dear Zarathushti humdins,

today on Marespand roj of Tir mah is the Salgreh of the Dadgah at
Illav in the Bharuch district of Surat.

The Seth Jamshedji Burjorji Mistry Daremeher (Dadgah) was consecrated
in the year YZ 1239 (AD 1869) and is hence 138 years old.

What a feat!

Mr. Giara's book, 1st edition, page 90 mentions about this Dadgah and
says that its Salgreh is on roj Amardad, mah Tir; whereas a Parsi
calendar says it is on Marespand roj, Tir mah.

Could someone please clarify the exact Salgreh roj and mah.

The same page also shows the photo of the dadgah, it is not very
healthy looking building.

Perhaps some charitable institution or individual would look into it,
esp since there are only 4 Parsis living there.

Or an individual with generous disposition could help. Instead of
celebrating a lagan or naojote in a family with lot of dhoom-dham and
huge expenses on flowers and decorations, it could be done in a more
simple manner, and the proceeds could go towards the uplift of such
far-flung agiaries and dadgahs. It will certainly be a naojote or
lagan to remember, plus an additional bonus of satisfaction of
committing a good deed. Anyway Parsis need no lesson in charity, hence
this is only a suggestion.

I was inspired to write the above when a non-Parsi friend recently
celebrated his only daughter' first birthday with extreme simplicity.
Even though they could afford a lavish spread, he humbly told me that
they donated the money for a charitable cause.

Long like sakhavat in Parsi and non-Parsi hearts!

Sincerely,
Tehemton B. Adenwalla

[TMYZ] Re: [Traditional Zs] Green agiaries - Having water purification, use of sun rays, compost treatment mini-unit, etc

From: Tehemton B. Adenwalla
Date: Dec 14, 2007 1:27 PM
Subject: Re: [TMYZ] Re: [Traditional Zs] Green agiaries - Having water
purification, use of sun rays, compost treatment mini-unit, etc
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>

Baname Khuda!

Dear brother Kaizad,

thank you for enlightening both TZML and TMYZ members on the
availability of such fine and knowledge-laden books we as the
Zarathushti community possess.

There is so much wisdom in these books you have mentioned.

To be able to have ready-made 17 tariquats for us to put in practise
in this day and age is indeed very good.

I hope all devout Zarathushtis get a copy of these writings and try
and implement them in their daily lives.

On a related subject of "translating it in English", I am bit sad that
even Parsis who have done their education in India want English
translations. Why this step-motherly treatment of our mother-tongue,
which for most Parsis from India is Gujarati.

My hearty and sincere recommendation to fellow-Parsis is that if you
have studied even elementary Gujarati or Hindi in school, then
orienting to the Gujarati religious books is not difficult. The
language is same K, Kh, G, Gg, etc.

There is a certain pleasure in reading our religious books in original
language which the authors like Dr F S Chiniwalla who is mentioned
here. With translation, some much of the essence and spirit is lost.
It is as if the eastern Zarathushti religion is brought down a level
or two to cater for the western and limited understanding of the
Zarathushti religion. So many words and emotions cannot be effectively
translated without losing accuracy.

And most important the pronunciation of the Avesta manthras is not the
same in English as in Gujarati, which has a superior way of
representing important sounds than the current version of English can.

If fellow Zarathushtis wish to brush up their Gujarati, then we have
these very good sites:

http://tenets.zoroastrianism.com/readguj33b.html

http://www.ukindia.com/zguj1.htm

Gujarati Lessons Zip file by Ukindia

My apologies to Ervad Meher for not yet replying to your fine email a
few days ago.

I will do so shortly.

With best wishes
Tehemton B. Adenwalla

The Parsee Voice issue - cautioning on sinister developments in Udvada

From: TZML Admins
Date: Dec 12, 2007 3:29 PM
Subject: The Parsee Voice issue - cautioning on sinister developments in Udvada
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: The Parsee Voice

12 December 2007

Dear Zarathushti humdins,

cc: Vada Dasturjis,
Ervad Sahebs,
The Parsee Voice,
Zoroastrian Studies,
Parsi Pukar,
Dini-Awaz,
Prominent Zoroastrians,
TZML
TMYZ officials

we have received a latest copy of the Parsee Voice, which is a journal
that protects the interests of the community.

The latest issue deals with Udvada and the efforts by some
Zarathushtis to convert Udvada into a "tourist town", and bring in
non-Zoroastrian tourists in this peaceful village-town. This is
clearly not how Udvada, which houses the greatest of our Holy Atashes
- the Iranshah - should be categorised.

Udvada is, firstly and lastly, a religious place, not a tourist destination.

Zoroastrians primarily go to Udvada for worshipping Iranshah, and it
is important that the atmosphere around Iranshah in Udvada must be
kept sanctified and pure. While Zoroastrians themselves commit big
errors in the rules of bodily and spiritual purity before going to
Iranshah (like not taking a shower/bath or even performing the
necessary kusti), one can just imagine what would happen when
non-Zoroastrians would descend in droves at Udvada gaam.

There is a need for increasing the Zarathushti presence in Udvada,
there is a need for young and middle-aged Parsi families to settle in
Udvada and bring some life to the place, there is a need for small
scale "cottage industries" to be promoted in Udvada to give both
Zarathushtis and non-Zarathushtis a livelihood, but apart from that
any large scale activities will ruin the place.

The Foundation for Development of Udvada (FDU) should bear all this in
mind before it encourages any activity which could be detrimental to
the sanctified atmosphere of Udvada.

The Parsee Voice, with its knowledgeable team and well-researched
outlook, have come out with an issue which makes us sit back and think
whether we as a community are headed in the right direction.

There are some sinister motives behind organising and celebrating the
recent 265th Anniversary of Iranshah's coming to Udvada. This event
was organised with much fanfare, but one does wonder, as the Parsee
Voice does, is who would celebrate the an odd anniversary as 265th.
Normally one celebrates a 250th or a 275th or 300th Anniversary, but
265th? And another aspect which rings an alarm is the FDU was not
mentioned during the celebrations, why such secrecy and silence.

Hence dear Zarathushtis, please be alert and vigilant.

We enclose the Parsee Voice, Vol IV (11 and 12) and Vol V (1 & 2) as a
PDF attachment for you to read and pass along to other good
Zarathushti families.

The address for correspondence for The Parsee Voice is
theparseevoice@yahoo.com.

Our sincere thanks to the team at Parsee Voice and we hope they
continue their good work in 2008 and beyond.

With best wishes
TZML Admins

(encl The Parsee Voice issue)

[Traditional Zs] Re: Salgreh of some Atashbehram/Agiaries/Dadgahs in the coming days (of Tir mah)

From: Tehemton B. Adenwalla
Date: Dec 7, 2007 6:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Traditional Zs] Re: Salgreh of some
Atashbehram/Agiaries/Dadgahs in the coming days (of Tir mah)
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>

Baname Khuda!

PETIT DADGAH, RUSTOMPURA, SURAT (SALGREH ON ROJ ARDIBEHEST, MAH MEHER)

Dear Mr. Pastakia,

thank you for the clarification.

I believe the date you have given Roj Ardibehest, Mah Meher ( which
will be 18th Feb in 2007) has been issued by the authorities of the
Agiary. I checked with a Gujarati calendar issues by the Union Press
and it had the same roj-mah too.

The earlier date was obtained by me from Mr. Giara's first edition
book. Perhaps it has been corrected in a subsequent edition.

Thank you for your alertness and painstaking effort to clarify the
matter for all of us.

Good wishes to yourself and the family.

Sincerely
Tehemton B. Adenwalla

On 12/7/07, KHUSHROO PASTAKIA wrote:

Please note 1 correction in the below mentioned message, its Mah-Maher
& Roj Ardibehst.

KSHNO THARO AHURA MAZDAO (Victory of Pak Dadar Ahura Mazda)
The Salgiri of Petit Dadgah, located in Mota Street, Rustompura is on
18th February'07, Mah-Asfandard and Roj-Ardibehst.

Salgrehs on Behram roj, Tir mah, YZ 1377 ( Fri, 7 Dec 2007)

From: Tehemton B. Adenwalla
Date: Dec 7, 2007 5:47 AM
Subject: Salgrehs on Behram roj, Tir mah, YZ 1377 ( Fri, 7 Dec 2007)
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>

Baname Khuda!

Dear Zarathushti humdins,

today is the Behram roj of Tir Mah. The year is YZ 1377, and the
secular date is 7 Dec 2007.

Behram Yazad, the Lord of Victory!

What a wonderful Protector we have in Behram Yazad, who is indeed
Mushkil-e-Aasan.

Some Zarathushtis would have headed towards Udvada today to pay homage
to Iranshah, and some of them do it devotedly and religiously every
month. What dedication, what affection for the religion, and what a
commitment to Ahura Mazda and His putra (son) Adar Yazad!
Commendable indeed!

Today on Behram roj is also the Salgreh of these Agiaries:

1. The Seth Behramji Cowasji Batliwalla Agiary, Tardeo, Mumbai

This Adaran was consecrated in the year YZ 1234 (AD 10 Jan 1865) and
is 142 years old.

2. The Bodhan Anjuman Daremeher, Bodhan, Gujarat

Our member Mr. Khushroo A. Pastakia mentions that the Atash Padshah
Saheb there was shifted from Bodhan to the Bagee Padshah Adarian at
Sayadpura in Surat.

Is it right to conclude then that the Padshah Saheb is still with us,
although in different location and building and that the consecrated
Fire did not die out.

Hence is it correct to say that the Atash's Salgreh is still today on
Behram roj, because in my humble understanding the consecrated date
does not change when the Atash is re-housed somewhere, or does it? I
would believe that the consecrated date (and hence the Salgreh day)
remains the same always, unless a Fire is re-consecrated when it is
located elsewhere.

Isnt it like the birthday of a human being. He/she is born on a
particular roj and mah, and that is his/her birthday (salgreh),
irrespective of where the person moves to.

We had this discussion before too for other Atashes which have been
relocated, examples of the Billimoria and the Tavdi agiaries come to
mind.

We would really appreciate if someone knowledgable offer their opinion
on this topic.

Thank you Mr. Pastakia for sharing the information with us, but you
appreciate why we are still including this Atash Padshah in the
Salgreh list for today Behram roj.

On another note, devotees who attend the Salgreh ceremonies like
jashans or lectures etc held today, or of their visit to Iranshah, may
send us a report if they wish to.

Sincerely
Tehemton B. Adenwalla

Please feed poor school children in India

Friends,

A few moments of your time please.

Please feed poor school children in India at a nominal cost.

You can donate online in Indian rupees. It costs
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Indian scriptures say giving food in charity
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Regards,

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Zoroastrian Matrimonial Page.

Pls spread the message. Anybody willing to help poor school children.