Sunday, September 23, 2007

Salgrehs of Atashbehrams and Agiaries today - Ardibehest Mah, Ardibehest roj YZ 1377 (Fri, 21 Sep 2007)

From: Tehemton B. Adenwalla
Date: Sep 21, 2007 6:50 AM
Subject: Salgrehs of Atashbehrams and Agiaries today - Ardibehest Mah,
Ardibehest roj YZ 1377 (Fri, 21 Sep 2007)
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>


Baname Khuda!


Dear fellow Zarathushtis,


On Ardibehest roj, Ardibehest mah,YZ 1377 (Fri, 21 Sep 2007) are the
Salgrehs of the following Atashbehrams/Agiaries

ATASHBEHRAMS

1. Anjuman Atashbehram in Mumbai.

The latest Zarathushti Atashbehram in India was consecrated in the
year YZ 1267 (17 Oct 1897), and is 110 years old.

AGIARIES

1. Kadmi and Shahenshahi Anjuman Adarian in Poona, Synagogue Street,
Poona 411-001


This adarian was consecrated in the year YZ 1263 (18 Oct 1893) and is
114 years old.
Are there any special jashans and speeches arranged on this day.

If someone attends the salgreh ceremonies, please share the event
proceedings with us.

Sincerely

Tehemton B. Adenwalla
(see enclosed picture/s)

Friday, September 21, 2007

Fwd: Appeal for Jamshed Zaiya-Wadia Daremeher at Nanpura, Surat



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: TZML Admins <tzmladmn@gmail.com>
Date: Sep 21, 2007 7:30 AM
Subject: Appeal for Jamshed Zaiya-Wadia Daremeher at Nanpura, Surat
To: TZML Admn <tzmladmn@gmail.com>

Dear Zarathushti humdins,
 
we have received an appeal on behalf of the Jamshed Zaiya-Wadia Daremeher located at Nanpura, Surat. This was sent to us by our conscientious community member Mrs Khursheed Behram Irani of Mumbai.
 
We also enclose the appeal by the Palia Mohalla Local Agiary Committee which is connected to the Surat Parsi Charity Funds & Properties Trust.
 
Fellow humdins, please help this deserving cause.
 
Sincerely
 
TZML Admins
 
(Please see enclosed appeals in text format below. Also check the attachment files for more details)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: khursheed irani <khushbeh4251@yahoo.com >
 
Sep 14, 2007

 
We  had been on a "Pilgrimage tour" to Surat Navsari and Udwada to pray  to all our Atash padshahs and for a mission completed....

There was a small Agiyari in Surat, by the name of Jamshed Zaiya-Wadia Daremeher, which though located in a Parsi mohalla with 3 priest families residing, the ever greedy trustees had planned to put it out for sale about 3 years back. It was at this time that I had taken yet another trip to Surat, Navsari and Udwada and when I went to pay my respect to that agiyari amongst others I was shocked and dismayed by its total neglected condition.

I had then actualy felt as if a voice was asking me to be instrumental in reviving it.

Well, having never ever visited Surat in my life before  and not knowing anybody there I was shocked myself when I told behram while coming out of the agiyari that "I dont know how or why but somehow i have promised and asked Padshah Saheb to help me to do this deed".... I went about talking to practically all the Zoroastrians living in the mohalla and around.... even the priest who was attending to the agiyari as also others to know the main reason for neglect and they all maintained in unison that the trustees are no more interested in funding this agiyari and are keen to shift the padshah saheb to another agiyari and sell of this peice of land....PADSHAH SAHEB NE KA THEKANE LAAV VANA TENU DECIDE KARI RAHIYACH…. THESE WERE THE ACTUAL WORDS….

When i asked them if they would join me in my mission, all of them were behind me.... some elderly ones virtually in tears beseeching me to help them visit the agiyari again....

With Ahura Mazda's divine hand, out of the blue I met a very traditional college friend who hailed from surat and told her about the condition of THAT AGIYARI WHERE HER NAVJOTE HAD BEEN PERFORMED.... as was expected she was furious.... after gathering more "Surti traditional protestors" and her munificient donation of a handsome Rs.8 lacs today we stand VINDICATED AND VICTORIOUS.
 
Mr Darius Master, a trustee of  the Surat Parsi Anjuman has graciously taken up the onus of looking after the agiyari and has started building up a respectable corpus so that we would NEVER EVER HAVE TO HOLD OUT OUR HANDS ABEGGING TO THE TRUST TO CONTINUE REVERENCE TO ATHRO AHURA MAZDAO PUTHRA.
 
We have aimed at collecting about Rs.15 lacs as corpus and am proud to say that with the help of many a donor we have come up to about Rs.6 lacs.
 
TODAY I AM STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU FELLOW ZOROASTRIANS TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HELP US TO GIVE OUR PADSHAH SAHEB ITS DIGNITY AND IN RETURN BE BLESSED FOR SUCH A DEED.

I thus beseech all of you to donate and donate IN PROPORTION TO YOUR EARNINGS.
 
If I may add the Anjuman has started a totally separate trust to fund this agiyari alone. They have promised to give an annual account of the income and expenditiure and the donors will get the tax benefit for the same.

 
Please feel free to write to me, meet me personally, or call me up on the following numbers/address.
 
PS.  I am forwarding the actual appeal Palia Mohalla agiary Local Committee and a photo of the Jamshed Zaiya-Wadia Daremeher  as attachments to you all.
 
My Contact Details:
 
Mrs. Khursheed Behram Irani
7, Cyrus,  1 Gaothan Lane,  S V Road,  Andheri West, Mumbai 400 058…
Tel. no.  022 262-81232,
Mobile: 981-993-5346
 
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Sunday, September 9, 2007

Dastooorji Kokadaroo Baj (Death Anniversary) on Behram roj, Farvardin mah

From: Tehemton B. Adenwalla
Date: Sep 8, 2007 12:12 PM
Subject: Re: Dastooorji Kokadaroo Baj (Death Anniversary) on Behram
roj, Farvardin mah
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>

Baname Khuda!

Dear Zarathushtis,

today on Behram roj, Farvardin mah is the Baj (death anniversary) of
Dasturji Kookadaroo (a very recent Zoroastrian "saint" )

The full name of Dasturji Kookadaroo is Dastur Jamshid Sohrabji Kookadaroo.

Please find below the life and teachings of Dasturji Kookadaroo.

Sincerely
Tehemton B. Adenwalla
(please see below)

________________________________


We respect Dasturji Kookadaru as a great spiritual personage of our
religion. Our religion askes us to pay homage to the righteous
Fravashis of men and women of all races around the world. Since
Dasturji was a true righteous Zoroastrian, we pay homage to his
Fravashi.


A TZML member says:

"I for one, am a firm believer of Dasturji Kookadaru and on a personal
level I have experienced his divine help several times, whenever I am
in great difficulty all I do is take his name silently (Dastur Jamshed
Ervad Sohrab) and the difficulty just vanishes, like magic! Many
devout zoroastrians will bear me out on this."

Here is a brief life sketch of Dastur Kookadaru from the book "Galaxy
of Parsi Saints" by Ervad Erach D. Daboo for the benefit of our TZML
members.

Dastoor Kookana of the Blessed Soul

Dastoorji Jamshedji Sohrabji Kookana was also known as Dastoorji
Kookadaru, daroo being derived from the original word "Andhyaroo"
meaning priest. Mobed sahibs performing "Paav Mahel" i.e. Yazashne,
Vendidad, Nirangdin ceremonies have the honorific epithet "daroo"
attached to their names e.g. Rustomdaroo, Darabdaroo, Nalladaroo
prevalent even today.

Kookadaroo's dasturship was not hereditary, however he was assigned
the Gaadi of dasturship in view of his Ashoi (holiness) and pure,
simple and abstentious life and perfect sound knowledge of and grasp
of overall Hoshmordi (non paav-mahel or ordinary ceremonies). This
title was thus given to him out of respect, adoration and veneration
for him. His opinions were held authoritative and binding in all
matters connected with religion, customs, tradition and ceremonies and
the ancient Iranian history as they were based on testimonies from
religious books. His advice and opinions were thus treated as final.
His life was very simple and in conformity with his glorious title of
a Dastoor (pehlavi Dast-hand-bar= leader). It is said that he cooked
his own food and put on clothes after rewashing them after they were
washed by the washerman. Whenever he had to go from one agiari to
another to perform ceremonies he used to go by foot and never used any
vehicle.

It is said about his holiness and "Amal" (power) acquired from Paav
Mahel ceremonies that when the Anjuman Atashbehram in Bombay was going
to be newly established the managers began to experience paucity of
funds. They could not collect the necessary amount and were
disheartened. On coming to know of this Dasturji Kookadaru prayed in
the fire temple the whole night, performed various religious
ceremonies and through his power and expertise in Alchemy, he produced
the requisite quantity of gold which on being given the next day to
the managers could fetch the exact amount of shortfall necessary in
the funds. Thus like former Dastoors such as Ardaviraf, Tansar,
Adarbad Marespand, Nairyosang Dhaval and Meherji Rana, Dastoorji
Kookadaru was an equally holy Dastoor possessing Amal. (power of
achievement).

He was born on Roj Jamyad Mah Avan Shahenshahi and paased away at a
ripe age on Roj Behram Mah Fravadin. He had the power to foretell
anyone's future events, behaviour, nature etc. only by looking at
his/her face.

His name with those of other dastoors is recited with respect as
"Ayderyadbad Anoshe raven ravani" i.e. the immortal soul of Dastur
Jamshed Ervad Sohrab is remembered here with due respect.

- from the book "Galaxy of Parsi Saints" by Ervad Erach D. Daboo

[As reproduced from

http://tenets.zoroastrianism.com/grtdast33.html ]

Friday, September 7, 2007

Farvardegan day on Farvardin roj, Farvardin mah (Fri, 7th Sept 2007)

From: Tehemton B. Adenwalla
Date: Sep 7, 2007 6:29 AM
Subject: Farvardegan day on Farvardin roj, Farvardin mah (Fri, 7th Sept 2007)
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>


Baname Khuda!

Dear Zarathoshti humdins,

today on Friday 7 Sept 2007, is Farvardin mah, Farvardin roj, called
the Farvardegan day.

On this day we remember fondly the Fravashis of all those who passed away.

And we also pay homage to Zarathushti saints and ancient Kyanian and
saintly kings today.

The prayers ideal for today are Satum-no-Kardo (Stom Karta) and those
who have time, the Farvardin Yasht.

Many Zarathushtis will be going to the Doongerwadi in Mumbai (and
other places) for the jashans and other ceremonies which will be
performed today.

The Mumbai ceremony may be in the evening, but could someone please
confirm that.

The Doongerwadi at Kemps Corner in Mumbai is a very good place to
visit today. It is a lush green belt, ecologically healthy and
environmentally friendly place. The whole area is serene and calm and
if one is lucky one may spot even the peacocks who run around freely.

Lastly, we hope and pray that the current Dokhmenashini crisis be over
soon, and our community gains wisdom to follow the traditional methods
only. We should not be succumbed by the other "scientific" and "modern
methods", and of course also never to allow electric crematoriums and
burial methods to take place at Doongerwadi.

Sincerely
Tehemton B. Adenwalla

Salgreh of the Sodawaterwalla agiary in Mumbai on Farvardin roj, Farvardin mah, YZ 1377 (7 Sept 2007)

From: Tehemton B. Adenwalla
Date: Sep 7, 2007 6:31 AM
Subject: Salgreh of the Sodawaterwalla agiary in Mumbai on Farvardin
roj, Farvardin mah, YZ 1377 (7 Sept 2007)
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>


Baname Khuda!

Dear fellow Zarathushtis,

today on Farvardin roj, Farvardin mah, YZ 1377 (ie. Fri, 7 Sept 2007)
is the Salgreh of the Sodawaterwalla Agiary, located at Marine Lines,
Mumbai.

Some years ago there was a lot of activity in getting this agiary,
which was then in a poor state, to be repaired.

Has anything happened so far?

Does anyone have a more recent photo of this agiary which we can all
view, if so please share with us.

On salgreh day today, will there be any jashans, or other function, or
lectures. If you happen to know, please let us all be aware.

Sincerely
Tehemton B. Adenwalla

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Dadabhai Naoroji's birthday on 4th Sept : The Grand Old Man Of India

From: TZML Eductn & Information Committee
Date: Sep 4, 2007 3:48 AM
Subject: Dadabhai Naoroji's birthday on 4th Sept : The Grand Old Man Of India
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>

Dear friends,
 
today on 4th Sept is the 182nd birthday of the great Dadabhoy Naoroji, a giant who treaded softly on the Indian political scene before Mahatma Gandhi, who described Dadabhai as a 'dada' (elder person) to him.
 
Dadabhoy's humane qualities and how he adhered to principles, even at the cost of great personal losses is a lesson for all of us, especially in these days of corruption.
 
We share with you a write-up on Dadabhoy Naoraji.
 
What a great and modest man, certainly worthy of emulation by our youth and elders today.
 
 
With best wishes,
 
TZML Education and Information Committee
 
 

Dadabhai Naoroji : The Grand Old Man Of India 

 

Dadabhai Naoroji : The Grand Old Man Of India

 

Born: On 4th September 1825, at Bombay.

Died: On 30th June 1917, at Bombay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dadabhai Naoroji, affectionately called the "Grand Old Man of India", was born to a priest's family in Bombay. He studied in the Elphinstone College and became a professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy there at the age of 27. He was the first Indian to become a professor of the college.

 

At age thirty, he left for England, where he was to spend most of his life writing about the condition of people in India and trying to influence public opinion for Indian self-rule. He lost an election to   the British Parliament as a member of the Liberal party in 1886, but was elected from Central Finsbury, London, in 1892 as a Liberal member.

 

In 1895 he was appointed to the royal commission on Indian expenditure. He was instrumental in propagating the view that India was too heavily taxed, and its wealth was flowing to England. These views were summarised in his book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India', published in 1901.

 

He returned to India on several occasions; once in 1895, at the request of the Gaekwad of Baroda to serve as his chief minister. He resigned two years later over a difference in opinion about political reforms in the princely state.

 

He was present at the first meeting of the Indian National Congress in 1885 and was thrice elected to the post of the president, in 1886, 1893 and again in 1906. During his third term, he prevented a split between moderates and extremists in the party. The Congress' demand for swaraj (independence) was first expressed publicly by him in his presidential address in 1906. He died in Bombay on June 30, 1917.

 

We have glowing testimonies about Dadabhai's sterling qualities.   It is said that he was extremely hard working, thoroughly researched his work to support the data he presented and that he had a phenomenal memory. He worked without a secretary or a typewriter. Instead, he had to use what that period offered him — a pen which had to be dipped in ink. He wrote in long hand and was composing about 20 letters each day. He wrote to various people — governors, politicians, both Indian and British leaders, to his colleagues, private men, newspapers — all the time encouraging and inspiring and guiding them to fight for the betterment of India.

 

[ He refused to be suggested for a knighthood, explaining, "My work has been for duty and not for titular honour." ]

 

Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, has reverently described that Dadabhai was like a 'dada' (elder person) to him. He recalls that when he was a young student in London, he and other Indians would frequently go to Dadabhoy's house there for advice and consultation.

 

Dadabhai harboured no malice for anyone - even those he opposed in economic and political circles. This was a rare quality in a man engaged in a political life.   He took on the British Government — which he saw was impoverishing India and filling Britain's coffers — not by threats and abuses, but by facts and figures. But towering all these qualities was Dadabhai's moral integrity.

 

One is told that so highly respected was he that even radical youths who moved towards extremism in the fight for India's independence, listened to his advice with respect, as they did to no other leader of that era.

 

There is another account of an incident in Calcutta, where people took the dust off the ground on which Dadabhai walked and sprinkled it on their heads, because they looked up to him as a man who had given a new meaning to their lives.

 

In spite of all his achievements, Dadabhai was an extremely modest man and when he found out that his name had been suggested for knighthood, he wrote to the then Governor Of Bombay, "My work has been for duty and not for titular honour. I would regret it if the suggestion is considered."

 

[ Even radical youths, who moved towards extremism, listened to his advice with respect, as they did to no other leader of that era. ]

 

In an obituary appearing in the Times Of India of 3rd July 1917, it read, "Dadabhai was the first Indian who devoted himself entirely to furthering the secular interests of his motherland, to the total exclusion of all thoughts of a personal career. The people of India have always held in high honour the idea of renunciation. Because Dadabhai Naoroji lived a life of complete renunciation in order to carry on the work of securing political justice for his countrymen, the millions who had never seen him felt for the Grand Old Man a passionate enthusiasm bordering almost on hero worship."

 

(end)