tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55434476645364692562024-03-17T19:42:19.971+05:30Traditional ZoroastrianismThe 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.comDeen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.comBlogger260125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-67467304664724573992017-08-16T10:26:00.000+05:302017-08-16T10:26:13.795+05:30Appeal from MANCHERJI EDALJI JOSHI MEMORIAL TRUST - FOOD SCHEME – 2017 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Appeal from <span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "libre baskerville" , serif; font-size: 16px;">MANCHERJI EDALJI JOSHI MEMORIAL TRUST - </span><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "libre baskerville" , serif;">FOOD SCHEME – 2017 </span><br />
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DEAR ZOROASTRIAN BRETHREN:</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u>SUB : FOOD SCHEME: PAN No AAATM0598H. </u></strong></div>
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Season’s Greetings and wishing you and your Family a Very Happy and Prosperous PARSI NEW YEAR.</div>
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We are once again approaching all Zoroastrian Brethren for donation towards the ‘FOOD SCHEME” which we run for old and poor Members of our Community.</div>
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While engaging in the holy days of MUKTAD and GATHAS, followed by PATETI and the festival of NAVROZE with our dear ones, let’s remember the less fortunate brethren in our community and lets open our hearts to help them with two square meals a day, through our Food Scheme.</div>
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We are fortunate enough to get good donations past many years, which has helped us run the above Facility for deserving Zoroastrians.</div>
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The FOOD SCHEME is run by MANCHERJI EDALJI JOSHI MEMORIAL TRUST to feed the Old and Poor Infirm of our community, which not only supervises cooking of food, but also delivery of the same to the community Members are done through Dabbawalas.</div>
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There are many old and infirm neglected by the Society, some of them by their own children and Family and are fighting for their survival, who need your attention. Most of them are frail, weak and bed ridden and do not have even strength to go to the roadside food stall and depend on their neighbours to bring some food for them to survive.</div>
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In this world, very often, the efforts of an individual are not significant enough to make a difference. But collectively, it is possible for a group to do much more than the sum of the individual parts.</div>
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We all fortunate Zoroastrians have to ensure that the food scheme continues to operate feeding these deserving members of our community.</div>
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Thanks to the munificence and largesse of benevolent individuals and donors we are able to tend to their daily meals. But the demand is much in excess of the Funds generated and hence this appeal. Your generous contribution will help us in reaching out to our poor brethren.</div>
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We are a Public Registered Trust registered with the Charity Commissioner under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961. Amongst our Charitable activities is the Food Scheme where the Trust undertakes to feed the old infirm / handicapped and under privileged of our community. This scheme was started as you are aware in January 2003. Your generous donation will enable us to continue to feed the poor and to reach out to a larger section of these not so fortunate within our Community.</div>
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When we first started we were supplying meals to ten persons, two meals a day. Today this service is extended to 140 persons in all. As word gets around, more applicants approach us or are referred to us and only after thorough inquiries are the same added to our list of beneficiaries.</div>
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The annual expenses for running the Food Scheme has now over shot Rs 30.70 Lakh per year.</div>
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Donations over the years have increased due to the foresight of our initial donors who have put the Scheme on the net and also by word of mouth as more people get to hear about this scheme. You will however appreciate that funds are necessary to run this scheme effectively and hence our yearly appeal to you.</div>
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The enclosed chart will give you a detailed and latest break up for the Food Scheme, its beneficiaries, their categories and approximate expenditure involved in feeding them.</div>
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Our accounts are duly audited and filed with Charity Commissioner and every donor small or big is immediately issued a receipt. Donations of Rs. 5000/- and more are also sent the break up of Food Scheme so that they know how exactly their donation is being utilized.</div>
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On behalf of the Trust, I once again appeal to you for your generous support to our Food Scheme.</div>
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Your donations can be made by cheque in favour of “MANCHERJI EDALJI JOSHI MEMORIAL TRUST”.</div>
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Further enquiries are also welcome via e-mail to :</div>
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<a href="mailto:Food_aid@mejmt.org" style="border: 0px; color: #e1122a; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Food_aid@mejmt.org</a> & <a href="mailto:hnd@vsnl.com" style="border: 0px; color: #e1122a; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">hnd@vsnl.com</a></div>
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Your Donations can be sent to:</div>
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Jesia Building,</div>
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797 Jam E Jamshed Rd</div>
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Parsi Colony, Dadar (E),</div>
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Mumbai 400 014</div>
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Ph. 2414 9571</div>
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623, Lady Jehangir Rd</div>
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Parsi Colony, Dadar (E)</div>
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Mumbai 400 014</div>
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Ph: 2415 1354</div>
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Sethna Building</div>
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2/689, Dinshaw Master Rd</div>
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Parsi Colony Dadar E</div>
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Mumbai 400 014</div>
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Ph: 2411 2330</div>
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Kindly give widest possible publicity to this note, by forwarding the same to your family members and Zoroastrian friends to get maximum support to this noble cause.</div>
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We have now added a new scheme into our Food Scheme.</div>
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We have started a facility now, where in, Donors desiring to donate food on a particular day, (may be a happy occasion in the family, or a remembrance day), can do so.</div>
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We will take donation for providing Food on a particular day on behalf of the donor and communicate the Food Scheme beneficiaries about the same.</div>
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Hoping to receive favourable response from you,</div>
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With Kind Regards</div>
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Homi N Daruwalla</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u>LIST OF BENEFICIARIES & ESTIMATE OF YEARLY EXPENSES OF THE FOOD SCHEME (AS AT 31.01.2016)</u></strong></div>
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<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="149">A</td><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="293">Old and infirm and poor Zoroastrians who have no one to turn to</td><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="152">70</td><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="177">24,65,820</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="149">B</td><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="293">Parsee children of J.B. Vachha School for Parsi Girls (Dadar)</td><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="152">9</td><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="177">36,600</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="149">C</td><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="293">Khandias, Nassesalars and Bungli Staff at Doongerwadi (Breakfast only)</td><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="152">23 to 26 (depending on daily attendance)</td><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="177">2,40,000</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="149">D</td><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="293">Food grains and provisions (these are given to recipients who are able to cook for their families but are in low income group)</td><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="152">30</td><td style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75em; vertical-align: baseline;" width="177">2,92,200</td></tr>
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APPROXIMATE TOTAL EXPENDITURE PER YEAR AS ON 31.1.2017 = Rs 30,70,000/=</div>
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Due to inflation the caterers have now increased their rates per meals.</div>
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As of 31st Jan 2017, the cost of feeding one person per month approx.. comes to Rs. 3,500/- depending on the category in which they fall and the caterer providing the meals.</div>
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Homi N Daruwalla</div>
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Senior Fellow, Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)<br />
Consulting Engineer, LEED AP</div>
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Mob No <a href="tel:098200%2094243" style="border: 0px; color: #e1122a; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">+ 91 98200 94243</a></div>
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Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-19292290995408969402017-01-16T13:03:00.001+05:302017-01-16T13:03:22.863+05:30Fwd: Navsari Parsis start a signature campaign in favour of Dokhmenashini<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">TZML Admins</b> <br>Date: Sun, Jan 15, 2017 at 10:25 PM<br>Subject: Navsari Parsis start a signature campaign in favour of Dokhmenashini<br>To: TZML <<a href="mailto:TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com">TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com</a>><br>Cc: "Mr. Dinnyar Deboo", "Mr. Khushroo and Rayomand Zaiwalla" <br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align:center"><font color="#3d85c6"><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><b><font color="#3d85c6">PLEASE FORWARD THIS IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL YOUR PARSI CONTACTS - ESPECIALLY IN NAVSARI</font></b></div><div><br></div><div><b>15 January 2017</b></div><div><br></div><div>Dear humdins,</div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif"><div><i><font color="#000000">cc: Vada Dasturjis</font></i></div><div><i><font color="#000000">cc: Ervad Sahebs</font></i></div><div><i><font color="#000000">cc: Jame Weekly, The Parsi Voice, etc</font></i></div><div><i><font color="#000000">cc: BPP Chairman Mr. Yezdi Desai</font></i></div><div><i><font color="#000000">cc: Traditional networks like TZML, TMYZ, etc.</font></i></div></div><div style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif"><i><font color="#000000">cc: Rayomand Zaiwalla</font></i></div></div><div><br></div><div><b>Sub: <u>Navsari Parsis start a signature campaign in favour of Dokhmenashini</u><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>the faithful and traditional and God-fearing Navsari Parsis who staunchly believe in Dokhmenashini have decided to express their opposition to Aramgah (burial).</b></div><div><br></div><div>We applaud the action of the Vada Dasturji Meherjirana K N Dastoor and the Bhagarsath Anjuman on the leadership shown in this matter.</div><div><br></div><div>We also thank all the 5 Vada Dasturjis for unitedly opposing the Aramgah at the Navsari Doongerwadi.</div><div><br></div><div>We also thank Ervad Ramiyar Karanjia for his valuable article on Dokhmenashini.</div><div><br></div><div>The Parsee Voice too deserves the community's thanks for their crusade against the deen-dushmans.</div><div><br></div><div><b>If you reside in Navsari or in the nearby neighborhood and would like your orthodox and traditional voice to be heard, please attest your signature at the Bhagarsath Anjuman office </b>at Dasturwad, or contact the number given below so that someone could come to your home and collect your valuable signature.</div><div><br></div><div><div>Please see below for the English translation and also the original notice issued in Gujarati.</div></div><div><br></div><div>Sincerely</div><div>TZML Admins.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="text-align:center"><b><font color="#3d85c6">PLEASE FORWARD THIS IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL YOUR PARSI CONTACTS - ESPECIALLY IN NAVSARI</font></b></div><div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div><font color="#660000"><b>On Friday, 13/1/2017, a sabha (meeting ) Parsis of Navsari who believe in Dokhmenashini and oppose Aramgah (burial) was held in the presence of Vada Dasturji Meherjirana Kaikushroo Naorojee Dastoor.</b></font></div><div><font color="#660000"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font color="#660000"><b>It was decided in the meeting that those who support Dokhmenashini would give their signature on an appeal to the Navsari Samast Anjuman. Parsis who wish to sign should come to the Bhagarsath Anjuman office at Dasturwad (Central Bank Building) and pen their signatures there.</b></font></div><div><font color="#660000"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font color="#660000"><b>If anyone is unable to physically come, then please contact the number given below - Kerfegar Bodhanwalla 0953-743-8019 - and we will arrange to get someone to come to your house to collect your signature.</b></font></div><div><font color="#660000"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font color="#660000"><b>The office timings are 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.</b></font></div><div><font color="#660000"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font color="#660000"><b>Please come within Saturday, 21/1/2017 - that is our grateful request.</b></font></div><div><font color="#660000"><b><br></b></font></div><div><i>(The above English version has been translated from the original notice in Gujarati given below. )</i><br></div><div><br></div><div>તારીખ - 13/01/2017 નાં શુક્રવારનાં રોજ નવસારીનાં પારસી જરથોસ્તી રહીશોની દોખ્મેનશીની ક્રિયામાં માનનારા અને આરામગાહની નીતિનો વિરોધ કરનારાની સભા વડા દસ્તુરજી કેખશરૂ નવરોજી દસ્તુર મહેરજીરાણાની ઉપસ્થિતમાં મળી હતી. જેમાં એવું નક્કી કરવામાં આવ્યું છે કે દોખ્મેનશીનીમાં માનનારાઓએ એક અરજી નવસારી સમસ્ત અંજુમનને આપવી અને એમાં જેને સહી કરવી હોય તેને રાજીખુશીથી દસ્તુરવાડ મધે આવેલી ભગરસાથ અંજુમનની ઓફિસ ( સેન્ટ્રલ બેન્ક બિલ્ડીંગ ) ખાતે આવી સહી કરી જવી. <br>જો આવી શકાય એમ ના હોય તો નીચે જણાવેલ નંબર પર સંપર્ક કરવો. ( કેરફેગર બોધાનવાલા - 09537438019 ) જેથી તમારા ઘરે આવી અમો સહી કરાવી જઈશુજી. <br>ઓફિસનો સમય સવારે 10:00 થી 1:00 અને બપોરે 3:00 થી 5:00 નો રહેશે. <br>તારીખ - 21/01/2017 શનિવાર સુધીમાં સહી આગ્રહ ભરી વિનંતી છેજી.<br></div><div><br></div><div><h3><a class="m_6393388397456798581gmail-_1s79">Benaifer Dinsha Cawasji Bhathena</a></h3><div>Thanks Godrej bhai for sharing. It's the right step forward. <br> Have copied this message & forwarded to all my Parsi Irani contacts requesting them too to circulate. <br> Pray maximum Navsari c participate with their much needed signatures. Kshnothra Ahurahe Mazdao!</div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><i>Source: <a href="https://m.facebook.com/groups/233378033416753?view=permalink&id=1472958872791990&refid=18&_ft_=qid.6375777513856519721%3Amf_story_key.1472958872791990%3Atop_level_post_id.1472958872791990%3Atl_objid.1472958872791990" target="_blank">https://m.facebook.<wbr>com/groups/233378033416753?<wbr>view=permalink&id=<wbr>1472958872791990&refid=18&_ft_<wbr>=qid.6375777513856519721%3Amf_<wbr>story_key.1472958872791990%<wbr>3Atop_level_post_id.<wbr>1472958872791990%3Atl_objid.<wbr>1472958872791990</a></i></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="text-align:center"><b><font color="#3d85c6">PLEASE FORWARD THIS IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL YOUR PARSI CONTACTS - ESPECIALLY IN NAVSARI</font></b></div><div><br></div></div><div style="text-align:right"><br></div></div> </div><br></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-42939291729444464312016-05-10T17:18:00.001+05:302016-05-10T17:18:55.490+05:30TheParseeVoice Fwd: Please stop spreading half-truths and stop denigrating our sacred Dakhmas!<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">The Parsee Voice</b> <br>Date: Mon, May 2, 2016 at 9:31 PM<br>Subject: TheParseeVoice Fwd: Please stop spreading half-truths and stop denigrating our sacred Dakhmas!<br>To: <a href="mailto:the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com">the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com</a><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large">Dear Readers</div><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large">Attached please find a letter written by a traditional member of the community highlighting the wrongful propaganda being carried out by those promoting the Prayer Hall at Worli. </div><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large">H M Mistry </div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="auto"><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> Jimmy Tavadia<br><b>Date:</b> 2 May 2016 at 10:53:29 IST<br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Please stop spreading half-truths and stop denigrating our sacred Dakhmas!</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">Please stop spreading half-truths and stop denigrating our sacred Dakhmas!</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-size:12pt"></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt"> </span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">There have been various reports in secular media in the last 6 months portraying the so-called beneficent effects of the Prayer Hall at Worli. The trustees of the Prayer hall, the renegade priests and their teams have been heralded as evangelists who have fulfilled a 'dire need' of our community by providing the so-called 'dignified' option of electric cremation to progressive Parsees of Mumbai. <b>A fairy-tale like story is woven around the absence of vultures at our Paak Doongerwadi to substantiate and justify the necessity for creating an alternative method of disposing of our dead viz., cremation.</b></span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-size:12pt"></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt"> </span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">Whilst these babbles have been quietly tolerated by the silent traditional majority of our community, the recent antics of the liberals need to be thoroughly exposed. <b>The liberals, in their attempt to popularise their Prayer Hall have started publicly demeaning our sacred, time-tested and age-old Dakhmas and the method of Dakhmenashini.</b> They seem hell-bent on denigrating our traditional methods in an attempt to secure more business for their so-called Prayer Hall. Their renegade priests routinely indulge in marketing gimmicks by misquoting statistics and expressing optimism over the (unfortunately) growing trend of more Zarathushtis opting for cremation, thereby ensuring they do not run out of business and their jobs are safeguarded. They quote a 50% rise in number of people opting for cremation – but what they don't mention is that an increase of 50% from 15, is just 7 people!</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-size:12pt"></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">The liberals seem to be using the pejorative of <b>"Tall Poppy Syndrome"</b> and express resentment for our Dakhmas and Dakhmenashini in order to demonstrate their alternative as "superior and dignified". The reality, however, is inversely related to the fictional stories being woven by them. The noisy, dirty Prayer Hall adjacent to the sewage drain at Worli is not even worthy of comparison with the serene environs of Paak Doongerwadi which has a mystical charm of its own. Whilst it may seem inconsequential to some, the ill-effects of alternate methods of disposal in the after-life as propounded in our scriptures, should be the single most compelling reason for Zarathushtis to stick to the time-tested Dakhmenashini system. The argument of the liberals that the system of Dakhmenashini has "failed" due to lack of vultures is convoluted and twisted to suit their own vested interests, to say the least. <b>Their claim of the Towers of Silence being in a "mess" is a hyperbolic figment of their imagination</b> (refer link below to the article titled "How a new prayer hall is changing funeral patterns in Mumbai's Parsi community" dated 27<sup>th</sup> April 2016, on Scroll.in).</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-size:12pt"></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">The BPP Trustees, who are the custodians of the Paak Doongerwadi property, should issue a strong and unequivocal clarification regarding the false projection of the state of affairs at Paak Doongerwadi. <b>The Dakhmenashini system is still very much fully functional</b> in spite of the absence of vultures in Mumbai – and more importantly only this system can serve the critical function of enabling the soul of a deceased Zarathushti to reach the threshold of "Chinvat" on the dawn of the fourth day after death. Those who talk glibly about dignity in death are cleverly evading any reference to the main role of the consecrated dakhmas – ensuring that the soul of a deceased Zarathushti reaches the threshold of "Chinvat"! They dare not claim that their cremation services offer the same "benefit"!</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-size:12pt"></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">To conclude, it is surprising how some influential people in our community are misusing their authority and indulging in double standards to promote their pet projects. Mr. Dinshaw Tamboly who is the Chairman of the Prayer Hall Trust has blatantly flouted the religious tenets of our religion by being the driving force behind the creation of the so-called Prayer Hall at Worli. However, he still continues to be the Trustee of Rustom Framna Agiary which he should have relinquished a long time ago given his irreligious leanings. Isn't this yet another instance of running with the hares and hunting with the hounds?</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-size:12pt"></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">We humbly hope that the liberals lend their acquiescence to the above and stop indulging in sacrilegious defamation of our sacred Paak Doongerwadi.</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt"> </span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">Sincerely,</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt"> </span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">Jimmy Jal Tavadia</span></div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt"></span> </div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt"><div><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </span><br></div></span></div></div></blockquote></div></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> </font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> <p></p> -- <br> -- <br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br> Groups "The Parsee Voice".<br> To post to this group, send email to <a href="mailto:theparseevoice@gmail.com" target="_blank">theparseevoice@gmail.com</a> <br>For more options, visit this group at<br> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en</a><br> --- <br></font></span></div></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-74374232177762870042016-03-21T17:06:00.001+05:302016-03-21T17:06:38.870+05:30TheParseeVoice Wishes<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">The Parsee Voice</b> <br>Date: Mon, Mar 21, 2016 at 11:42 AM<br>Subject: TheParseeVoice Wishes<br>To: <a href="mailto:the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com">the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com</a><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large"><div style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif">Here's wishing all my dear Parsee brethren a very happy Jamshedi Navroze. </div><div style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif">On this auspicious day, let us pray that the blessings of the Almighty One be on the whole of His creation and especially our beloved Deen and community. May He protect our holy religious institutions from harm and may the renegades see sense and mend their ways.</div></div><div><br></div>-- <br><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif">Regards</font></div><div><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif">H. M. Mistry</font></div></div></div></div></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> </font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> <p></p> -- <br> -- <br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br> Groups "The Parsee Voice".<br> To post to this group, send email to <a href="mailto:theparseevoice@gmail.com" target="_blank">theparseevoice@gmail.com</a> <br>For more options, visit this group at<br> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en</a><br><br></font></span></div></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-7869693067654296852016-02-29T08:19:00.001+05:302016-02-29T08:19:07.804+05:30Mehergan - an article by Mrs Pervin J. Mistry<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">TZML Admins</b><br>Date: Mon, Feb 29, 2016 at 2:47 AM<br>Subject: Mehergan - an article by Mrs Pervin J. Mistry<br>To: TZML <<a href="mailto:TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com">TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com</a>><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><i><font size="4"><br></font></i></div><div><i><font size="4">Dear humdins,</font></i></div><div><i><font size="4"><br></font></i></div><div><i><font size="4">tomorrow on Meher roz and Meher mah, we have Mehergan.</font></i></div><div><i><font size="4"><br></font></i></div><div><i><font size="4">No doubt, we will see big queues of Parsee devotees at the Aslaji Agiary at Mumbai.</font></i></div><div><i><font size="4"><br></font></i></div><div><i><font size="4">And collectively they will light up literally hundreds of divas.</font></i></div><div><i><font size="4"><br></font></i></div><div><i><font size="4">Please see a significant article on Mehergan by Mrs. Pervin J. Mistry below.</font></i></div><div><i><font size="4"><br></font></i></div><div><i><font size="4">Best wishes for this auspicious day.</font></i></div><div><i><font size="4"><br></font></i></div><div><i><font size="4">TZML Admins</font></i></div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">pervin mistry</b> <br>Date: Mon, Feb 29, 2016 at 6:40 AM<br>Subject: Mehergan<br><br><br><div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><div>Dear Friends,</div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr">Monday is Meher Mah, Meher Roj Parabh, the day we refer to as Mehergan dedicated to Meher Yazad. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">This is what I read about Mehergan which I am sharing with you all. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">There is a lot more to know which is written by Doctor Saheb Faramroze Chiniwala, in Gujrati.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Regards,</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Pervin <br></div></div></div></div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Meher Yazad and Mehergan:</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">The worship of Meher Yazad is pre-Zarathushtrian. During the glorious Peshdad dynasty, Faredoon Padshah, a 'peshrav', i.e. a forerunner of Asho Zarathushtra, performed a Yasna dedicated to Meher Yazad to get divine help in defeating the evil 'Azidehak' (Zohak). <b>The day on which Faredoon Padshah performed this Divine Yasna was Meher mah, Meher roj and this celebrated day when Zohak or 'Azi' (snake/venomous) 'dehak' (epitome of 10 evils) was defeated and chained on Mount Damavand is commemorated as Mehergan.</b> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">On this day, the Parsis, wherever they live, perform the Mehergan Jashan and pray for Meher Yazad's help to eradicate evil or 'druj' (Zohak), in all its manifold forms, physical as well as spiritual, and to bring the Divine Light of Meher Yazad into their home, heart and in all creations so that the army of Angre-mainyu in all its varied characteristics is destroyed and Frashogard is attained as ordained!<b></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">The Holy Avesta calls Meher Yazad, "Mithrem". Meher Yazad and Khorshed Yazad are inseparably paired together with each other because they each embody the two aspects of the Sun (radiance/light and radiation/heat) without which our Solar System would not exist and there would be no life on Earth. Consequentially, without Khorshed and Meher Yazads, the Divine Aim of Frashogard to progress the souls from Hasti (spiritual world) to Nisti and Geti (the semi-spiritual and the physical worlds), and back to Ahura Mazda at the pre-appointed Divine Event of Frashogard, would not be attained! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">It is a fact that our Solar System and our Sun are only a part of the vast Universe which contains many other Solar Systems and Suns. There is a Central Sun for the whole unimaginably vast Universe and then there is our Sun around which our Solar System with its own planets revolves. Therefore, in our Holy Avesta Meher Yazad is described as the most glorious of the spiritual Yazads. He is given the highest reverence and importance together with Ahura Mazda. The Sun and the Moon are taken as the two eyes of Ahura Mazda. It is said that Meher Yazad is inseparably united with every other Yazad. Meher Yazad's chariot is surrounded by a host of Yazads who spread the Sun's radiance and radiation throughout all the corners of our solar system as well as in the Universe. It is stated that whosoever worships the Sun worships Ahura Mazda, the Holy Ameshaspands, one's own soul and all the heavenly and earthy Yazads.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">'Evil' is generally personified as the absence of light, which is darkness, a time when the 'devs', or druj, under the leadership of Angre-mainyu attack the good creations in order to stop Frashogard from being achieved. 'Druj', as "Angre-mainyu", is seen as well as unseen; it manifests in varied forms as evil tendencies such as greed, jealousy and falsehood, spiritual ignorance, all kinds of physical, mental and moral sufferings, stench and pollution which creates bad wind which in turn gives rise to diseases, germs, viruses, also as immoral men who lead people astray, men who destroy the religious faith of other followers, etc. Neither the Earth nor any creation would be able to sustain itself without the divine light and radiation of the Sun (namely Khorshed and Meher Yazads) which purify everything by eradicating the physical, mental, moral and spiritual darkness/pollution.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Both Khorshed and Meher Yazads are closely associated with the stars Tishtriya and Vanant, Govad Yazad (wind), Chisti - the wisdom of the Mazdayasni Religion, with the Good Mazdayasni Religion itself and with the Fravashis. With reference to the close connection between Govad Yazad and Meher, it is explained that Meher means the light; 'Ram Khvastar' is equivalent to 'ether', and 'vayu uparo-kairyo' is the wind, the air between the sky and the earth - both in charge of Govad Yazad. Without air and 'ether' the light of the Sun (and Moon) cannot reach the Earth. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Further, it is revealed in the Khorshed Niyayesh, "When the light of the Sun is warmer, when it shines, there stand hundreds and thousands spiritual yazads." In connection with this statement, Ervad Dr. Minocher Dadabhoy Karkhanavala writes, "The American astronaut, John Glenn in 1962, when he first orbited the earth, orbited three times within a day which means, he had within that day three mornings, three dawns. He has reported that every time he came out, from the shadow of the earth into light (dawn) he observed millions of luminous objects. I am quoting his words, 'luminous objects' which nobody has been able to explain. In science we simply call it the Glenn Effect." (Religious Discourses, p. 88) </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Meher Yasht begins by paying homage to Ahura Mazda which is the accepted commencement of all our prayers. Elucidating the divine status and role of Meher Yazad, the Yasht reveals that Meher Yazad is "<i>faragayod davare rast berasad</i>", i.e. he is the wise lord of wide pastures and the just Judge of all actions; may he come to help the devotee! Allegorically, Meher is described as the divine farmer who tills the soil of all the wide pastures making it fertile and empty of hurdles (namely, weeds and stones or 'bad karma') which hinder the growing of "crops" or "ashoi"/"guv" which in turn also delay the divine event of "harvesting" Frashogard. Here, "soil" indicates human inherent frailties of the flesh. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Meher is endowed with thousand ears and ten thousand eyes meaning nothing escapes his all-seeing eyes and hearing which makes him the Judge of all good as well as bad thoughts, words and actions performed on all the 7 regions of the Universe. (With regard to the 7 "regions", Kangaji writes, Khordeh Avesta, English Edition, 1993, p.35 footnote, "According to Avesta writing, the entire Universe is divided into seven regions which are called 'keshvar'." After naming the 7 Haft Keshvar regions, he adds, "Even at present we call the entire Universe as 'Haft Keshvar Zamin'." This absolutely negates the erroneous theory of some that "haft keshvar zamin" indicates the 7 continents of this Earth!) Meher Yazad is also called the "rathestar" or defender of righteousness. He is in charge of light, truth, promises, friendship, devotion, justice and contracts. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Meher Yasht, kardas 1, 2 and 3 reveal that the path of light, spiritual illumination or righteousness is bestowed by Meher Yazad upon those who do not break promises; the Fravashis of the righteous also grant offspring of innate wisdom to those who do not break promises. On any battlefield, Meher Yazad, together with 'Dami Upamana'(the Yazad of spiritual wisdom), helps the armies of the righteous to overthrow the wicked. These "armies" refer to the armies of men who are the opponents of the righteous on the earthly battlefields due to greed of wealth and power, and also to the evil armies of thought-created spiritual forms which manifest their own ugly forms in the spiritual world. Meher Yazad, together with Dami Upamana destroys both these evil "armies" (of men as well as the thought-created hostile, hideous forms in the spiritual world), both armies created by Angre-mainyu. The armies are described as "riding on the backs of the horses" signify the power of thoughts considering that thoughts or the 'mind' is equated with the speed of a galloping 'horse'. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Meher Yazad is seen riding a chariot of 4 perfectly white horses (karda 11) since white represents purity, virtues and symbolizes the Divine Light. Ashi Yazad is the charioteer and the wide road on which this chariot drives swiftly is the Mazdayasni Daen (karda 17). The number 4 signifies the 4 elements of fire, water, earth and air which compose the entire nisti and geti regions. The horses' front hoofs are shod with gold and hind ones with silver. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Further, Rashne Yazad drives his own chariot on the right side of Meher Yazad's chariot and on the left of Meher Yazad's chariot drives the most upright Chisti, the Yazad who is synonymous with 'Daena', Din or Religion, who has put on white garments (karda 31). <b>It is revealed here that white is the sign of the Mazdayasni religion! White light contains the entire spectrum and Meher Yazad is in charge of the Divine Light. </b>It is Chisti who makes the path broad and smooth for the chariots, meaning she shows the Path of Religion so that Frashogard is achieved as planned. In certain kardas, Sarosh Yazad is also said to be driving his own chariot next to Meher Yazad's. The Yazads, to name a few, who assist Meher Yazad are Adar, Dami Upamana, Sarosh, Rashne, Chisti, Ashishvangh, Behram (destroyer of the enemies of good and victorious over the armies of evil), Govad, Neryosang Yazad, Parendi, the Kayani Glory and the Fravashis of the righteous people.<b> </b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">It is further revealed in karda 5 that whosoever breaks a promise or utters falsehood is deprived of Meher Yazad's spiritual protection. The "horses" of such people do not reach their destination (i.e. Frashogard); they cannot go "forward" in spite of galloping, meaning the horses get tethered. Those who break a promise cannot progress further on the path of righteousness. Such persons may acquire physical wealth and so-called worldly happiness for time being only but finally, they suffer because such physical wealth and happiness are not long lasting. <b></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">If a promise-breaker throws his well-aimed lance or arrow to pierce the body of a righteous opponent it still does not wound the righteous because these weapons are made ineffective by Meher. A righteous person is always protected against evil, pain and distress by Meher Yazad. He makes the unrighteous deaf and blind, i.e. spiritually ignorant and confused. He brings devastation and dread upon the armies of Angre-mainyu. No one escapes the divine justice of Meher Yazad! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">On the spiritual battlefield, fighting the spiritual armies of Angre-mainyu, Meher Yazad leads the attack, Sarosh Yazad generates the strong wind (Vayu/Govad Yazad) all around the battlefield warping the weapons used against the righteous and Rashne Yazad protects the righteous army from the front. A righteous person is protected against all and any evil by Meher Yazad and his divine companions!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Further, Karda 7.25 calls Meher Yazad "tanu-mathrem", meaning Word Incarnate, which title is also given to Sarosh Yazad! He is all-knowing and un-deceivable. To drive away the malevolent forces, the devotee asks for the spiritual wealth of a healthy body and mind, courage, increase of the family, a good reputation, idyllic state of the soul after death, spiritual wisdom and knowledge of the Holy Manthra.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">For his devotee, Meher Yazad (karda 8) is said to build and uphold the pillars of a high-built house making it strong and indestructible. He also blesses the righteous with multiple of cattle and family but destroys the houses of the wicked. The "house" is not any physical house built on Earth but refers to the "kuniyat" or the collected good thought-forms which give shelter and protection to the righteous in both the worlds. Earthly houses go to dust but the spiritually fortified "houses" in the spiritual world are indestructible and hold everlasting peace and happiness. These are the dwellings of those who achieve tanpasin, the final resurrected body of light! Meher Yazad is strictly objective/just and appropriately rules over peace and discord of the countries, families and over each individual. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Meher Yazad is most pleased when men worship him with the yasna dedicated in his honor. He acknowledges that if men offer their worship to him, he will certainly hear their sincere prayers and help the devotee by granting him spiritual wisdom to overcome all and any evil by teaching the laws of the Religion, thereby showing the path leading to Farshogard. He gives courage and strength to perform all duties because work/duty is worship and everyone must do their duties with faith, patience and humility. Not to be "<i>faraz-na chor"</i> is the motto stated in Karda 9! Poverty is spiritual as well as worldly. Meher Yazad is said to remove "poverty" from the houses of the righteous by showering blessings of virtues – for example, contentment and the wisdom to obey His Will! Without content, even a rich person is poor because such an individual is always in need of something more due to greed.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Additionally, it is stated that Meher is the Chieftain in the Divine Assembly where justice is given to souls; he also replenishes the sacred flowing "waters", indicating that he spreads Ahura Mazda's "blessings" in the form of water; he causes the waters to flow to avoid pollution (stagnancy), and increases the growth of plants and cattle. Meher Yazad possesses extensive and sharp powerful intellect for the protection of the excellent Mazda Worshiping Religion. <b></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Karda 12 declares the Creator Ahura Mazda built an abode for Meher Yazad on the shining Harbarez (Hukaira) Mountain around which the stars revolve, where there is neither night nor darkness, neither cold nor where the hot winds blow, where there is no sickness or pollution but complete ushta, from where the entire corporeal world is surveyed by Meher Yazad. When any wicked person tries to cause damage to the righteous, Meher Yazad rushes forward to stop and defeat the wicked and the mighty Sarosh Yazad, Rashne Yazad, together with the wise Neriosang Yazad and the victorious Behram Yazad also go to assist Meher Yazad in the battle against the evil doers.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">The Holy Avesta, written thousands of years ago, teaches through the Meher Yasht, karda 24. 95, that long after the setting of the Sun, Meher Yazad protects Ahura Mazda's good creations between the Earth and the Heavens. This is so because although the Sun may appear to be 'setting', it never really 'sets'; it is always spreading its radiance and glory over the Earth 24 hours a day, 365 + days a year and has been doing so from the time the Earth materialized and Life manifested on planet Earth. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Both Khorshed and Meher Yazads will incessantly carry on their divine task of spreading the energy of Light and eradicating 'druj' till the Divinely Appointed Event of Frashogard is attained! The physical Sun may appear to be 'setting' due to the rotation of the Earth but the beneficial influences left behind by Khorshed and Meher Yazads continue to work effectively even when darkness is spread since it is established that the beneficent radiation from the Sunlight containing Gamma Rays, Micro Waves, Radio Waves, the Infra-Red rays, Ultra-Violet Rays, etc. still continue to protect the Earth after sunset. (It is with a deep sense of reverence that we bow our head to the occult wisdom pertaining to the laws of energies created by sound, light, kinetics, also to the knowledge of astronomy/astrology, bacteriology, medicinal as well as numerological and all branches of sciences including mysticism that is revealed in our sacred Avesta thousands of years ago by our Paigambar Saheb, Asho Zarathushtra, who was Himself a Divine Yazad!)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Further, in Karda 24. 96 and .97, it is revealed that when, after the 'setting' of the Sun, although all the forces of evil, 'druj', under the command of Angre-mainyu, such as, Aeshm dev (anger), Akoman dev (bad thoughts of greed, lust, etc.), Bushyastu dev (demon of laziness) and the other devs try to get strengthened, the ever wakeful Meher Yazad 'turns up everywhere', holding a mace in his hands, which is one of the most powerful of all weapons. Allegorically, the "mace" is the potent, all-powerful energy of Sound, the Divine Manthra Spenta! The mace is cast of yellow brass and gold and has a hundred knobs and edges. When struck, the victorious mace renders all the evil devs and the unrighteous, powerless! In the Vendidad, the evil Angre-mainyu is seen running away from Asho Zarathushtra as soon as the sacred Manthra of Ahunavar is recited! Additionally, the 'golden' mace transforms those it strikes from unrighteousness to the 'golden' qualities of righteousness, or spiritual wisdom by punishing offenders through the immutable law of karma because Meher Yazad is also in charge of Justice in this life and the next. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Repeatedly, in the Yasht, Meher Yazad is referred to as the Chief Custodian of Contracts, i.e. Promises, Truth, Justice and Friendship. He is called the Just Judge. After a soul passes away, Meher Yazad proceeds towards the Chinvat Bridge on the fourth day at dawn, where, together with Sarosh and Rashne Yazads, after weighing the actions committed in this world, they assign the soul its proper place in heaven, purgatory or hell.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Karda 23 declares Hom Yazad as the dispenser of the blessings of Ahura Mazda. Meher Yazad performed a Yasna dedicated to Hom Yazad on Mount 'Hukaira', with the consecrated barsom, with the holy 'zohr' (libations) and with the recitation of the sacred Manthra. For this act, Ahura Mazda and the Ameshaspands appoint Meher Yazad as a 'Zaotar' (Priest). The benefits and blessings arising from this Yasna performed by Meher Yazad reach the light of the starry heavens, then spread over the Earth and also penetrate through the 7 'keshvars' or 'regions' of the Universe. Meher Yazad is described pounding the sacred Hom ceremoniously in the 'havanim' (mortar) which is star studded, made by the Spirits in the Spiritual World. Karda 23.92 asserts that due to the efficacy of this sacred Yasna performed by Meher Yazad (on Mount Hukaira), he was acclaimed for his dedication to the Mazdayasni Zarathushti Religion, the Religion of Ahura Mazda which He Himself revealed to Asho Zarathushtra, the Yazad of Renowned Name. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">The 'pounding' of the Hom plant/twig in the 'havanim' indicates the lessons of karma which Meher Yazad dispenses and thereby brings forth divine wisdom by uniting with Hom Yazad and the other Divine Spirits. He fashions the destiny of the world, striking down the evil forces with his mace and subsequently leading the physical creation step by step towards Frashogard. In whatever Meher Yazad does, he merges with Khorshed Yazad and also with the entire Divine Assembly. This proves the necessity of reciting the Khorshed-Meher Niyayeshes daily as mandatory so that Khorshed and Meher Yazads hear our prayers, are pleased, come to our help in getting rid of the vices and Frashogard is attained at the appointed time! Those who keep the alaat (thoughts) pure and perform the Paragna and Yasna ritual with jivam, ritual purity (of body, mind and soul), barsom, pound the hom (acquire wisdom) as ritually prescribed are blessed by Meher Yazad.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Just as Meher Yazad performed the Yasna with dedication and piety, we are also encouraged to perform the rituals with dedication and piety and as prescribed in the Holy Avesta by our Asho Paigambar Saheb!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">In the Meher Yasht (and in all our prayers), the individual, particularly the priest, who invokes Ahura Mazda, Meher Yazad or any other Divinity with the prescribed yasna and manthra, performs the ritual with dedication and piety, is blessed with good health, wisdom and spiritual progress. Meher Yazad is the Protector of the Religion and shows the Path of Religion to his devotees. Homage is paid to Asho Zarathushtra as the Leader and the Purifier of Ahura Mazda's Creation.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Conversely</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">, karda 32.138, irrefutably reveals that if a 'zaotar" (priest), in spite of being the spreader of the required barsom and the consecrator of the yasna ritual, is immoral, impious and not keeping his body under the control of manthra (i.e. religious commandments), such a priest is guilty of performing the yasna unlawfully. He does <b>not</b> please Ahura Mazda, the Ameshaspands or Meher Yazad. Instead, he acts against Ahura Mazda, against the Ameshaspands, against Meher Yazad, against the Law of Zarathushtra (against the Religion), against Rashne and Ashtad Yazad and against the fulfillment of the Divine Event of Frashogard. Such a person is punished by Meher Yazad who is never deceived because of possessing the power of hearing equivalent to ten thousand ears and vision equivalent to ten thousand eyes! This is a warning to all who do not subscribe to the dictates of the Revealed Word, the Laws prescribed in the Divinely Revealed Scriptures, but insist on following the religion and the established rituals with impurity of mind (thoughts), body, environment and unrighteous deeds that such persons shall be punished by Meher Yazad in this life and also on the dawn of the fourth day at Chinvat for their acts against the Religion! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Further, karda 31.133 reveals that after the smiting of all the devs and the promise-breaking persons, after crossing all the 7 regions named Arezahi, Savahi, Fradadafshu, Vidadafshu, Vouru-bareshti, Vouru-jareshti and <b>this</b> region of Khvaniratha (the Earth), Meher Yazad proceeds further to the starry heavens to establish divine law and order throughout. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Meher Yazad is called a "warden in darkness" who cannot be deceived by anyone even in the looming shadows of darkness. He is always alert, never sleeps and is the strongest among the strong! Moreover, he is victorious, possessed of divine radiance, possessed "of a thousand ears and of ten thousand eyes", has ten thousand spies, is brave and all-knowing.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Meher Yazad is self-shining. He is thus called self-manifested. Karda 34 declares that the Moon receives radiance from the Sun (Meher Yazad) and spreads this radiance far and wide to other regions in space. Meher's face is compared to the brilliance of the star Tishtriya (the brightest star in the night sky), and this radiance increases the powers of the creatures of Spenta-mainyu. Meher Yazad works in conjunction with the Moon (Mah Yazad) to spread ashoi throughout the Universe. Frashogard must be celebrated; to celebrate this Divine Event, the requirements needed are given by Meher Yazad. Therefore, to worship Meher Yazad and pray the yasna, i.e. the niyayesh and yasht in his honor with complete dedication is the fundamental tenet of our religion. The Mazdayasni Zarathushti Religion is based on Asha which is Truth! Truth is law, order, beauty, purity, and justice. Meher Yazad is in charge of Truth (Asha) and there is no religion higher than Truth! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">May we all celebrate the Divine Mehergan with knowledge and commitment to destroy the vices, the evil tendencies within us that gain strength due to the inherent spiritual ignorance or darkness within! May we dispel all darkness from within and without through brining in the white radiance of Khorshed and Meher Yazads into our heart, mind and soul! May we be worthy of offering prayers dedicated to Khorshed and Meher Yazads, and to all the Divine Beings!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Atha jamyat yatha afrinami!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US">Pervin J. Mistry</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US">Mehergan, Meher mah, Meher roj, March 1, 2015</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Bibliography:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Ervad Kavasji Edulji Kanga, Yasht-Ba-Maani, 2001(English Edition)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt">Dr. Faramroze Sohrabji Chiniwalla, Meher Yasht, 1991(Gujarati)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p></div></div> </div><br></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-32315677062637963632016-02-17T19:35:00.001+05:302016-02-17T19:35:04.432+05:30Fwd: The late Mr. Adi F. Doctor wrote against shifting of an Atash Padshah. The harmful attacks on the Padshah<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">TZML Admins</b> <br>Date: Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 2:57 PM<br>Subject: The late Mr. Adi F. Doctor wrote against shifting of an Atash Padshah. The harmful attacks on the Padshah<br>To: TZML <<a href="mailto:TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com">TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com</a>><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><font size="6">Why we should never shift the Atash Padshah<br></font></div><div><br></div><div><i><b><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:13.3333px">The "Padshah" that has been dethroned and shifted then loses His "Dahyupati", His Power to communicate with the other ethereal planes, His Power to fight the evil and His Power to bring back the blessings of the Divine Forces.</span><br></b></i></div><div><br></div><div>- Mr. Adi F. Doctor (Dini Aawaz)</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: Vada Dasturjis</span><br style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: Ervad Sahebs including Ervad Principal Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia and Ervad Dr. Rooyinton Peer</span><br style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: Traditional networks like TZML, TMYZ, TParsees, TMZANZ, TMZA of California, PIPZ</span><br style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: WZO (India)</span><br style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: The Udvada Samast Anjuman</span><br style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: Parsi Press</span><br style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: Prominent Parsis like Mr. Filly Marawalla, Mrs Pervin J. Misty, Mr Marzban Giara, Mr. Rustom Chothia, Mr and Mrs Tahmtan and Godafrid Aresh etc.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 7.1pt 0.0001pt 0cm;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:16pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(28,69,135)">A bit of background information</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">This article, slightly revised, was originally written in the form of a letter to the trustees of a Bombay Agiary, by Adi Doctor. The Trustees and Administrators of an Agiary or an Atash Behram carry on their shoulders a very heavy responsibility, in that, it is their prime duty to see that under no circumstances should the status and dignity of the Holy Fire be jeopardised. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">That alas, is not the case in most of the Atash Behrams and Agiaries of India today. Almost all the "Atash Padshahs" have been shifted, moved, year after year for flimsy reasons, like giving a new coat of paint to the building from inside and outside, laying of tiles on the walls of the sanctum sanctorum, and for a myriad other reasons, which are conveniently camouflaged under the omnibus term, "maintenance and repairs".</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">It is most unfortunate that today's Parsees treat the "Padshah Sahebs" as so much piece of furniture and fixture and are carried away by outward show and glamour.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">Why an 'Atash' of the Adaran' fire is called 'Padshah', what vital role and function it performs in Nature, what connections it has with the various Fire Energies in Nature, what power and authority it wields, etc., are here delineated very briefly but cogently.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">It will at once show why the Fire of an 'Atash-e-Adaran' or, for that matter, that of an 'Atash-e-Behram' is so sacrosanct and why, therefore, it should be treated, particularly by those in charge of the 'Agiaries' and Atash Behrams' and by those who come to pray before it with the utmost dignity and respect.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">Disturbing the 'circuits' of such a consecrated Fire tantamounts to dethroning the 'Padshah' and the consequent disastrous effects which the entire Parsee community has to undergo!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">The reader is requested to go through the article slowly so as to understand the real purport of some of the important paragraphs.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"><br> <br> <br> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 7.1pt 0.0001pt 0cm;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:16pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(28,69,135)">What are the elements of the Atash Padshah?</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">After the elaborate and complex process of its collection, purification, consecration and coronation, and during its tenure in the consecrated 'Agiary' building; the 'Adaran' Fire acquires 'Khshathra' = Power and Authority from Nature.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">'Atar-e-Adaran' means<b> </b>the <b>'Atar' </b>or Fire pertaining to 'Adar Yazat', who is the prime Force operating on "Atar-e-Mino Karko" — the supreme Fire Energy of Nature governing the ultra-physical planes. This Fire Energy of Mino Karko' is an integral and vital component of the primeval Fire Energy called "Athro Puthra Ahura Mazda". Lord Ahura Mazda has used the Fire Energy of 'Mino Karko' as the base for the creation of the entire world of matter. Thus, our worldly 'Atar-e-Adaran' is the physical manifestation and co-worker of the 'Atar' of 'Adar Yazad', viz., 'Mino Karko'.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">It is common knowledge that the<b> fires </b>used for the purpose of the 'Adaran' Fire belong to the four earthly professions of an 'Athornan', 'Ratheshtar', 'Vastrayosh' and 'Hutokhsh'. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">When these fires, over each of which certain rituals are performed (these rituals are too well known to be detailed here), are blended, concentrated and consecrated for enthronement the new resultant Fire is in communion with the "Ushtan" or 'life-breaths' of the four Fire Energies of the invisible but perishable ultra-physical realms, viz. "Atar-e-Mino Karko", "Atar-e-Vazisht", "Atar-e-Urvazisht" and "Atar-e- Spenisht". </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">The new 'Atash-e-Adaran' also establishes a direct link with the "Mithra" or 'thought-forces' and "Khoreh" or the aura and spiritual lustre of the four aforementioned natural Fire Energies of the ultra-physical world.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">All these connections, collectively form a circuit, a "Ring Pass-Not" around the 'Adaran' Fire, which is being enthroned. After the coronation, the first chief natural circuit or 'Karsh' (also 'Kash') will be established in the ash surrounding the visible Fire in the container or 'Khuaan' containing it.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">The moment this 'Karsh' is formed, the 'Adaran' Fire is automatically bestowed by Nature with 'Dahyupati' = Sovereignty. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">It now wields the Righteous Power and Authority or "Hu-Khshatra", and is known as a "Padshah". The "Dahyupati" and "Padshahi" is owing to the 'Yazatic' currents which now constantly flow in the ash on the container in which the visible fire is kept.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">Besides being a "Dahyupat" wielding "Khshathra", the Atash-e-Adaran is also a 'Rathaeshtar', i.e. a spiritual warrior, heavenly soldier instituted on Earth who has to fight ceaselessly, the constant attacks of Satan and the other Dark Forces of</span><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:6pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">-</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">Nature.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">Moreover, this earthly embodiment of the natural Fire Energies of the ultra-physical calms acts as a "Zaothra" or "Alaat", i.e. a spiritual battery perpetually receiving the divine blessings and benevolent radiations and currents and transmitting them to all living beings within a certain radius. The 'Atash-e-Adaran' thus serves as a functionary agent bringing into connection and attuning with each all the Fire Energies operating in ultra-physical space.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">Finally, this holy, concentrated Fire Energy on earth is a single, separate, living entity, possessing "Ahu", "Daena" and "Baod".</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">Because in the consecrated 'Atash Padshah', the 'Ushtan', breath, of the Yazatas is connected, it naturally possesses the extremely high philanthropic disposition and magnanimous nature of "Ahu". It also has, by the operation of Natural Laws, "Daena" = the Right Conscience in which resides 'Sarosh Yazata' and Baodangh' the Divine Intelligence.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">This living, throbbing, pulsating Being or Entity has a "head", "conscience", "limbs", "Khoreh" and "Aipee". </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">The "head" of the "Padshah" is the visible outward fire in which all the currents of the Fire Energies of the invisible perishable realms flow. </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">The "conscience" of the "Padshah" is the "Atash Dadgaah". </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">The "limbs" are the 6 "Karshes" or circuits of the 'Padshah', present in the "Agiary" (of which more, later). </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">The "Khoreh" or aura is the personal magnetism and the radiating glow emanating from the 'Aipee' or the atmosphere surrounding the Padshah, wherein are found the thermo electro-magnetic currents of the 'Yazats'.</span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">The 'Atash-e-Adaran', therefore, doesn't just mean the visible outward fire alone. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">The 6 circuits prevailing within the four walls of the 'Adaran' building, the sanctified atmosphere permeating the building, the 'Aipee'', the Atash Dadgaah' together constitute the full-fledged Atash-e-Adaran'. The entire Adaran building becomes a consecrated talismanic fortress wherein the holy deified fire is enthroned.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">Of the 6 'Karshes' (circuits), the most important is the very first one, referred to earlier, which is formed in the top layer of the ash containing the visible fire. The strength of this Karsh depends on the 2nd circuit which gyrates around the 'Khuaan' or the 'Afargaanyu' of the Padshah, which in its turn, gets its strength from the 4 other 'Karshes' prevailing in the Agiary.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"><br> <br> <br> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 7.1pt 0.0001pt 0cm;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:16pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(28,69,135)">Why we should never shift the Atash Padshah</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">It is, therefore, of prime importance that under no circumstances should these 6 circuits, which interact with one another and constantly exchange fire and subtle energy and currents, be disturbed. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">Disturb and break the flow of even one circuit and you upset the vital exchange of energy, resulting in a chain reaction which attenuates the spiritual splendour and atmosphere prevailing there, and finally culminates in bringing tremendous pressure and load on the 'Atash Padshah', thereby depriving Him of His Spiritual Power and Authority. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">He then doesn't have the strength required of a Spiritual Warrior ('Rathaeshtar') and He is subjected to the incessant attacks from 'Gana-Min', the Evil Force operating in Nature. Instead of the 'Hu-Khshathra' = Benevolent Power prevailing there, the "Duz-Khshathra" or wicked Rule of Ahriman is clamped thereon.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">It is for these vital reasons that in the past, our worthy ancestors considered it not only blasphemous but unthinkable to show even the slightest discourtesy, directly or indirectly, to the 'Atash Padshah'.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"><br> <br> <br> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 7.1pt 0.0001pt 0cm;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:16pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(28,69,135)">What happens when we shift the Atash Padshah</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">The moment the 'Atash Padshah' is lifted and moved out of the 'Khuaan', the most vital first circuit operating in the top ash base, snaps. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">Soon, another circuit, or 'Karsh' of 'Spenta Armaiti' – the circuit flowing round the floor on which the pedestal and the 'Khuaan' stand – also snaps.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">In paragraph 1 of 'Paragard' (Chapter) 3 of the "Vendidad", in answer to a question by 'Asho' Zarathushtra, Dadar Ahura Mazda says that, "that hallowed ground is pleased and happy on which stands a consecrated "Atash Kadeh". </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">In the ground, on which the Padshah' is enthroned, there prevails a kind of a "Bazm", a "Rendezvous of Yazatic and other Divine Forces". When, therefore, the "Atash Padshah" is lifted from that ground, the "Bazm" gets disintegrated and the sanctified ground is displeased.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">The "Padshah" that has been dethroned and shifted then loses His "Dahyupati", His Power to communicate with the other ethereal planes, His Power to fight the evil and His Power to bring back the blessings of the Divine Forces. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 178.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">His "body" has been virtually cut off. He loses His separate Spiritual Entity. The visible fire then becomes a</span><sub><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:6pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">.</span></sub><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black"> mere 'Kebla'. This fire will now be constantly exposed to the attacks of evil forces working in Nature.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"><br> <br> <br> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 7.1pt 0.0001pt 0cm;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:16pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(28,69,135)">Exceptional circumstances when shifting the Padshah may be unavoidable</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">The only highly exceptional and extreme circumstances in which the 'Padshah' may be unavoidably moved are, when say, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">a non-Zoroastrian rushes into the sanctum-sanctorum or </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">if the priest tending the Fire suddenly has a stroke and passes away inside the 'Gurnbaz' or </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">if the building adjoining the 'Agiary' is on fire, etc. </span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">But, at no time should the Padshah be treated as so much piece of furniture or fixture. A coat of plastic emulsion or distemper or a layer of tiles may please and delight mortal eyes, but at what cost to the administrators and trustees of such 'Agiaries' in particular, and to the Parsee Zoroastrians living in the vicinity, in general ?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">As the Bard would have said, "Gained everything, but lost the soul?"</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">____________________</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">Adi Doctor - </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">Dini Avaz - Vol 5, No.1</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;vertical-align:top;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:black">*** *** ***</span></p></div><div><br></div></div> </div><br></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-75658417269177131072016-02-17T19:34:00.001+05:302016-02-17T19:34:39.291+05:30Fwd: Vada Dasturji Meherjirana Navsari explains why an Atash cannnot be shifted across great distances<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">TZML Admins</b><br>Date: Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 2:39 PM<br>Subject: Vada Dasturji Meherjirana Navsari explains why an Atash cannnot be shifted across great distances<br>To: TZML <<a href="mailto:TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com">TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com</a>><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align:center"><b><font size="4">Vada Dasturji Meherjirana K N Dastoor of Navsari was against even shifting of the Tavdi Atash to Godreh Baug<br></font></b></div><div style="text-align:center"><br></div><div style="text-align:center"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing:-0.4pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">- Parsi Pukar </span></i></b><br></div><div style="text-align:center"><br></div><div><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: Vada Dasturjis</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: Ervad Sahebs including Ervad Principal Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia and Ervad Dr. Rooyinton Peer</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: Traditional networks like TZML, TMYZ, TParsees, TMZANZ, TMZA of California, PIPZ</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: WZO (India)</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: The Udvada Samast Anjuman</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: Parsi Press</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">cc: Prominent Parsis like Mr. Filly Marawalla, Mrs Pervin J. Misty, Mr Marzban Giara, Mr. Rustom Chothia, Mr and Mrs Tahmtan and Godafrid Aresh etc.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:-0.05pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">The midnight of 20th December 1999 and early morning of the 21st Roj Hormuzd, Mah Amardaad, Gaah Ushahin (Shahenshahi), y.z. 1369! 10 percent of the Parsi Community was walking on the road </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:-0.05pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">from </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:-0.05pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">Vatcha </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:0.1pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">Gandhi Agiari to Godrej Baug at Nepean Sea Road, Mumbai, in solemn and devotional fellowship at a </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">respectable distance </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">from </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">the Holi Aderaan Padshah, brought </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">from </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">Naysari, once a prominent town of the Parsis.</span></div><div><font face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div style="margin:7.2pt 0cm 10pt;text-align:justify;line-height:110%;text-indent:18pt"><span style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:-0.4pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">I write this with profound sorrow that </span><b><span style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:-0.4pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">the procedures adopted for bringing the Padshah Saheb from </span></b><b><span style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:-0.55pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">Naysari and enthroning Him in Mumbai were not in consonance with the religious and traditional </span></b><b><span style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:-0.7pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">prescriptions and did not take into account some principles regarding the spiritual purity of an Atash </span></b><b><span style="line-height:110%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">Padshah. </span></b><span style="line-height:110%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">Some vital rules were infringed to avoid hardship. It was the duty of the Dastoors and Mobeds to <span style="letter-spacing:-0.05pt">evolve a procedure as near as possible to the religious and traditional prescriptions and principles. What was </span>actually done was based more <i><span>on </span></i>convenience and show-business than the adherence to the Rules. Those <span style="letter-spacing:0.1pt">who volunteered to serve and help are not at all to be blamed for this, so also those faithful Behdins who </span><span style="letter-spacing:-0.2pt">walked with the King <i><span>on </span></i>the last leg of His journey. </span></span><b><span style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:-0.2pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">In fact their intense devotion was a mitigating factor </span></b><b><span style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:-0.75pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">for the agonised Padshah Saheb. And we, the Behdins and non-mobeds of the community can still do </span></b><b><span style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:-0.6pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">something to undo the damage.</span></b></div><div><font face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div style="margin:7.2pt 0cm 10pt;text-align:justify;line-height:110%;text-indent:18pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">There is another Truth about Atash taught in the Din. That is: </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">It is the Padshah's function to fight with <span style="letter-spacing:0.1pt">the physical, mental and spiritual pollutions going round in His area of operation. </span></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:0.1pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">This function causes </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:0.05pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">a strain on the Padshah and His energy diminishes in discharging the function. This divine Energy is required </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">to be replenished by imparting the "Boy" ceremony five times a day.</span></div><div><font face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div style="margin:7.2pt 0cm 10pt;text-align:justify;line-height:110%;text-indent:18pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:0.15pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">The marathon ceremonies for consecrating the Atash-Baheraam and Aadraan are based on these </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:0.1pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">fundamental Truths. So also the ceremonial Rules for shifting a Padshah from one place to another. Any violation of any Rule of consecration or shifting results in an "Aajaab" on the Padshah. "Aajaab" means </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">oppression tyranny, strain, burden or stress, which depletes the coefficient of divinity in the Padshah.</span></div><div><font face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div style="margin:7.2pt 0cm 10pt;line-height:110%;text-indent:18pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:110%;letter-spacing:0.15pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">When in the present case, the Rules were violated, the Padshah has undergone the Aajaab.</span></div><div><font face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div style="margin:9pt 0cm 0pt 68.4pt"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing:-0.4pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt">(Parsi Pukar September-October '99 Vol. 5; No. 3-4)</span></i></b></div></div><div style="margin:9pt 0cm 0pt 68.4pt"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing:-0.4pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:9.5pt"><br></span></i></b></div></div> </div><br></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-53880866468766271772016-02-10T17:18:00.001+05:302016-02-10T17:18:46.931+05:30[ilmeKhshnoom] IS THE ZARATHUSTRIAN RELIGION UNIVERSAL?<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: "Dara Wadia" <br>Date: 10 Feb 2016 03:25<br>Subject: FW: [ilmeKhshnoom] IS THE ZARATHUSTRIAN RELIGION UNIVERSAL?<br><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div dir="ltr"><font face="Times New Roman, sans-serif" size="4">This is rather long but it is a <b>MUST READ </b>in view of the current controversy created by lawyer Darius Khambata at the Udvada Iranshah Utsav backed by Khurshed Dastoor of the Udvada anjuman.</font><div><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:16pt"><br></span></div><div><font size="4"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif">It is suggested</span><font face="Times New Roman, sans-serif"> that you forward this piece to all your Zarathustri relations and friends particularly in Mumbai and other parts of India to spread the TRUTH.</font></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman, sans-serif" size="4">Best regards,</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman, sans-serif" size="4" style="font-size:16pt"> </font><font face="Times New Roman, sans-serif"><font color="#ac193d" size="5"><b><i>Dara.</i></b></font><br></font><div><font size="4"><br></font><div><hr>Subject: [ilmeKhshnoom] IS THE ZARATHUSTRIAN RELIGION UNIVERSAL?<br><br> <span> </span> <div> <div> <div> <br><div dir="ltr"><b><i>(In the light of the current controversy created by the lawyer Darius Khambata at the Udvada Iranshah Utsav, the erudite writings of late Roni Khan may be appropriate for the enlightenment of our members. Perhaps you may deem it fit to forward a copy to Mr. Khambata for his enlightenment too! - D.F.Wadia)</i></b><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><p align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-US">IS THE ZOROASTRIAN RELIGION UNIVERSAL?</span></b></p> <p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span lang="EN-US">(Based on a thesis by Late Roni Khan)</span></p> <p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-US">By: D.F.Wadia.</span></b></p> <p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span><span lang="EN-US">[ </span></b><span lang="EN-US"><b>Late Roni Khan, an eminent scholar of our Mazdayasni Zarathustri religion, wrote a very thought provoking thesis which was published in the year 2001 entitled: 'Is The Zarathustrian Religion Universal?' by Marzban J. Giara.</b></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"><b> </b></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"><b> When Roni Khan writes, he writes with authority based on a well researched and in depth study of the subject matter. Moreover, there is absolute sincerity, intellectual integrity and frankness in all that he emphasizes. He has brought enlightenment to lay Zarathushtris who are eager to know the truth. His insightful study of our religious scriptures, which transcends the confines of a scholarly inquiry, sheds a new and meaningful light on our beliefs as to our race and faith. Being a Mazdayasni Zarathustri is more than professing our religion; it also means belonging to our illustrious group of people which has distinguished itself as the faithful carrier of a unique culture.</b></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"><b> </b></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"><b> His timely foresight is a clarion call for our awakening. There is a propaganda let loose particularly in the West and to a certain extent in India too, where our race and religion are simultaneously diluted. <i>"What both, Alexander and the Arabs, tried but failed to do, we may yet accomplish by our own hands - God forbid!</i>" he warns. He elaborates<i>, "We are talking survival. A few more calculated shoves by the heterodox hands and we'll go over the brink!" </i></b></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><i><span lang="EN-US"><b> </b></span></i></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><b><i><span lang="EN-US"> </span></i><span lang="EN-US">He has dedicated the thesis to '<i>the scared memory of countless generations of our righteous fore-bearers whose faith and fortitude through thick and thin has made it possible for us to exist as a living race and with a living religion.'</i> </span></b></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"><b> </b></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"><b> There is a saying in English: <i>'Speak the truth. And speak it forever. Cost it what it will. He who hides the wrong he did; does the wrong thing still!' </i>This upholding of moral conduct is well reflected in Asho Zarathushtra's precept: 'Who lets Untruth exist without protest; himself becomes supporter of Untruth.' (<i>Gatha YasnaXLVI: 6</i>).]</b></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US">The first and foremost fallacy<b> </b>propagated by the heterodox group in the Western world and India too, is that our pristine Mazdayasni Zarathustri religion, complete with all its unique religious practices, <i>is universally applicable to all; and any one is free to join it. </i>This is an absolute unscrupulous misguidance and must be vehemently opposed. It seems the heterodox group in our community has exploited the expression: 'freedom of choice' to implant the seed of such an erroneous presumption in the minds of lay Zarathushtris.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> The concept of freedom of choice expounded in <i>Yasna 30-2 </i>relates to the choice between the two paths: <i>'Mazdayasna'</i> and<i> 'Daevayasna'</i> i.e. the good and evil ways of life. It refers only to moral choice between the good and the evil and is neither a permit to relinquish our religion nor a licence to invite others to join it.<i></i></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><i><span lang="EN-US"> </span></i></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> From <i>Hadokht Nask</i> (3-20 etseq.) it appears that towards the end of the <i>Se-shab </i>(the inter-life period of 57 years) each soul liable to take birth again chooses the religion for its next birth (<i>Yasna 49-11</i>). Hence, once a particular religion is chosen by an incarnating soul, it would be spiritually very wrong on its part to become a convert to some other religion during the course of its life on this earth.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><i><span lang="EN-US"> </span></i><span lang="EN-US">What is, therefore, divinely ordained cannot be set aside by the so called 'freedom of choice' concept unscrupulously professed by the heterodox group.<i></i></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> All religions have unfolded in a steady sequence on the world stage as a part of the divine plan of Ahura Mazda (<i>Gatha Yasna 45-9</i>). Accordingly, all religions have inexorably come into existence as divine instruments in order to execute God's master plan for spiritual evolution of various groups of humanity. <i>No single religion has ever been followed by all mankind and there is no religion which is 'universal'<b> </b>in its scope and suitability.</i></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> The ultimate goal of mankind is to reach the union with the Divine. Different religions prescribe different disciplines to reach this goal depending upon the spiritual composition of different forms of humanity. In which group a soul will be born is determined in advance and the corresponding divine fields are established in it. Every religion is sent by God to humans with its respective divine fields which MUST be adhered to. It is ordained and we humans have no authority to alienate it or convert one born in a particular religion to other.<i> </i></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><i><span lang="EN-US"> </span></i></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><i><span lang="EN-US"> </span></i><span lang="EN-US">If we go deeper in the spiritual aspect, we may find that souls vary in character from one another and accordingly the type of spiritual guidance required for their salvation varies. A soul belonging to a particular group would have a particular spiritual requirement which only a particular religion having the necessary forms of discipline can satisfy. This is the very reason why the religion a soul needs to belong to is determined before it incarnates. Any later disturbance in this ordained arrangement by human choice is obviously prohibited by the divine law to prevent hindrance in the spiritual advancement of the soul. <b><i> </i></b></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><b><i><span lang="EN-US"> </span></i></b></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> To preserve the classification of creatures living on this earth, intercourse between different species is not encouraged in nature. This concept is well documented particularly in medical science. Our biological genes are irrevocably linked to the parentage of our birth. It is the same with our 'spiritual' genes which are irrevocably linked with the religion of our birth. Skipping across from the ordained religion on to other is a betrayal of the sacred allegiance owed to one's own religion and disrupts nature's orderly process for the organized spiritual evolution of souls towards <i>frashokereti</i> (Union with <i>the Divine</i>). <b><i> </i></b></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p style="text-align:left"><span lang="EN-US"> It is unfortunate that the heterodox group has failed to comprehend that any religion has to be, and indeed is, more than just a philosophy dealing with the abstract metaphysical concept of <i>HAKIKAT </i>( i.e. moral precepts, philosophies, concept of God and His creations etc. Our <i>GATHAS</i> form the essential part of this concept of <i>Hakikat</i>). A functional religion intended for practical implementation is always a complete spiritual system with ALL the four integrated and inseparable components of 1) HAKIKAT 2) MAAREFA (i.e. the channels, agencies, mediums for communion with the higher spiritual realms. Examples: The consecrated holy Fire, the talismanic spiritual instruments of <i>Sudreh</i> and <i>Kashti</i>, the<i> maanthric</i> prayers etc.) 3) TARIKATS (i.e. disciplines of rituals – e.g. performance of the<i> Kashti</i> ritual, conducting various rites and ceremonies, ablutions of <i>Bareshnoom</i>,<i> Padyaab </i>and <i>Nahan </i>etc.) and 4) SHARIAT (i.e. rules of behavior and injunctions e.g. do's and don'ts which we are enjoined to obey like <i>Sudhreh</i> and <i>Kashti</i> to be worn next to our body at all times, disposal of the dead by <i>Dokhmenashini</i> wherever the <i>dokhma</i> facility is available, marrying only within the community, not polluting the elements of nature - earth, water and air etc.)</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> It may be emphasized that although the moral precepts and philosophy of Zarathushtra contained in the <i>GATHAS</i> are vital components of our religion, <i>they are not the sum total of our religion.</i> We have to realize that <i>'religion' is something more than a mere course in moral science.</i> It is a complete spiritual system for furthering our evolution. Accordingly, the above mentioned four components of our religion are interrelated, interacting and indispensable. They collectively range from the abstract to the concrete, from the conceptual to the tangible, from the philosophical to the practical and from the general to the specific. A fully functional religion is always an integral whole comprising of all these four elements together. </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> Other fallacy is the presumption that the <i>GATHAS</i> <i>are the be all and end all of our religion</i>. The heterodox group propagates that the <i>GATHAS</i> alone are the sole authentic texts and they comprise the whole of our pristine religion. This is often accompanied by the pompous pretension that the philosophic profundities and metaphysical mysteries contained therein can be penetrated merely with intellectual ability, rational thought and academic expertise. Roni in his book aptly points out:<b> "<i>When arrogance subdues devotion, when ego obstructs humility, when absolute perfection of VOHU MANAH </i> (the divine mind)<i> is claimed by ordinary mortals, when degrees and diplomas replace self-realization, when doubt suffocates faith, when ignorance passes for wisdom, when licence is confused with freedom, when self-interest subverts obedience, when defiance destroys discipline, when progress excludes the wisdom of the ages, when the eternal is confused with the ephemeral, when prejudiced perceptions are promoted through artful twisting and misinterpretation of the scriptures,</i> and<i> when individuals scramble to justify their acts of heterodoxy and try to coerce the religion into being redefined for their own purposes;</i> all these are lethal combinations with the potential to sink the ship of our pristine religion altogether.<i>"</i></b></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> In the heterodox hands even the pristine philosophy of righteous living enshrined in the three spiritually uplifting words:<i> Humata</i> (good thoughts), <i>Hukhta</i> (good words) and<i> Hvarshta</i> (good deeds) is not spared the ignominy of becoming a pawn in their false propagation of the alleged universal nature of our religion and instigating conversion. It is one thing to say that righteous living determines whether one is a good Zarathushtri but it is quite a different thing to suggest that merely leading a righteous life would qualify one to be called a Mazdayasni Zarathushtri. <i>Good thoughts, good words and good deeds are not something unique and special to Parsees only.</i> They form the basis of moral teachings of ALL religions. Even an atheist who neither follows any religion nor believes in God would say that these are good for mankind and a guide to righteous life. </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> There is a vast difference between the intellectual rational mind and the spiritually illumined mind. (<i>Soochaa mananghaa</i> – Gatha Yasna 30-2). The ultimate truth of God and His creations can be comprehended only in the temple of purified souls and not in the temple of worldly academia.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US"> </span></b></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> <b> </b>(For better manifestation of the concepts expounded in this article readers are directed to write to<b> </b> Mr.Marazban J. Giara, Dhunmai Building, 667, Lady Jehangir Road, Dadar, MUMBAI 400014<b> </b>for a copy of Late Roni K. Khan's book:<b> </b> IS THE ZARATHUSHTRIAN RELIGION UNIVERSAL? ) <b></b></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></i></b></p></div> </div> <br> </div> <div style="color:#fff;min-height:0">__._,_.___</div> <div style="clear:both"> </div> <div> <hr style="min-height:2px;border-width:0;color:#e3e3e3;background-color:#e3e3e3"> Posted by: Dara Wadia<hr style="min-height:2px;border-width:0;color:#e3e3e3;background-color:#e3e3e3"> </div> <div style="clear:both"> </div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-69726805487093910332016-02-09T15:30:00.001+05:302016-02-09T15:30:18.916+05:30Fwd: TheParseeVoice Fwd: Utsav<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">The Parsee Voice</b> <br>Date: Tue, Feb 9, 2016 at 4:23 PM<br>Subject: TheParseeVoice Fwd: Utsav<br>To: <a href="mailto:the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com">the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com</a><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large"><i>Given below is a letter received from Ms. R. F. Doctor, sister of our editor late Adi Doctor, on Udvada Iranshah Utsav.</i></div><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large">_________________________________________________________________</div><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span style="text-align:justify">This is with reference to the communication from the Udvada Samast Anjuman, not addressed to anyone in particular, and supposedly written by 'the Secretary' (unnamed) on behalf of the Udvada 'Samast' Anjuman.</span><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"><br></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN">In 2004, when The Parsee Voice had criticised the FDU and the Udvada Athornan Anjuman, a curt reply was sent that the members were fully capable of taking care of Iranshah and would not allow 'outsiders' to interfere! How one wishes they had kept their word! Far from being the custodians, protecting the sanctity and purity of Iranshah, they have actually supported the Utsav and worse still, proudly claim to have been a part of it! No wonder 'outsiders' have had to raise their voice! As expected, the letter/article targets all those who have criticised the Utsav and takes great pains to protect 'our Dasturji(!)' and all along we thought the members of the Anjuman were meant to protect Shreeji Iranshah! If Khurshed Dastoor had behaved in a responsible manner befitting the lofty position of the High Priest of Udvada, no one would have dared to point a finger at him. He invited Mr. Khambata, supported and publicly agreed with his views, and yet very surprisingly, also signed the letter to the community, along with the other High Priests, condemning the mischievous statements! Is it a case of running with the hare and hunting with the hound? What exactly is his stand? Will the real Khurshed Dastoor please stand up? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"><br></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN">'Sleepless in Udvada' was a well written article. Sadly, the reply was in bad taste. It not only reflected a petty mind but also ended up committing the Ad Hominem fallacy-that if you cannot rebut /refute an argument or a statement, then attack the character of the person! Incidentally, some permanent residents also claim to have experienced a 'dull, inexplicable sadness', when standing in front of Iranshah soon after the Utsav.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"><br></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN">The response from the BPP Board was weak and half hearted (though credit must be given to the Chairman for voicing his concern), stating that BPP deals with administrative matters and religious matters are best left to the High Priests. But following the letter to the community from the High Priests, the BPP could have issued a communique from their side. The BPP is the apex body of the community, and the members look up to it. Despite the good work done in the last 100 days, if the Board remains silent on important issues, the members of the community feel let down. The previous Board had fiercely fought the Renegade Priests case and taken it right up to the Supreme Court. Was it supposed to be an administrative issue?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN">All that the 'Traditionalists who are not fanatics' are saying is –CHANGE THE VENUE. Udvada gaam has been explored inside out; a lot of spiritual pollution would have affected the 'Paav Mahel' of Paak Iranshah and that is sure to have its repercussion on the entire community. By changing the venue, the community would get a chance to visit a new place, the unpleasant divide between US and THEM, which is getting murkier day by day, would end, the blessings of Iranshah would be on the entire community and there would be peace and harmony once again. It would be a win-win situation. The ball is now in the court of Udvada Samast Anjuman.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"><br></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN">The Faithful Followers of Iranshah are waiting………....</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"><br></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN">Ms R. F. Doctor</span></p></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><span><font color="#888888"><div><br></div></font></span></font></span></div></div></div></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> </font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> <p></p> -- <br> -- <br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br> Groups "The Parsee Voice".<br> To post to this group, send email to <a href="mailto:theparseevoice@gmail.com" target="_blank">theparseevoice@gmail.com</a> <br><br> For more options, visit this group at<br> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en</a><br> --- <br></font></span></div></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-22670656218716690872016-02-08T19:37:00.001+05:302016-02-08T19:41:08.073+05:30TheParseeVoice: Article detailing the community's stand on conversion and inter-marriages<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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---------- Forwarded message ----------<br />
From: <b class="gmail_sendername">The Parsee Voice</b> <br />
Date: Mon, Feb 8, 2016 at 9:33 PM<br />
Subject: TheParseeVoice: Article detailing the community's stand on conversion and inter-marriages<br />
To: <a href="mailto:the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com">the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com</a><br />
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Dear Readers,</div>
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Whether the Zoroastrian religion permits conversion and intermarriage or not, has been the subject matter of great speculation since the 19th century. Views and counter views were exchanged and still continue to be. Important in all this is the mindset of the Parsee community on this issue since those days, which found expression through resolutions passed by Samast Anjuman meetings.</div>
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In the attached article, I have attempted to put together the scenarios that existed in the earlier centuries and shown how strongly the community opposed any such attempts to foist conversion and intermarriage on them. </div>
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The religious explanations on this subject will be covered in a subsequent write-up.</div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Regards</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">H. M. Mistry</span></div>
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<span class="HOEnZb"><span style="color: #888888;"> </span></span></div>
<span class="HOEnZb"><span style="color: #888888;"> -- <br /> -- <br /></span></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mixed marriages and
Conversion – A historical perspective from the 19<sup>th</sup> and 20<sup>th</sup>
centuries – H. M. Mistry<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In the last hundred years or so, the
subject of Juddin Navjotes and Marriages has been discussed repeatedly in the Parsee
community. Many Parsees have voiced concern over the wrong projection that
children of Parsee fathers and Juddin mothers can have their Navjotes performed
as this is done by misrepresenting the Davar -Beaman judgement. Since this topic keeps rearing its head in
the community despite such discussions having been held over the decades, there
is a need for putting down in one place, the background of modern Parsee history
in this respect as also the religious canon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The advocacy of conversion did not and
does not arise from an alleged anxiety for the survival of the community. It is
merely an attempt to justify the marriages of Parsee men and women outside the
community. </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are three props
on which the Juddin champions base their arguments viz.:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1) That our scriptures
advocate conversion of an alien to the Zoroastrian Religion;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2) That Justice Davar's and Justice Beaman's
Judgements lay down some legal definition of a Parsee, which is binding on the Parsees
and constitutes the law of the land; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3) That if we do not accept as Parsee
Zoroastrians the children of Parsee fathers and non-Parsee mothers and of Parsee
mothers and non-Parsee fathers, our population will be reduced to zero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Each of these props is hollow and even decayed
from its interior. The scriptures are turned and twisted beyond any
reasonable limit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Since about 1300 years of our stay in
India, there were no Juddin marriages to show.
We may safely say that upto 1600 A.D., the recorded history of Parsees
does not reflect any Juddin marriage problem. In 1599, Mobed Bahman Kekobad
recorded Parsee history in his famous Kisseh Sanjan. No mention can be found of mixed marriages in
his entire writings. Nor can any such mention be traced in the famous ‘Parsi
Prakash’ volumes that constitute the Parsi Panchayat records. Similarly, the
history of the Parsi Panchayat, as recorded by Sir Jivanji Mody, does not
reflect any incidence of mixed marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In 1818, records have it that some Parsee
males clandestinely got performed the Navjotes of their children born of their
non-Parsee mistresses. In those days,
the Parsi Panchayat was not a Board of Trustees but comprised of grand, wealthy
Akabars or Sethias, who genuinely felt and worked for the welfare of the Parsee
community and Zarthoshti Deen. In 1818,
for the very first time, these Akabars passed certain resolutions against such
clandestine Juddin Navjotes. At that time, these gentlemen wielded great
influence over the community members. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In 1830, a Samast Parsee Anjuman
meeting was held at the Dadyseth Agiary in Fort, when 9 resolutions were passed.
One among the many stern (original in Gujarati) resolutions passed read, “Very
recently, we find that some offspring of Parsee men keeping non-Parsee
mistresses, have been taken into the Parsee fold, which act has disgraced our
religion! It is, therefore, that we have organised this protest meeting whose
proceedings will be on record with the Parsee Panchayat and copies thereof are
being sent to the Akabars of other towns, requesting them to ensure that
children of such mistresses are not taken into the Zoroastrian faith by
performing such clandestine Navjotes. On growing up, such children should not
be allowed to marry in the Parsee community and their bodies should not be
consigned to our consecrated Dakhmas.” The resolutions were signed by more than
50 famous personalities of the community including Nowrojee J Wadia, Bomanji H
Wadia, Framji Cowasjee Banaji, Modi Sohrabji Vatcha Gandhi, Sir Jamsetjee
Jeejeebhoy, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In the years 1835 to 1850 many such
resolutions were passed, yet such clandestine Juddin Navjotes occurred. Framji
Cowasjee had observed that the more lenient the stand taken for Parsee males
keeping mistresses and getting their offspring initiated and even married into
the community, the more licentious would Parsees turn out to be. Thus, in 1836,
Parsi Panchayat passed a resolution that such Mobeds performing mixed marriages
would be excommunicated! <b>Those were the
days when such Akabars wielded extensive power to deprive such deviants from
being recognised as a Parsee or availing of any right to enter any consecrated
fire temple and even of availing any benefit from any Parsee institution.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Two points here are pertinent to note:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">(1)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Although
such unauthorised Navjotes were extremely rare in the 19<sup>th</sup> century,
Parsees were so perturbed by their performance, that they called Samast Anjuman
Meetings to condemn them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">(2)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Today,
it is being argued that the father’s sins should not be visited upon the child
and, therefore, the child’s Navjote should be performed. The Parsees of the last century did not have
such false, maudlin sentiments. Since no
one can do much about Parsee men cohabiting with non-Parsee women, Parsees of
yore had at least that good sense to ostracise Mobeds who betrayed their
religious tenets, and they deprecated such “Navjotes”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On 26.06.1882, Roj Khorshed Mah Dae, i.e.
on our Prophet’s diso, our community bore sad witness to the infamous Mazgaon
Juddin Navjotes, where the Navjotes of certain adults (even 35 to 40 years of
age) were performed publicly by one Dastur Jamasp Minocheher JamaspAsa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
landmark Davar - Beaman Judgement (Sir Dinsha M. Petit & others, Plaintiffs
V/s Sir Jamsetji J. Jijibhai & others, Defendants):<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In 1903, Mr, Ratan D. Tata married a
French lady whose name was conveniently changed to Soonai. Kaikhusroo Jamaspasa
(not the High Priest with the same name today) performed the Navjote of the
said Soonai in the morning and conducted the marriage ashirvad ceremony the
same evening! This was indeed an
unprecedented act of profanity that raised an uproar in the entire Parsee
community, <b>which publicly refused to
accept Soonai as a Parsee, enjoying normal Parsee rights such as entry into
consecrated fire temples, etc.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A public meeting of Parsees was called
and a committee of 196 members was appointed to look into the burning question
of conversion. This committee appointed a sub-committee of 35, wherefrom a
further sub-committee of 11 scholars was finalised. These 11 gave their report
that the Zoroastrian religion enjoined and encouraged conversion. This report
was forwarded to the sub-committee of 35 and then to the committee of 196.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This matter ultimately landed in
another public meeting on 16.4.1905 called by Jehangirji Vimadalal at Albless
Baug, where many important resolutions were passed against Juddin navjotes and
marriages. <b>That meeting saw the community
rejecting the 11 scholars report. <i>Whatever the scriptures might be saying, we
do not want to mix ourselves with other communities because we want to survive
as a race of Zoroastrians with all its inherent genetic characteristics and
with all its spiritual and religious institutions and practices.</i> That was
the sound thinking which prompted the meeting to pass 3 resolutions. The first
resolution torpedoed the report of the learned 11. The second resolution
resolved to boycott those Mobeds and Priests who performed any Juddin navjote
(whether of a child by Parsee father or Parsee mother) and the third resolution
declared in clear terms that there was no custom of admitting the children of Parsee
father and non-Parsee mother into the religion and no such child would be
admitted or accepted as a Parsee.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In the capacity of plaintiffs, Mr. Ratan
D. Tata and the members of Petit family filed a case which was heard for 3
years. On behalf of the defendants, Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy and other Akabars
of the Parsi Panchayat, Jehangirji Vimadalal fought a fierce battle in court in
the Division Bench of Justices Sir Dinsha Davar and Beaman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The two main questions in the case
were:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">(1)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Whether
the defendants were validly appointed trustees of the properties and funds of
the Parsi Punchayet, and whether, in the event of death or resignation of one
or more of them they had the right of filling up the vacancy or vacancies as
they occured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">(2)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Whether
a person born in another faith and subsequently converted to Zoroastrianism and
admitted into that religion was entitled to the benefit of the religious
institutions and funds mentioned in the plaint and now in the possession and
under the management of the defendants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The judgement
in both these two issues was emphatically negative.</span></b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> The Justices held that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1) The defendants were not validly appointed trustees of
the funds and Parsi Punchayat Trustees should be elected and an electoral
college be formed for the purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2) There were very clear authorities for holding that a
well-established and ancient usage prevailing amongst a community must
over-ride such of the tenets of the religion as are shown to have fallen into
desuetude and conflict with ancient usage prevailing in the community. The
result was that they dismissed the suit so far as it sought relief on all
points relating to the conversion of Juddins and their right to participate in
the Charitable Funds and Institutions in the possession and under management of
the defendants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The judgement
does not lay down any law further than this. There are, of course, references
to the children of Parsee fathers by non-Parsee mothers in the judgement; but
as pointed out to our community hundreds of times, these references constituted
<i>Obiter Dictum</i> and did not lay down
any law.</span></b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <em><span style="background: white;">Obiter dictum</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span style="background: white;">is Latin
for a word said "by the way", that is, a remark in a judgment that is
"said in passing". It is a judge's expression of opinion uttered in
court or in a written judgement, but not essential to the decision <b>and therefore not legally binding as a
precedent.</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Thus,
it is as clear that the judgements of Davar J. and Beaman J. did not lay down
any legal definition of a Parsee nor did they set out the alleged binding law
that a child of a Parsee father and non-Parsee mother is a Parsee and should be
accepted as a Parsee! </span></b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Brazenly
misusing and misquoting this vital judgement, Parsee deviants (even today) have
been propagating the falsehood that this judgement allows the Navjote of
offspring of Parsee fathers and non-Parsee mothers to be performed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya wrote to
Jehangirji Vimadalal: <b>“I honour your
community for its desire to keep up its purity of blood and its tenacious
strength and character which have enabled it to live and flourish so long with
distinction.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In 1914, a third Jamaspasa came in the
limelight when he went to Rangoon (Burma) to perform the Navjote of a child
born of a non-Parsee father and a Parsee lady.
This matter later developed into the infamous Saklat V/s Bella Case. The
orthodox lobby lost the case right upto the High Court level. <b>Once again Jehangirji Vimadalal stepped in
and won the case at the Privy Council level through his astute cross
examination of witnesses and proper presentation of facts.</b> Thus, here too,
the Privy Council overruled the erroneous Bombay High court judgement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Even after the court case, the
community went on resisting any attempt to bring in the Juddin question. The
most noteworthy step in this direction was the a meeting of all the Parsee priests
held in 1914, which resolved that no Navjote of a child of a Parsee father and
non-Parsee mother would be performed by any Priest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The years 1918, 1919, 1929 and 1930
witnessed many Samast Anjuman Sabhas and the passing of resolutions to the
effect that such deviants would just not be taken back into the Parsee fold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The next important event was the publication
of ‘Zoroastrian Theology’ by Dr. Maneckji Dhalla and ‘Zoroastrianism Ancient
and Modern’ by Ervad Phiroze Masani. Dr. Dhalla’s book was to become the Bible
of the advocates of the Juddin lobby. <b>However,
the same Justice Dinsha Davar of the Davar-Beaman duo, encouraged Ervad Masani
to write his scholarly book as a thumping rejoinder to Dr. Dhalla. With his
scholastic, deep study of our religious texts, Phiroze Masani, Advocate High
Court, Bombay, successfully refuted each and every argument of Dr. Dhalla on
conversion and ornamented his book by giving
a list of 45 glaring inconsistencies of Dr. Dhalla spread in his book!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The next historical important step was
the drafting of the definition of a PARSEE in the Parsi Marriage and Divorce
Act, 1936. The Juddin champions were to
thrust a definition accepting children of a Parsee father and non-Parsee
mother. However, due to the efforts of Mr. Manekji Davar, Mr. Faredoon
Dadachandji, Mr. Mancherji Khareghat and Mr. Homi Seervai, the attempts of the Juddin
advocates failed miserably and the definition that ultimately found its way
into the Act is “A Parsi means a Parsi Zoroastrian”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Then came the chapter of Vansda
Navjotes in 1942. A few Parsees in Vansda State had kept Adivasi mistresses and
their progeny had multiplied. One Mr.
Faramji Bode and Mr. Burjorji Bharucha arranged to have ‘Navjotes’ of such
progeny who were ‘children’ between the age of 7 and 70! There was an uproar in
the community. Jam-e-Jamshed took the
lead. The files of Jame for the year
1942-43-44 provide an excellent account of how sharply the Parsee community
reacted to this nefarious Bode-Bharucha act. These files also show that the
community did not make any difference between children of Parsee father by an
alien wife and Parsee mother by alien husband.
In fact, the Vansda progeny were all offspring of Parsee fathers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In 1945, some of the Vansda navjotees
filed a suit in the Bombay High Court against the trustees of an Agiary,
claiming that they were Parsees and were entitled to enter the Agiary. They brought Dr. Dhalla, the Juddin champion
as their expert and ‘powerful’ witness. However, in the cross-examination by
counsel, Mr. Manekshah, Dr. Dhalla admitted that he himself would never perform
such a Navjote because a large part of the Parsee community was against
it! Vansda Navjotee plaintiffs were
promptly advised by their counsel, Mr. Setalvad to withdraw the case.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When this case was pending, the Parsi
Panchayat had received a requisition signed by 24,000 Parsees voicing strong
protest against the Vansda navjotes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Again, on 16.3.1945, a Samast Anjuman
Meeting was held openly condemning these Navjotes. All along, the stand of the
community was: <b>no mixing of blood
whatsoever, no distinction between children of Parsee father by non-Parsee
mother and of a Parsee mother by non-Parsee father.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The next step was an alleged
declaration by 14 Dastoors in 1949, where one of the paragraphs stated that
they had to accept the definition of a Parsee as laid down by the law. This was yet another attempt to thrust
Justice Davar’s obiter as law, intending to get the community to accept the
children of Parsee fathers by non-Parsee mothers into the fold. Once again, the
community reacted very sharply. <b>The two Head priests of Navsari and Udvada
not only did not join this declaration of 14 Dastoors, but opposed it
vehemently.</b> One of them, Dastoorji
Mirza presided over a public meeting held on 9.10.1949 for recording the strong
protest of the community. Here again the community confirmed that Justice
Davar’s judgement did not lay that law and that no mixing of blood and genes
should be allowed whether by a Parsee father or mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In 1963, one more such confirmation
was asserted by the Parsee community. A
movement was launched by some Parsees to induce Parsi Panchayat to call a
Samast Anjuman meeting to pay tributes to the late Burjorji Bharucha (of Vansda
fame). Such meetings are called only for
those Parsees who had rendered exceptional service to the community. A requisition was sent to the trustees of the
Parsee Panchayat to call such a meeting for Mr. Bharucha. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">However, the Parsees had not forgotten
the Vansda Navjotes done under his leadership. The late Mr. Jehangirji
Chiniwalla and his PARSEE AVAZ launched a counter movement. Soon a counter
requisition bearing thousands of signatures was sent to the Parsee Panchayat
reminding them that calling such a meeting would tantamount to a ratification
of the great misdeeds done by Bode-Bharucha and company. The trustees honoured
the counter requisition. No meeting was
called for Mr. Bharucha. Once again, the community expressed its views in
another public meeting held on 1.4.1970 under the leadership of Mr. Maneck
Mistry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It is, thus,
clear that the community is against any kind of mixing of the Parsee blood and
genes by any kind of Juddin marriage or Juddin navjote and it does not accept
any distinction between the children of a Parsee father and non-Parsee mother
and of a Parsee mother and non-Parsee father. There is no law that makes such a
distinction. The community has adopted this consistent stand since Parsees came
to India and has expressed the stand most emphatically and effectively whenever
the occasion has arisen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Our survival
is in danger not because we do not accept Juddin marriage or Juddin
"navjote"; it is in danger because a few of us desire to thrust such
acceptance on the whole community. The
surest way of erasing a race from the surface of the earth is the import-export
of blood and genes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The above
facts and figures have been taken from the writings and lectures of religious
scholars - Vada Dasturji Kaikhushroo N. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>Dastoor
Meherjirana and late Adi F. Doctor.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span class="HOEnZb"><span style="color: #888888;">
<br /><br /> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br /> Groups "The Parsee Voice".<br /> To post to this group, send email to <a href="mailto:theparseevoice@gmail.com" target="_blank">theparseevoice@gmail.com</a> <br /><br /> For more options, visit this group at<br /> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en</a><br /> --- <br /> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Parsee Voice" group.</span></span></div>
</div>
Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-69560175593215305882016-02-08T10:40:00.001+05:302016-02-08T10:40:51.254+05:30TheParseeVoice Open response to communication of Udvada Samast Anjuman<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">The Parsee Voice</b> <br>Date: Sun, Feb 7, 2016 at 9:22 PM<br>Subject: TheParseeVoice Open response to communication of Udvada Samast Anjuman<br>To: <a href="mailto:editorjamejamshed@gmail.com">editorjamejamshed@gmail.com</a><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The Committee Members</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Udvada Samast Anjuman</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">We are greatly pained to read your sanctimonious and patronising response which appeared in Jame Jamshed of 31<sup>st</sup> January. You have completely sidetracked the main issue of concern to the traditional members of the community, that of safeguarding the sanctity of Iranshah, which was badly jeopardised during the recent so-called 'Utsav'.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">While you pompously proclaim that the Udvada Samast Anjuman is the caretaker of Iranshah, the recent actions of some of the Anjuman leadership in holding the Iranshah Udvada Utsav at great spiritual cost to Holy Iranshah, is a clear pointer in the opposite direction. The speech of Darius Khambata, which found a willing supporter in Udvada's High Priest, Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, proved to be the proverbial last straw which broke the camel's back! <b>All this happened with full support of your leader and you have the audacity to claim that the general community of Parsi/Irani Zarthoshtis, the beneficiaries of Iranshah, have no say in the matter!!</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">You contend that Darius Khambata expressed his personal opinion, and that your Anjuman and Dastur Khurshed are not in agreement. <b>If you were not in agreement, why was he invited in the first place to speak at the Utsav?</b> His views on this topic are well known, he having already voiced them at the last World Zoroastrian Congress. What are his scholastic credentials on religion that made you invite him as a speaker instead of other real scholars of the religion? Further, the Utsav organisers also went a step further and felicitated him. When some of the attendees protested, your Dastur Khurshed silenced them. And then you expect the community to believe that Dastur Khurshed does not support these views of Mr. Khambata?? All we can say is: Tell it to the marines!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">You further state that neither your Anjuman nor your Dasturjis have ever encouraged conversion or mixed marriages in any form whatsoever. In this regard, we invite your attention to the interview given by Dastur Khurshed to Nergish Sunavala of Times of India on December 27, 2015 after this unfortunate speech of Khambata and also the interview given by Dastur Khurshed to Bachi Karkaria of Times of India on December 20, 2015. Please also read the interview given by Dastur Khurshed on May 28, 2010 in Ontario, published in the 2010, Fall September issue of FEZANA Journal. Even a person with limited IQ will understand the religious leanings of Dastur Khurshed! It was only when the community expressed its indignation and he was cornered, that Dastur Khurshed lent his signature to the joint letter / statement issued by all the other High Priests in which they spoke out against conversions and intermarriage. It seems hypocritical to us that on one hand Dastur Khurshed sides with the reformist lobby, and then portrays himself to be a traditionalist when there is a furore. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">As regards the absence of the other High Priests from the Utsav, we have it from reliable sources that some of the High Priests did not even get an invitation from you. While we are aware that Dasturji Meherjirana is in poor health, that still does not preclude you from inviting him, especially since your Dastur Khurshed was graciously invited to, and attended the celebrations of the Navsari Atashbehram. That is the correct protocol which should have been followed, especially when it is well established that the Meherjirana Gaadi is the oldest and senior-most position in the community for the last 450 years. Further, we are aware that Dastur Peshotan Mirza, the other High Priest of Udvada, was present in the morning on one of the Utsav days in Udvada, but yet he chose not to attend a single function. That speaks a lot for the so-called unanimity of your decision on the contents of this communication.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Insiders have informed us that about 2500 tickets had been sold for the Utsav. So your stated claim of 4000 attendees is grossly exaggerated! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">You also claim that Udvada Samast Anjuman does not interfere with any other Anjumans / Associations. Then how come Dastur Khurshed dabbles in matters which are under the jurisdiction of Dasturji K. M. JamaspAsa in Mumbai? His involvement in the Lalbaug Wadia Agiary issue, his being Chairman of the Athornan Mandal in Mumbai and his involvement with the construction of an 'Agiary' in Navi Mumbai are clear cases of this infringement of jurisdiction.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Instead of being issue-based, you have stooped to the level of launching personal attacks against those who have had the guts to speak out against your wrong-doings, including hitting below the belt on personal issues. By speaking out against the Utsav, Er. Yezdi Unvala has done a service to the community and so have Er. Marzban Hathiram and BPP Chairman and WAPIZ trustee, Yazdi Desai. Does it behove your Anjuman to indulge in such despicable tactics? You also need to realise that those living in glass houses should not throw stones! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">You seem to be quick to jump to the rescue of the FDU, which has been around since over a decade. Pray tell us what great achievements it has accomplished in this time? We have been hearing about the proposed wall to prevent the sea from eroding the beach and properties since the last decade. The security of the residents is a huge concern, with a spate of robberies occurring in the recent past and with no police presence worth mentioning. The roads were also done up just before the Utsav, most probably to impress the VIP entourage. The residents have already approached the administration with concerns about likely flooding at their doorsteps during the next monsoon due to the raising of the levels of the main road in comparison to the side roads. All that we see on the ground is the isolated, so-called Zoroastrian Information Centre, which hardly attracts any footfalls! If you recall, this is the same FDU against which 'The Parsee Voice' was regularly cautioning you since a decade, but you took no heed.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">As regards the 200 acres of land in Udvada which was proposed to be developed in the near vicinity of Iranshah, we are reliably informed that a deal has been struck with the developer and the Anjuman. Why is there a deafening silence from the powers-that-be in Udvada, and no attempt has yet been made to apprise the community about the current status? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">We also take umbrage on your mention of pressure groups with 'holier than thou' mind-sets seeking to misguide the community since they are well known to have a personal animus against Dastur Khurshed. It may be worth highlighting that we have only spoken about the issues-at-hand and have not indulged in 'Ad Hominem'. You may well be surprised to note that quite a few individuals from the so-called 'pressure groups' pray regularly to Dadar Ahura Mazda that the veil of spiritual darkness that clouds the thinking and actions of quite a few unfortunate brethren of our noble community, be torn apart at the earliest. We wish peace and all-round progress for our small community which can best be assured by safeguarding the age old customs, traditions and canon laws of the religion.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Irrespective of whether you choose to respond to us or not, please understand that the community at large has seen through the veneer of traditionalism that the Utsav organisers, especially Dastur Khurshed claim to have. His actions, conduct and demeanour are not befitting the high position he holds. We are also surprised that the response which the committee has sent has been drafted without taking the Anjuman into confidence, without holding any meeting, and with the surprising state of the Secretary being in and out of hospital for the last month and the Assistant Secretary having resigned under controversial circumstances more than a month ago. What a show of unanimity! Your marking your communication to known heterodox publications like Parsiana, FEZANA Journal and Hamazor also raises quite a few questions.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><font size="4">Instead of digging in your heels and being stubborn, please appreciate that our only purpose is to safeguard the sanctity of Holy Iranshah and preserve His environs. The Utsav has only negatives on this score and no one can deny that. <u>As concerned members of the Parsi community, we urge you to stop future Utsavs from being held in Udvada and safeguard Iranshah's sanctity. If the Udvada Samast Anjuman chooses to bury its head in the sand like an ostrich and does nothing at this juncture to prevent further harm, it goes without saying that the community as a whole will have to face negative spiritual consequences. </u></font></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">We hope that wiser counsel will prevail. </span><span lang="EN-IN"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Hanoz M. Mistry</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Ms. Rita F. Doctor</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Ervad Bahadur Sanjana</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Ervad Behram Dhabhar</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Kaizad F. Kerawalla</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Khushnood Viccaji</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Jimmy Tavadia</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Yazdi P. Munsif</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Ervad Aspi K. Rao</span><br></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Ms. Kashmira A. Rao</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Mehernosh Zaveri</span><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></font></span></p><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p></font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> </font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> <p></p> -- <br> -- <br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br> Groups "The Parsee Voice".<br> To post to this group, send email to <a href="mailto:theparseevoice@gmail.com" target="_blank">theparseevoice@gmail.com</a> <br>For more options, visit this group at<br> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en</a><br> --- <br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Parsee Voice" group.<br></font></span></div></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-80821983180465395222016-02-08T10:35:00.001+05:302016-02-08T10:35:48.676+05:30Fwd: TheParseeVoice Fwd: Petition against Utsav in Udvada<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qrfdKHQGn9Q/VrgiLN9UbVI/AAAAAAAAALs/i6zTqBujCvY/s1600/Free%2BPress%2Barticle-748677.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qrfdKHQGn9Q/VrgiLN9UbVI/AAAAAAAAALs/i6zTqBujCvY/s320/Free%2BPress%2Barticle-748677.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6248782059097320786" /></a></p><div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">The Parsee Voice</b> <br>Date: Sun, Feb 7, 2016 at 8:56 PM<br>Subject: TheParseeVoice Fwd: Petition against Utsav in Udvada<br>To: <a href="mailto:the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com">the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com</a><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large">Dear Readers,<br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:large"><div class="gmail_quote" style="font-size:12.8px"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="font-size:large"><br></div><div style="font-size:large"><div style="display:inline"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline">You are most probably aware of the recent furore raised by community members against the unfortunate goings-on during the Iranshah Udvada Utsav. All the Vada Dasturjis too have protested against what happened there. Their letter was published in Jame Jamshed Weekly. </div></div></div><div style="font-size:large"><div style="display:inline"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline"><br></div></div></div><div style="font-size:large"><div style="display:inline"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline">WAPIZ has also raised its voice against whatever wrong happened at the Utsav (see attached press cutting). <b>The only motivating force behind these protests is preservation of the sanctity of Holy Iranshah Padshah.</b> The Utsav organisers have yet to see light!</div></div></div><div style="font-size:large"><div style="display:inline"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline"><br></div></div></div><div style="font-size:large"><div style="display:inline"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline">Consequently, it was decided to petition the Prime Minister of India to instruct that henceforth, the Utsav be held at a location other than Udvada. </div></div></div><div style="font-size:large"><div style="display:inline"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline"><br></div></div></div><div style="font-size:large"><div style="display:inline"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline">I thank all those who have supported the move of the traditional section of the society.</div><span> For those who have missed </span><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline">my earlier</div> mail<div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline">s</div><span>, kindly act immediately by voting in favour of the petition to the Prime Minister of India. </span></div></div><div style="font-size:large"><br></div><div style="font-size:large"><b><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline"></div>We oppose <div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline">all </div><span>those actions which defile and denigrate the sanctity of our Holy Iranshah. He is our biggest benefactor for the last </span><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline">over </div><span>1300 years and it is our bounden duty to protect HIM from harm.</span></b></div><div style="font-size:large"><br></div></font><span><div><span><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:large;text-align:justify;line-height:20.7px"><span lang="EN-IN">We support the Government's efforts to improve infrastructure in Udvada. We are also not against attempts to showcase the community's track record of progress and harmony in India in the last millennium. <b>However, holding of this Utsav in Udvada is damaging the sanctity of Holy Iranshah! Hence the request to the Prime Minister to </b></span><b style="line-height:20.7px"><span lang="EN-IN">instruct the organisers to hold future Utsavs at a location OTHER THAN UDVADA and thus prevent further spiritual damage to our holy entity, Iranshah!</span></b></p><div style="font-size:large;display:inline"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:large;text-align:justify;line-height:20.7px"><span style="line-height:20.7px">An online version of the petition can be accessed via the following link:</span><br></p><div style="font-size:12.8px"><a href="http://email.change.org/mpss/c/8QA/SCE/t.1tx/1A8DHj2ZT0-_6GNtPM8EUQ/h1/W9oZwjoGX5ulRlet7FB-2BvGgC73TmxSvr7a1p80hg73RwSLBR45d81apFeScFgFnkQqimALcYT5TR-2FSRgybJYnPKi3O5vTmFL8DYKqEOj0VN3EUJVuDoEqR6vpWTKDQprg63mfX8XL2-2B0VrjRrCzomQflW05EGJAQKnpWMT0IeAqxttigJ8urWbNcbMSfxjLtkwMX1V41Kc0k-2BurhygL2M1nI6Dw8LR6bwPY3yd-2FsZ4uiJ29sNWx4xd8veU8c00SRwZOYUCkx2ip5i1YHqMIOUibTxMebLZ8j-2Bo0oaFyhXto-3D" style="font-size:15px;line-height:20px" target="_blank"><b><div style="display:inline"></div>Prime Minister of India, Vada Dasturjis of the Parsee Community: </b></a><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><b><a href="http://email.change.org/mpss/c/8QA/SCE/t.1tx/1A8DHj2ZT0-_6GNtPM8EUQ/h1/W9oZwjoGX5ulRlet7FB-2BvGgC73TmxSvr7a1p80hg73RwSLBR45d81apFeScFgFnkQqimALcYT5TR-2FSRgybJYnPKi3O5vTmFL8DYKqEOj0VN3EUJVuDoEqR6vpWTKDQprg63mfX8XL2-2B0VrjRrCzomQflW05EGJAQKnpWMT0IeAqxttigJ8urWbNcbMSfxjLtkwMX1V41Kc0k-2BurhygL2M1nI6Dw8LR6bwPY3yd-2FsZ4uiJ29sNWx4xd8veU8c00SRwZOYUCkx2ip5i1YHqMIOUibTxMebLZ8j-2Bo0oaFyhXto-3D" style="font-size:15px;line-height:20px" target="_blank">Petition against holding Parsee Zoroastrian Utsav in Udvada</a></b></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><br></div></font></span><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline"></div><div style="display:inline">For t</div>hose interested in <div style="display:inline">signing </div>a hard copy, <div style="display:inline">the same is attached herewith. Please print and get as many signatures as you can. The signed sheets may please be returned/mailed to the following address:</div></font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline"><br></div></font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline">Ervad Bahadur Sanjana</div></font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline">R/13, Navroz Baug</div></font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline">Lalbaug, Mumbai 400 012</div></font></div></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline">Maharashtra, INDIA</div></font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline"><br></div></font></div></span><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large">Regards</div><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large">H M Mistry</div></div></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br> </font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> <p></p> -- <br> -- <br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br> Groups "The Parsee Voice".<br> To post to this group, send email to <a href="mailto:theparseevoice@gmail.com" target="_blank">theparseevoice@gmail.com</a> <br><br> For more options, visit this group at<br> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en</a><br> --- <br><br></font></span></div></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-73194882316477981442016-02-01T08:45:00.001+05:302016-02-01T08:45:29.029+05:30Fwd: The FDU & Udvada Samast Anjuman still miss the prime point of the Udvada Utsav Protests: Udvada Is Not A Tourist Site But A Sacred Religious Venue<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">TZML Admins</b><br>Date: Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 9:43 AM<br>Subject: The FDU & Udvada Samast Anjuman still miss the prime point of the Udvada Utsav Protests: Udvada Is Not A Tourist Site But A Sacred Religious Venue<br>To: TZML <<a href="mailto:TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com">TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com</a>><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_extra"><div class="gmail_quote"><div style="text-align:left"><br></div><div style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:large;text-align:center">Sarosh roj, Sherevar Mah, YZ 1385</span></div><div style="text-align:left"><span style="text-align:center;font-size:large"><br></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><span style="text-align:center;font-size:large">31 January 2016</span></div></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><br></font></div><b style="text-align:center"><div style="text-align:center"><b><font size="4">UDVADA IS NOT A TOURIST SITE BUT A SACRED RELIGIOUS VENUE FOR PARSIS</font></b></div></b><div style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:large;font-weight:bold"><br></span></div><b style="text-align:center"><div style="text-align:center"><b><font size="4">THE FDU STILL MISSES THE PRIME POINT OF THE UDVADA UTSAV PROTESTS</font></b></div></b><div style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:large;font-weight:bold"><br></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12.8px;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;color:black">Dear Zarathushti humdins,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12.8px;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;color:black"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black"><font size="4">cc: Vada Dasturjis<br>cc: Ervad Sahebs including Ervad Principal Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia and Ervad Dr. Rooyinton Peer<br>cc: Traditional networks like TZML, TMYZ, TParsees, TMZANZ, TMZA of California, PIPZ<br>cc: WZO (India)<br>cc: The Udvada Samast Anjuman<br>cc: Parsi Press<br>cc: Prominent Parsis like Mr. Filly Marawalla, Mrs Pervin J. Misty, Mr Marzban Giara, Mr. Rustom Chothia, Mr and Mrs Tahmtan and Godafrid Aresh etc.</font></span></p><font size="4"><b><br></b></font><span style="font-size:large">The Udvada Samast Anjuman released a statement to the Parsi press, printed in the Jame Jamshed Weekly of 31 January 2016. On the overall, the tone of the letter is haughty and very different from the courteous releases from the Anjuman in the past.</span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><font size="4"><br></font><span style="font-size:large">The statement obscures the main reason why traditional Parsis all over India have objected to the Utsav to be held in Udvada. Many other anomalies appear in their statement too. They are covered here.</span><br><font size="4"><br></font><b><font size="4">Udvada is not a tourist destination for Parsis or Non-Parsis</font></b><br><span style="font-size:large">The statement mentions that positives like proper roads in Udvada have been developed, regular electricity is now available, high rise building would not be constructed in the vicinity of Iranshah, etc. etc. But both the Anjuman and FDU officials Dasturji Khurshed and Dinshaw Tamboly have to be asked:</span><br><span style="font-size:large">1.</span><span style="font-size:large;font-stretch:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style="font-size:large">Are these benefits promised years ago anyway going to accrue only if an Utsav is held at the holy city of Iranshah?</span><br><span style="font-size:large"><br></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-size:large">2.</span><span style="font-size:large;font-stretch:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style="font-size:large">Why has Udvada to be turned into a tourist site so that non-Parsis will mark it on their diaries and come to see the </span><i style="font-size:large">gaam</i><span style="font-size:large">?</span><br><span style="font-size:large"><br></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-size:large">3.</span><span style="font-size:large;font-stretch:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><b style="font-size:large"><u>The Gujarat government has allocated the development of Udvada to the Minister of Tourism Mr. Saurabhbhai Patel, <font color="#0000ff">and not to a more appropriate ministry.</font></u></b><span style="font-size:large"> We wonder why was Tourism considered in the first place. A tourist site is primarily for tourists, and Udvada is not a tourist site. Period.</span><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-size:large"><br></span></div></div><blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div class="gmail_extra"><div class="gmail_quote"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4">When a religious site starts attracting tourists, it brings along with it a lot of negatives. This is very clearly spelled out by Vada Dasturji Meherji Rana K N Dastoor way back in 2002. He succinctly warns<i>: "It will affect the holy and spiritual atmosphere for the pilgrims and disturb their devotional frame required to be maintained there. More than that the project will greatly disturb the life of the Mobeds (priests) on whom lies the arduous and strenuous responsibility of tending, preserving and protecting the Holy Atash Padshah in accordance with the tenets, traditions and commands of the Parsi Dharma. The atmosphere of tourism, hotels and festivity will bring in serious ills and abuses of urban life, which will render it impossible for the Mobeds to observe their own personal 'tarikats' (the sacred rules of Ashoi-purity) as also the 'tarikat's for Iranshah."</i></font></p></div></div></div></blockquote><div class="gmail_extra"><div class="gmail_quote"><font size="4"><b><br></b></font><b><font size="4">The Reformist views of Darius Khambata being given a welcome platform. No apology from FDU.</font></b><br><span style="font-size:large">What is the use of the Anjuman mentioning that the reformist Darius Khambata's views were his own. Several questions arise on this faux paus which occurred at the Utsav:</span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><font size="4"><br></font><span style="font-size:large">a.</span><span style="font-size:large;font-stretch:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style="font-size:large">Why was reformist Khambata selected as a speaker in the first place knowing well that similar attempts were made by him at the World Zoroastrian Conference in Mumbai some years ago?</span><br><span style="font-size:large"><br></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-size:large">b.</span><span style="font-size:large;font-stretch:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style="font-size:large">Why did Dasturji Khurshed not immediately stop Khambata from speaking further when the audience clearly expressed their dissatisfaction at such heterodox words. Isn't Dasturji the Dastur of traditional Parsis or did he consider Khambata's nonsense views more important than rules of the religion.</span><br><span style="font-size:large"><br></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-size:large">c.</span><span style="font-size:large;font-stretch:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style="font-size:large">Since Dasturji Khurshed and Dinshaw Tamboly were the key people in FDU which had a key stake in the Utsav, why did not one or both issue an apology that they were sorry about such views expressed by Khambata. The Vada Dasturjis themselves have written in a joint statement after the Ustav that </span><i style="font-size:large">"it has greatly saddened us and several members of the community at the events that have transpired. Some of the points made at the Utsav were both detrimental towards preserving the basic tenets of our religion and hurtful to a large cross-section of our community"</i><br><span style="font-size:large"><br></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-size:large">d.</span><span style="font-size:large;font-stretch:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style="font-size:large">Why is the Udvada Samast Anjuman taking the blame of Darius Khambata's faux pas, when in fact it is the FDU organisers Dasturji Khurshed and Dinshaw Tamboly who should be apologising to the community for hurting its feelings and religious sentiments in a bad way.</span><br><br><br><b><font size="4">Iranshah belongs to the whole community, not to the Udvada Anjuman only</font></b><br><span style="font-size:large">The Samast Anjuman complains that outsiders need not meddle in Udvada affairs. They are wrong on two counts:</span><br><span style="font-size:large;font-stretch:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style="font-size:large">I</span><span style="font-size:large;font-stretch:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style="font-size:large">First, when has Iranshah and its spiritual welfare become the sole prerogative of the Anjuman itself. They are just custodians of the Living Thriving Divine Entity called Iranshah, Who belongs to the whole Parsi community, in or outside Udvada.</span><br><span style="font-size:large;font-stretch:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style="font-size:large">II</span><span style="font-size:large;font-stretch:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style="font-size:large">Secondly, the Samast Anjuman must also ensure that Dasturji Khurshed must not participate in any happenings outside Udvada, even if invited. One such example is during the recent BPP elections of October 2015.</span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_quote"><font size="4"><br></font><b><font size="4">Community consensus not adequately taken. Concerns expressed not taken on board.</font></b><br><span style="font-size:large">Where was the community participation and opinion making sought before making decisions like inviting Darius Khambatta. Protests were made way back in a FPZAI meet, held on the 3rd and 4th of September 2005 </span><i style="font-size:large">(see The Parsee Voice, Sept 2005 issue).</i><span style="font-size:large"> Views of concerned Parsis appearing in Parsi Pukar, Jame Jamshed Weekly, Parsee Voice and the traditional networks about not projecting Udvada as a tourist centre were not taken on board.</span><br><font size="4"><b><br><br></b></font><b><font size="4">Udvada Anjuman rejects mail posted to it</font></b><br><span style="font-size:large">We also know for sure that two weeks ago the Udvada Samast Anjuman rejected concerns expressed by certain traditional people on the happenings at the Utsav. We have seen proof of the mail rejected twice. How did they make such a decision on the worthiness of the mail before opening it. Are they operating in a democratic manner or an autocratic manner. Isn't the Anjuman supposed to keep an Inwards File and store all correspondence it receives from community members, even though the letter may be highly critical of its functioning.</span><br><font size="4"><b><br><br></b></font><b><font size="4">Serious Negativities of the Utsav</font></b><br><span style="font-size:large">There are other serious negatives too, for which both the FDU and the Udvada Samast Anjuman are answerable to the Parsi community:</span><br><div><span style="font-size:large"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:large">a. Why did Daver's dance troupe, which consist of indecently attired ladies allowed in the program. That shows disrespect to a Holy Place like Udvada.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:large"><br></span></div><span style="font-size:large">b. Why was only one media house Parsi Times chosen as the favoured media for FDU.</span><br><div><p><font size="4">c.<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span>Why was Parsi Times chosen at all? Have people not read the heterodox articles preaching <b>conversion</b> appearing regularly in their recent issues. Such views are in total violation of what the religion, the Vada Dasturjis and the Anjuman stand for.</font></p> </div><font size="4"><br></font><span style="font-size:large">That is all for the moment. We will write again later.</span><br><font size="4"><br></font><span style="font-size:large">Meanwhile we request all concerned Parsi networks and Parsi media houses to continue highlighting to the general public anything and everything which concerns the spiritual welfare of the community.</span><br><font size="4"><br></font><span style="font-size:large">Do write to us if you have anything to share and your concerns about the way in which the Utsav was held and the venue of Udvada chosen.</span><br><font size="4"><br></font><span style="font-size:large">Sincerely,</span><br><span style="font-size:large">TZML Admins</span><br><br><span style="font-size:large"> </span><br><br></div></div></div> </div><br></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-19722490971017557852016-01-30T07:56:00.001+05:302016-01-30T07:56:02.985+05:30Move to shift the over 700 years Adaran Padshah saheb of Bharuch<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">The Parsee Voice</b> <br>Date: Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 9:48 PM<br>Subject: TheParseeVoice Fwd: [ilmeKhshnoom] Fwd: Dear Friends,<br>To: <a href="mailto:the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com">the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com</a><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large">Friends,<br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="4">There is currently a move to shift the over 700 years Adaran Padshah saheb of Bharuch to a new 'Agiary' being set up in Navi Mumbai. While the intentions are laudable, it is an <div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline"></div>exercise in futility because the shifting of an enthroned Adaran saheb cannot be done without causing great damage to His spiritual composition.</font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="4">Given below is an extract from an issue of Dini Avaz penned by late Adi Doctor.</font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></div><div><font size="4"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">It is most unfortunate that today's Parsees treat the "Padshah Sahebs" as so much piece of furniture and fixture. </span></font></font></div><div><font size="4"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br></span></font></font></div><div><font size="4"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">Why an 'Atash' of the Adaran fire is called 'Padshah', what vital role and function it performs in Nature, what connections it has with the various Fire Energies in Nature, what power and authority it wields, etc., are here delineated very briefly but cogently.<br></span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">It will at once show why the Fire of an 'Atash-e-Adaran' or, for that matter, that of an 'Atash-e-Behram' is so sacrosanct and why, therefore, it should be treated, particularly by those in charge of the 'Agiaries' and Atash Behrams' and by those who come to pray before it with the utmost dignity and respect.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">Disturbing the 'circuits' of such a consecrated Fire tantamounts to dethroning the 'Padshah' and the consequent disastrous effects which the entire Parsee community has to undergo!</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><u>What are the elements of the Atash Padshah?</u></span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">After the elaborate and complex process of its collection, purification, consecration and coronation, and during its tenure in the consecrated 'Agiary' building; the 'Adaran' Fire acquires 'Khshathra' = Power and Authority from Nature.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">'Atar-e-Adaran' means the 'Atar' or Fire pertaining to 'Adar Yazat', who is the prime Force operating on "Atar-e-Mino Karko" — the supreme Fire Energy of Nature governing the ultra-physical planes. This Fire Energy of Mino Karko' is an integral and vital component of the primeval Fire Energy called "Athro Puthra Ahura Mazda". Lord Ahura Mazda has used the Fire Energy of 'Mino Karko' as the base for the creation of the entire world of matter. Thus, our worldly 'Atar-e-Adaran' is the physical manifestation and co-worker of the 'Atar' of 'Adar Yazad', viz. 'Mino Karko'.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">It is common knowledge that the fires used for the purpose of the 'Adaran' Fire belong to the four earthly professions of an 'Athornan', 'Ratheshtar', 'Vastrayosh' and 'Hutokhsh'.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">When these fires, over each of which certain rituals are performed, are blended, concentrated and consecrated for enthronement, the new resultant Fire is in communion with the "Ushtan" or 'life-breaths' of the four Fire Energies of the invisible but perishable ultra-physical realms viz. "Atar-e-Mino Karko", "Atar-e-Vazisht", "Atar-e-Urvazisht" and "Atar-e- Spenisht".</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">The new 'Atash-e-Adaran' also establishes a direct link with the "Mithra" or 'thought-forces' and "Khoreh" or the aura and spiritual lustre of the four aforementioned natural Fire Energies of the ultra-physical world.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">All these connections, collectively form a circuit, a "Ring Pass-Not" around the 'Adaran' Fire, which is being enthroned. After the coronation, the first chief natural circuit or 'Karsh' (also 'Kash') will be established in the ash surrounding the visible Fire in the container or 'Khuaan' containing it.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">The moment this 'Karsh' is formed, the 'Adaran' Fire is automatically bestowed by Nature with 'Dahyupati' = Sovereignty.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">It now wields the Righteous Power and Authority or "Hu-Khshatra", and is known as a "Padshah". The "Dahyupati" and "Padshahi" is owing to the 'Yazatic' currents which now constantly flow in the ash on the container in which the visible fire is kept.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">Besides being a "Dahyupat" wielding "Khshathra", the Atash-e-Adaran is also a 'Rathaeshtar', i.e. a spiritual warrior, heavenly soldier instituted on Earth who has to fight ceaselessly, the constant attacks of Satan and the other Dark Forces of-Nature.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">Moreover, this earthly embodiment of the natural Fire Energies of the ultra-physical realms acts as a "Zaothra" or "Alaat", i.e. a spiritual battery perpetually receiving the divine blessings and benevolent radiations and currents and transmitting them to all living beings within a certain radius. The 'Atash-e-Adaran' thus serves as a functionary agent bringing into connection and attuning with each all the Fire Energies operating in ultra-physical space.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">Finally, this holy, concentrated Fire Energy on earth is a single, separate, living entity, possessing "Ahu", "Daena" and "Baod".</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">Because in the consecrated 'Atash Padshah', the 'Ushtan' - breath, of the Yazatas is connected, it naturally possesses the extremely high philanthropic disposition and magnanimous nature of "Ahu". It also has, by the operation of Natural Laws, "Daena" = the Right Conscience in which resides 'Sarosh Yazata' and Baodangh' the Divine Intelligence.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">This living, throbbing, pulsating Being or Entity has a "head", "conscience", "limbs", "Khoreh" and "Aipee".</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">The "head" of the "Padshah" is the visible outward fire in which all the currents of the Fire Energies of the invisible perishable realms flow.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">The "conscience" of the "Padshah" is the "Atash Dadgaah".</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">The "limbs" are the 6 "Karshes" or circuits of the 'Padshah', present in the "Agiary".</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">The "Khoreh" or aura is the personal magnetism and the radiating glow emanating from the 'Aipee' or the atmosphere surrounding the Padshah, wherein are found the thermo electro-magnetic currents of the 'Yazats'.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">The 'Atash-e-Adaran', therefore, doesn't just mean the visible outward fire alone.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">The 6 circuits prevailing within the four walls of the 'Adaran' building, the sanctified atmosphere permeating the building, the 'Aipee'', the Atash Dadgaah' <b>together </b>constitute the full-fledged Atash-e-Adaran'. The entire Adaran building becomes a consecrated talismanic fortress wherein the holy deified fire is enthroned.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">Of the 6 'Karshes' (circuits), the most important is the very first one, referred to earlier, which is formed in the top layer of the ash containing the visible fire. The strength of this Karsh depends on the 2nd circuit which gyrates around the 'Khuaan' or the 'Afargaanyu' of the Padshah, which in its turn, gets its strength from the 4 other 'Karshes' prevailing in the Agiary.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><u>Why we should never shift the Atash Padshah</u></span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><b>It is, therefore, of prime importance that under no circumstances should these 6 circuits, which interact with one another and constantly exchange fire and subtle energy and currents, be disturbed.</b></span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">Disturb and break the flow of even one circuit and you upset the vital exchange of energy, resulting in a chain reaction which attenuates the spiritual splendour and atmosphere prevailing there, and finally culminates in bringing tremendous pressure and load on the 'Atash Padshah', thereby depriving Him of His Spiritual Power and Authority.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">He then doesn't have the strength required of a Spiritual Warrior ('Rathaeshtar') and He is subjected to the incessant attacks from 'Gana-Min', the Evil Force operating in Nature. Instead of the 'Hu-Khshathra' = Benevolent Power prevailing there, the "Duz-Khshathra" or wicked Rule of Ahriman is clamped thereon.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">It is for these vital reasons that in the past, our worthy ancestors considered it not only blasphemous but unthinkable to show even the slightest discourtesy, directly or indirectly, to the 'Atash Padshah'.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><b>What happens when we shift the Atash Padshah</b></span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">The moment the 'Atash Padshah' is lifted and moved out of the 'Khuaan', the most vital first circuit operating in the top ash base, snaps.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">Soon, another circuit, or 'Karsh' of 'Spenta Armaiti' – the circuit flowing round the floor on which the pedestal and the 'Khuaan' stand – also snaps.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">In paragraph 1 of 'Paragard' (Chapter) 3 of the "Vendidad", in answer to a question by 'Asho' Zarathushtra, Dadar Ahura Mazda says that, "that hallowed ground is pleased and happy on which stands a consecrated "Atash Kadeh".</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">In the ground, on which the Padshah' is enthroned, there prevails a kind of a "Bazm", a "Rendezvous of Yazatic and other Divine Forces". When, therefore, the "Atash Padshah" is lifted from that ground, the "Bazm" gets disintegrated and the sanctified ground is displeased.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">The "Padshah" that has been dethroned and shifted then loses His "Dahyupati", His Power to communicate with the other ethereal planes, His Power to fight the evil and His Power to bring back the blessings of the Divine Forces.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">His "body" has been virtually cut off. He loses His separate Spiritual Entity. The visible fire then becomes a mere 'Kebla'. This fire will now be constantly exposed to the attacks of evil forces working in Nature.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><u>Exceptional circumstances when shifting the Padshah may be unavoidable</u></span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">The only highly exceptional and extreme circumstances in which the 'Padshah' may be unavoidably moved are, when say,</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">a non-Zoroastrian rushes into the sanctum-sanctorum or</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">if the priest tending the Fire suddenly has a stroke and passes away inside the 'Gumbaz' or</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">if the building adjoining the 'Agiary' is on fire, etc.</span><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)">But, at no time should the Padshah be treated as so much piece of furniture or fixture. </span></font><br></font></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div>-- <br><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif">Regards</font></div><div><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif">H. M. Mistry</font></div></div></div></div></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> </font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> <p></p> -- <br> -- <br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br> Groups "The Parsee Voice".<br> To post to this group, send email to <a href="mailto:theparseevoice@gmail.com" target="_blank">theparseevoice@gmail.com</a> <br><br> For more options, visit this group at<br> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en</a><br></font></span></div></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-19706947395893017122016-01-28T17:31:00.001+05:302016-01-28T17:31:49.463+05:30TheParseeVoice Petition against Utsav in Udvada<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote">From: <b class="gmail_sendername">The Parsee Voice</b> <br>Date: Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 11:32 AM<br>Subject: TheParseeVoice Petition against Utsav in Udvada<br>To: <a href="mailto:the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com">the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com</a><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:large"><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Dear Readers,<br></font></div><div class="gmail_quote" style="font-size:12.8px"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><span><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="font-size:large"><br></div><div style="font-size:large"><div style="display:inline">Thanks for the support extended by the community in our efforts to protect the sanctity of Holy Iranshah. For those who have missed the mail earlier, kindly act immediately by voting in favour of the petition to the Prime Minister of India. </div></div><div style="font-size:large"><br></div><div style="font-size:large">We oppose those actions which defile and denigrate the sanctity of our Holy Iranshah. He is our biggest benefactor for the last 1300 years and it is our bounden duty to protect HIM from harm.</div><div style="font-size:large"><br></div></font></span><div><span><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:large;text-align:justify;line-height:20.7px"><span lang="EN-IN">We support the Government's efforts to improve infrastructure in Udvada. We are also not against attempts to showcase the community's track record of progress and harmony in India in the last millennium. <b>However, holding of this Utsav in Udvada is damaging the sanctity of Holy Iranshah! Hence the request to the Prime Minister to </b></span><b style="line-height:20.7px"><span lang="EN-IN">instruct the organisers to hold future Utsavs at a location OTHER THAN UDVADA and thus prevent further spiritual damage to our holy entity, Iranshah!</span></b></p><div style="font-size:large;display:inline"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:large;text-align:justify;line-height:20.7px"><span style="line-height:20.7px">An online version of the petition can be accessed via the following link:</span><br></p><div style="font-size:12.8px"><a href="http://email.change.org/mpss/c/8QA/SCE/t.1tx/1A8DHj2ZT0-_6GNtPM8EUQ/h1/W9oZwjoGX5ulRlet7FB-2BvGgC73TmxSvr7a1p80hg73RwSLBR45d81apFeScFgFnkQqimALcYT5TR-2FSRgybJYnPKi3O5vTmFL8DYKqEOj0VN3EUJVuDoEqR6vpWTKDQprg63mfX8XL2-2B0VrjRrCzomQflW05EGJAQKnpWMT0IeAqxttigJ8urWbNcbMSfxjLtkwMX1V41Kc0k-2BurhygL2M1nI6Dw8LR6bwPY3yd-2FsZ4uiJ29sNWx4xd8veU8c00SRwZOYUCkx2ip5i1YHqMIOUibTxMebLZ8j-2Bo0oaFyhXto-3D" style="font-size:15px;line-height:20px" target="_blank"><b><div style="display:inline"></div>Prime Minister of India, Vada Dasturjis of the Parsee Community: </b></a><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><b><a href="http://email.change.org/mpss/c/8QA/SCE/t.1tx/1A8DHj2ZT0-_6GNtPM8EUQ/h1/W9oZwjoGX5ulRlet7FB-2BvGgC73TmxSvr7a1p80hg73RwSLBR45d81apFeScFgFnkQqimALcYT5TR-2FSRgybJYnPKi3O5vTmFL8DYKqEOj0VN3EUJVuDoEqR6vpWTKDQprg63mfX8XL2-2B0VrjRrCzomQflW05EGJAQKnpWMT0IeAqxttigJ8urWbNcbMSfxjLtkwMX1V41Kc0k-2BurhygL2M1nI6Dw8LR6bwPY3yd-2FsZ4uiJ29sNWx4xd8veU8c00SRwZOYUCkx2ip5i1YHqMIOUibTxMebLZ8j-2Bo0oaFyhXto-3D" style="font-size:15px;line-height:20px" target="_blank">Petition against holding Parsee Zoroastrian Utsav in Udvada</a></b></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><br></div></font></span><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline"></div><div style="display:inline">For t</div>hose interested in <div style="display:inline">signing </div>a hard copy, <div style="display:inline">the same is attached herewith. Please print and get as many signatures as you can. The signed sheets may please be returned/mailed to the following address:</div></font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline"><br></div></font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline">Ervad Bahadur Sanjana</div></font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline">R/13, Navroz Baug</div></font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline">Lalbaug, Mumbai 400 012</div></font></div></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif"><div style="display:inline">Maharashtra, INDIA</div></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><font face="verdana, sans-serif">-- <br></font><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif">Regards</font></div><div><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif">H. M. Mistry</font></div></div></div></div></div><span class=""><font color="#888888"> </font></span></div><span class=""><font color="#888888"> <p></p> -- <br><br></font></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class=""><font color="#888888"><div class="gmail_quote">Petition against holding Parsee Zoroastrian Utsav in Udvada</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">The Prime Minister of India</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Prime Minister's Office</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">South Block, Raisina Hill</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">New Delhi-110 011.</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Respected Shri Narendra Modiji,</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Iranshah Udvada Utsav</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">At the outset, we wish to thank you for the admiration and affection showered by you on the </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Parsee Zoroastrian community of India as also the support provided to the community by the </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Central and State Governments, especially in improving the infrastructure in Udvada, the </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">place where Holy Iranshah Atash Behram is currently enthroned.</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">While we truly appreciate your sentiments in trying to showcase Udvada as a unique place </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">symbolising traditions of tolerance, harmony and progress in India, we, the traditional</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">members of the community, are gravely concerned about the Utsav recently held </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">in Udvada and the decision to hold it there every two years.</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Holy Iranshah is a living, spiritually vibrant entity, thanks to the powerful consecration </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">ceremonies performed at the time of His installation. Magnetic circuits surround Him to </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">prevent entry of spiritual and physical pollution. He functions like a receiving and transmitting </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">station for the divine blessings of the Almighty. He is a warrior of the Almighty in the fight</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">against evil forces which attempt to overpower all creation. This spiritual prowess has been </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">nurtured and sustained over the centuries thanks to the various ceremonies which the priests </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">tending to him perform every day and which require spiritual, mental and physical piety of the </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">highest order. The serene and isolated location of Udvada and Iranshah, away from </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">the hustle and bustle of normal city life and the pollution - physical and spiritual, </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">associated with it, provides Iranshah the much needed spiritual seclusion, </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">necessary for maintaining His sanctity and well-being. The priests tending to Him </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">day and night are able to maintain their personal piety thanks to this seclusion and tranquillity </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">that Udvada offers as a location.</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">The laity who seek His blessings are also required to observe strict discipline and present </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">themselves before Him, reasonably free of spiritual and physical pollution. </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Unfortunately, the Utsav has severely ravaged the very foundation of Holy </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Iranshah's well-being and survival by compromising the seclusion and serenity </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">of Udvada. In their hurry to pay their respects and then attend the other festivities, many </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">attendees would not even have performed the minimum ablution and rituals necessary before </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">presenting themselves before holy Iranshah. An influx of over 2500 persons during the </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Utsav would have naturally brought with it huge amounts of spiritual and </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">physical pollution, which has been deposited at His doorstep. One shudders to </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">think of the negative effect on Holy Iranshah's sanctity of this sudden and </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">voluminous onslaught of pollution, the karmic obligations of which will </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">definitely visit the community in general and the organisers in particular!</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Thanks to huge crowds, even the priests tending to Him, who are required to observe strict </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">spiritual seclusion, had a real tough time while going to and from their houses to the Fire </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Temple for performing their required daily rituals. </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">To add to all this, the Utsav even boasted of two nights of DJ music, karaoke and </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">a dance programme by indecently clad youngsters in close proximity to the Fire </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Temple premises! Would such a sacrilegious act be permitted, say in Mathura </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">and Kashi or Mecca and Medina or Tirupati temple?? By doing this, the </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">organisers have shown open disrespect and lack of consideration for Iranshah's </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">sanctity!</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">To add insult to injury, Mr. Darius Khambata, ex-Attorney General of Maharashtra used the </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Utsav as a platform to promote his pet topic of Conversion, which the organisers were well </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">aware of. He even went further to advocate entry into our holy Fire Temples to all those who </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">had been initiated into the Zoroastrian faith with a Navjote ceremony, which is nothing but </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">conversion by the back door. As the world at large is aware, Zoroastrianism </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">forbids Conversion. Worse still, instead of stopping him, one of the key </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">organisers of the Utsav, High Priest of Udvada, Dastur Khurshed K. Dastoor, </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">felicitated Mr. Khambata and reportedly silenced those who objected to this </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">speech. This clearly shows that the organisers of the Utsav were actually pushing </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">an agenda of religious reforms, using the Utsav as a convenient platform. It was </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">only when the community vociferously objected to this in print and on social media that Mr. </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Khambata backtracked as a face-saving exercise. </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">All of this has grievously hurt the religious sentiments of a large majority of the </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">traditional members of the Zoroastrian community. </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Subsequently, in an open letter to the community, the High Priests have averred </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">that remarks made by Mr. Khambata "..... at the religious and spiritual hub of </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Zoroastrianism to a wide audience was both disrespectful and frankly </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">inflammatory." They have also cautioned against Conversion and mixed </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">marriages which would lead to diluting our Zoroastrian identity. </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Sir, we are highly appreciative of your efforts to improve infrastructure in Udvada and support </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">the same. We are also not against attempts to showcase the community's track record of </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">progress and harmony in India in the last millennium. However, holding of this Utsav in </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Udvada is damaging the sanctity of Holy Iranshah! This is amply clear from the </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">absence of the other High Priests, including the other senior High Priest of </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Udvada, from any of the festivities and activities for all 3 days</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Since you have expressed high regard for Holy Iranshah, we beseech you to </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">intercede and ensure Iranshah's sanctity by instructing the organisers to hold </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">future Utsavs at a location OTHER THAN UDVADA and thus prevent further </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">spiritual damage to our holy entity, Iranshah!</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">May Holy Iranshah guide your footsteps all through life!</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Yours sincerely,</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Petition dated 18.1.2016 against holding Parsee Zoroastrian Utsav in Udvada</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Name of Signatory Address in brief Signature</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div></font></span></div></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-32632636340692034172016-01-27T19:43:00.001+05:302016-01-27T19:43:03.373+05:30Fwd: Reformists' plan to shift Bharuch's Doongaji Agiary to Vashi, then make it a 'Universal' agiary - 2<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">TZML Admins</b> <br>Date: Wed, Jan 27, 2016 at 7:48 PM<br>Subject: Reformists' plan to shift Bharuch's Doongaji Agiary to Vashi, then make it a 'Universal' agiary - 2<br>To: TZML <<a href="mailto:TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com">TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com</a>><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><font size="4">Dear Rayomand,<br><br>Shocking news.<br><br>What action can be taken ? Please guide.<br> <br>Best Regards<br><br><b>Bahadur B. Sanjana</b><br><br>Mumbai 400012<br><br><br>Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2016 12:33 PM<br>To: <a href="mailto:traditionalzarathushtris@yahoogroups.com" target="_blank">traditionalzarathushtris@yahoogroups.com</a><br><br><br>On Wednesday, 27 January 2016, 11:47, nauzerbharucha wrote:<br><br><i>From Rayomand Zaiwalla</i><br><br>A shocking news has just come out in open. The Reformist Lobby is planning to shift the 700 year old Doongaji Agiary by a car from His original place of worship at the Banks of the River Narmada at Bharuch, to the newly built Vashi Agairy. Even more shocking is the secret plans of the Reformist Lobby to slowly make the Vashi Agiary accessible to all Non- Zorastrians . The neighboring Mosque , is trying to buy the Doongaji Agairy property unsuccessfully for the last 25 years. Now their dreams are coming true. Apart from destroying the power of the Holy Fire enthroned at Bharuch for last 700 years, the reformist Lobby are trying to bring the Holy Atash Padshah to Vashi and converting it into a Universal Agiary for all.<br><br>In 2005, a small miracle took place in Doongaji Agairy in Bharuch unknown to all of us. The Lightening from the sky entering the Holy Sanctum and touched the Holy Fire. The marks of Lightning entering the Holy Sanctum Sanctorioum is even today visible to all worshipers.<br><br>The Trustees of the Bharuch Parsi Panchayet who are also the Trustees of Doongaji Agairy, are also helping the Reformist Lobby to quietly shift the Holy Fire.<br><br>Pass this message on to every Zorastrian so that everybody is aware of the Secret Plans of the Reformist Lobby to desecrate the Holy Doongaji Atash Padshah and creating a Universal Agairy at Vashi .<br><br> </font><br></div> </div><br></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-53211919610372070662016-01-26T12:02:00.003+05:302016-01-26T12:02:59.589+05:30Fwd: Protest by a Devout Parsi Family - Was the Udvada Utsav just an excuse to promote conversion?<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">TZML Admins</b><br>Date: Tue, Jan 26, 2016 at 12:26 AM<br>Subject: Protest by a Devout Parsi Family - Was the Udvada Utsav just an excuse to promote conversion?<br>To: TZML <<a href="mailto:TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com">TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com</a>><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><div style="text-align:center"><b><font size="4">Protest by a Devout Parsi Family - </font><span style="font-size:large">Was the Udvada Utsav just an excuse to promote conversion?</span></b></div><div style="text-align:center"><b style="font-size:12.8px"><br></b></div><div style="text-align:center"><b style="font-size:12.8px">Jame Jamshed Weekly, 24 January 2016</b></div><div><b style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><br></font></b></div><div><font size="4">Was the Udvada Utsav just an excuse to promote conversion? We strongly feel that this was part of the agenda.</font></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">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.</font></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">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.</font></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4"><i>- Hoshang F. Bapuna, Katy H. Blapuna, Neville H. Bapuna, Filly H. Bapuna, Keki H. Bapuna</i></font></div></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div></div> </div><br></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-7683117136348842962016-01-26T12:02:00.001+05:302016-01-26T12:02:26.515+05:30Fwd: Who are we to Reform?, asks Dr.Coyaji from Pune. The Vendidad mentions the various spiritual ill-effects of inter-marriages.<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">TZML Admins</b> <br>Date: Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 11:02 PM<br>Subject: Who are we to Reform?, asks Dr.Coyaji from Pune. The Vendidad mentions the various spiritual ill-effects of inter-marriages.<br>To: TZML <<a href="mailto:TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com">TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com</a>><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align:center"><b><font size="6">WHO ARE WE TO REFORM?</font></b></div><div style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><b style="font-size:12.8px">Jame Jamshed Weekly, 24 January 2016</b></div><div style="text-align:center"><font color="#674ea7"><span style="font-size:large"><br></span></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font color="#674ea7"><b>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.<br></b></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font color="#674ea7"><b><br></b></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font color="#674ea7"><b>If we pray in Jasme Avangahe Mazda that our religion is the <i>Shresht</i> (best), then isn't it pompous to reform this <i>Shresht </i>(best) religion? </b></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><b style="font-size:12.8px"><br></b></div><div style="text-align:center"><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><font size="4">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.<br><br>All our rites, rituals and ways of living are prescribed in the Vendidad, but does anyone want to listen?<br><br>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?<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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: <b>Mazdayasno Ahmi, Mazdyasno Zarathushtrish</b>).<br><br>So, we speak of <b>Din-e‑Mazdayasni, Dad-e-Zarathushti </b>(i.e. of Mazadayasni religion and of the laws of Zarathushtra).<br><br>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 <b>"Mazishtaacha, Vahistaacha, Sreshtaacha"</b> in Jasme Avenghe Mazda.<br><br>Do they know the meaning? We are thanking Zarathushtra for giving as the <i>Shresht</i> religion (best religion). We are going to reform this <i>Shresht </i>(best) religion? How pompous have we become!<br><br><b>- Dr. Go<span style="font-family:Garamond,serif;letter-spacing:-1pt;line-height:73%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.8pt">olcheher D. Coyaji</span></span><br></b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:10.8pt;line-height:73%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:73%;font-family:Garamond,serif;letter-spacing:-1pt"><font size="4"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5pt">Pune</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.8pt"><br></span></b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:10.8pt;line-height:73%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:13pt;line-height:73%;font-family:Garamond,serif;letter-spacing:-1pt"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5pt"><br></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:10.8pt;line-height:73%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:13pt;line-height:73%;font-family:Garamond,serif;letter-spacing:-1.1pt"><br></span></p></div></div> </div><br></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-53441736499666098992016-01-25T07:23:00.001+05:302016-01-25T07:23:05.940+05:30Fwd: Vada Dasturji Cyrus Dastur and Surat Athornan condemn reformist and inter-marriage. Says it will destroy the community<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">TZML Admins</b><br>Date: Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 3:06 AM<br>Subject: Vada Dasturji Cyrus Dastur and Surat Athornan condemn reformist and inter-marriage. Says it will destroy the community<br>To: TZML <<a href="mailto:TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com">TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com</a>><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align:center"><font color="#674ea7"><font size="4"><b><br></b></font><b>PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS EMAIL TO ALL YOUR PARSI CONTACTS SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT MISLEAD BY THESE MISGUIDED REFORMISTS</b></font><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><b><br></b></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><b>VADA DASTURJI CYRUS DASTUR AND SURAT ATHORNAN MANDAL CONDEMN "REFORM AND REFORMISTS" AT THE UDVADA UTSAV</b></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><b><div><br></div></b></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font size="4">Reformists should stop misleading the community </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font size="4">Inter-marriage & conversion will destroy the community.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><br></div><div style="text-align:center"><b>Jame Jamshed Weekly, 24 January 2016</b></div><div style="text-align:center"><br></div><div><font size="4">Vada Dasturji Cyrus N. Dastur, High Priest and President of the Surat Athornan Mandal, says with anguish: "Regarding the Iranshah Udvada </font><span style="font-size:large">Utsav, it is quite disturbing to note that some of us have still not understood our religion and, directly or indirectly, are trying to reform </span><span style="font-size:large">the religion with our own personal ideas and views, proclaiming to be 'Reformists'. This, to our understanding, is not a good attitude for a true Zoroastrian."</span></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">Vada Dasturji Cyrus Dastur adds: "From the speech made by some noted persons at the Udvada Utsav, it was clear that they are trying to strongly impose reforms in our religion, without considering the original Zoroastrian laws. The Utsav was meant to bring forth positive aspects of our religion. However, such negative aspects will weaken the overall strength of our religion. Inter-marriages, conversion and not following </font><span style="font-size:large">our original Zoroastrian laws, which was reportedly promoted at the Utsav, falls in the category of negative aspects. Inter-marriages are very often recommended by the Reformists to increase our numbers, but they fail to understand that intermarriage is not the solution."</span></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">Vada Dasturji Cyrus Dastur emphatically asserts: "Genes play an important role and because of these genes a Parsi can be easily differentiated from a non-Parsi; even the culture depends on the genes and Parsis are noted for their unique culture. It is like adding water to pure milk to </font><span style="font-size:large">increase the quantity of the milk, but the quality deteriorates. 'So also for our community, the numbers (quantity) increases by inter-marriages </span><span style="font-size:large">and conversion - but what about the quality?</span></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">For the Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian comnunity, quantity is of importance -- but so is the quality. By intermarriage and conversion, the community will suffer. Our culture will lose its authenticity; our way of thinking will also change. In short "aapru Parsipanu" will vanish and so will the Zoroastrian religion and faith. What dire and drastic consequendes this will lead to is something all 'Reformists' should seriously think about and stop misleading the community". </font></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">Vada Dasturji Cyrus Dastur concludes by stressing: "We at the Surat Athornan Mandlal protest and condemn such reforms and the Reformists too, who instigate and mislead the common, general Zoroastrian community. To convert and get converted is a shameful and sinful act for Zoroastrians. May Almighty Dadar Ahura Mazda bestow upon these 'Reformists' His blessing and show them the right path of Humata, Hukata, Hvrashta."</font></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">(end of report)</font></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4" color="#674ea7"><i>Thank you Vada Dasturji Cyrus Dastur and Surat Athornan Mandal for the good guidance given to the community. We also thank the other Vada Dasturjis for their joint statement made some days ago condemning conversion and inter-marriage. </i></font></div><div><font size="4" color="#674ea7"><i><br></i></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font size="4" color="#674ea7"><i><b>PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS EMAIL TO ALL YOUR PARSI CONTACTS SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT MISLEAD BY THESE MISGUIDED REFORMISTS</b></i></font></div><div><font size="4" color="#674ea7"><i><br></i></font></div><div><font size="4"> </font></div><div><br></div></div> </div><br></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-35405096100548955682016-01-20T19:28:00.001+05:302016-01-20T19:28:10.304+05:30Fwd: TheParseeVoice Fwd: [ilmeKhshnoom] Petition against holding Utsav in Udvada<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote">From: <b class="gmail_sendername">The Parsee Voice</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:theparseevoice@gmail.com">theparseevoice@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Jan 19, 2016 at 11:14 AM<br>Subject: TheParseeVoice Fwd: [ilmeKhshnoom] Petition against holding Utsav in Udvada<br>To: <a href="mailto:the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com">the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com</a><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif">Dear Readers,</span><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_quote"><span><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline">I </div>thank the traditional members of the community for speaking out against the recently held Iranshah Udvada Utsav, which has undoubtedly caused great spiritual damage to Holy Iranshah. To ensure that this kind of outrage never occurs again, it has been decided to petition the Prime Minister of India, with a request to instruct the organisers of the Utsav to hold it elsewhere in future.</div><div style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:large;text-align:justify;line-height:20.7px"><span lang="EN-IN"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif">We support the Government's efforts to improve infrastructure in Udvada. We are also not against attempts to showcase the community's track record of progress and harmony in India in the last millennium in the form of an Utsav. <b>However, holding of this Utsav in Udvada is damaging the sanctity of Holy Iranshah! Hence the request to the Prime Minister to </b></font></span><b style="line-height:20.7px"><span lang="EN-IN"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif">instruct the organisers to hold future Utsavs at a location OTHER THAN UDVADA and thus prevent further spiritual damage to our holy entity, Iranshah!</font></span></b></p><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:large;text-align:justify;line-height:20.7px"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:large;text-align:justify;line-height:20.7px"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif">An online version of the petition can be accessed via the following link:</font></p><div style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif"><a href="http://email.change.org/mpss/c/8QA/SCE/t.1tx/1A8DHj2ZT0-_6GNtPM8EUQ/h1/W9oZwjoGX5ulRlet7FB-2BvGgC73TmxSvr7a1p80hg73RwSLBR45d81apFeScFgFnkQqimALcYT5TR-2FSRgybJYnPKi3O5vTmFL8DYKqEOj0VN3EUJVuDoEqR6vpWTKDQprg63mfX8XL2-2B0VrjRrCzomQflW05EGJAQKnpWMT0IeAqxttigJ8urWbNcbMSfxjLtkwMX1V41Kc0k-2BurhygL2M1nI6Dw8LR6bwPY3yd-2FsZ4uiJ29sNWx4xd8veU8c00SRwZOYUCkx2ip5i1YHqMIOUibTxMebLZ8j-2Bo0oaFyhXto-3D" style="font-size:15px;line-height:20px" target="_blank"><b><div style="display:inline"></div>Prime Minister of India, Vada Dasturjis of the Parsee Community: </b></a><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(80,0,80)"><b><a href="http://email.change.org/mpss/c/8QA/SCE/t.1tx/1A8DHj2ZT0-_6GNtPM8EUQ/h1/W9oZwjoGX5ulRlet7FB-2BvGgC73TmxSvr7a1p80hg73RwSLBR45d81apFeScFgFnkQqimALcYT5TR-2FSRgybJYnPKi3O5vTmFL8DYKqEOj0VN3EUJVuDoEqR6vpWTKDQprg63mfX8XL2-2B0VrjRrCzomQflW05EGJAQKnpWMT0IeAqxttigJ8urWbNcbMSfxjLtkwMX1V41Kc0k-2BurhygL2M1nI6Dw8LR6bwPY3yd-2FsZ4uiJ29sNWx4xd8veU8c00SRwZOYUCkx2ip5i1YHqMIOUibTxMebLZ8j-2Bo0oaFyhXto-3D" style="font-size:15px;line-height:20px" target="_blank"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif">Petition against holding Parsee Zoroastrian Utsav in Udvada</font></a></b></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(80,0,80);font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" size="4">Those interested in <div style="font-size:large;display:inline">signing </div>a hard copy, may intimate <div style="font-size:large;display:inline">me </div>and <div style="font-size:large;display:inline">I'</div>ll mail the same to you.</font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" size="4">Regards,</font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><span style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">H<div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large;display:inline"> M</div> Mistry</span><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br></font></span></div></div></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> <br></font></span></span><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br></font></span></div></div></div></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> </font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> <p></p> -- <br> -- <br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br> Groups "The Parsee Voice".<br> To post to this group, send email to <a href="mailto:theparseevoice@gmail.com" target="_blank">theparseevoice@gmail.com</a> <br>For more options, visit this group at<br> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en</a><br><br></font></span></div></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-89582353035549655742016-01-20T19:24:00.001+05:302016-01-20T19:24:39.510+05:30Fwd: Frashogard<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Frashogard</b> <br>Date: Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 10:05 PM<br>Subject: Frashogard<br><br><br><u></u> <div> <div style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tbody><tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" href="http://www.frashogard.com" title="(http://www.frashogard.com)" target="_blank">Frashogard</a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%"> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0"> <table> <tbody><tr> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0"> <a name="-1544843050_1" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:18px" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Frashogard/~3/qVdFep8Bedc/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email" target="_blank">Sleepless in Udvada</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px"> <span>Posted:</span> 17 Jan 2016 07:09 AM PST</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000">Roj Ardibehesht Mah Shehrevar 1385 Yz. So the great Udvada Utsav has ended. The statues have been lifted away, the grand shamiana dismantled, cleaning up has been done, the hordes of tourists and visitors are gone, the vendors are busy counting their earnings, the blaring sirens and wailing VIP security vans have been replaced by the howling stray dogs. While the Internet and Zoroastrian media is ablaze with all sorts of acrimonious debate, back here is Udvada, which I call ...<br> <br> [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]<div> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Frashogard?a=qVdFep8Bedc:_qPT2vhva1s:yIl2AUoC8zA" target="_blank"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Frashogard?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Frashogard?a=qVdFep8Bedc:_qPT2vhva1s:F7zBnMyn0Lo" target="_blank"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Frashogard?i=qVdFep8Bedc:_qPT2vhva1s:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Frashogard?a=qVdFep8Bedc:_qPT2vhva1s:V_sGLiPBpWU" target="_blank"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Frashogard?i=qVdFep8Bedc:_qPT2vhva1s:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Frashogard?a=qVdFep8Bedc:_qPT2vhva1s:qj6IDK7rITs" target="_blank"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Frashogard?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Frashogard?a=qVdFep8Bedc:_qPT2vhva1s:gIN9vFwOqvQ" target="_blank"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Frashogard?i=qVdFep8Bedc:_qPT2vhva1s:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Frashogard/~4/qVdFep8Bedc?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email" height="1" width="1" alt=""></div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div></div></div></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-41498313544915577442016-01-10T14:06:00.001+05:302016-01-10T14:17:40.389+05:30TheParseeVoice: Is being Parsee different from being Zarthoshti?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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From: <b class="gmail_sendername">The Parsee Voice</b> <br />
Date: Sun, Jan 10, 2016 at 3:50 PM<br />
Subject: TheParseeVoice Is being Parsee different from being Zarthoshti?<br />
To: <a href="mailto:the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com">the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com</a><br />
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Attached for your information is an article to counter the argument that any one can be a Zarthoshti?</div>
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An abridged version of the same has been published in today's Jame Jamshed Weekly.</div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Regards</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">H. M. Mistry</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Can any Tom, Dick or Harry become a Zarthushti? Obviously not!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The much hyped ‘Iranshah Udvada Utsav’ which concluded recently, has left a bitter taste in the mouth of orthodox community members thanks to the utterances of one of the speakers, Mr. Darius Khambata, who is reported to have said “Anyone can convert to Zoroastrianism. There is no bar in our religion.” He further said that religious texts like the Gathas enjoined Zoroastrians to spread the faith. Adding insult to injury, he went on to advocate opening up of fire temples to anyone who had been initiated into the Zoroastrian faith with a navjote ceremony.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Even more galling is the fact that Mr. Khambata was thereafter felicitated by a High Priest of Iranshah. The community has reacted sharply and rightly so. After all, which self-respecting community will tolerate an insult to its King and that too a spiritually exalted one like Iranshah. In earlier times, the concerned High Priest would likely have been made to step down from his post by his Anjuman. Sadly, the Nav Kutumbi Athornan Anjuman of Udvada, which prides itself as being caretakers of Iranshah and has done a marvellous job over the centuries, has yet to react. Even the Athornan Mandal of which he is the head, is looking the other way!<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Religious scholar late Adi F. Doctor has written wonderful articles on the subject of who is a Zarthushti, in his newsletter - ‘The Parsee Voice’, extracts from which are reproduced hereunder. These should settle all doubts on this controversial subject.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />Who is a Mazdayasni Zarthushti?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />A Parsee/Irani, who is a Mazdayasni at birth, alone can practise the Zoroastrian Religion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />In our Kusti ceremony, the Jase Mey Avangahe Mazda is recited. There, right in the beginning, it is said, "Mazdayasno Ahmi, Mazdayasno Zarathushtrish" ... "I am a Mazdayasni, I am a Mazdayasni Zarthushti". Who, then, is a Mazdayasni?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />Before the advent of our Prophet, the world had no established religion. The people belonged either to the white side of nature (the Mazdayasnis) or the dark side (the Daevayasnis). There were frequent battles between these two groups. It was when the dark forces gained immense strength and the White Side grew weaker, that the "Soul of the Earth" clamoured for a “Saviour" (Gatha Ahunavaiti). Hence came Prophet Zarthosht, who cleansed the Mazdayasni Deen, which had been badly infected by the Daevayasni virus! The good Mazdayasnis then came to be known as Mazdayasni Zarthushtis. Ever since, a Zarthushti is one who is born of Mazdayasni Zarthushti parents.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />Yet today, thousands of years after the Prophet, we call ourselves Parsee-Zoroastrians. Two questions arise: Is the term ‘Parsee’ the same as the ancient Avesta word, ‘Mazdayasni’? If so, when and how did the term ‘Parsee' originate?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />The answer to the first question is, yes! The word ‘Parsee’ is an ethno-religious term, signifying both the race and the religion. </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">It is a complete misconception to even think, as is being done today, that the term "Parsee" was coined only after our ancestors came to India from Iran. Some even conjure up fanciful explanations that because the Zoroastrian visitors spoke in Farsi or Persian, they were called Parsees by the Indians. Others say that because our forefathers came from the province of Pars in south-west Iran, we came to be called Parsees in India.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />The hard fact is that the term Parsee or 'Pãrsã' was used by the Achaemenian emperors Darius the Great and his son, Xerxes, in the cuneiform inscriptions at Naqsh-i-Rustam, Suez and Persepolis, nearly 2500 years ago! The very pertinent lines proudly proclaimed by Darius, which every single Parsee today must engrave in his mind till his dying day, are: "Pãrsa Pãrsahyã Pucha (Avesta: Puthra), Ariya, Ariya Chicha (Avesta: Chithra)" = "(I am Darius the Great King), a Parsee, son of a Parsee, an Aryan, having Aryan lineage".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />So, the word ‘Parsee’ indicates the Aeiri Chithra Aryans, who staunchly adhered to and practised the Mazdayasni Zarthoshti Deen or religion and who followed the upright path of Ashoi, besides having an impeccable character. Today's Parsees/ Iranis, who have descended from these Mazdayasni Zarthoshtis, alone are the practitioners of the Zoroastrian religion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />Linguistic evidence clearly suggests that the word, Paarsa, Pars, occurs as Parsua in an </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Assyrian inscription of the 8th century B.C.! All this gives the lie to the belief that the term </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Parsee was only an ethnic term and had nothing to do with the Zoroastrian religion. Only the Parsees of Iran during the Achaemenian times and thereafter, during the Parthian and Sassanian periods practised the Zoroastrian religion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">A child born of Parsee-Zoroastrian parents is a Mazdayasni, who alone can be invested with the Sudreh and the Kusti, after which he becomes a Mazdayasni Zarthoshti. THERE JUST CANNOT BE A ZOROASTRIAN, WHO IS NOT BORN A MAZDAYASNI!<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">By merely donning a white garment and tying a girdle over it does not make anyone anywhere in the world, a Zoroastrian. On the contrary, he/she is making a complete mockery of the primeval religion in the world, whose natural followers recite daily in their </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Kusti prayers that the religion of Ahura's Zarthushtra is the greatest, the best and the most exalted!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">'Parsee' in Pahlavi Books</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />Apart from the Achaemenians, who used the word 'Parsee' in the 5th and 6th centuries B.C., the Pahlavi writers of the Sassanian and post-Sassanian periods, used this word. In the Kãrnãmak î Artakshîr î Pãpakãn (The exploits of Ardeshir Babakan), an Indian astrologer refers to the founder of the Sassanian Empire as, Khvatãy pãrsikãn (the king </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">or lord of the Parsis). So also, in the Pahlavi text, Drakht î Asurîk, the word, pãrsîk is used.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />Dastur Dr. Hormazdyar Dastur Kayoji Mirza, in his "Outlines of Parsi History", says, "After the downfall of the Sassanian Empire and the Arab conquest of Iran, the term 'Parsi' was used for those residents of Iran who remained faithful to their ancestral faith, namely Zoroastrian Religion. The term was specially used for the Zoroastrians of Iran to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">distinguish them from those Iranians who discarded their ancestral faith and embraced Islam."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />Why, some Western and Parsee scholars of our religion in the 19th century, used the terms Zoroastrian and Parsi Religion, interchangeably. All this gives the complete lie to two statements being bandied about today: (1) that 'Parsi' is an ethnic term, denoting only the race; and (2) that the word 'Parsi' was used by the Indians when the Zoroastrians first landed in India.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />Consequently, no person other than a Parsee Zarthushti can enter into our fire temples. Further proof of this comes from the fact that the founders of every fire temple in India have enshrined that clause in their respective trust deeds. Would such a clause be there if the religion permitted any and every person to become a Zoroastrian and consequently have a right to enter into our holy fire temples?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />It is quite obvious that Mr. Khambata, though brilliant in his legal profession, is completely out of sync on religious matters. What is even more questionable is the conduct of High Priest Dastur Khurshed Dastur Kaikobad Dastur of Udvada, who allowed such comments to be made in his presence in what was publicised as an ‘Iranshah’ Udvada Utsav!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />For over 1300 years the noble guardians of Iranshah have done their utmost to maintain His sanctity so that the community and the world at large could benefit from his benevolence and spiritual prowess. They happily sacrificed worldly pleasures in the conduct of this religious duty to ensure that our King (Padshah Saheb) remained spiritually strong and protected. Incidentally, in the past, even ordinary Zarthushtis were not allowed to enter into Iranshah’s holy presence and only certain priests could do the required rituals. And here we have misconceived ideas of permitting rank non-Parsees to enter into His holy presence, with no protest whatsoever from one who is supposed to be His High Priest!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />To make matters worse, the said High Priest even gave an interview which acted like the proverbial red rag to the bull! To jog the memory of the High Priest, reproduced hereunder is an extract from the report of the public meeting of the Parsee/Irani community held under the auspices of The Parsee Voice on 21st November 2003:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />Dasturji Khurshed Dastur Kaikobad Dastur proclaimed that he was proud to be a Zoroastrian and rightly so. He reminded the people of the inscription on the tomb of Emperor Darius ‘I am a Mazda Worshipper.’ <br />On the issue of universal brotherhood, he commented that our community had been the first to follow universal brotherhood in terms of charities, hospitals, schools and colleges. But Universal Brotherhood did not mean that we had to invite all and sundry to join our religion. Conversion and intermarriages did not solve problems but created them (emphasis ours).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />He wondered what steps had been taken to solve these problems at the grassroot level. He questioned whether religious classes had been organised for children, Navjotes had been performed, children had been taught to pray? He reiterated that mixed marriages could not solve our problems.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />For those who were keen on increasing the numbers, Dasturji pointed out to the historical fact of the advent of the Parsees in India under the leadership of Dastur </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Neriosangh Dhaval, and to whom the then King Jadi Rana had given shelter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />The problem of conversion had been dogging our footsteps since the 19th century. He wondered why we had to do something which was against the will of the Almighty One Himself! (emphasis ours).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">He averred that adoption and conversion were akin to adulteration and that was what we did not want. Quality was much more important than quantity (emphasis ours).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />He pointed out that the community had prospered for over 1200 years under the benevolent influence of Pak Iranshah and there was no reason to fear now. We were but a handful even then but had still prospered and assured the community that we would prosper even in future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />One wonders what has occurred to suddenly cause the High Priest to do a volte face on an issue which strikes at the very root of the survival of the community and which he so strong espoused once!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />If at all, this event was the proper occasion to recognise and honour the yeoman services of the various mobed sahebs of Udvada, some of whom have been in His service for more than 65 years and continue to be so day and night! But alas, no such thing was done. Incidentally, Udvada has two High Priests, the other one being Dastur Dr. Peshotan Dastur Hormazdiyar Mirza. Since this was supposed to be an ‘Iranshah Udvada Utsav’, would the organisers care to explain why Dasturji Dr. Mirza was nowhere in the picture in any of the events or felicitations? We are informed that he did even not attend this so-called Utsav! The same is also true of the other High Priests.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />The views of Mr. Khambata on issues like rights of intermarried Parsee women and their progeny are well known. In spite of this, the fact that he was invited to Iranshah Udvada Utsav, given a platform to air his radical views and thereafter, felicitated, gives a clear indication of the intention of the organisers of this event and what they have in mind for the future of the community. Since Dastur Khurshed is the face of this event, being credited with its so-called success as compared to the other organisers, I guess he will also have to take full responsibility and answer the community for what went wrong!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />- H. M. Mistry</span><br />
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<span class="HOEnZb"><span style="color: #888888;"> -- <br /> -- <br /> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br /> Groups "The Parsee Voice".<br /> To post to this group, send email to <a href="mailto:theparseevoice@gmail.com" target="_blank">theparseevoice@gmail.com</a> <br /><br /> For more options, visit this group at<br /> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en</a></span></span></div>
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Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-87437314001346122042016-01-04T18:20:00.001+05:302016-01-04T18:22:03.998+05:30Fwd: Udvada Utsav - Protest against Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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From: <b class="gmail_sendername">TZML Admins</b> <br />
Date: Mon, Jan 4, 2016 at 2:40 AM<br />
Subject: Udvada Utsav - Protest against Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor<br />
To: TZML <<a href="mailto:TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com">TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com</a>><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">3 January 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Dear humdins, Vada Dasturjis, Ervad Sahebs and the Parsi press,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">There are many angry Parsis who have felt that there is a hidden reformist agenda beneath the recent Udvada Utsav.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor has broken many traditional rules. If Dasturji defends Darius Khambatta's speech instead of pointing out the errors in it, he is not doing his <i>Dasturi</i> duty. If Khambatta had spoken similarly in the World Zoroastrian conference of 2013, why was he chosen as a speaker at the Udvada Utsav?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The position of a Vada Dasturji has certain traditional responsibilities attached to it, and defending the Zoroastrian tenets is one of them.</b> Not allowing inter-marrieds and their children and non-Parsis into our religious institutions is one of them. Also, in explaining to the world at large that Zoroastrianism does not enjoin conversion of people from different religions. In </span><span style="font-size: large;">that light, Dasturji Khurshed has clearly failed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Many Parsis feel that he should be reprimanded by fellow <i>nav-kutumbi </i>mobeds of the Udvada Anjuman.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Or, he be suspended from the Dasturi position (<i>gaadi)</i> for a certain amount of time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Enclosed below is a sincere letter of protest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">You may read today's Jame Jamshed Weekly for similar letters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Sincerely</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">TZML Admins</span></div>
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From: <b>Hushang Vakil [TMYZ]</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:TMYZ@yahoogroups.com" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">TMYZ@yahoogroups.com</a>></span><br />
Date: 3 January 2016<br />
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<b>UDVADA UTSAV PROTEST </b><br />
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Udvada -Iranshah, the most Sacred and Holy place on earth for us Parsee/Irani Mazdayazni Zarathushtis.<br />
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It is a specially consecrated holy ground and is dedicated or devoted to the "undisturbed" service of Ahura Mazda.<br />
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"Service of Ahura Mazda", which does not mean to satisfy the egoistic whims and fancies of some people who by glamorizing and showcasing Udvada and Iranshah have already destroyed and are destroying further its sacredness drawing unsocial elements and thieves, as recent robberies prove.<br />
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Our wise and noble ancestors chose a remote place, far away inside a village many, many, years ago when they had a choice, they could have chosen a place close to a station or in a city. Now why would they have chosen such a secluded place even then !? </div>
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Our forefathers were much wiser and even more far sighted than the present small thinking people who are shrinking at a faster speed, not in numbers but in our thoughts and deeds. They wanted Iranshah to be protected and hidden from the limelight and rightly so, as the sanctity of it was of paramount importance to its religious and spiritual function. It's this secluded sanctity that was ruined by the Utsav.<br />
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Therefore, before some of us begin to be smug and euphoric about the whole "Utsav" thing, let us carefully question the motive and the repercussions of the whole event.<br />
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These are the questions we need answered on an urgent basis.<br />
1) Who are the trustees of Iranshah Atashbahram?<br />
2) Had all of them given their consent and were the necessary permissions taken?<br />
3) Government has already sanctioned 10 Cr. Which trust, committee, or organization has collected this amount? The community has the right to know how it was spent and if the accounts are maintained in a transparent manner. <br />
4) If the Poonawalla's had sponsored the whole event, then why were the community members charged extra?<br />
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Why is it that when Dadar Ahura Mazda grants some Parsees wealth and intelligence, they or their next generations start loosing their sense of belonging to the community? They begin going against all that their forefathers stood for and detach themselves from strengthening the customs and traditions. Instead they attach themselves to their self-appeasing motivations being totally ignorant of religious rules. </div>
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Due to their high flying lifestyle and if they are intermarried or if some of their family members are, they then try to change the religious rules to accommodate their short term desires or support the whimsical members of our community who are sailing in the same boat.<br />
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Mr. Darius Khambatta has proved himself to be deeply ignorant as far as his religious knowledge is concerned... Anyone who makes a comment such as "Zarathustra was not a Parsi" is simply showing their complete lack of understanding for our history and religion.<br />
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Khurshed Dastoor had a reputation preceding his appointment as a Vada Dastur but the community chose to ignore and forgave him. The end result being, he putting the religion at great risk. He is henceforth never to be called as Vada Dastur, as he has lost all rights and respect to that title for having shown his true colours. <br />
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A procedure must be formulated and pressure increased on the other Vada Dasturjis and Anjumans to strip him of his Gadi, which he is not entitled to because of his reformist direction and supporting the ultra-liberal Zarathushtis. Surely Khambatta's speech must have been vetted and approved by the utsav committee and Khurshed Dastoor. Though he did not make the comments himself, he is known for his ultra-liberal slant and sanctioned Khambatta from saying whatever he pleases to the community. Therefore, this cannot be played off as only Khambatta's opinion, but rather Khurshed Dastoor's as well.<br />
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Now for the rest of the laity like you and me, so much was said about the eventual defilement caused by this "utsav" prior to the event. People liked it on FB and elsewhere and the same people went in hordes and enjoyed the food, fun and games and splashed pictures with misplaced pride all over. <br />
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Why do people fail to realize that our places of worship have very strict rules about not only who can enter, but how one should enter a place of worship, especially our Iranshah? Not only does one have to be of both Zarathushti parents, but they should also be wearing their Sudreh and Kusti and perform Padyab Kusti Prayers before entering.. This was grossly violated regardless of the organizing community's efforts. If control of this cannot be maintained, then either this event should not have been allowed to occur, or Iranshah should have shuttered its doors for the time being. <br />
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As a result of this event two things must happen. Firstly, Khurshed Dastoor must step down as Vada Dastur or be forcibly removed from his post. Secondly, if another Utsav is to occur (God forbid) it MUST take into account the sanctity of our holy fire and adhere to the rules set forth by boiwallas who are faithfully adhering to all tarikats and looking after Iranshah day and night.<br />
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PIPZ Admns.<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/proudlyparsi/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/proudlyparsi/</a></div>
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Some useful Links:<br />
<a href="http://zoroastrianism.com/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">http://zoroastrianism.com/</a><br />
Traditional Zoroastrianism Home Page<br />
* Upholding the Tenets of our Glorious religion *<br />
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<a href="http://matrimonial.zoroastrianism.com/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">http://matrimonial.zoroastrianism.com/</a><br />
Zoroastrian Matrimonial Page <br />
* Marry within our community, and SAVE our religion *<br />
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This Month is dedicated to Religious Scholar Late Mr. Adi Farokh Doctor<br />
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Disclaimer: The TMYZ is a private mailing list of and <br />
for voluntary members. Mails on TMYZ are confidential <br />
and for members only. <br />
Board Members/Administrators of <br />
the TMYZ take no responsibility for mail content and <br />
the personal opinions of the members.<br />
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Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-71887275461820692512016-01-04T18:12:00.001+05:302016-01-04T18:12:08.137+05:30Fwd: TheParseeVoice Open Letter to BPP Chairman<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote">From: <b class="gmail_sendername">The Parsee Voice</b> <br>Date: Sun, Jan 3, 2016 at 2:00 PM<br>Subject: TheParseeVoice Open Letter to BPP Chairman<br>To: <a href="mailto:the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com">the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com</a><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">The Chairman </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Bombay Parsi Punchayet</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Dear Mr. Yazdi Desai,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span lang="EN-IN">Radical views expressed by Mr. Darius Khambata at the Iranshah Udvada Utsav</span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"> At the recently concluded Iranshah Udvada Utsav, which you attended, Mr. Darius Khambata, Ex-Advocate General of Maharashtra is reported to have made a comment that "Anyone can convert to Zoroastrianism. There is no bar in our religion." He further said that religious texts like the Gathas enjoined Zoroastrians to spread the faith. <b>To make matter worse, he also advocated opening up of fire temples to anyone who had been initiated into the Zoroastrian faith with a navjote ceremony</b>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"> While these may be his personal views, it is downright shameful that a person of his professional stature made such anti-religious comments in the holy environs of Udvada. What is even more galling is the support extended to him by Dastur Khurshed Kaikobad Dastoor, Head Priest of Iranshah and his felicitation by the organisers. </span><span style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">It is highly unacceptable that a High Priest of Iranshah advocates such heterodox views which, if implemented, would result in disastrous consequences for the whole community.</span><span lang="EN-IN"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"> Many members of the community are extremely concerned as they perceive this to be part of a sinister agenda of the heterodox members of our community to foist conversion on the community and encourage all and sundry to enter our holy Fire Temples, which is completely against the tenets of our lofty religion and also against the trust deeds of the respective Fire Temples. This is especially so since Mr. Khambata made similar statements at the last World Zoroastrian Congress held in Mumbai in December 2014, and in spite of that, the organisers thought it fit to invite him to Udvada, give him a platform and felicitate him.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"> We appeal to you as leaders of the community to counter this statement by releasing an official communique to the community that the establishment does not support Mr. Khambata's views in any way. A show of solidarity by the BPP with the community at this sensitive juncture would be highly appreciated and would go a very long way in showing the heterodox members of our community that such 'personal opinions' have no locus standi in matters of long-standing tradition and religious matters.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"> Thanking-you,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span lang="EN-IN">Yours sincerely,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span lang="EN-IN">Hanoz M. Mistry</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span lang="EN-IN">Ms. Rita F. Doctor</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span lang="EN-IN">Kaizad F. Kerawalla</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span lang="EN-IN">Ervad Behram P. Dhabhar</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span lang="EN-IN">Ervad Bahadur B. Sanjana</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span lang="EN-IN">Jimmy Tavadia</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span lang="EN-IN">Yazdi P. Munsif</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span lang="EN-IN">Khushnood Viccaji</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span lang="EN-IN">Mehernosh Zaveri</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span lang="EN-IN">Nauzer Sutaria</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">cc: The Editor</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN"> Jame Jamshed Weekly</span></p></div><div><br></div>-- <br><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif">Regards</font></div><div><font size="4" face="verdana, sans-serif">H. M. Mistry</font></div></div></div></div></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> </font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> <p></p> -- <br> -- <br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br> Groups "The Parsee Voice".<br> To post to this group, send email to <a href="mailto:theparseevoice@gmail.com" target="_blank">theparseevoice@gmail.com</a> <br>For more options, visit this group at<br> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en</a><br></font></span></div></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543447664536469256.post-24127141183711878312015-12-23T17:41:00.001+05:302015-12-23T17:41:14.102+05:30Fwd: TheParseeVoice Iranshah Udvada Utsav - Misplaced priorities<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">The Parsee Voice</b> <br>Date: Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 7:18 PM<br>Subject: TheParseeVoice Iranshah Udvada Utsav - Misplaced priorities<br>To: <a href="mailto:the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com">the-parsee-voice@googlegroups.com</a><br><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;text-align:justify">Wide publicity is being given to the Iranshah Udvada Utsav scheduled from </span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;text-align:justify">December 25 to 27</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;text-align:justify">, with community members looking forward to participating with great zeal in the various programmes. The much publicized presence of the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi has however turned out to be a damp squib with him opting out, sending his deputy instead.</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">An 'utsav' means a festival, a celebration. So what is this 'celebration' for? Even if, for argument's sake, it is granted that this exercise is undertaken for showcasing Parsee glory, could a more sensible venue not be selected other than Udvada, where hardly 50 Parsees still reside. The majority reside in Mumbai, so what better venue than Mumbai!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Udvada, which is home to Iranshah, the spiritual king of the community, is a small idyllic village, known for its serene surroundings; a perfect place for a Holy Fire to perform His appointed functions in Nature. </span><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Holy Iranshah is a living, throbbing, vibrant entity having an aura and magnetic circuits (Kash). He receives the divine blessings of the Ameshaspands and the Yazads and passes them on to His devotees. He also transmits the divine vibrations of the Manthravani recited by devotees to the spiritual realms. He radiates divine energy over long distances. He is a Ratheshtar (a warrior) of Dadaar Ahura M</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">azda in the fight against evil forces which attempt to overpower all creation. He is the Lord of our destiny, who has guided the destiny of this community for over 1300 years. His blessings have seen the community safely throughout its existence in India. Parsees have prospered solely because of His spiritual prowess. Hence, we owe a great debt of gratitude to this Holy Padshah Saheb.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">But that idyllic place is about to be swarmed by over 2500 people in a span of three days! To add to this melee, we have government dignitaries and their entourage comprising security personnel also descending on this place! And how will this tiny village deal with this sudden influx of people? What about the availability of basic amenities like water, sanitation facilities, power supply? The VIPs and who's-who of the community will be well taken care of but what about the <i>hoi polloi</i>? Has any thought been given to whether the locals will appreciate invasion of their space and facilities? And what about the aftermath- who's going to clean up the place post this 'circus'?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><b>More importantly, has anyone bothered about the tremendous spiritual load that will be unleashed on the holy entity, Pak Iranshah? There will be serpentine queues to pay respects to Him? Will all be appropriately attired and physically cleansed? Will people even get a chance to perform the fundamental Padiyab-Kushti ritual out of fear of losing their place in a queue? Will it not give an opportunity to non-Parsees to sneak in unnoticed? What about the tremendous efforts that Iranshah's mobed sahebs take to keep their Bareshnoom (Nahn) intact? Will it not be a further stress on them? After all not all lady guests are going to be in a ritually pure state and while they may not venture into the Atashbehram precincts, they are definitely going to intermingle with the others who will in turn carry the spiritual pollution into the Atashbehram. Is it justified to defile His status and cause desecration of the sanctity of a peaceful village where He rests, quietly going about his work, all in the name of 'Utsav', which is nothing but a way to achieve the dream of a misguided few of turning Udvada into a Heritage cum Tourist attraction.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Vide their letter dated 19<sup>th</sup> September 2004, six High Priests (barring Dastur Khurshed Dastoor) had despatched a letter of protest signed jointly and addressed to Mr. P. K. Lehri, Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat, calling for an immediate halt to the cultural-heritage-tourism agenda proposed for Udvada and seeking co-operation in allowing Udvada to remain a quiet, serene and holy place of pilgrimage for our community. The following extract from that letter is pertinent to note:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:6pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.5in;font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">"As you may be aware, Udvada is the sacred, spiritual citadel of the Parsee community because therein is enthroned the Holy Fire, "Iranshah Atashbehram", the fountainhead of the community's spiritual strength, survival and progress in India through the centuries. Thus it is the sacred duty of all Parsees to ensure that no harm befalls the Holy Fire or its immediate environs, which have to be maintained with sanctity and care. Promoting Udvada as a cultural-heritage-tourist centre, will result in the very opposite."</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Sadly, these words of wisdom have been conveniently ignored.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">For more than a year, homes of Parsees are being burgled. They continue to be targeted week after week yet not a single crime has been solved, not a single criminal brought to book! Word has it that the purported criminals were nabbed but are out again and moving around with impunity; cocking a snook at the powers-that-be! Yet we find cause to celebrate? Why are our priorities so badly misplaced? How can any right-thinking Parsee join in such a programme which is a cruel mockery of the prevailing tragic situation? Seems more like an Utsav of misplaced priorities!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The programme even boasts of 2 DJ nights. Imagine, loud music (noise?) playing to the gallery, late into the night with the youngsters frenziedly performing what may charitably be called 'dance'. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">If the sacred talismanic kashes (circuits) and the serene minoi vibrations encircling Pak Iranshah less than a kilometre away are disturbed or damaged by high decible loudspeakers, blaring away in the silence of the night, so much the worse for Him. But who cares? After all, we are regaling the community for a good cause!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Dear humdeens, our Holy Iranshah has been in existence for over 1300 years thanks to the tremendous efforts and sacrifices of our forefathers. Let us not wipe out their hard work by sheer callousness. Iranshah is a spiritual heritage we MUST pass on to future generations of Parsees. It would be a grave sin if we failed in this duty and Nature would never forgive us for the same.</span><b><span style="font-size:24pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(60,120,216)"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">So, dear humdeems, please look inwards and ask yourself honestly whether you are contributing to a noble cause by such participation lest you wake up too late to mourn what you thought was a grand celebration!. After all, writing off a thousand rupees is a small price to pay for preserving the only Pav Mahal built on Pak Iranshah.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><b><span style="font-size:20pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(60,120,216)"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">H. M. Mistry</span></p></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><div><br></div><br> </font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> <p></p> -- <br> -- <br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br> Groups "The Parsee Voice".<br> To post to this group, send email to <a href="mailto:theparseevoice@gmail.com" target="_blank">theparseevoice@gmail.com</a> <br>For more options, visit this group at<br> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/the-parsee-voice?hl=en</a><br> --- <br></font></span></div></div> Deen Parasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771686680692242351noreply@blogger.com0