Prayerful prescriptions

Jarthosti Jindagi Jivvani Jadibuttio by Rusi Faramroz Besania. Published in 2001 by the chairman and trustees of the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust Fund, Shanti, 5th floor, 6, Banaji Street, Fort, Bombay 400001. Pp: 98. Price: Not mentioned.

To my knowledge Rusi Besania, one of our long-standing Parsi writers, has been writing in Gujarati since the late 1980s. I remember his first work, Shahnamana Sunder Prakrano, chapters from the Shah Nameh, well written except for a few spelling (jodni) mistakes. By now Besania has written over 20 books in Gujarati, some of them memorial volumes, like Vyara-Songadh Parsi Jarthosti Anjuman Dar-e-Meher.

Besania’s book under review would be useful to all Zarathushti readers for, living up to its name, it explains how a Zoroastrian can conduct his life under the guidance of the religion’s potent prayers. But the import of the man­thravani is only for those who practise the religion faithfully. By praying the 101 names of Dadar Ahura Mazda or any other Nyaish or Yashts as suggested by the author, or by having sincere faith in the Avesta prayers given to us by the Paigambar Saheb, the devotee can cure himself of deep-seated worries or illnesses. Of this there is ample proof.

From page one to 98 the work under review is written in simple language. Sanskritized words have been avoided so there is no need for a shabda-kosh (Gujarati dictionary) by your side. Which brings to mind the oft-repeated word, ankhyo for ‘ankho’ the eyes. Ankhyo is now obsolete, used only by the working class and villagers of Gujarat. The correct word is ankh (singular), ankho (plural).

In our present days of stress and strain, the book proves to be a ready reference. Besania deserves our sincere thanks for sharing with us his knowledge of the number of Yathas or Ashems or which Yasht or Nyaish is to be prayed on which days and under what circumstances. That a prayer or manthravani is the best remedy for the ills of today does not require any scientific theory to prove it. It is a matter of faith.

Hormazdyar S. DalaL