Cama reprint offerings

Thanks to a magnanimous donation given by the Zartoshty Brothers (Faridoon and Mehraban) Fund, The K. R. Cama Oriental Institute has been able to reprint six scholarly books pertaining to Zoroastrianism. In order to acquaint readers with the content of the books the Institute has prepared a brief write-up on each text. The books are available on sale from The K. R. Cama Oriental Institute, 136, Bombay Samachar Marg, Fort, Bombay 400023, tel: 22843893, fax: 91-22-22876593, e-mail: krcamaoi@vsnl.com

The Zoroastrian Religion in the Avesta: Translated from the German of Professor Dr Karl F. Geldner by Jehangir C. Tavadia this book is a treasure house of know­-ledge on ancient Zoroastrian scriptures.

The x+ 80-page book, printed in 1935 and reprinted in 1998, will be of great interest, not only to scholars but to our youth and to the common man. Price: Rs 125.

An Introduction to the Shah Nameh of Firdousi from the French of Jules Mohl by Jamshedji Dorabji Khanda­lawala. The viii+116-page book, reprinted in 2001, was originally printed in 1898. Price: Rs 250.

After briefly indicating the historical background on which the epic is based, Jules Mohl gives a life sketch of Firdousi, mainly from what Firdousi himself has said in the Shah Nameh. Mohl briefly charters the different states from the times of entering the then prestigious court of Sultan Mahmood to the breaking of the promise repeatedly given by the royal Sultan and the last tragic days of the Shaeron Sahaer. And then he comments on the satire against Mah­mood by Firdousi.

The Laws of the Ancient Persians as found In the Matikan E. Hazar Datastan or The Digest of a Thousand Points of Law translated by Sohrab Jamshedjee Bulsara. The 767-page book, reprinted in 1999 was first printed in 1937. Price: Rs 1,000.

Farrokho-Mart Vahram, the learned compiler of the Matikan E. Hazar Datastan observes that the "aim of law is to further the mighty word of the All-Knowing Creator and to defeat falsehood and thus to compass in the end the immortal, the illustrious and the most brilliant and perfect sovereignty.” The compiler firmly believes that law forms an essential part of the religious system of the Zarathushtrians.

Zoroastrian Civilization — From the Earliest Times to the Downfall of the last Zoroastrian Empire, 651 AD by Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla. The xxviii+395-page book, printed in 1922, was reprinted in 2000. Price: Rs 500.

It covers Iranian civilization from the earliest times and includes the Peshda­dian, Kianian, Median, Achae­me­­nian and Sasanian periods. The author has very exhaustively covered very wide and varied fields and has ably given to the readers an overall view of the ancient Iranians, Avestan literature, education, law and justice, priests and priesthood, warriors and warfare, agriculture, art, architecture, commerce, domestic animals, festival and feast, Pahlavi and Pazand literature, calendar, medical and public health, dress and ornaments, etc.

Pahlavi Vendidad (Zand-I Jvit-Dev-Dat). Transliteration and translation in English by Behramgore T. Anklesaria. The xii+404-page book, first printed in 1947 was reprinted in 2002. Price: Rs 500.

This is the complete Pahlavi version of the Avesta Vendidad. The book will be of much interest to our priestly class and to scholars in Avesta.

The Persian Rivayats of Hormazyar Framarz and Others — Their version with introduction and notes by Ervad Bamanji Nusserwanji Dhabhar. First printed in 1932, and reprinted in 1999, the Lxviii+657-page book is priced at Rs 1,000.

Hormazyar Framarz had made a collection of some eight Rivayats sent from Iran at different times. His son Darab had listed more Rivayats. Even so, some four Rivayats were left out. Ervad Dhabhar has covered the whole series of Rivayats. The Rivayats are a repertory of useful information throwing considerable light on the religious beliefs, customs and practices of the Persian Zoroastrians and of the Indian Parsis who lived between the end of the 15th and of the 18th centuries of the Christian era.