Creator and the created

Recently, there have been a spate of Zoroastrian artefacts of glass and marble (I have one of glass) that have hit the market. Very beautiful, artistic. A credit to the pioneering spirit of its young manufacturers. But will it not lead slowly yet surely to idol worship by a community that is totally free of idol worship till date?

The warmth and glow of a wood-fire or diva will be replaced by artefacts of glass and marble. Our fire is the chosen symbol of Him, whom we worship. We do not worship fire. "The enlightened are never idolaters” and we are enlightened. Is it not so?

SOONU JAL

Neemuch

Zubin Wadia of Mazda Glass replies

My products are more like show pieces and I don’t tell my customers to worship or offer flowers, etc to it. There are others too who view this as promoting idol worship and finally land up buying one or more of my artefacts. This question should have been raised hundreds of years ago. At our atash behrams and agiaries there are huge paintings of our Prophet Zarathushtra. When you touch or kiss the painting of Zarathushtra, I guess that’s idol worship too. At the Wadia Atas Bahram at Marine Lines there is a silver plated statue of Zara­thushtra (two feet tall) between the two keblas.

The question remains — Is there any article or a write-up in any book where it’s specifically mentioned that idol worship is not allowed in our religion?