Priestly tales

When I say we need to establish a finishing school for priests I am not being flippant or rude. However, the greater the number of controversies that beset our community, the greater the demand for enlightened priests. If they are not able to guide their flock, who will? We need as priests men of intelligence, knowledge, oratory and common sense who can agree to disagree at times.

Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia stands out in this respect. He was invited to be chief guest at the anniversary function of the agiary in Baroda. As always, I was skeptical and thought he would spout the usual boring religious discourse. To my amazement, I was enthralled by this simple and learned man’s clear vision. Karanjia’s talk on what our kusti prayers mean was brief and to the point. Like me, many a behdin may not understand those prayers which at times we consider as mumbo-jumbo as we do not know the language in which they are written and what they mean. But Karanjia simplified the issue by asserting that "you need not understand what you pray… Our prayers are so powerful that you will benefit just as much, if not more.” He explained that the kusti prayers act like a kavach (guard) that protects us against the evil forces around us, elaborating that just standing in front of the kebla and absorbing the warmth of the paak atash (holy fire) will recharge our batteries to take what is good and fight what is evil.

With such outstanding persons in our midst why should we suffer mediocrity in our priesthood? Heredity should not be the criterion, nor should those who can do nothing better enter the priesthood. This is perhaps the reason why we have non-dedicated, non-progressive, dogmatic priests. Those who wish to take up panthaks must be put through rigorous modern-day training so that not only they but their fold can benefit. Only after this is implemented should the nitty-gritty of salaries and perks be discussed, which should ideally be a package that they cannot refuse.

We need motivated men like Karanjia to ensure that the priesthood will be respected. It is sad the way we treat our priests (even if sometimes they are themselves to blame!). I have often seen how people brush past the man who tends our fire temples as they find him more a necessity to be used and forgotten rather than a dharma pita (religious head) which he should be!

RODA D. HAKIM

Baroda

vadhakim@yahoo.com