Mystic melding

A new three-monthly magazine on "Parsi religion and life” has emerged with the October-November-December 2008 issue of Parsi Avaz, a result of the merger of Dini Avaz and Parsi Pukar, both of which dealt with the "melody of Ilm-e-Khshnoom, the mysticism of Zarthoshti din,” as stated by editor Kaikhusro N. Dastoor in the publication. With spiraling costs and other constraints it was difficult to bring out two magazines, so the organizers decided on this mystic melding.

In the first decade of the 20th century there was a revival of mysticism in Zoroastrianism as a result of the labors of Baheramshah Shroff who founded the Ilm-e-Khshnoom after coming in contact with Ashavans, highly advanced souls residing in secret places in Iran. A cluster of Parsi disciples helped Shroff to take this divine knowledge to the community, some of them by publishing a number of magazines. Frashogard (1911-1942), a quarterly magazine, was founded by Ervad Phiroz Masani, an erudite scholar of oriental studies in Avesta, Pahlavi and Pazend. The weekly Parsi Avaz (1947-1974) was started by Jehangir Chiniwala, also a disciple of Shroff. Both magazines folded on the death of their respective founders. In 1976, Dastoor started Dini Avaz, which was later taken over by Cursetji Patel, and though Patel passed away in 2002, the magazine survived. In 1995, Parsi Pukar saw the light of day as yet another organ for the propagation of Ilm-e-Khshnoom, Dastoor provides a historical perspective.

With the advent of Parsi Avaz, the organizers hope to continue their mission of propagating the spiritual, devotional and mystical content of the Zarthoshti din. The objectives are to invoke devotion towards all Zarathushti spiritual institutions by explaining the spiritual principles and mystical truths on which they are founded; to explain the esoteric and inner meanings of the Avesta and Pazend manthra scriptures as also the related Pahlavi, Persian and Sanskrit writings; to cultivate respect, admiration and affection for all religions and their scriptures, prophets, avatars, saints, sages; to offer "righteous resistance to conversion fanatics and other din-dushmani rampant in our community;” and finally, to "stand and wait for the arrival of the Saoshyants — the divine saviors of all religions, which is now not far,” the publishers state in their explanatory note.