“Talibanization of the BPP”

With the recent flurry of unsavory news items where shoddy politicians and policies and tricky traditions interfere with the proper functioning of our postmortem rites, decent minded diaspora Zoroastrians have given up with disgust on our priesthood.

When vibrating vicars thrive and vindictive vada dasturs threaten, one may be sure that the ancient aphorism "Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat (those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad),” is coming horribly alive. Indeed the gods are visiting madness upon the politicos, priests, and pranksters of Bombay. One would be hard put to match the humbug and hypocrisy of the five signatories who penned this infamous JamaspAsa document ("Taibanization of the BPP,” Parsiana, September 21, 2009).

At no point do the five indicate that they are following the precepts and wise guidance of our religious texts on matters which they consistently misrepresent as "tradition.” To call those who act according to our religion "rogues,” "renegades” and "recusants,” is therefore rank hypocrisy deserving nothing but the deepest contempt. They mutter prayers and heap shawls upon one another. One would like to think that they know what they’re praying and that they actually mean what they pray. One would be wrong on both counts.

Mary Boyce, that prolific historian of our religion, could not herself bring about any high appreciation of the Indian priesthood. In Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices, she wrote: "So instead of the most intelligent of a priest’s sons following the profession, it began to be the dullards, and so the prestige of the priesthood sank still further.” These, then, are the retrograde types who seek to bar two intelligent and pious priests, Ervads Khushroo Madan and Framroze Mirza from performing much-needed prayers to comfort the bereaved, simply on grounds of their acceptance of alternative disposal methods! They themselves did not operate these modes.

The sinister eminence grises who manipulate religious affairs from within the politically insalubrious Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) headquarters have always been famed for causing community splits wherever they have ventured, with fake claims of scholarship and religiosity. Subterfuge and double-dealing are no strangers to their machinations. Thus when it suited, their compliant audiences were rated absolute aces; when not, they became altoo-faltoo (useless) asses! Our recent visits to North America verified such mar goli (let them go to hell) turnabouts.

Our Gathas don’t display any interest in postmortem heavens and hells. Zarathushtra was far too great a realist to have succumbed to or spread such hokum. Foremost existences are during life, in this world — that much is unclear to bogus priestly types whose vested interest is to instill fear through proliferation of ignorance amongst the unlettered and superstitiously inclined.

The undisputed gender equality is consistent in all relevant Gathic and Haptanhaitic passages. The Chinvat Bridge takes on a this-worldly identity, with Zarathushtra himself as guide. The direct ethical code with solid moral values of the Gathas is simply ignored. Instead we have the claptrap of priestly claims to switch final destinations (in the after-world, of course!) for sinners in this life. Among such sins are the disposal of remains by cremation or burial, and even secondary burials!

Let these hypocrites tell all the doubters and the undecided the truth of the condition of rotting corpses, the stench and pollution resident within the dakhmas. Tell them of the truth of these matters as urged in the Vendidad which they pray and promptly rebut! Tell also of what befalls the putrefying remains piled up in the bhandars when they do not disintegrate even after horribly long periods. Don’t know? Well, these leftovers are taken out, nasa and all, and surreptitiously buried!

The highly intricate story of the postmortem fate of the disembodied soul, its trial at the bridge-head, its welcome or repulsion by its own daena, accompanied by dogs or reptilians, does not find full reference in the beautiful chapters of the Hadhokht Nask. In this latter text, which can and should be prayed before the bereaved during the first three days and nights, there is no Chinvat Bridge, no dog or reptile, nor indication of Zarathushtra being present. Instead, in an entirely Gathic spirit, there is the maiden or the hag to greet or misguide the despairing soul. No matter how many priests offer up prayers the fate of the soul has been decided already during the lifetime by the sum total of its possessor’s thoughts, words and acts.

No less an authority than Jivanji Jamshedji Modi, a priestly expert on ritual and ceremonial, having been subjected to the Davar-Beaman legal processes, emerged strongly with this immutable truth: "A Parsee has to believe that for the salvation of his soul he has to look to nobody else, but to himself...,” reinforced later with: "I do say and believe that the worship of a pious Zoroastrian does not need priestly aid.” Priests of the true Mazdayasna faith are duty bound to think, speak, and perform according to truth, asha. Instead of truth, order, rightness and justice, we are confronted with deceit, arrogance and ensuing chaos.

In the event that the upstanding Madon and Mirza are physically assaulted or psychologically menaced it might be best if the unsavory five with their BPP minions are hauled before the judiciary, when expert witness will not be lacking. This grisly farce has gone on for far too long and it is overdue that the community is made aware of what these mischief-making politicos have done to our precious religious heritage. If legal measures are the only way to instill reason and rationality once more into our beautiful Mazdayasna, then so let it happen.

Claims to "orthodoxy” are increasingly seen as a sham; accusations of "reform/er/ist” are equally risible, being the favorite bogey word of the regressive. Not since Zarathushtra has true Mazdayasna been reformed. What desperately needs reforming is the sadly lapsed institution of the priesthood. The lament of too few taking up the priestly calling is hardly surprising when such shenanigans as perpetrated by the five vadas and the venomous BPP seven are made widely known. Our religion demands respect and restitution, and with Mazda’s grace, it shall have them!

FARROKH VAJIFDAR

London

f.vajifdar@btinternet.com

In "Talibanization of the BPP” (Parsi­ana, September 21, 2009) it is mentioned that the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees have threatened to bodily evict Ervad Khushroo Madon if he prays at Doongerwadi. This clearly shows the bankrupt mentality of the BPP trustees, reflecting their frustration and helplessness. These are empty threats as no trustee will be prepared to personally carry them out but will make scapegoats of some priest or other instead. If they try to be physical they will end up behind bars and they have no locus standi to take any action against Madon or Ervad Framroze Mirza.

It is unfortunate that Madon went to meet the bullies on September 8 at the BPP office. Had he sought my views I would have advised him to take no notice of them as it would be a waste of time. It is but natural that Arnavaz Mistry, Noshir Dadrawala and Armaity Tirandaz remained silent. They are all sailing in the same orthodox boat, and are in agreement with the other fascists.

As for Jimmy Mistry extending the ban to Rustom Faramna Agiary, it appears from his statement that he is a one-man show and the other agiary trustees are mere rubber stamps. Trustees like Mithoo Jesia, Dinshaw Tamboly and others must come clean about whether they support Mistry or not. Has Mistry taken them into confidence before making such a threat? Needless to state, all the trustees are jointly and severally liable. It is a criminal offence to prevent anyone from professing and practicing a religion of their choice in this country.

The five high priests, the BPP and the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis may build castles in the air, but the fatwa will fly in their faces and they will make asses of themselves.

BEHRAM AGA

behram_r_aga@yahoo.co.in.