Not a navar

Six high priests wrote a letter dated February 19, 2010 addressed to the editor of Jam-e-Jamshed condemning the navar ceremony being performed for a Russian Zoroastrian Mikhail Chistyakov. Dasturs Peshotan Hormazd­yar Mirza, Kaikhus­roo Mino­cher Jam­asp­­Asa, Firoze M. Kotwal, Cyrus N. Dastur, Khurshed Kaikobad Dastoor and K. N. Dastoor Meherjirana alleged "encouraging a non-Zoroastrian to enact” the navar ceremony "is sacri­legious.” The high priests noted:

"It has been brought to our notice that a heresy is being committed by enacting a fictitious Barashnum, navar ceremony in Sanjan at Shah Behram Baug Society — Zoroastrian College (the same premises have two other institutions; namely, Mazdayasnie Monasterie and Medica Alternative). The candidate is a foreigner and he belongs to a non-Zoroastrian religion. This condemnable and sacrilegious act is being encouraged and conducted with the help of the proprietor of the above-mentioned institutions, Meher Master-Moos and two renegade priests.

"Navar is a sacred initiation ceremony for Zoroastrian priesthood. The Zoroastrian community has two classes: athornan (the priest class) and behdin (the laity). Both are hereditary since time immemorial.

Mikhail Chistyakov: condemned candidate

"Every member, male or female, of Zoroastrian religion, holds a religious title like dastur, ervad, osta, osti or behdin. Only ostas — sons of priestly families with proper genealogy can undergo Barashnum, navar and other priestly ceremonies.

"The proper navar ceremony requires two priests with ritualistic qualifications and discipline along with consecrated religious implements (alats) and also requires sanction from a high priest whose dasturi formula (permission and pledge) is recited whilst administering the Barashnum (nine nights’ retreat). This is the first stage of the navar ceremony.

"The dasturi formula is recited invoking the permission of the higher spiritual authorities, starting with Lord Ahura Mazda, the Supreme Creator, the Amesha Spentas, Sarosh Yazad, Prophet Zara­thushtra Spitaman, Dastur Adarbad Mahrespand and finally that of the living dastur of the time. Dasturi recitation is a solemn declaration that they undertake to perform all ceremonies as enjoined in the religious scriptures and directed by high priests down the generations till the high priest (dastur) of the time.

"The entire ceremony starting from Barashnum should take place in a place of worship with all the religious disciplines and requirements.

"Encouraging a non-Zoroastrian to enact the same is sacrilegious, not only on the part of the candidate (we wonder on what visa he is in India!) but as well as the proprietor of the above-mentioned institutions and the renegade priests involved.

"This so-called Barashnum, navar ceremony is against the Zoroastrian religion, its long-standing traditions, manners, customs and practices. Meher Master-Moos, the priests and the candidate involved have ridiculed, insulted and have made mockery of both the Zoroastrian religion as well as the religion of the candidate.

"We, the undersigned high priests of the Zoroastrian community, strongly condemn these sacrilegious acts and consider the so-called Barashnum navar a farce that has neither religious sanction nor authority.

"The least we expect from Ms Meher Master-Moos, the renegade priests and the candidate is to apologize to the Parsi Irani Zoroastrian community with assurance that they will not ever indulge in such irreligious and unauthorized acts.

"May wiser counsel prevail.”