“The highs and lows”

"The highs and lows” (Editorial Viewpoint, Parsiana, February 21, 2010) discussed the state of our clergy and priesthood. The last sentence: "Without any research and analyses of what ails the clergy, it does appear the Parsi priesthood will die out well before the community does” set me thinking.

We hear that about 11 agiaries in Bombay have virtually closed down as the trusts lack funds to manage them, not to mention the similar plight of agiaries in smaller cities and towns. What has happened in last 50 to 70 years? Has an average bawa become less religious? Our dwindling numbers is certainly one major reason.

Another reason is the impact of liberal education imparted in schools and colleges where we are taught that all human beings are equal and the creation of one God. We are taught to think more rationally and logically, about the heroic lives of social and religious reformists fighting against injustice and superstition.

I feel that the average bawa visits an agiary far less often today. Many people of earlier generations visited an agiary daily before going to work and left small change there. Others would visit an agiary at least three to four times a month, if not more often. The cost of living was low and this "small change” contributed considerably towards the upkeep of the agiary and the mobeds.

Times have changed but our orthodox priesthood (both high and low!) refuses to change. Can one say that their fatwas against initiating children of mixed marriages into our religion or against disposal of dead body by alternate methods, which are based neither on common sense nor religious scriptures, are the cause of their downfall? Who would feel sympathetic towards their plight, brought upon themselves? What exactly is their role other than being prayer chanters and performing rituals for money? They thrive purely on the blind faith of some behdins.

Your editorial states, "Priesthood is a calling. But it is one which few are answering.” Why? Perhaps, the education imparted whilst grooming would-be ervads in madressas needs to be drastically changed. Instead of churning out commercial prayer chanters, as they are doing now, they need to groom priests genuinely desirous of serving the religion. These priests need not be from priestly families. And why should women not be eligible to take on the duties of priesthood?

The sole mission of the initiates should be understanding and spreading the religion of Zarathushtra as given in his Gathas. Priests need to be selfless, dedicating their lives in furtherance of the religion, not working for money (or self-conceived ideas of "community’s interest”) but for love of the religion and humanity. They must be friends-in-need in times of sickness and difficulties, as is being done by Christian missionaries. Zarathushtra’s religion is a highly rational philosophy of life as proclaimed in the Gathas, rather than a religion based on rituals and ceremonies alone. Our children and grandchildren, as products of the computer age, strongly follow reason, logic and rationality. The days of blind faith are numbered.

KERSEE KABRAJI

Poona

kerseekabraji@gmail.com