“An irreligious act”

I have seen the letter by the High Priests ("An irreligious act”) addressed to the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees regarding the navjote ceremony of the children of Roshni and Savio D’Souza ("The nightmare and the navjotes,” Parsiana, May 7, 2010).

They mention, "As per the customs and traditions of the Parsi Zoroastrian religion, the children of a Parsi mother married to a non-Parsi cease to be Parsis and therefore cannot be initiated into the Zoroastrian faith.”

What do they mean by "Parsi Zoroastrian religion?” Is it different from the Zoroastrian religion followed by others in Iran, Central Asia or by other Zoroastrians anywhere in the world?

My understanding is ‘Parsi’ connotes a community (a sub-caste of Aryans) whereas Zoroastrianism is a religion, a way or philosophy of life as proclaimed by our Asho Zarathushtra in his Gathas. Therefore in the minds of some of us, it is very clear that Parsi is a community and Zoroastrianism is a religion — the two are separate entities.

We believe navjotes are performed in Uzbekistan, Russia and other parts of the world. Can anyone stop these navjotes? The D’Souza children do not wish to claim to be Parsis — they simply want to follow the Zoroastrian religion, like Zoroastrians in Iran, Russia and other parts of the world. What exactly is the objection, one fails to understand.

And by writing to the BPP trustees, what purpose is being served? One understands that their job is to look after the estates of the Punchayet and manage the charity funds. No more and no less. Who has given them authority to meddle in anyone else’s religious matters? This country is governed by our Constitution that gives freedom to all individuals to profess and practice whatever religion one likes.

Surely the High Priests are not asking BPP trustees to be the ‘guardians’ of this universal religion? It is not supposed to be their job.

If a Parsi man marries a non-Parsi woman, their children can be initiated into our religion, but if a Parsi woman marries a non-Parsi man, her children are denied initiation into our religion. Why should it be so especially if she has not relinquished her religion and the father is in agreement of such navjote? Why such double standards when in all our religious scriptures there is no discrimination against women and equality of sexes is a fundamental teaching in Zarathushtra’s Gathas?

Regarding navjote, if the High Priests believe that one has to be born to Parsi parents only (having "Parsi blood”) to be initiated into the religion, then, a girl having been so born and so initiated, how can she become non-Zoroastrian, just because she has married a non-Parsi? The "Parsi blood” has not changed or just cannot change!

A response citing scriptures like Zarathushtra’s Gathas would be welcome but kindly avoid usage of vague phrases like "time-tested traditions” or "our customs” which have no religious sanctity. We know that customs and traditions have their life period and are not religion.

Let me end this letter by quoting from Zarathushtra’s Gathas which indicate that our religion is universal and not restricted to ‘Parsis’ only!

"Come hither to me, in Thine own self, O Mazda!/ Come unmistakably, O Thou best one,/ With the spirit of Truth and Good Mind!/ Let my message be heard beyond the limits of community adherents./ Let the brilliant offerings of the reverential prayers be manifest to all!” (Ys. 33.7, D. J. Irani)

"But that man positively anyoneso­ever,/ Who mastered the true faith by praise and invocation of Vohu Mana, / Can become through Asha, a good companion of Armaiti and with the help/ Of them all dwell in Thy kingdom O Ahura.” (Ys.49.5, Bode and Nanavutty)

KERSEE KABRAJI

Poona

kerseekabraji@gmail.com