“Mesdames mobedyars”

As it was a full ordination in Tehran of eight women priests on March 25, 2011, the absurd term mobedyar and the equally daft paramobed should be discontinued forthwith ("Mesdames mobedyars,” Parsiana, May 21, 2011). They are not second class priests! Their solemn inauguration under the tutelage of four fully qualified male priests makes it a truly historic occasion and long overdue restoration of what Zarathushtra and later disciples had urged some 2,600 years ago!

What is crucial to note is that this ceremony was openly conducted, and wholly in keeping with the rightness of Zarathushtra’s Mazda inspired teachings. Who but a mind-fuddled objector would protest this noble act?

Let it be re-stated: the successful eight ladies were inducted after rigorous training, and not, as in India, with its fast-tracked navars where the least intelligent of a priest’s sons are initiated into its ramshackle priesthood. It was Mary Boyce, no less, who referred to such types as "dullards!”

Not surprisingly, therefore, one encounters a teaching priest’s denial of this full rightness of act when, after stating the obvious "India and Iran are two different places,” he proceeds to confuse the issue for himself by his retrogressive stance on India’s hereditary priesthood. Should we brace ourselves against a further assault on Zarathushtra by future dhongi (fake) clerics? They pray and preach contradictorily; what trust should we repose in them?

No less surprising is a high priest’s arbitrary contention of "not correct” (!) without recourse to any religious authority — neither Gathic nor Vandidadic. No doubt these clerics will dodge and dive behind cover of "custom and tradition” and "orthodoxy” (despite a thorough absence of its true form in their learning)!

Furthermore, Parsiana has rightly sought out opinions amongst the truly orthodox and the dhongis. Most outstanding must be Phiroze who, with comical perverseness suggests that it is India who held and holds the true Zoroastrian key, quite forgetting — or perhaps he never did know — that it was Iran all along, despite the gravest obstacles, that had preserved the true religion, its precious manuscripts at the very core of the faith, and the exchanges initiated by the concerned 15th century Navsari davar Changa Asa. Alarmed at the abysmal level of religious knowledge among the dhongis of his times, he sent his Parsi emissary at considerable personal hazard to obtain from Iranian priests the authentic facts on Zoroastrian doctrines and rituals. Such exchanges continued for nearly 300 years!

In sum, without the solid backing of the Iranian priests and laity, there would have been no Gathas, no Vandidad, no Yashts, no full Yasna among the Parsis; no Rivayats and no Denkard — nothing wherewith to establish and propagate the faith in India. To conclude with Siloo Kapadia’s forthright endorsement of women priests, we Parsis would otherwise have been absorbed surely and steadily into Hindu and Islamic folds. Just think!

FARROKH VAJIFDAR

London

f.vajifdar@btinternet.com

For the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, despite adverse political and religious conditions Zoroastrian women have been ordained priests to serve God, religion and the community ("Mesdames mobedyars,” Parsiana, May 21, 2011). Certainly courage, devotion, sincerity and loyalty are reflected in their bold action and statements. They are not afraid of bringing about changes nor do they seem to be doing so for financial gain as they are already engaged in other professions and activities. They have demonstrated that modern Zoroastrian women are well educated, progressive and religious. Their action has also established that there is equality between men and women as professed in Zoroastrianism. This movement will encourage other women’s groups to cautiously and peacefully bring about worthwhile changes in Iranian society and elsewhere.

There is no gender discrimination in Zoroastrianism. Men and women work together in every profession, so why should women not be ordained mobedyars? Many may argue that the laws governing impurity (naso) regarding menstruation are strictly observed and hence women should not be ordained as priests. Such issues should be put forward to the women mobedyars and their mentors for explanation and enlightenment.

In my view, qualified women mobedyars can teach religious values, reading and writing of the Avestan script to their own children and to other young ones in the community. A mobedyar mother leading a spiritual lifestyle will impart spiritual knowledge to her children who will grow up wise and enlightened and with proper Zoroastrian values. They will not discard the sudreh and kusti, marry outside their faith or follow superstitious beliefs.

Mobedyars should not merely perform rituals and confine themselves to fire temples but could run religious institutions, teach in schools and give tuitions at home, raise funds and set up organizations to help destitute persons in poor areas during emergencies. They could also travel abroad as Zoroastrian missionaries and arrange conferences. As mobedyar Rashin Jahangiri specified, "to strengthen religious and cultural ties between Zoroastrians of different countries” providing service to the community in the "service of God.”

Of course professional women mobedyars will have to be paid for their services as they are not expected to live on air and water.

I hope that many more Zoroastrian women are ordained in the service of Ahura Mazda, the Iranian community and their motherland. My best wishes to the Tehran Anjoman-e-Mobedan and the ordained women mobedyars of Iran.

FIROZ JEHANGIRJEE PAJNIGAR

Edgware, Middlesex, UK

firozpaj@yahoo.co.uk