Readers' Forum
“Prophet’s true message”
In his letter "Prophet’s true message” (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, April 21, 2013) Firoze Hirjikaka writes about "a group of bored priests muttering prayers learnt by rote.” It is one’s individual faith that leads one to say a prayer or have prayers said. If something needs to be said it should be constructive, and not a negative remark like this. How many Hindu priests or Muslim maulvis recite their Sanskrit and Arabic prayers with faith or know their true meaning?
What really should be done is to revive faith in our hearts for our great religion. Can we have some more dharma gyan, at least a page in Parsiana, and less criticism please?
Several times we argue about the rights of children of women married outside the faith, their navjotes, etc. Has anyone really worked out the true statistics on how many non-Parsi fathers would wish this if the children cannot obtain any benefits from charities?
Similarly, cases concerning the right to enter fire temples cost us crores of rupees, leave a bad taste in the mouth and make us a laughing stock as well. If these women really loved the religion, they would not have married outside the fold, forsaking their divine duty of procreating Parsi Zoroastrian children, which is a dire need today, giving them knowledge and inculcating faith in our religion. They want to eat the cake and have it too! Besides, how many of them pray daily the farajyaat prayers at home?
Most importantly, our teenagers are disgusted with these fights and feuds. Why can’t we teach them Parsipanu, to be better humans, as Ahura wants us to be? They have several questions which we should be able to answer and encourage them to know more about the religion, its tenets, prayers, etc. If you could include a page to help our young ones revive the faith they are losing or are becoming indifferent to, something that will enable them to remain Parsis who are proud to be so, I would be most grateful. Perhaps even a small quiz on the religions tenets, prayers, practices, etc.
What really should be done is to revive faith in our hearts for our great religion. Can we have some more dharma gyan, at least a page in Parsiana, and less criticism please?
Several times we argue about the rights of children of women married outside the faith, their navjotes, etc. Has anyone really worked out the true statistics on how many non-Parsi fathers would wish this if the children cannot obtain any benefits from charities?
Similarly, cases concerning the right to enter fire temples cost us crores of rupees, leave a bad taste in the mouth and make us a laughing stock as well. If these women really loved the religion, they would not have married outside the fold, forsaking their divine duty of procreating Parsi Zoroastrian children, which is a dire need today, giving them knowledge and inculcating faith in our religion. They want to eat the cake and have it too! Besides, how many of them pray daily the farajyaat prayers at home?
Most importantly, our teenagers are disgusted with these fights and feuds. Why can’t we teach them Parsipanu, to be better humans, as Ahura wants us to be? They have several questions which we should be able to answer and encourage them to know more about the religion, its tenets, prayers, etc. If you could include a page to help our young ones revive the faith they are losing or are becoming indifferent to, something that will enable them to remain Parsis who are proud to be so, I would be most grateful. Perhaps even a small quiz on the religions tenets, prayers, practices, etc.
ARMIN DUTIA MOTASHAW
Ahmedabad
armindutiamotashaw@gmail.com
The editors reply
There is already a surfeit of religious literature readily available for the lay person. Parsiana’s priority is news coverage of the community.
Ahmedabad
armindutiamotashaw@gmail.com
The editors reply
There is already a surfeit of religious literature readily available for the lay person. Parsiana’s priority is news coverage of the community.
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