Readers' Forum
Religion in our lives
For quite some time I have noticed that the young (and not so young) of our community are ill informed about some of our customs though they are ever ready to ridicule them.
Some ask why a bath is needed by persons after attending funerals. The answer is that the dead body exudes some sort of germs which may create health problems for the attendees and a bath acts as a preventive.
Why is a head bath necessary after having a haircut, cutting one’s nails or menstruation? This is because hair and nails that are cut become naso (dead matter). Again, from the health point of view the body requires to be cleaned.
Why do we do chalk near the entrance to our homes? Because the powdered white lime is a strong disinfectant and cleanses the air of germs. This is also why interiors of homes were white washed with choono.
There is also a mistaken notion that kunkoo (vermillion) in the ses (ceremonial tray) is used by suhagans (married women) to depict their status of having a living husband. Parsis are not allowed the tili (vermillion mark on forehead) all the time or even every day. The tili is done only on happy and special occasions for all except widows and can be applied only by someone else and not by oneself. The sari with a stitched border and a red bangle were the only signs to indicate the presence of a living husband.
Our religion is a practical one, based on the premise "as we sow, we reap.” Hence we are forbidden any form of penance for seeking any reward or blessings. Fasting, asceticism or celibacy are strictly forbidden. These practices are unnatural and those who indulge in them in the hope of receiving some divine boon are actually fighting the natural strength of the body and mind. Zoroastrians are enjoined to marry and lead a good family life. Even our priests are forbidden celibacy.
Parsis are also not permitted to segregate themselves from people practicing other religions. We not only mix and mingle with such people, but must also revere them. We have but one criterion on which to base our association with them — cleanliness. Cleanliness being next to godliness, we must follow this rule while staying and eating with others. We must not shun others whether they are of high or low status, whether they are black or white. In fact a Zoroastrian is enjoined to encompass in his care the family, extending this to neighbors, the locality, the city and finally, the country.
MEHER D. DHONDY
Gurgaon, Haryana
Some ask why a bath is needed by persons after attending funerals. The answer is that the dead body exudes some sort of germs which may create health problems for the attendees and a bath acts as a preventive.
Why is a head bath necessary after having a haircut, cutting one’s nails or menstruation? This is because hair and nails that are cut become naso (dead matter). Again, from the health point of view the body requires to be cleaned.
Why do we do chalk near the entrance to our homes? Because the powdered white lime is a strong disinfectant and cleanses the air of germs. This is also why interiors of homes were white washed with choono.
There is also a mistaken notion that kunkoo (vermillion) in the ses (ceremonial tray) is used by suhagans (married women) to depict their status of having a living husband. Parsis are not allowed the tili (vermillion mark on forehead) all the time or even every day. The tili is done only on happy and special occasions for all except widows and can be applied only by someone else and not by oneself. The sari with a stitched border and a red bangle were the only signs to indicate the presence of a living husband.
Our religion is a practical one, based on the premise "as we sow, we reap.” Hence we are forbidden any form of penance for seeking any reward or blessings. Fasting, asceticism or celibacy are strictly forbidden. These practices are unnatural and those who indulge in them in the hope of receiving some divine boon are actually fighting the natural strength of the body and mind. Zoroastrians are enjoined to marry and lead a good family life. Even our priests are forbidden celibacy.
Parsis are also not permitted to segregate themselves from people practicing other religions. We not only mix and mingle with such people, but must also revere them. We have but one criterion on which to base our association with them — cleanliness. Cleanliness being next to godliness, we must follow this rule while staying and eating with others. We must not shun others whether they are of high or low status, whether they are black or white. In fact a Zoroastrian is enjoined to encompass in his care the family, extending this to neighbors, the locality, the city and finally, the country.
MEHER D. DHONDY
Gurgaon, Haryana
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