“Errors in prayer books”

Nawshir Mirza (a corrupted version of the name Anusherawan-e-Adil) has in his letter ("Errors in prayers books,” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, December 21, 2015) accused me of adding mystique to religion because I am "unable to appreciate the message of a prayer in its pure form.” He also says I lack elegance!
He has arrogated to himself the sole patent of having appreciated the message of our prayers in their pure form. In other words, he is a scholar fully conversant with Avestan, Pahlavi, Persian and can tell us all the meanings of our prayers "in their pure form.” He also mentions that Stoat Yasna (the science of sound and vibration) is an unZoroastrian belief.
To appreciate any script or letter in an unknown language or languages is very difficult. Even if the language is familiar, the script is open to interpretation (I have come across several translations of Yatha Ahu Vairyo). Though I can read English, Hindi, Gujarati and Bengali, it will not be correct to claim I can understand William Shakespeare, Munshi Premchand, Kavi Ardeshir Khabardar and Rabindranath Tagore!
Stoat Yasna is part of Zarathushtrian belief or else Dastur Adarbad Marespand would not have used it to compose the Khordeh Avesta. I have actually experienced the effect of chanting some of our kalaams (stanzas) particularly Ardibehesht Yasht. I have translated Ervad Maneck Furdoonji Kanga’s Vendidad into English and have called it Begone Satan. Some of the passages in it make no sense to me, to the late Ervad or even Tehmurasp Rustamji Sethna who attempted another English translation, but the text should not be condemned without finding a way to learn the meaning. The sages who wrote it were far more erudite and spiritually superior to us!
The entire Vendidad in Avestan, including the doubtful passages, is recited by heart by the priest who performs the nirangdin ceremony thereby successfully converting taro into nirang (which is free of bacteria and used in our rites for purification). At that time the priest does not concentrate on the meaning of the kalaam, nor has he the time to appreciate the "message of the prayer in its pure form.” He has to recite non-stop until the job is done — six hours, nine hours, however long it takes. The science of sound and vibration, Stoat Yasna, is at work here — tried and tested.
I will further state that astrology is not alien to Zoroastrianism or even pre-Zoroastrianism. The Navroz festival, which one Facebook post describes as a pagan belief, is a classic example of astrology in use. March 21 is the vernal equinox when spring sets in, day and night are of equal duration and the sun enters the zodiacal sign of Aries. The Yalda festival in Iran celebrates the birthday of Mithra on December 22, which is the winter solstice — the shortest day of the year. Both festivals predate Zarathushtra.
If there is something anyone can teach me in mysticism or any other knowledge I will be glad to learn. However, Parsis must desist from criticizing each other and listen to other viewpoints. We will all benefit and a lot of controversy can be avoided! No one person knows everything. Humility is a requisite for the gathering of knowledge.
CYRUS K. MEHERJI
Calcutta
cymeher@gmail.com

Nawshir Mirza responds:
Perhaps Cyrus Meherji would benefit from taking a little of his own advice proffered at the end of his letter. So caught up is this scholar in his own brilliance that he has omitted making any comment on Prof Ervad Maneck Furdoonji Kanga’s explanation for the use of baj in prayers, which is the sole basis of my letter. I would certainly benefit from the comments of any scholar — humble or self-besotted.