Zoroastrian Prayer Hall At Pune

It is indeed heartening to learn that the dreams of so many of once-Zoroastrians can be fulfilled and now they can return to the Zoroastrian fold and have the solace for praying in front of the community fire. It is indeed a bit of nitpicking to gloat or ridicule saying that it is just an ordinary fire, (that is if there is any such a thing as an ordinary fire) and not the Highly Purified, sanctified fire. It is considered unZorostrian even to blow out a candle or burning match or crush a cigarette out of the respect for fire in any form, because all fires are sacred. A fire is a fire is a fire. That’s all!

Establishing a Prayer Hall for the “Once Zoroastrians”, Future Zoroastrians, or the born, practicing Zoroastrians having a non-Zoroastrian spouse is indeed a small step, but a giant leap forward for the Parsi Community and a very bold one on part of Wadia brothers and their supporters.

This must have been the yearning of thousands who might have had to per-force bow down to the sword, threat of ostracism or other vile punishments if they had refused to succumb to the faith of their conquerors, as happened almost fourteen hundred years ago. Unfortunately the Zoroastrianism as practiced in India, what I would call as the “Post-landing Zoroastrianism”, is a far cry from the one propagated by Asho Zarathushtra that have come down to us through the Gathas. Maybe the sweet milk promises we supposedly made to the ruler of Sanjan were prompted by the instinct to survive, but to let that erase the very foundation of the Universal teachings of Zarathushtra is blasphemy.

Dara M. Khodaiji (dara_mk@hotmail.com)

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Asha Vahishta – A Centre Of Unity Or Diversity?
[excerpts]

Live and let live policy should have been based on unity and not on diversity. There was no need for a separate Prayer Hall by ARZ. With the decrease in numbers, our bunglis are lying vacant – there are vast areas where a separate Prayer Hall could have been established to serve others. Though marriages within the community are desirable, sadly we cannot stop the trend of interfaith marriages. When three generations of mixed blood has entered the community, is it possible to segregate them? We must confer the same rights to women, that men enjoy.

The spouses of other communities married to Parsis should follow their own religion. We have great respect for all religions, and realizing the truth of other religions, we become better Zoroastrians, better human beings, but the religion we are born in is like a mother whom we can never desert. Hence we shall not accept conversion. We have a distinct ethnic identity, a social status that can be kept alive through the Zoroastrian heritage when at least one parent is a Parsi Zoroastrian.

We all want to live in peace but not in unity. The traditionalists wanted the reformists to leave. Now that they have established a religious center open for all, send your blessings, visit if you want, but do not criticize. The reformists should remain humble and focussed on the issue and not be over enthusiastic and arrogant. The effort is to bring a peaceful solution. This is not a victory to be celebrated – it’s a humble effort to bring temporary peace. Maybe, one day we shall celebrate when we are all together, forgetting the differences, living and praying together, and loving each other. Till then live and let live!

Piroja  Jokhi