Parsi Times presents a 4-part series by Adil J. Govadia, which honours and celebrates our humble Mobeds – our religious heads, who played a crucial role in preserving our Community’s religious and ethnic identity, while keeping aflame our sacred fires, in our temples and in our hearts.
Dastur Mahiyar Bin Vatcha MeherjiRana was yet another great priestly sage from Navsari who was held in high esteem by the Maharaja of Baroda Sir Sayaji Rao Gaekwad. The learned Dastur was of mighty influence on the religious, social and civic life of all communities and was awarded Certificate of Merit as, “Head of Parsi Community,” on the felicitous occasion of the Coronation of His Majesty Emperor Edward VII. He had correctly predicted his own demise and passed away in 1907 at the young age of 50 years, leaving the Parsi community and the entire cosmopolitan population in absolute grief and sorrow.
Due to his untimely demise, Dastur Darabji Mahiyarji’s 13-year-old son, Dasturan-Dastur Kaikobad Darabji MeherjiRana succeeded his illustrious father and served the Bhagarsath Anjuman diligently for several years (Ref. ‘Parsi Luster on Indian Soil’ by Darukhanawala).
Dasturan-Dastur Darabji Mahiyarji MeherjiRana (1857-1907), 13th successor of the renowned MeherjiRana descent, also known as the ‘Pope of the Parsis’, is acknowledged to have revived the glorious name of his forefather, Dastur Mahiyar Bin Vatcha MeherjiRana. At just age sixteen, he was anointed the Dastur of Navsari Anjuman. He had a magnetic personality and as head of ‘Samast Bhagarsath Anjuman’ he soon was able to draw a large circle of admirers from all communities, young and old, rich or poor.
Seth Nassarwanji R. Tata, father of Seth Jamsetji N. Tata, built the Dokhma at Navsari in 1878 and had invited the then British Governor of Bombay Sir Richard Temple. Young Dastur Darabji Mahiyarji MeherjiRana, then 20 years of age, presented the address to His Excellency. So profound was the impression made by the young Dastur’s attractive personality and striking features, that His Excellency Sir Richard soon described him as the “Picturesque Parsi Priest”!
The JamaspAsa family was referred to as ‘Anjuman Dasturs’ or the high priests for the entire Parsi community, as they were not yet bound to any particular fire temple. Dastur Jamaspji Minocherji JamaspAsa was a priestly protégé from the Bhagaria panth (lineage) of Navsari, most scholarly and well respected by the Maharaja of Baroda, to whom he recited the Shahnameh. In 1781, he traveled on foot to Bombay where he directed the consecration of various Dar-e-Mehrs, including Maneckji Sett Agiary as well as Dokhmas in the neighbouring villages.
The Bombay lineage of the JamaspAsa family got established under Dastur Kaikhusroo Jamaspji JamaspAsa, who was the first from the family of learned JamaspAsa ancestry to be born in Bombay in 1866. In 1897, his crowning achievement was the consecration of the Anjuman Atash Bahram in Bombay, for which, in 1898, he was appointed its first Dastur, a position inherited by his descendants ever since. The very first Boi ceremony (tolling the bell) at the new Anjuman Atash Behram was performed by the revered Dastur.
The power and prestige enjoyed by Parsis from the 15th century onwards was unprecedented. There are a number of episodes pointing to the escalating brilliance of Navsari Mobeds and Dasturs in particular. And though it was unusual and rare for the Maharajas to visit the homes of commoners, in 1861 Maharaja Khanderas Gaekwad made an exception by personally calling upon Dastur MeherjiRana at his residence in Navsari, to honour him with a shawl and turban!
Similarly, in 1874 the Maharaja of Baroda called upon Seth Nusserwanji R. Tata, father of the pioneering industrialist Seth Jamshetji N. Tata, at his Navsari home. In 1878, Sir Richard Temple, the British Governor of Bombay, traveled to Navsari to understand and appreciate the construction of Tata Dokhma and Sagdi before consecration. He was personally escorted by Dastur H. J. JamaspAsa and the event was attended by Parsis in big numbers (Ref. Parsi Prakash by Khan Bahadur B. B. Patel and Rustam B. Paymaster). Such was the radiant splendor of our Parsis of yore.
Dastur Edulji Darabji Sanjana (1776-1847) was the first Vada Dastur at Wadiaji Atash Behram who served for seventeen years, followed by Dastur Behramji Dorabji Rustomji Sanjana (1784-1857), who served for a little over a decade.
One of the most respected and appreciated Shams-ul-Ulma Dastur Dr. Peshotanji Beheramji Sanjana (1829-1898) followed thereafter and graced the high position of Vada Dastur of Wadiaji Atash Behram for the longest period of over forty years. He was a great scholar of repute and had published several scholarly volumes on Zoroastrian religion. In 1864, he translated eight volumes of Dinkard which, till date, is considered a colossal work. He was the very first Parsi priest to earn the distinction of being decorated with the title Shams-ul-Ulma (‘Sun of the Savants’), a title conferred on religious scholars of highest order.
Another long-serving Vada Dastur of Wadiaji Atash Behram was Dastur Khurshed Shapurji Dabu (1889-1979) who dignified the eminent position for almost 30 years, followed by the esteemed and greatly respected Dasturji Dr. Firoze Meherji Kotwal.
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