Several centuries ago Parsis would send an emissary to Iran for advice and guidance especially in religious matters. Iranian Zoroastrians stopped using dakhmas when there were no vultures left and the government banned their use. We continue to use them. In Iran, non-Zoroastrians are permitted to enter fire temples. We do not allow this. The navjotes in Iran are performed at a later age when the children are more in a position to decide for themselves which religion they wish to follow. Here navjotes are performed before the child reaches puberty.
Parsiana has documented the differences in the wedding and navjote ceremonies in India and in Iran ("The presiding priests,” November 7-20, 2024). If the origin of the religion is the same, why should there be any differences? Iran celebrates New Year on March 21 while we have three different New Years. Why?
Over 100 years ago the navjote of a French woman was performed by a head priest along with 60 mobeds. A legal case came up for hearing in the Bombay High Court. All head priests were asked whether conversion was permissible in Zoroastrianism. Without exception they said "yes.” Why then are we frowning upon performing navjotes of children of outmarried Parsis?
The brilliantly written booklet Conversion in Zoroastrianism — The Truth Behind the Trumpery by scholars Prof Kaikhosrov Irani and Farrokh Vajifdar gives references from the Gathas which show that if any person desires to become a Zoroastrian, it is incumbent on the priest to perform the navjote.
As revealed in "Faith: facts and fallacies” (Parsiana, August 7-20, 2024) fire temples were thought of 1,000 years after Zarathushtra died. Why then do so many of us want to visit them often?
We have been told that during a wedding ceremony the couple is asked "Pasand é kardam (do you select this person?).” The couple has to agree. Now we are told that the question refers to whether or not they are followers of Zoroastrianism.
In view of our declining numbers, we should distinguish between Zarathushtra’s original message in the Gathas and what came after. We need to follow what the Prophet taught us, not what we were told subsequently. Ervad YEZAD SAM KAPADIA
Gurgaon, Haryana
yezad.kapadia@gmail.com