With reference to the letters "Riposte to ‘acceptance’” (Readers, Forum, Parsiana, April 21, 2016), Faribourz Nariman has written about not permitting people to convert to the Zarathushti faith to which Farrokh Vajifdar has responded.
I would like to remind all who push for conversion that ‘Parsi’ today is synonymous with a caste/clan laying claim to being the sole custodians of the Zarathushti religion. As Vajifdar has stated, in ancient Iran conversions were common with many Iranian rulers intermarrying (though if we read history the rule of such kings had ended tragically).
There is a religious reason for not allowing non-Parsi Zarathushtis into our religious institutions and our fold, what with our fire consecrated by reciting so many prayers, and so many Hushmordi kriyas (ceremonies) being done for it.
In our Gatha Vahistoisht (Yasna 53 -7th stanza) it is said that a union by marriage can be brought about only between two persons who are Zarathushtrian by birth. [Literally, members of the Prophet’s Maga (Magi/Magavan) brotherhood.] Hence even a marriage between an Iranian and a Turanian is not proper. Dr Irach Taraporewala’s translation of this stanza tells of the reward for members of the Magis, i.e. Mazdayasni (Zarathushtis) who are united in wedlock. Only they can lead a truly spiritual life based on the principles propagated by Zarathushtra. It again warns that if anyone ever leaves the Magi brotherhood, then in grief they shall die. The Vendidad dictates that Mazdayasni Zoroastrians should not mix the seeds (Bunak Pasbani).
How can an ‘outsider’ who has been converted to the Zarathushti religion proclaim (In Jase-me-Avanghe Mazda) "Mazda yasno Ahmi Mazdayasno Zarathushtrish” when he is not a Mazdayasni?
Even if we move away from the religious aspect and come to the social, physical and logical reasons, we know that Iran was attacked by the Arabs and Islam was forced upon the Iranians living there. Many Zarathushti institutions were ransacked and razed to the ground. Many atash kadehs were desecrated. It was very difficult to follow the religious injunctions. To save our religion and tribe from this, we came to India as refugees seeking asylum in a foreign country; a very few amongst a vast ocean of followers of other religions.
Imagine the wrath of the majority had we tried to convert people of other faiths. Mayhem would have resulted. Again imagine the end result if we had elected to accept their faiths and convert into their mainstream. Why then did we leave Iran for fear of conversion to Islam? It would have been more logical to have converted there!
To fulfill our main aim of coming to India, viz. to save our religion, it would be most logical that the stalwarts of the time remain reclusive. They barred conversion, whether to or from any other faith. They closed all our religious institutions to followers of other faiths. All such institutions were earmarked "Only for Parsi-Irani-Zarathushtis.”
Our ancestors were not the only ones to leave Iran. Many others must have landed elsewhere. We do not find any trace of them as they must have been assimilated into the local culture and lost their religious identity as they must not have closed the doors, and conversions must have been allowed! BURJOR DABOO
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