Not permitting, restricting or making it difficult to have the four days of funeral prayers performed for a departed soul goes against the teachings of our religion.
No individual has the right to deprive a soul of its right to prayers regardless of the person’s choice of mode of disposal — whether cremation, burial or donation for medical research. It is tantamount to a sin to refuse solace to a departed soul.
The condition of the soul after the passing away of an individual is described in detail in our scriptures, as outlined in the next paragraph. Extensive and elaborate prayers are needed to comfort and protect the departed soul.
Separation of the soul from the body at the time of death is a momentous event. The Gathas do not give a clear picture of the fate of the soul immediately after death. According to the later Avesta writings of Hadokht Naask, the soul sits near the spot where the head of the body was for three nights. The Pahlavi scriptures, Dinkard, Mino Kherad and Arda Viraf Nameh elaborate that the demon Vizaresha makes a fruitless attempt to capture and hijack the soul. Some Pahlavi writers picture the soul as helpless as a new born baby. So they prescribe elaborate prayers and rituals for Srosh Yazad to protect the soul. This is why we are required to have a fire burning and extensive prayer ceremonies for three days and nights.
The Persian Rivayet of Shapur Bharuchi states that on the first day after death, the soul is like an infant. On the second day it grows to the size of a seven-year-old child and on the third day it becomes an adult aged 15. On the dawn of the fourth day it approaches the final judgment.
On the dawn of the fourth day the soul stands in the presence of judges. The later texts mention a trinity of judges — Meher, Rashna and Srosh. The soul is judged on the basis of how it has lived its life. The good and evil deeds are weighed on a balance and a final decision reached with perfect justice. There is no room for repentance.
It is my sincere appeal to our high priests to review and advise the community to abandon this practice of not offering prayers to departed souls because of the individual’s choice of mode of disposal of the body. Such refusal goes against the fundamental principles and teachings of the religion and needs to be amended.
KAYOMARSH P. MEHTA
Zarathushti Learning Center of North America
Burr Ridge, Illinois, USA
kayomehta@aol.com