The controversy over the cremation of Covid-19 infected Parsi corpses ("Covid deaths and costs,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, August 7-20, 2020) has resulted in a U-turn amongst the priests who opposed cremation on the grounds of religion. They once instigated the Bombay Parsi Punchayet to ban me from Doongerwadi and three fire temples because I was praying for the cremated Zoroastrian deceased. Using the pretext of the pandemic they are performing the first four days’ prayers for the cremated, excluding paidust, in fire temples to supplement their income. They now claim that in these rare circumstances it is religiously permissible.
Can they furnish proof of such permission granted in any of the Avestan religious texts?
Ervad FRAMROZE SOHRABJI MIRZA
fsmirza@rediffmail.com...