Parsiana is known as a sentinel of rationality on religious matters. It, therefore, came as a rude surprise to read the article "Fighting Ahriman’s army” (Parsiana, February 7, 2017, reprinted from The Parsee Voice Vol 1-3, September 2016). Do any of our religious scriptures mandate that all the four-day after death prayers should be held at the place where the geh sarna was conducted?
What substantive empirical evidence does the author, the late Adi F. Doctor, offer while creating a fear psychosis of the imaginary Fali Fekuchand being confronted by the army of Ahriman and of his "shivering soul?” Such balderdash is totally unbecoming of Parsiana.
In Udvada, after the geh sarna, all subsequent obsequies are conducted at the Iranshah Atash Behram. In our dharam ni tékri (seat of the religion), Navsari, these ceremonies are conducted at local fire temples. If this practice was harmful, would the high priests, past and present, have permitted it?
The article is likely to offend the sentiments of thousands of community members who have performed four-day ceremonies, not at doongerwadi but in fire temples. In Bombay many poor humdins opt for the lower bungli and have ceremonies like Srosh karda and late night uthamna done in fire temples. Doctor’s article has attempted to undermine the efficacy of our prayers.
Recently, when a high priest expired after a prolonged illness his family had all the subsequent sacraments done at an agiary close to his residence. I refer to this just to show that Doctor cannot claim to be more devout and knowledgeable about the religion than our learned high priests.
Instead of creating confusion among the laity by disseminating such canards, one should publish the opinions of renowned scholars of religion which are supported by tangible evidence.
HOMI DALAL
homeedalal@gmail.com
The editor’s reply:
Parsiana’s pages are open to all points of view. At one time, Adi Doctor was a regular contributor to our magazine. Even in this Navroz issue we are carrying a reprint from Parsi Avaz (see "A mystic view,” pg 94).