It is high time Parsi/Irani parents shook off their spiritual lethargy and worked to instill the Zarathushti faith in their children. Now that we have become a successful and prosperous community, we mistakenly believe that we do not need the atash padshah’s blessings any more, when in fact we are in need of Ahura Mazda’s blessings more than ever to re-ignite the spark of faith in the Mazdayasni Zarathushti deen (religion).
Footfalls in fire temples in Bombay and other cities are meager. The atash padshahs wait in vain for the faithful to come and offer fragrant offerings and receive divine blessings. This clearly points to spiritual poverty creeping into the community. People have forgotten the tremendous sacrifices our forefathers made to preserve the faith.
Rustom Daboo’s painting depicting the atash padshah
Some Parsis have started Gatha study groups in North America, Ahmedabad and elsewhere as well, where members seek truths from the holy book and imbibe the values highlighted therein. These include love for all beings, upholding the truth, selfless service, devotion and piety, humility, forgiveness, non-violence, controlling anger, caring for the environment, etc. Their findings must be shared in simple language with our young ones to instill in them faith and fervor for our religion. The Ahmedabad Gatha Study group has prepared e-books for youngsters which will soon be launched.
Parsi numbers are declining with every census and are expected to plummet further in the next decade. Our enterprising community must not vanish without a fight for survival. We will adapt, we will change and we will survive!
Some advocate the acceptance into the fold of other ethnic blood through intermarriage. This may marginally increase numbers but we have known of umpteen cases in which children of Parsi men married to non Parsis tend to follow the mother’s faith and are not interested in the Zoroastrian religion and customs. An increased population with fewer Zoroastrian values and lackluster faith will not help.
Our ancestors believed in the holy Gathas. Their teachings made them prosperous both materially and spiritually. In the present day such zeal has been increasingly evident in the western world as well as in Iraqi Kurdistan, Iran and Tajikstan. Similar fervor must be re-ignited in the Parsi Irani youth in India. Parents must make time to visit the atash padshahs with their children to inculcate faith and devotion in Ahura Mazda and his agency, the holy fire, who will protect them and bring them prosperity as promised by Zarathushtra in the holy text.
RUSTOM M. DABOO
zrustom_d@yahoo.com