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The Atash Behram hall was filled to capacity with behdins and mobeds who were present for the installation of 43-year-old Ervad Tehemton Mirza as the second dastur of the Iranshah fire temple in Udvada. As has reportedly been the practice for nearly three centuries since the arrival of the Sanjana priests to the coastal village, Iranshah now has a second high priest after a break of eight years. Mirza shares the gaddi (seat) with Dastur Khurshed Dastoor from February 11, 2024. 

Mirza and Dastoor will have joint responsibilities. "For one year I will preside over both the Udvada Athornan and Samast Anjumans, and for one year he will… This has been the practice for several decades,” Dastoor told Parsiana on February 14. "It was the late Dastur Peshotan Mirza’s wish that Tehemton succeed him… He could not due to his personal commitments, which we respect ….When the time was right for him, we gladly accepted with one voice... He is young and energetic and will be very helpful.” Peshotan had passed away in 2016. 

"Usually, a high priest is appointed after the uthamna ceremony of his predecessor, where his appointment as a dastur is announced to the people gathered there,” explained scholar high priest, Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal in response to Parsiana’s request for clarification on the appointment of dasturs. "The trustees, or the anjuman to which the chosen candidate belongs, present the first shawl after the afternoon uthamna.” If there is a gap of a few years, as in the case of Tehemton’s appointment, an assembly of Parsis and priests are invited, and the first shawl is given by the anjuman and the other shawls by the high priests present followed by the representatives of community institutions,” stated Kotwal.

A community member present at the February 11 installation stated that there were "innumerable” presentations of shawls to Mirza from various individuals and organizations. Author Firoza Punthakey Mistree who attended the function told Parsiana that "In the quiet, dignified gathering that stood up spontaneously to honor the new high priest, there was a collective sigh of relief as Dastoor placed a shawl of honor on his shoulders — that an ancient chair left vacant for several years had found its heir apparent.” She stated that when Tehemton spoke, quoting from the Srosh Yasht Hadokht, of upholding the sacredness of the long-standing traditions of the faith, "it gave the promise of certitude for the future of the community.”  

"Historically, all high priests were hereditary and even today the majority … are hereditary priests, except for the dasturship of the H. B. Wadia Atash Behram,” explained Kotwal. This was once a hereditary office; later, the seat of the high priest was accorded to learned priests after the fifth high priest, Dastur Rustom Edalji Sanjana, resigned in 1930. The first dastur of India appointed by the anjuman was Dastur Meherji Rana of Navsari who was appointed after returning from the court of (Emperor) Akbar in 1578 CE. Before this event, the community gave the title of Dastur to priests who were well-versed in the religion and known for their learning or extraordinary service to the community.” 

Kotwal stated that there are two dasturships which, although hereditary, are seen as being appointed by the priestly tolas to which they belong, namely Navsari and Udvada; the latter appoints two dasturs. In the case of Navsari and Udvada, the dastur’s family "chooses the person to be appointed and requests the anjuman that according to the wishes of his predecessor, the person be appointed a high priest.” Other high priests are generally appointed by their respective places of worship, provided they have given outstanding service to the community or for their learning and religious knowledge. "If I recall correctly, in the 1950s, there were in all 16 high priests serving the community in India at the time,” Kotwal noted.  

Kotwal met Tehemton briefly on January 15, when he was serving his allotted turn as boiwalla at the Iranshah. "Our newly appointed high priest belongs to a long line of devout priests who have served the Iranshah fire with piety and dedication… He belongs to a truly orthodox family, showing great faith and dedication to our illustrious Zarthoshti religion… With his family background and support, we know that Tehemton will follow in the footsteps of his illustrious ancestors and will lead and safeguard his flock in Udvada and the noble institutions of the Zoroastrian faith.”

"A ‘true priest,’ according to the learned sages of Iran, should possess knowledge of the religion and its accompanying rituals and it was the foremost duty of the priest to pay undivided attention to the performance of religious ceremonies and perform them flawlessly… Our sacred texts emphasize that a good priest should have deep religious knowledge (āgāhī), true belief and faith (āstawānī) and high ethical standards (nekī),” conveyed Kotwal.

"It is essential that the priestly anjumans must look after the welfare of its high priests so that a high priest will not find the need to do a secular job and can devote his time and energy to the religion and the spiritual needs of the community,” added Kotwal.

 

"Faith in prayers”

Tehemton is an alumnus of the Dadar Athornan Institute (DAI). Principal Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia told Parsiana that he was a student from 1986-1996. "He completed his sampurna navar, maratab and sāmel before he passed from the Institute / The Dadar Parsi Youths Assembly High School (for secular studies). Tehemton also studied the Avesta language for three years at the Institute as an optional school language. He was a quiet and content student. He liked to be on his own and never meddled with the affairs of other students… He was hardworking and diligent in his studies and bhantar (prayers) throughout… In discipline and behavior he was always above average. He was obedient, quiet…well-mannered… never had to be told twice about anything.”

Classmate at DAI Ervad Kerman Fatakia echoes Karanjia’s views. "Very quiet, gentle,” he told us. "Always smiling, always caring.” "évann masti karta hata ké (Was Tehemton mischievous)?” Parsiana queried Fatakia. "Of course!” he replied. Fatakia told Karanjia that Tehemton’s "faith in prayers always made me respect him… He was a soft-spoken friend with whom one would like to engage in a fruitful conversation.” 

"I wouldn’t be doing oral interviews,” Tehemton told Parsiana when requested for one. He had decided that all his interviews would be done in writing to avoid any misinterpretation. While initially agreeing to an email interview, he later replied that "after careful thought and consideration,” he had decided not to respond to our questionnaire. We had sent him 22 questions to gauge his thoughts on some of the contentious issues facing the community, including the shortage of priests, interfaith marriages, navjotes of children of intermarrieds, etc (see "Mirza’s mantle,” Editorial Viewpoint, Parsiana, February 21-March 6, 2024). Earlier, however, he gave a detailed interview to mid-day on February 12 focusing on the "decline in the priesthood” and suggested as a solution — more money and nuturing for the clergy.