Occasionally readers write in stating Parsiana does not carry articles on the religion. We explain that we are a news publication and that religious literature is readily available from elsewhere. The Parsiana Book Club and Shop was started around 10 years ago to primarily cater to the needs of outstation Parsis who did not have access to such literature. But now with e-retailing, consumers can order almost any book from all over the world.
Rohinton Nariman’s book on the Gathas, The Inner Fire: Faith, Choice and Modern-Day Living in Zoroastrianism was released in Delhi on November 20, 2016. The 240-page translation of the ancient hymns, said to be composed by the prophet himself, was immediately available for sale. A 40-page book on the navjote prayers, Understanding the navjote prayers: A beginner’s Guide to the Avesta Language written by Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia with the expenses of printing and shipping being borne by Chicago based Roshan Rivetna in memory of her parents, came out a month later. Never have people been so spoilt for choice.
But it has not always been this way. Few realize the hardships and hazards the early scholars, especially foreigners, had to go through to access Zoroastrian manuscripts safely preserved by the priesthood. The renowned French scholar Anquetil du Perron arrived in Pondicherry in August 1755 and stayed in India till April 1761. During those years he encountered much physical and emotional discomfort while scouring Zoroastrian manuscripts. Before reaching Surat he stopped at Chandanagore. "I was confined to bed with fever and dysentery for three months and was reduced to the last extremity. I was expected every moment to breathe my last; delirium and death-rattles announced within me approaching dissolution," he wrote in his Narrative of Mons Anquetil du Perron’s Travels in India translated from the French into English by the noted scholar Kavasji Edalji Kanga and published in 1876. Upon his health improving, Perron travelled by caravan and reached Surat in May 1758. He met high priests Dasturs Darab and Kaous but soon "despaired of their tardiness." It took him three months to receive the manuscript they had promised. "This was the Vendidad… written in Zend and Pehlvi. I did not discover till sometime after that it was mutilated and incorrect and (that too) after having paid them its price (Rs 100)." Short of money, Perron "was obliged to reduce myself to a repast of lentils and rice called by natives khichri, so that I might be able to spare from my income something to discharge a part of my debts and to buy the books which I was in need of, and with all that to work also."
The scholar managed to obtain from a Mancherji, who was "a personnel enemy" of Kaous and Darab, a copy of the Zend and Pehlvi Vendidad which he had been assured "was the most authentic and most correct copy which could be had at Surat."
Reading the liturgical books whetted the scholar’s appetite to "enter their fire temple and to attend their service. Being aware of the strict severity of their religion, I believed the thing impossible, my presence, according to the Zend books, would defile the temple and tend to nullify the efficacy of their prayers. Besides, no foreigner had ever entered the Déreméhers of the Parsis, except the Mogul Emperor, Akbar." With Darab’s assistance he managed to enter. "When I was in presence of the sacred fire… Darab asked me if I would make some offering to it. I said I could not, as a Christian, comply with his request. Darab retorted, but with an embarrassed air which had something sinister about it, that some Musulmans, without having had the privilege of seeing the sacred fire, had made some presents to the Déreméher. The position was delicate: I was alone, without any arms except my sabre and a pocket-pistol; and if the devotees, who performed their prayers in the Déreméher, had suspected me who I was, I should have fallen a victim to the zeal of the worshippers of the fire temple. Without appearing in any way moved, I answered Darab in a loud voice, that I (had) come to see the Déreméher and nothing more. My firmness shut up his mouth; he requested me to speak in a lower tone; he feared more than myself that the people of the Déreméher might recognize me. He explained to me afterwards, in a whisper, the use made of the different parts of the Déreméher. I examined everything minutely. I entered everywhere; and I imprinted very clearly in my mind all that I saw, in order to be able to prepare on my return the plan and the description."
In March 1761 when Perron prepared to sail from Surat to England via Bombay he was accused of "carrying away manuscripts for which I had not paid." He suspected the hand of Kaous who "had never approved of the complaisance of his son Darab." Perron’s brother who was stationed in Surat and was one of his benefactors "stood bail for me and when they saw that the English were satisfied with his word, they disappeared. These annoyances brought on a complaint of gout, and I passed in bed the little time which elapsed before the departure of the ship."
Today the pursuit of knowledge is much easier. In 1974 when Parsiana decided to publish the Parsiana Book of Iranian Names we had commissioned for a fee the noted Iranian scholar Ervad Jamshed Katrak to prepare a list of genuine Iranian names. Dastur (Dr) Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa very kindly vetted the names without any charge as did Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal for the second edition. Altogether four editions of 1,000 copies each have been printed over 40 years. The high priests and other clergy readily assist us with our queries pro bono. London based independent researcher Farrokh Vajifdar responds promptly to our queries and requests, totally gratis.
The combination of scholars, priests and publishers has served the community well. Whatever be the faults or the transgressions they may have committed, the community owes them a tremendous debt of gratitude for having preserved as much as possible the ancient teachings, practices and customs. What is required are readers. In his inscription on a copy Nariman had kindly given Parsiana, he had written, "I have spent 30 years over this book. Do give it at least 30 minutes." We more than complied.