I have read Khorshed Oomrigar’s letter ("Worli Prayer Hall,” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, September 7, 2016). I would like her to provide evidence from the scriptures that says "a dead body should not be touched by the relatives.” Religion is what the Gathas say, and there is nothing in the Gathas about what to do with a dead body. The Gathas are about living life fruitfully.
The Vendidad, written by later priests, speaks about "traditions” that existed in the Middle Ages. Even in the Vendidad nowhere is it stated that relatives cannot touch the dead body. In fact, the book does not mention any provision for paid pallbearers. It’s only in Bombay and a few other places that pallbearers carry the body to the dakhmas. Everywhere else relatives and neighbors carry the corpse to the final destination.
Yes, there is a stipulation that after touching a corpse one must undergo nahan (ritual bath) but even in Bombay do the pallbearers take a nahan every time? Who can confirm this? And can anyone confirm whether the Bombay Parsi Punchayet has verified that the pallbearers are progeny of both Parsi Zoroastrian parents?
FARZANA ADIL COOPER
farzanacooper@gmail.com
I have read the letter "Worli Prayer Hall” (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, September 7, 2016) and the dignified response from Dinshaw Tamboly along with the opinions of two other readers.
The writer has stated that the body was placed on a bamboo bier without a white sheet on it. Is she aware that in the dakhmas the bodies of males and females are kept naked without any cloth on the pavis? Another objection is that there was no sachkar ceremony. Has she observed how the sachkar ceremony is performed at Doongerwadi? The pallbearers simply say Ashem Vohu and Yatha Ahu Vairyo in a loud voice. Formerly, the Vandidad was performed on the chahrum day. Is this being done today? No. So why is she concerned when persons availing of the facility at Worli have no objection to the set-up?
According to the writer, as per our religion, after a few hours the body becomes contaminated and should not be touched by anyone. What happens when a body is kept in the morgue for a couple of days or more at Doongerwadi? That the relatives of the deceased touched the body and carried it to the furnace, the writer claims, is contrary to Zoroastrian traditions.
Is she aware that in many places in Gujarat as well as in towns of other states there are no designated pallbearers employed by the local Parsi punchayets/anjumans and it is the relatives, Zoroastrian friends and neighbors who carry the corpse to the final resting place? In olden times the son/s or close relatives used to carry the body (khand marvi) inside the dakhma. That was the tradition.
The writer objects to the presence of non-Parsis during the funeral ceremony. If the family members of the deceased have no objection to the presence of non-Parsis, why should she?
HOMI DALAL
homeedalal@gmail.com
(These letters were couriered to Khorshed Oomrigar for her response, but she declined to issue any reply — editors)