The duties of Zoroastrian priests are to chant prayers and perform rituals in honor of souls, fravashis and spiritual beings; lead people on the right path through their ecclesiastic authority; and impart the knowledge of prayers and religion.
The Dadar Athornan Institute (DAI) is the only functioning residential institution for training full-fledged priests for the Parsi community where students receive religious and ritual training as well as academic education absolutely free of cost.
The navar ritual has to be undergone before puberty, by about 13 years of age. Since it takes five to seven years to train a boy for full-fledged priesthood, training has to start at the age of seven when the boy needs to be admitted to DAI to become a full-fledged Yaozdathregar priest.
The Zoroastrian priesthood being hereditary, only sons from priestly families are admitted. The child undergoes a strenuous training program of learning prayers for about three hours daily to prepare for the navar ceremony. During the five to seven years of training, students learn the Gujarati language and most prayers from the regular Khordeh Avesta. Later, they are taught the Avestan script after which they learn the texts from the Yasna with 72 chapters and Visperad with 23 chapters before they are taught the afringans, baj and related ritual prayers.
Students have to devote an additional year to prepare for the maratab in which they are taught to read the 23 chapters of the Vendidad, along with the accompanying intricate rituals.
Top: staff and students at the Dadar Athornan Institute (above)
Photo: Farrokh Jijina
Class at madressa
Photo: Farrokh Jijina
DAI students simultaneously attend the nearby Dadar Parsee Youths Assembly High School for academic studies. The School management has been providing free academic education to all DAI students since 1966. By the time the student completes his Secondary School Certificate, he is also ready to be a full-fledged priest.
Established in 1919 by the Athornan Mandal, DAI is still managed by the Mandal as a charitable institute dedicated to the education of the Zoroastrian clergy. It runs on donations from philanthropic individuals and charitable trusts. At present 14 students are studying here at various levels. Boarding, lodging, education and all other facilities are provided totally free of charge. Students are given the incentive of enrolling in the Zarine Neville Sarkari-WZO (World Zoroastrian Organisation) Scheme where a handsome amount is saved monthly in their bank accounts which they will receive as a lump sum after they complete both priestly training and academic studies up to Secondary School Certificate.
The Institute appeals to athornan parents to admit their sons at DAI at the appropriate age.
The DAI also appeals to the community to generously help the Institute. Donations can be made either in cash or by cheque favoring the Athornan Mandal which is also authorized to receive donations from abroad.
For further inquiries kindly contact The Principal, Dadar Athornan Institute, 651-52, Firdausi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, Bombay 400014. Tel: +91-22-24138086; email: info@dadarathornaninstitute.org or The Joint Honorary Secretaries, Athornan Mandal, 240, Navsari Bldg, 2nd fl, Dr Dadabhai Naoroji Road, Fort, Bombay 400001. Tel: +91-22-22070784.
Ervad (Dr) RAMIYAR KARANJIA
Principal, Dadar Athornan Institute
ramiyark@gmail.com