Boonak Pasbani and DeenChasidari

The need of the Hour for Parsi Community Boonak Pasbani and DeenChasidari

By Late Jehangirji Sohrabji Chiniwala (originally written in Gujarati)

Source:-
Dini Avaz January - February 1979 Volume 4 - No.1
Reprinted from Parsee Avaz dated 13th February, 1972


Asha means Divine Order which is the irrefutable Law existing in nature. Earth is not permanent residence of mankind. He only takes birth on this earth for his spiritual evolution and thereby to achieve salvation in the end. The span of his life on this earth is dependent on number of breath force in his destiny and he finally leaves this earth after his physical death. All religion of this world teaches that man has descended on this earth only for his spiritual evolution (Ruvan Bokhtagi) which is his final goal. When Materialism is rampant and at its peak best, than mankind tends to forget this final goal of Ruvan Bokhtagi or purpose of his existence on this earth. Presently we are living in this gross era of materialism. All five religions of this world are based on this divine law of Asha and their respective prophets manifest themselves at ordained time and thence spread the religion amongst its followers. References of Mazdiyasni Deen and Zarathusti Deen can be found in extant literature of our Mazdayasni Zarathosti Deen. The school of thought as per philology or Grammatical literal translation of our scriptures has been unable to give answer or show the basic difference between Mazdiyasni Deen and Zarathusti Deen. Each word of Avesta Mathra contains nine different meanings, and additionally technical terms can also be found in our extant scriptures of Avesta mathra. Stoat Yasna is perfect science when applied to philological translations of our scriptures, hidden meanings behind each and every word of Avesta can be found out. "Involution" or the making of this Universe is called as Mazdayasni Deen, and "Evolution" or finally merging back to its original root is called as Zarathusti Deen. All five religions of this world aim for evolution for group of souls who are its followers and as laid down by its respective prophets. Hence it can be said that Evolution or Mazdayasni Deen is the common base or aim which can be found in all religion of this world.
The forebears of the present generation of Parsee Zarathustis when they settled in Sanjan with a specific purpose of preserving their Deen had as their spiritual leader of category of an Ashwan. The spiritual status of an Abed as an Ashwan is of very high order capable of understanding and practicing Ashoi. As per the school of Ilme Khshnoom it is only an Ashwan of such high spiritual status who can be custodians of lofty science of Stoat Yasna. It is only with the help of Stoat Yasna applied to Philological and grammatical translations of our scriptures one can decipher the hidden meaning of Avesta. It was with such knowledge of stoat Yasna only that they were able to comprehend the intricacies and farman of our Zarathosti Deen. We do not even possess the past history of our forefathers and their passage to Sanjan via waterway. The school of thought of Ilme Khshnoom has shed some light on this past history which is lost to us. Our forefathers who migrated to west coast of India from Iran belonged to Buniyaad or lineage of Airichithra who were the cream of the cream of Aryan race in Iran . The karma of such a group who migrated to Sanjan under leadership of a Nar Ashwan was good, and they were able to establish Paav Mahal as was pristinely practiced by Airichithra Mazdiyasnan Zarathostis of Iran . They had in their midst Magav and Magavni (female Magi) along with the group and others who lead very ordinary but very high spiritual life of piety. We the present day Parsees have descended from such lineage of sons of soil of Iran , but unfortunately do not practice such high life of piety as our forefathers used to practice before.

Todays Parsee Zarathosti Anjuman, as explained by Ustad Saheb Behramshah Shroff are undergoing through collective karma or Keshash. The first and foremost Karma of our present day Parsee Zarathosti Anjuman is with this soil of Hindustan , and we will be affected with the ups and down of day today affairs of Indian Politics and its affairs. This kind of karma applied even to our forefathers who had initially migrated from Iran . The second Karma of our present day Parsee Zarathosti Anjuman is with the culture based on this gross and materialistic science of the 19th and the 20th century. The Karma of our forefathers who lived in India during the reign of Rajput Rana and that of Moghul empire was good in comparison to us today’s Parsees. The British empire later came afterwards and we Parsees started enrolling ourselves in Universities and studied their history and literature and slowly got influenced by their way of culture. This western culture that we studied was highly influenced by Europe 's French Revolution which was a period of unrest and upheavals. It was an Era of skepticism, and with such faulty leanings our Parsee community very sharp and intelligent started adopting their culture in their day to day life. The net result was that religious faith and fervor we had towards our religion started going downhill.

Such ill effects of western culture when it swept towards our Parsee Zarathosti community during 19th and 20th century made the study of our religion even more difficult in the absence of much needed required links for deciphering the inner meaning or Tavil of our scriptures. The western scholars who got attracted towards Avesta scriptures no mystical inner translations and Stoat Yasna was available than. The Stoat Yasna applied along with Philological and grammatical translations, that complete knowledge as possessed by ancient Zarathosti Iran which could decipher the scriptures correctly was missing and absent. Today what the Western Scholars call as Philology is incomplete, faulty and defective way of deciphering our scriptures, which was more complete science as understood in Stoat Yasna Chapters. Even Grammatical deciphering of Avesta is explained in Stoat Yasna, but the concerned priceless scriptures of Stoat yasna are unavailable and lost forever. With the help of new and incomplete philology and grammar, new translations of our scriptures were made ready by the Western scholars, but Tarikaats of Ashoi and Dini Farman or Kriyas done for the deceased (Anushe ruvan) and living (Jindeh Ruvan) which was practiced by us with due faith only in the past, was now looked down upon with skepticism. The Karma or Keshah of 19th and 20th Century Parsees towards Mazdayasni Zarathosti Deen was bad which only warded them off tangentially away from the Tarikats of Ashoi which are so indispensable in our Mazdiyasni Zarathosti Deen ( just like Oxygen is indispensable for breathing).

At one side the farman for Tarikaats which propagates Ashoi , and Kriya or rituals which grants us immortality are looked down upon due to new order of studies of Philology trying to decipher our scriptures and at other end it became extremely difficult for Batekustian Behdins and even the practicing clergy to tread the path of Tarikaat Marg and it became practically difficult for maintaining Barashnum owing to surrounding circumstances they came across. The seeds of destruction that were planted in 19th Century by the spiritual downfall of Parsees was actually the cause, out of which huge trees of Deen Dushman and “Asmogh” manifested themselves in 20th Century which was the direct result of the cause.

No Census records has been found for Parsee during the reign of Rajput and Moghul empire. During the British rule the Census records were done many a times and it was found out that the population of Parsees in India never exceeded more than one lakh. Before the British rule the Parsee were residing in villages of west coast of Gujarat as farmers but slowly started migrating to Bombay as British rule flourished and spread all over India . Today out of total one lakh population about 70 % of Parsee population is staying in Mumbai and its surrounding area.

Right from the beginning of 20th Century many questions have been repeated oft and on. The most common topic of discussion that has plagued the thinking hats of our community is the ever decreasing population of the Parsee community. How to increase the population of Parsees is a very delicate issue and such a question can never be answered merely by applying our earthly sense and logic. At one end there are majority of us who accentuate the fact that our prophet never preached conversion, where as there are some few who are in favour of inter marriage and come out with argument that our Prophet did indeed preach conversion. The pessimist scaremongers using the dwindling population as an excuse are projecting a false image far from the truth and in the bargain cunningly propagate their faulty pro-conversion theory. When a skeptic philologist Dastur and some misinformed scholars made a scathing attack upon time tested truths waylaying the faithful away from their faith, even after futile spending of thousands of Rupees in the court of law were unable to come out with a reckoning from the court in favour of conversion. The Jehad in favour of Juddin Navjote was purportedly favoured by some ignorant few who were ignorant of true meaning of Bunyaad and Bunak Pasbani and even refused to acknowledge it. Only minority of our community were so easily waylaid by these false propaganda who ridiculously suggested illogical means of increasing our fold by conversion.

Behramshahji was refered to about this Juddin Fiasco and the reason behind perennial small population throughout our stay in India . As per Ustad Saheb Behramshah Shroff the first and foremost thing he replied was that group of tola that migrated to India from Iran under the able leadership of NarAshwan Nairosang Dhawal who established independent Paav Mahal of Iranshah highest grade AtashBehram in India, under its talismanic protection the Parsee population can never get erased completely and will always survive. Keeping this important fact in mind In spite of that, looking at the present materialistic era we all are living in, in absence of true faith and Boonak Pasbani missing the community will shrink further to a smaller number than past and only eleven thousand true followers and practiser of our Zarathusti deen in its pristine manner will be present before the advent of our new Rainidar Shah Behram Varjawand, but the sum total number of us as a community will remain around 81,000 only. No predictions made by Ustad Saheb Behramshah Shroff have ever turned out to be false, and will never ever be so.

Even after the fall of Sassanian Iranian Zarathusti empire there were crores of Zarathusti Iranis on the surface of this earth. Out of this population of crores of Irani Zarathusti the hidden Iran (Batein Iran) was very much present on the political soil of Iran (Zaher Iran), there were still lakhs of Irani Zarathustis who were, besides having true faith towards Zarathusti religion were also valiant fighters and soldiers. Due to certain circumstances such population of valiant Zarathustis staying openly on soil of known Iran ( zaher Iran) started reducing, and finally only 25,000 Zarathustis could be found in known Iran but this time true faith and velour were missing in them.

One argument that has been often discussed and pointed out is that even if the initial group or Tola that migrated from Iran was however small in number, than as per accepted laws of procreation the population of Parsi Irani Zarathustis should have been by now more than a few lakhs in number. But looking at our past records we can see that Parsi Irani Zarathusti population at any given passage of time has never exceeded more than a lakh in number. The reason behind this can be found in Paavmahal of Zarathusti Deen and its Talismanic powers. Urban life of Mumbai city is not at all suitable for practicing our Zarathusti Deen and its lofty tarikaats, and Parsi Zarathusti community cannot exist independently. This fact we Parsis have completely overlooked and we are seeing the negative results of urban migration now, that have been building up ever since last 11 centuries of our stay in India .

Very sad and demoralizing fact to be noted is that nobody wants to find a lasting solution for civil, monetary and religious prosperity of the Indian Parsi Community. If we want prosperity in all directions then Boonak Pasbani and Deenchasidari - that is by practicing the tenants of our Deen with true faith is the most essential ingredient for our survival. It is by practicing Boonak Pasbani only that is by marrying within our community, there in lies our true Khandani, and all the Regal qualities for which our forefathers were respected for and shone like jewel amongst millions will flow automatically by practicing Boonak Pasbani only. Today those who have strong financial background which he has obtained by his own karma only are called as Khandani, but the word Khandani is used as a misnomer today. Fortunately whatever wealth he has obtained through his own merit, he is unfortunately accepting intermarriage in the name of reform which ultimately derogates his true Khandani in nature.

How does a true Khandani manifest itself ? When parents who have full faith towards their own religion practice Tarikats and leads a moral dignified life produces offspring (Farzand) who carries in their genes identical (or even more) characteristic traits like that of their parents is called as true khandani. When generations after generation this chain of Khandani is augmented which is always meritorious, then we can say that a Kuniyat has been build of this Khandani. Spiritual greatness or Khandani is measured in such a way. (Kuniyaat means good fields or powerhouse of energy that has been built in nature by good deeds performed). One can say that majority of our Parsi community is not "DeenChasidar" (implicit faith towards all tenets of his Deen), because had it been such a case than he would have been observing all Tarikats of Ashoi. Leading moral life with character will always goes side by side along with observing Tarikaats which ultimately builds Ashoi. Meher Patet is the basic first step that will take one towards Ashoi and along with that doing Kusti Padyab will make one "DeenChasidar" and practicing Zarathosti deen and all its Farmans will make them prosper like anything in all directions. Parsi Community low population, Intermarriage, and Juddin Navjote, leading a bachelor's life, penury are all effects of the past cause, but by being righteous and practicing Tarikats we get solace and invisible help does indeed rescue us from the majority of the misery, if not completely. One can experience the sweetness of sugar only if we have taken trouble of tasting it, similarly it is only by leading righteous, truthful, moral life and by practicing Druj Parhej Tarikaats do we realize grandeur and practicality of our Deen, for our religion is a way of life to be practiced. ( Chasi means Chasni to taste our Deen and hence the word Deen Chasidari).
Parsi Community will survive with the help of Talismanic Paavmahal even in the most trying hard times such as now, but the need of the hour is to make effort to practice DeenChasidari and to spread the message to all. Those who are busy with their families and making their ends meet by doing service are not able to follow all tarikaats but could make all possible effort to the best of their ability towards observing Deen Chasidari life, but those who are monetarily sound have a responsibility in nature to observe DeenChasidari life.

Parsees staying in India who are one lakh in number are not the only followers of Paak Mazdiyasni Zarathusti Deen, but there are Crores of Airi Chithra Bastekustian Mazdiyasni Zarathustis on the surface of this earth and also there are lakhs of Zarathustis Abeds who dwell in talismanic places invisible to human eyes and its touch far away in high mountains. But secretly these Crores of Airi Chithra Bastekustian Mazdiyasni Zarathustis Iranis on the surface of this earth for many centuries since past have been practicing Boonak Pasbani very descretly under guidance of their leaders and patiently await for good times to come. Present day Iranologists have not even faintest idea about the past ancient Iranians and how after their past destruction they will be revived in coming future. How can they have even roughest of idea about the nature’s dark secrets and its methods? It is only Ilme Khshnoom and under guidance of Mazdiyasni zarathostis Naar who have reached stage of an Ashvan can we have even a roughest idea as to how in the coming future will New Iran and new Zarathostis Population be revived in Iran . Parsee Zarathostis residing in India even after 11 centuries have managed to preserve their Buniyaad (seed) and their Etekad (faith) which itself is a miracle. It is with the help of the school of Illme Khshnoom can we strengthen Deendari into DeenChasidari. ( Note:- DeenDaar= having faith in our prophets teachings but not practicing it, DeenChasidari= Is to put the teachings of our prophet into actual practice which is equivalent to tasting the fruits of our deen). Parsee Community of India has not been able to appreciate the school of Ilme Khshnoom brought by Ustad Saheb Behramshah Nowroji Shroff under the watchful eyes and able guidance of Demavand Koh Abed Sahebs and its leader Shrosavarez Marzban Saheb. We dont have to worry about the declining population of our community in India, which will be preserved as per its destiny, what we have to worry about is how to strengthen our Deenchasidari and to maintain Boonak Pasbani ( racial purity of our blood, seed). Today majority of our Parsee community do have faith in them but they do not have DeenChasidari in fair measures. The school of ilme Khshnoom has made its presence felt amongst Parsi community since 1905 and has been able to shed light on many a complex matters not fully understood by us, and behind the scene work has been done silently by blessings of Zarathosti Abed Sahebs. Those of us who sincerely wish to preserve orthodoxy in our community should concentrate on cultivating Deendari further into Deenchasidari as shown by Ilme Khshnoom and not to worry about our declining population.

Late jehangirji goes on further and says that although he does not feel like mentioning, but it is with very sad heart that he is compelled to write that since 1940 and later on had it not been for ilme Khshnoom and its denunciation and tirade against religious slur and ignorance demonstrated by some of Deen Dushman than the end result would have been unimaginably catastrophic. In future also this school of ilme Khshnoom will give its share of guidance in very mysterious ways. If this trend continues than downfall of our Parsi community is imminent and not very far away, but what very essential requirement which is lacking here is the correct guidance of going to the root cause of all our maladies and downfall. "Erejoish Patho" as mentioned in Vahishtoisht Gatha is the tarikat path which when followed righteously will always culminate into Ashoi. Asha means divine order in nature classified into five groups of souls who in turn are attached to five great religions of the world (namely Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity which are not man made at all, but are in fact God given gift for our spiritual upliftment). This divine order of Asha has been brought into existence or set into motion during Cosmogenesis by blue print plan of "Ahunavariya" which is the will of Dadar AhuraMazda himself. This important fact that has been explained in our scriptures has to be properly understood and grasped by our highly educated members of our community. The power of Ashoi that can be developed by treading on the shown path of "Tarikaat marg" is the basic foundation and farman of our Zarathosti Deen. These powers of Ashoi if properly developed can stun today’s scientific world for within our physical body lies many dormant powers that can be activated by Ashoi. These divine order of Asha is the cause for "Jzhirum" or different religions of the world (5 group of souls and its followers) which spiritual evolve differently because of variable "Ray" or Wattage of a soul (i.e. spiritual brightness of each soul is different than one another but they can all be accommodated and classified into 5 main group of souls). This eternal truth will someday dawn unto all of us. If the Parsees begin to follow all Tarikat than seeds of morality will get evolved and will subdue the seeds of immorality which compel us to sin. Along with such changes occurring within us than we with the shield of Sudreh Kusti and its "Amal" such a Parsee becomes a true fighter and a Rathestar in service of AhuraMazda and give more power to SpenaMino in its eternal fight against Ghenamino and Ahriman. Such Parsees even though who are less in comparison to millions of worldly population never ceases to shine one amongst Millions.

Today’s times that we are living in is a period where one can get misled to untruth, but "Taroiditeh Angreh Mainyu" which we pray in our Kusti means that by following our Deen we are able to see through the evil game plan of Angreh Mainyu and become helpers of Spenamino.

It is not the declining population but it is ignorance towards correct practice of our Deen or faith put into action (Deenchasidari) that is so very essential for our survival.

Free translation from Gujarati by Firdosh K. Sukhia

Hum Mithra at 7 a.m. for Peace

2 Yatha Ahu Vairyo, 1 Ashem Vohu

"Let no harm come upon the Traditional Zoroastrian flag and its values which are so dear to us. Let the reformists agenda never suceed and their nefarious plans be upturned. Let no harm befall upon Pavmahal of India that is - our Iranshah of Udwada and all Atash Behram, Atash Adran and Dadgah of India. The things that we value most like Holy consecrated Fire(Pavmahal), Dokhmas, Sudreh Kusti which acts as a weapon to thwart evil, and let us protect our racial traits of Parsi panu through Boonak Pasbani by not marrying outside. That is how we will be able to maintain our true Zarathosti Khandani. Let the advent of Shah Behram Varjawand and his fore runners come soon and protect us from this mess. Let my Kusti Padiav and my Tarikats be helpful to nature to fight for the cause of Righteousness against the evil negative forces of Drujis, and may it protect us all Zarathustis and entire humanity who live by religion and its tenets"

........1 Yatha Ahu Vairyo, 2 Ashem Vohu