Iran Parasti

Reference:- From Late Ardeshir Behramji Homavazir Memorial Volume

Iran Parasti By Late Jehangirji S Chiniwala (Original article in Gujarati)

I have a strong belief that only those who are deen parast can become Iran Parast. The downfall of Zarathusti Iran compelled the pious Zarathusti Abeds to retreat into the abode of Jamshed known as "Jamshed na Vaar" whilst some of them decided to remain within the vicinity of Iran but yet very discretely followed
the Zoroastrian deen. Such "Batein Iran" or hidden Iran exists even now.

Poet Firdausi was publicly practising Islam, the cause of it was karmic in nature but he secretly had immense love and respect for Zoroastrian Deen. During that period Abed Dastur Ardesir Kermani was his mentor. Firdausi received immense help and encouragement and he even received the Amaal of Sarosh yazad from his mentor. Firdausi himself says in his Shahnamah:-

Bagush az sarushem basi Muzdehast
Dilam Ganjeh Gavhar zaban azdehast

Translate:-

I intuitively received help from sarosh yazad any my heart overflowed with immense joy But just as a cobra snake keeps guard to the treasures, so my tongue guards the treasures concealed in my heart.

Mohammed Ghazni Gazi-ul-ul-Islam was a strict proponent of Islam but yet Dastur Kermani in order to prove that Zoroastrianism too like Islam was the revealed religion of the almighty made him experience many miracles. This was the main reason for his tolerance of Shahnamah which glamorized Zarathusti deen with poetic magic woven by Firdausi. Firdausi weaves magical poetry been recited by Gustasp Padshah in his Shahnamah. He says :-

Soeh Gumbad azar arid ruye;
Bafarmaneh paygambareh raastguyeh
Ba Yazdan ke hargiz nabinad Bahesht
Kasif nadarad rahe zardost

King Gustasp admonish his country man to follow Zarathusti Deen which was freshly established by paigambar saheb.

Translate:-

He urges his country man to face the shrine of Atash Padshah and adds further that i swear by the glory of yazdan yazads that your salvation will remain incomplete and the gates of heaven will remain closed for ever, till you become Atash parast and follow the noble path of Zarathusti deen.

Over here none should mistake this as an act of Proselytism but it very discretely speaks for itself the real status of Atash Parasti and Zarathosti deen in nature.

With the blessings of Batein Iran or hidden Iran the bunyaad of the "Jaher Iran" or the known Iran improves, their ancestry improves and hence gave birth to sons of soil who were eager in remembering the Kadim grandeur of ancient Zoroastrian culture. Poet Ishki in his poetic narration known as "Ristakhiz" writes for the present day Iran :-

In Kharaba Kabrastan na Irane masta;
In Kharaba Iran Nist, Iran Kujast ?

Translate:-

Damned this place is like Kabrastan and is not Iran that i know of;
Where is my beloved Iran that i am now yearning for.

In this Ishki's narration of Ristakhiz finally Paegambar Zarathustra saheb arrives as a savior of Iran and admonishes them by saying:-

Kare Niko Gofteh niko dile pak in nadad
Gushe Irani ba badbakhti emruz uftad

Translate:-

Haven't i taught you (nek) good deeds , good words and good thoughts
You have brought upon yourselves these perils (badbakhti) and this fact is no more hidden from anybody.

In the same narration of the play a pram is visible on the stage and it descends gradually, upon which Paegambar saheb says :-

Dar hamin Gehware Khofteh nutfeh ayandagan,
Nutfeh een Mardgani rake goi zandegan.
Vaz hamin gehvareh ta chand digar farzandeh chand,
sar bar arad sarabsar Iran az ishan sarbaland.
Baad azin ekbale Iranna digar afsus nist,
lak kahi dar sarnavesteh keshware Sirush nist.
Mun abar ahrimane Iranian galeb shudam,
Hafezeh Iran Buvad Yazdan O Mun gayab Shudam.

Poet Ishki weaves his poetic tunes been recited by Paegambar saheb in his play Ristakhiz. He says that :-

Translate:-

Rainidar of Paegambar saheb Behram Varjawand who is yet to appear will revive and revitalize old iran into New Iran. Paigambar saheb adds further that in this pram(cradle)Iranians are as good as dead but yet you choose to say that they are alive. But remember that it is through this pram only that new Iran will resurrect and raise its head high up again with pride. And from that day onwards one need not regret for even a strand of hair, for i will terminate Ahreman who is hidden in Iran and once again hand over Iran, in safe hands (hifazat) of Paak Yazdan. I will disappear (gayab) from here now onwards.

The Parsis of India should keep all this in mind and act with responsibility.

Concluded

Translated by Firdosh K. Sukhia