Zorro Astronaut ping.
Posted on 07/11/2005 9:14:28 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick
MUMBAI: You thought all Zoroastrians looked like Dorab Daruwalla from Mumbai's Dadar Parsi Colony. You thought conversion were never allowed in Zoroastrianism.
This landmark photograph nixes both beliefs. On May 21, 2005, five Russians and one Ukranian were initiated into Zoroastrianism with the sedreh-pushti ceremony, the Iranian equivalent of the Parsis' Navjote. Konstantin Krilov, Akbar Aliev, Ivan Titkov , Alexander Smirnov , Maria Ivanova and Vyacheslav Fedoseenko ritually donned the sacred garments in Moscow, and became Stivand, Farrokh, Farabag, Bahman and Tishtar; the Ukranian didn't change his name.
Apart from the Moslem Akbar, all the others were Christian. Akbar's ethnic roots are mentioned as Parsi, and mother tongue as Azeri, suggesting that he was originally from Azerbaijan, the vicinity of Zarathushtra's birth.(Incidentally. after the break-up of the Soviet Union, a 'cache' of secret Zoroastrians was discovered in Tajikistan by Mumbai-based Meher Master-Moos, but they were not accepted as genuine by Indian community leaders).
Of the recent Russians, the erstwhile Alexander and Maria are students, the others are an editor, a university professor, a lawyer and a professional UN interpreter, which suggests that the usual suspects of conversion -- ignorance, force and/or monetary inducements -- were not at play.
Parsi children are initiated before puberty, so this photograph's shock value is sharpened by the line-up of fully grown men and women ranging in age from 19 to 39. (There are only four known adult Navjotes involving Parsi Zoroastrian priests, and they all triggered massive heartburn -- JRD Tata's French mother in 1903; Joseph Peterson, an American with no Zoroasrtrian connection in 1983; Magdalena Rustomji, the Mexican wife of Houston-based Parsi in 2000; and Neville Wadia, who reverted from Christianity in his 80s.)
When even accepting the children of mixed marriages continues to be controversial among Parsis in India, one can imagine the furor against conversion. Apart from it being one of the vows given in return for the refuge they were granted in Gujarat in 720 AD, Parsis consider it against the prophet Zarathushtra's edict, and therefore blasphemy.
However, conversion is less of an issue with Iranian Zoroastrians. In, Iran itself it is illegal to change your religion, but many have covertly practiced their original faith. However, Diaspora Iranians (or 'Zerthooshtis' as they call themselves), are unshackled - and wealthy and influential. Peterson's navjote was performed publicly on the prompting of an Iranian foundation which has bankrolled huge global community projects. The main proponent of conversion is Ali Jafrey whom Parsi traditionalists denounce as an intruder and even a fraud.
On, creatingawareness@yahoogroups .com, which posted the Russian pictures, congratulatory messages flowed in, expectedly,/ from Jamshed Zartoshti from Minsk, Yury Jakymec from London, and Ron DeLaVega from Miami who spearheads a huge conversion drive in South/Central America. But, but words of welcome even came from a couple of Parsis such as Naval Dastoor of Karachi and Cyrus Shroff of San Francisco who gushed, "Zarthushtis in Russia?!! WOOOW!!! May Ahura Mazda bless them."
When the "initiation conference in Russia" was announced on this site, even a Venkatesh Eyre (sic) enthusiastically wanted to sign up for "what in Sanskrit would be Zarthoshti Upanayana", but said he "could not afford the air fare on my call-centre salary.
Responding to an emailed questionaire, Ron DeLavega argued that they draw their inspiration to convert from the 19th century reconstruction of the original Gathas, which like the Gita, are the 'songs' of Zarathushtra contained in the larger holy book of the Avesta. "We have records from all ages of Zoroastrian history showing that the religion always accepted anyone who 1) wanted to become Zoroastrians, 2) studied the religion, and 3) wanted to live according to its teachings." To the argument that any religion has to get followers from other faiths, traditionalists respond that Zarathushtra purified the earlier Mazdayasni faith, and his followers were simply reverting to their God-given original.
DeLaVega averred that they have no missionary activity, "We offer information. But all make their own decision. We do not promise anything (not relief from reincarnation, salvation from sin, or a heaven with 72 virgins). We simply ask them to think about what Zarathushtra said: meditate on that with a clear mind, and then make a choice."
He said there were "many groups busy accepting new persons into the fold" in Europe and the US. "There are Zoroastrian groups in Brazil (with thousands of members), Venezuela, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Tajikistan, Byelo Russia, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan all made up, totally, of non-Parsis." He added, "Indeed the Parsees are a small minority, and growing smaller in Zoroastrianism."
It's easy to see why creatingawareness@yahoogroups.com so often erupts in hellfire and brimstone.
I figured they all looked like Freddie Mercury.
Yep, that's exactly what I thought. Took the words right out of my mouth.
... I think.
Fess up.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/zoroastr.htm
Quotation:
"Zoroastrianism is the oldest of the revealed world-religions, and it has probably had more influence on mankind, directly and indirectly, than any other single faith." Mary Boyce.
Introduction:
Zoroastrianism is a small religion with about 140,000 members. Yet its importance to humanity is much greater than its current numbers might suggest, because:
Their theology has had a great impact on Judaism, Christianity and other later religions, in the beliefs surrounding God and Satan, the soul, heaven and hell, savior, resurrection, final judgment, etc.
It is one of the oldest religions still in existence,
It may have been the first monotheistic religion.
The religion was founded by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster in Greek; Zarthosht in India and Persia). Conservative Zoroastrians assign a date of 6000 BCE to the founding of the religion; other followers estimate 600 BCE. Historians and religious scholars generally date his life sometime between 1500 and 1000 BCE on the basis of his style of writing.
He lived in Persia, modern day Iran. Legends say that his birth was predicted and that attempts were made by the forces of evil to kill him as a child. He preached a monotheism in a land which followed an aboriginal polytheistic religion. He was attacked for his teaching, but finally won the support of the king. Zoroastrianism became the state religion of various Persian empires, until the 7th Century CE.
When Arabs, followers of Islam, invaded Persia in 650 CE, a small number of Zoroastrians fled to India where most are concentrated today. Those who remained behind have survived centuries of persecution, systematic slaughter, forced conversion, heavy taxes, etc. They now number only about 18,000 and reside chiefly in Yazd, Kernan and Tehran in what is now Iran. The 1991 census counted 3,190 Zoroastrians in Canada. The actual number is believed to be much higher.
Zorro Astronaut ping.
Oddly enough (considering the headline), Freddie's real name was Farrokh Bulsara.
Actually the Parsi's tend to be rather westernized, eating meat and drinking alcohol. They even dispose of their dead (Link.) in a way that would please the Audubon Society.
You gotta admit. It was one of the all time great lead paragraphs from any newspaper article anywhere.
Very very interesting post. I would think it a shame if this religion went out of existence. The only thing is that these converts have to try and keep from going wacky and disintergrating into a cult. If mainstream Zoroastrians were supportive, they could perhaps save this from happening. At the rate the Parsis in Bombay are going, they'll be extinct in three generations.
- George Costanza, The Conversion
Not even if you put me in thumbscrews and cover my body with yogurt and honey!
Since it is an article from an Indian newspaper, it wouldn't seem too out-of-context there.
I was reading up on the zoroastrians. I dont know if its true but one of the pages I read is they are pretty much the original "white power" people. There is no mixing of the races. of course the website might have been anti zoroastrians.
Come on. I'm trying to be silly here and you start injecting common sense? What's FR coming to?
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