Below is a news article about an email that Ervad Khushru Madon sent a few days ago to various news organizations and community websites. The actual contents of the email are below the article.
After being barred from entering the Tower of Silence for conducting the Navjotes of children born of mixed parentage, ‘renegade’ Zoroastrian priest Khushroo Madon has approached the community to gather support for his cause.
By Ashutosh Shukla / DNA India
The priest has sent emails to both Parsis and people outside the community, explaining that he is ‘not irreligious’ and has also refuted ‘allegations’ against him by six dasturs (priests), the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zoroastrians (WAPIZ), saying he has been converting people to Zoroastrianism for money.
Madon’s fight with the BPP started in June 2009 when he and another priest were barred from the Tower of Silence and two fire temples run by the BPP. The charges were they had conducted Navjotes of children from mixed marriages and prayers for those opting for non-traditional funerals.
Madon recently was also in news for the initiation services of a Russian in Sanjan, Gujarat, which was disrupted by a group of community members led by a BPP trustee. His case is being fought in the Bombay high court, with some prominent Parsis backing him.
In his mail, the priest has attached a letter that describes the liberal teachings of the prophet and founder of the religion, Zarathustra. The letter goes on to defend the much debated Navjotes done by the priest for people from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. The letter states that the ceremony only helped citizens in these countries to follow the Zoroastrian religion, which they had abandoned after Arab invasions and the communist regime.
The letter requests community members to post their views to various Parsi publications, BPP, WAPIZ along with a copy marked to him. “I have done this so that I can make my stand clear,” said Madon.
WAPIZ, which has orthodox views on conversions, rubbished the priest’s claim. “Nobody can claim that they were oppressed for a thousand years and now want to come back to their old religion. There is no logic of getting them back as their identity and psyche has merged with another religion,” said Armiaty Desai, one of the administrators at WAPIZ.
Text of the Letter by Ervad Khushru Madon
I AM NOT IRRELIGIOUS. ERVAD KHUSHROO MADON.
B.P.P. AND WAPIZ SAYS THAT I AM DOING CONVERSIONS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THOUGH CONVERSION IS ALLOWED IN ZOROASTRIAN RELIGION, I AM NOT DOING ANY CONVERSIONS. WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR SACRED FAITH OF ZOROASTRIANISM EXIST IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD BUT HAS SADLY DECLINED. THESE ZOROASTRIANS ARE NOT PARSEES. THEY ARE FERVENT BELIEVERS IN THE TENETS OF OUR HOLY PROPHET AND DON’T CLAIM TO BE PARSEES.
B.P.P. and WAPIZ also says that I am doing irreligious activities as follows:
1) Doing navjotes of children of Parsi mothers and non-Parsi fathers. (conversion according to B.P.P.)
2) Doing ashirwads (Only spiritual blessings to the couple, But they get married under the “SPECIAL MARRIAGE ACT”) for the couple if one spouse is Parsee.
3) Doing four days prayers for the persons who are cremated/ buried but never in the Dongarwadi. Such prayers are done at some other place, including the homes.
4) Doing navjotes of Zoroastrians staying in Aryan Vaeja countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Moscow, St.Petersberg, etc.(Conversion according to B.P.P.) These are Zoroastrians who want to keep the faith.
5) Tried to do the Navar of Russian Zoroastrian in Sanjan.
He is a Zoroastrian who knows his scriptures and prayers and follows the tenets of the faith.
ALL THE ABOVE ACTIVITIES ARE ABSOLUTELY RELIGIOUS AND AS PER OUR ZOROASTRIAN SCRIPTURES AND TEACHINGS.
1) Zoroastrian religion is UNIVERSAL. ANY ONE CAN FOLLOW ZOROASTRIAN RELIGION and is not only for Parsis. THE STATEMENT THAT “A PARSI IS A ZOROASTRIAN AND A ZOROASTRIAN IS A PARSI” MENTIONED BY WAPIZ AND B.P.P. IS WRONG. Please read the following translations of Zoroastrian prayers including Gathas done by Dasturji Kanga in the three volumes namely 1) Khordeh Avesta 2) Gatha ba maani 3) Yasht ba maani. These three volumes are published by BOMBAY PARSEE PUNCHAYET.
1) KHORDEH AVESTA:
PAGE NO. NAME OF THE PRAYER ENGLISH TRANSLATION.
53 DOA NAAM SETAYESHNE Homage unto that ……….for the people of
The WORLD
175 HAFTAN YASHT LARGE We are the glorifiers…….for this world and for the yonder world.
189 HAFTAN YASHT LARGE ……of the Priests, who go to distant places
Desiring to promote purity of the countries.
266 SAROSH YASHT HADOKHT O Zarathushtra! Prayer is good for the people of the world (i.e. for the benefit of the people of the world) it (is) best.
268 SAROSH YASHT HADOKHT O Zarathushtra! WHOSOEVER, a man or a
Woman should pronounce this hymn of prayer (i.e. Ahunavar) with holy thought, word (and) extremely holy deed.
273 SAROSH YASHT HADOKHT … (i.e. Ahura Mazda) afford protection on
The seven regions of the Earth.
295 SAROSH YASHT VADI ….. over this entire earth, we extol…..of Sarosh Yazata.
297 SAROSH YASHT VADI NIRANG .. Unto the Arabs girding the sacred thread….. (those Arabs who have accepted The Zoroastrian Religion)
390 KARDA (PAZEND) IN BAAJ …May the glory of the good Mazda- worshipping Religion be current in all the seven regions of the Earth!!
395 DOA TANDAROSTI (IN PAZEND) May the Religion of Zarathushtra be pleased (liked or chosen) amongst all men!! May it be so!
402 DIN-NO-KALAMO This is the religion –the good, the just and the perfect religion……………………….. for the people of this world.Religion of Zarthushtra and the religion of Hormazd which the creator Hormazd gave to Holy Zarathushtra for propagating in this –world.
428 FARVARDIN YASHT We worship the fravashis of the people of all countries and the fravashis of the people of friendly countries.
We worship the fravashis of the righteous men and women of Saini countries,we worship the fravashis of the righteous men and women of Dahi countries.(Saini and Dahi means China and the provinces under the subjugation of China.)
(2) GATHA BA MAANI BOOK WITH TRANSLATIONS BY DR. K.E.KANGA
18. Gatha Ha 29.2 Who may always become its saviour,i.e.to the entire universe and …………..the bringer of prosperity to the world
19. Gatha Ha 29.3 Asha replied….with sanctity for the world.that Lord is not cruel amongst them i.e. amongst the men fo this world.
23. Gatha Ha 29.7 Ahura Mazda Himself created verses of admonition for the world prosperity and for truthful men.
25. Gatha Ha29.9 when one such leader will arise,who will grant it i.e. the entire universe a strong support.
30. Gatha Ha 30.2 EVERY PERSON ought to choose for himself either of the two, Mazda-worship and Daeva –worship, which ever is best and accordingly he should keep his religious faith.
43. Gatha Ha 31.1 O Divine Ahura Mazda do ……..so that I cause all men to put faith in the Religion
66. Gatha Ha 32.3 But you all…… in the seven regions of the earth.
123. Gatha Ha 43.6 O Ahura Mazda wilt come ……………through whose deeds people of the world become prosperous
128. Gatha Ha 43.11 which Thou didst teach me O ahura Mazda about promulgating it amongst men
133. Gatha Ha 43.14 I may incite…..promulgating the religion sent by Thee together with all others who remember Thy mathra
171. Gatha Ha 46.1 Prophet Zarathushtra speaks:Having been deserted by………………….shall I go Neither the workers nor the tyrants of the country.
175. Gatha Ha 46.3 O Ahura Mazda…..will come forth for the prosperity of the world.
190. Gatha Ha 46.13 Who so among men shall please Spitama Zarathushtra with the gift of affection…….shall render prosperous his family and cattle.
191. Gatha Ha 46.14 O Zarathushtra…….to proclaim or to make known amongst the populace; the commandments of thy religion.
197. Gatha Ha 46.19 who so will help me …..in my Prophetic Mission …..and deserving reward will be granted to him in the world beyond.
232. Gatha Ha 49.9 That diligent……..for benefiting the world will listen to the commandments of my religion
242. Gatha Ha 50.6 Prophet Zarathushtra says: Any person can teach my secrets through good thought.
273. Gatha Ha 51.19 Prophet Zarthushtra says: O Maidyo-maongha,……….. his love for the people of the world.
Ms.Dina G.McIntyre, a great avesta scholar,in her lecture said the following:
“Zarathushtra’s Teachings in the Gathas(AS TRANSLATED AS FOLLOWS)
a)Gatha Ha 31.3 translated by Insler, a great scholar “that commandment which is for Thy adherents –speak,Wise One,….in order for us to know (all) that by means of which I might convert all the living”
b)Gatha Ha 31.3 ‘s oldest translation is the PAHLAVI TRANSLATION “……..Declare it,that we teach all living the Faith.
c)Gatha Ha 31.3. Dastur Neriosangh translates: “….which wisdom is enlightening or awaking all the living”
d)Gatha Ha 31.3. Avestan scholar Bartholomai translates: “…..that I may convert all living men”
e)Gatha Ha 31.3. President of the Council of Mobeds of Teheran,Mobed Firouz Azargoshasb translates: “….so that I may convert all the people into the right path
f)Yasna 42.6 (the translation by the late Professor L. H. Mills, as it appears in Sacred Books of the East.) speaks of reverencing the athravans(fire-priests) who returned after spreading the religion in far off places. It says we reverence “the Fire-priests, as they approach us from afar, and seek to gain the provinces, and spread the ritual lore….”
g)In Y 50.5 (the translation from the Gathas by Professor Insler of Yale University)Zarthushtra says “Lord,let wisdom come in the company of truth across the earth….”
h) Farvardin Yasht, verse 94 (a translation by the late Professor Darmesteter, as it appears in Sacred Books of the East.) says “……and there will the good Law of the worshippers of Mazda come and spread through all the seven Karshvaries of the earth” yasht 13.94.
i)Meher Niyaesh (the translations of the Khordeh Avesta prayers are by the late T. R. Sethna.)says: May the knowledge, extent and fame of the commandments of the most excellent Mazda worshipping religion ever increase over the world, over all the seven regions, so may it be” Almost identical words are also found in the following prayers:
1. Khorshed Niyaesh.
2. Mah bokhtar Niyaesh
3. Ardvisur Niyaesh.
4. Atash Niyaesh.
5. Ardibehesht yasht.
6. Sarosh Yasht Hadjokht, and
7. Sarosh yasht Wadi.
j) Doa Nam Setayeshne prayer (the translations of the Khordeh Avesta prayers are by the late T. R. Sethna.) says: “Homage to the all knowing tolerator, who sent through Zarathushtra Spitman ……teaching of religion for the people of the world so that they may have friendship, inculcate faith and inner wisdom and knowledge gained from hearing. For the information and guidance of all men who are, who were, and who will be hereafter…….”What a beautiful perception of our religion-as being one which promotes friendship, knowledge, and wisdon for ALL MANKIND.
k) The Din-no-Kalmo (the translations of the Khordeh Avesta prayers are by the late T. R. Sethna.) prayer speaks of “….The good, righteous and complete religion which God has sent for the world……”
l) The Doa Tandarosti prayer prays(the translations of the Khordeh Avesta prayers are by the late T. R. Sethna.): “…. May the religion of Zarathushtra be a source of glory unto all mortals……”
WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON THE FACT THAT ZOROATRIANS ARE FAMED FOR THEIR HONESTY.ONE CANNOT HELP BUT WONDER HOW AN HONEST ZOROASTRIAN CAN TRUTHFULLY AND SINCERELY SAY THESE PRAYERS DAILY,OR WEEKLY, OR PERHAPS JUST ON GOOD OCCASIONS, AND YET INSIST THAT THE RELIGION PROHIBITS THE ADMISSION OF NON-ZOROASTRIANS.
Ms. Dina G.McIntyre further QUOTES the official written opinion No.466 issued in May,1983 by “THE COUNCIL OF MOBEDS OF TEHERAN IN IRAN”( in reply to a letter received by them from an Iranian Mobed, Bahram Shahzadi of the United States, a luminous soul regarding the acceptance of people into Zoroastrianism.) as follows:-
“….The Council discussed the contents of your letter at an official meeting.
“you have, in your detailed letter, asked the opinon of the Council regarding the acceptance of people into Zoroastrianism. Let us glimpse through Zoroastrian scriptures and find an answer to it”
The Council’s Opinion starts by quoting from the Gathas, and concludes:
“The above stanzas show that Asho Zarathushtra does not advocate force to spread the religion, but has kept it open for all……He has never reserved it for the Aryans, or for a particular caste of people.Yasna 46.12 shows that the religion had spread into the Turanian lands during Asho Zarathushtra’s lifetime. Becasue he praises Friyana a Turanian Chief who supported Mazdayasna”
The Council’s Opinion next gives references to later texts and concludes:
“The above citations show that the propagation and promotion of the religion is a meritorious deed….. If we Zoroastrians believe that our religion is one of the great living religions of the world and that it is beneficial to all the peoples of the world, we ……must accept persons who want to embrace the Zoroastrian religion”
This 1983 Opinion of the Council of Mobeds of Tehran is a shining example of courage,learning, and civility, in a community badly in need of such virtues.
Ms. McIntyre further quotes from the RIVAYATS TRANSLATED BY Professor K.D.Irani and Farrokh J. Vajifdar proving HER STAND that ZOROASTRIAN RELIGION IS UNIVERSAL
Finally, this great avesta scholar Ms. Dina G. McIntyre concludes very aptly as follows:
“In conclusion, whether we look to Zarathushtra’s own words in the Gathas, or to other ancient texts and prayers written long after Zarathushtra, or to our ancient traditions, laws, customs, religious opinions, and legends, all the available evidence supports the conclusion that the religion of Zarathushtra is universal, and open to all who may wish to join it. The proponents of exclusion have either ignored all this evidence, or they are not aware of it”
MY MILLION THANKS TO THIS GREAT AVESTA SCHOLAR Ms. DINA G. MCINTYRE FOR PUTTING IN GREAT EFFORTS AND QUOTING SO MANY OTHER LEARNED SCHOLARS AND DASTURJIS,PAST AND PRESENT.SHE HAS DONE YEOMEN SERVICE TO OUR ZOROASTRIAN RELIGION BY PUTTING THE ACTUAL FACTS BEFORE THE ZOROASTRIAN COMMUNITY, WHICH NO ONE CAN DENY THAT ZOROASTRIAN RELIGION IS UNIVERSAL.
THE PRESENT SIX DASTURS IN INDIA(Dasturs JamaspAsha, Feroze Kotwal, Khushroo Dastur, Peshotan Mirza, MeherjiRana and Cyrus Dastur, REFERRED TO BY B.P.P. AND WAPIZ AS THE ONLY HIGH PRIESTS AND LEARNED AVESTA SCHOLARS OF OUR ZOROASTRIAN COMMUNITY HAVE EXPRESSED THE OPINION THAT THE ABOVE FIVE ACTIVITIES THAT I AM DOING ARE IRRELIGIOUS AND FORBIDDEN BY THE RELIGION.BUT THE FACT THAT THEY SAY SO, DOES NOT MAKE IT SO. THEY HAVE TO CITE CHAPTER AND VERSE, AND THIS,TO DATE, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO—NOT A SINGLE ANCIENT TEXT, OR PRAYER, OR LAW.
ALSO THE FOLLOWING AVESTA SCHOLARS HAVE SAID IN THEIR TRANSLATIONS OF GATHAS AND OTHER ZOROASTRIAN SCRIPTURES, IN THEIR LECTURES AND THE PAPERS PRESENTED AT VARIOUS CONFERENCES THAT ZOROASTRIAN RELIGION IS UNIVERSAL AND THAT ANY PERSON CAN FOLLOW IT .NO WHERE IT IS MENTIONED THAT IT IS FOR PARSEES ONLY.(YOU CAN REFER THEIR LECTURES, PAPERS PUBLISHED AND THE BOOKS THEY HAVE WRITTEN.( Contact me for more details on this)
1. LATE DASTUR DR. DHALLA
2. DASTUR DR. JEHAN BAGLI
3. DASTUR DR. KERSY ANTIA.
4. LATE DASTUR JAMASPASHA(grandfather of present Dastur JamaspAsha)
5. ERVAD DARIUS SETHNA.
6 Dr.PROF.STANLEY INSLER OF YALE UNIVERSITY.
7. LATE DASTUR N.D.MINOCHER HOMJI.
8. LATE DASTUR BODE.
9. PROF.NANAVUTTY.
10.PROF. HUMBACH.
11. PROF. IRANI K.D.
12. PROF. MILLS L. H.
13. PROF. T. R. SETHNA
14. PROF.SIDHWA.
15. PROF. TARAPOREWALA I.J.S.
16. DR.NASR.
17. DR.BEHRAMGORE T. ANKLESARIA.
18. PROF.S.J.BULSARA.
19. PROF.BAHMAN SOLHRAB SURTI
20. MOBED FIROUZ AZARGOSHASB
21. DR. HOMI DHALLA.
AND MANY MORE.THE LISTS IS ENDLESS (contact me for more names and references)
WAPIZ AND B.P.P. ALSO ALLEGES THAT I AM DOING THESE SO CALLED IRRELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES FOR HEFTY MONETARY GAINS.THIS IS NOT TRUE.
I just charge Rs.10,000/- for four days ceremonies of the dead including geh sarana,2 uthamnas,2 or 3 sarosh kardas, daham yazad, afargan, farokshi,etc. in south Mumbai. This amount includes the entire cost of sandlewood, loban, fruits, malido, transport charges, praying fees of mobeds, etc. INCLUDING ASHODADS.(I am sure no agyari does this in this amount. Normally they charge over Rs.15,000/-
Even for a navjote or wedding I do not charge more.I tell them to give any amount they wish and have accepted even Rs.500/- to Rs.1000/- as the total amount per wedding or navjote. In a number of cases I have and am performing free of cost the full navjote and wedding of poor Zoroastrians.(you may contact my clients and they will testify the same.)
HENCE THE CHARGES LEVELLED AGAINST ME IN WAPIZ PAGE THAT I AM DOING THIS FOR HUGE MONETARY GAINS IS TOTALLY FALSE AND MISCHIEVIOUS.
Now,How is this an irreligious practice of praying for the dead for the first four days. Once the soul comes out of the body and if I pray for the soul, what is so irreligious about it, whether the body is dokhmenashinied or cremated or buried, etc. The six Dasturs supported by B.P.P. and WAPIZ who object for the first four days ceremonies in fire temples and doongerwadi for those not dokhmenashinied , allow the religious ceremonies from fifth day in fire temples. Means that the soul whose body is not dokhmenashinied is punished for first four days and pardoned from fifth day?????? Most of the fire temples do this. NO LOGIC. Also where there are no dokhmas like in Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, etc. the first four days ceremonies are even performed in any agiary (or even at doongerwadi in Mumbai) for those who are cremated or buried…..?Where is this written? Why these double standards? If dokhmas are absolutely essential then why not built the same in Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, etc. where there are so many parsees residing.
As regards navjote of non-parsi father and parsi mother’s children and just ashirwad, i.e. blessings and not the full parsi wedding of a couple with one parsi spouse that I am doing, to justify my work, I am giving below the actual letter of 1903,written to Ervad Jivanji Jamshedji Modi,Secretary of the B.P.P. by Late Dasturji Kaikhusroo Jamaspji JamaspAsa(grandfather of the current Dasturji K. M. JamaspAsa),who had performed the Navjote of a French lady Suzanne and also solemnized her marriage with Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata(parents of JRD Tata), as per the Zoroastrian rites in 1903.
Bombay
5th Gatha 1272 y.z.
14th September 1903
Dear Shams-Ulema Ervad Jivanji Jamshedji Modi.
Secretary of the B.P.P.
Dear Sir,
You have requested me to give my opinion on whether or not to allow non-Zoroastrians to convert to Zoroastrianism.
In reply, I have to state that there is no bar in our religion,to accept non-Zoroastrian converts.Every Zoroastrian reciting his obligatory daily prayers, such as Khorshed and Meher Yashts, prays that our Mazdaysni religion may spread to all the Haftekeshwar Zamin.(i.e;. the seven regions of the world)
The athornans of days gone by did not just sit around wishing this(spread of religion)to come true,but traveled to distant lands to spread the Zoroastrian religion(Refer to Yasna 42.6).Such athornans met with opposition from many people(see Yasna 9.24).We have referred to only two passages from the innumerable in the Zoroastrian Scriptures confirming that the conversion of juddins to Zoroastrianism is permitted.
The second edition of Ervad Tehurasp Dinshahji Anklesaria’s “Treatise of the Conversion of Juddins into Mazdayasni Religion” has just been published,in which this able Ervad Saheb has quoted examples from Avesta,Pahlavi, and Persian Texts and we tatally agree with quotation/examples.In the second edition of “Passoxi Nirangi Javit Dinan” pubshed in 1252 Y.Z.(1883 A.D.) by our dear departed Dastur Jamaspji, further examples/quotations have been given concerning the conversion/acceptance of juddins into the Zoroastrian religion.
From the writings of Ervad Tehmurasp Anklesaria and our departed Dastur Jamaspji,it can be said that there is hardly any material left on this matter for further research by any scholar.Therefore rather than state more quotations/examples it is best that we give to your Sub-Committee these books referred to above.
Yours Sincerely,
Dastur Kaikhushroo Jamaspji JamaspAsa
As regards the navjotes done by us of Zoroastrians in Tajikistan,Uzbekistan,Moscow,St. Petersberg,etc. along with Dr. Meher Master Moos and others, I state the following :
When Zarthustra started the Zoroastrian religion in Iran around 3500 years back, all these countries namely Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Moscow, St.Petersberg, Kazakastan, Turkmenistan, etc. were in the large erstwhile IRAN EMPIRE. From that time for so many years they were following Zoroastrian religion.Then because of Arab invasion and later on because of communist rule in U.S.S.R. countries they were not allowed to follow Zoroastrian religion.(However a few of them were secretly following Zoroastrian religion) Now these countries got independence in September 1991 and hence they want to revive their old ancestral Zoroastrian religion.
Hence when we do the navjotes of such people of these countries, we are not CONVERTING but initiating them back into our Zoroastrian fold,as you can see that they are the original descendents of Zoroastrian Stock.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ABOUT THE SAME:
Thousands of years ago in Ariyana Vaeja,Pourushasp and Doghdo,the parents of Asho Spitama Zarathushtra lived on the banks of a river, presently known as the Dargoh river, flowing through Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, where the birth of our Holy Paegamber Saheb took place. These are the ancient historical lands of Saka, Chorasmia, Soghdia, Balkh and Bactria, where the historical events recorded in our Avestan texts of Yashts and Vendidad and the Shahnameh of Firdausi, actually occurred during the Peshdadian and Kyanian dynastry epochs.To the north is the Syr Daria river,to the South the Amu Darya, and in between the mighty zorovshon rolls its gold laden waters in to the orchards of Central Asia.Uzbekistan rightly lays claim to being the birthplace of Paegambar Zarthushtra and Tajikistan as being the place where He passed away from planet Earth. As is stated in the Avesta,Asho Zarathushtra from his birthplace in the North(what later became Sogdia and Uzbekistan) walked southwards to Balkh and Bactria to the Kyanian Kingdom of Kai Vishtasp, (what later became known as present day Tajikistan)
I had the good fortune to go to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in September, 2006 and Moscow and St. Petersberg in June 2008, along with Dr. Meher Master Moos and other parsee Zoroastrian delegates. LATE MR. JAMSHED N. GUZDER HAD PARTLY SPONSORED THIS PROJECT BY GIVING RUPEES TWO LAKHS.HE ATTENDED AND APPLAUDED THE WORK THAT WE WERE DOING IN A FUNCTION AT ‘RUSSIAN CULTURAL CENTRE HALL IN MUMBAI ORGANISED BY DR.MOOS.LATE MR. RUSTOM TIRANDAZ ALSO ATTENDED THE FUNCTION KEPT IN MUMBAI AFTER WE CAME BACK FROM TAJIKISTAN AND UZBEKISTAN AND AFTER SEEING THE VIDEO RECORDINGS AND CDS.,PHOTOS,ETC.HE TOLD OPENLY AND LOUDLY IN THE HALL, THAT HE IS CONVINCED THAT ZOROASTRIANISM EXISTED AND AGAIN EXISTS IN TAJIKISTAN AND UZBEKISTAN,AND THAT HE FULLY SUPPORTS DR.MEHER MASTER MOOS,AND HER WORK IN THESE ARYANA VAEJA COUNTRIES.
We saw in Tajikistan the various excavation sites. We were amazed to see the excavated ATASH KADEH SITES, DOKHMA SITES. We also saw ASTODANS, KUSTI JANTARS, CHATRI, PAV MAHL ALAATS LIKE HAVNIM,LALO,SHAHNAMEH MANUSCRIPTS,OUR AVESTA PRAYER BOOKS, ETC.WELL PRESERVED IN SOME OLD HOUSES OF ZOROASTRIANS AND MUSEUMS. We have brought back a lot of C.Ds., live video recordings, photos, books, etc from there to show to anyone who wishes to have any more proofs.
We also saw Live play enacted called ‘ZARTHUSHTRA AND HIS LIFE HISTORY’ AT THEIR Republic day celebrations organised by the Government of Tajikistan. There it started with a person fully dressed as ZARTHUSHTRA WITH FIRE showing His life history. The President of Tajikistan was also present along with the dignitaries of other countries. Thousands of Zoroastrians present there applauded the same.
ANYONE CAN CONTACT US (ME OR DR.MEHER MASTER MOOS) TO REMOVE ANY DOUBT THAT HE/SHE MAY HAVE ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF ZOROASTRIANISM IN THESE ARYAN VAEJA COUNTRIES
As regards the naver ceremony of Russian Zoroastrian Mr.(Herbad) Mikhail Chistyakov at Sanjan, I wish to state that we have not done anything wrong. The rule that a “son of a Parsee Zoroastrian athornan(from parsee priestly family) can only become a Naver “ applies to the PARSEE ZOROASTRIANS IN INDIA.It does not apply to NON-PARSEE ZOROASTRIANS IN ARYAN VAEJA COUNTRIES LIKE TAJIKISTAN,UZBEKISTAN,MOSCOW,ST.PETERSBERG,ETC,ETC.(also there is no such rule in the Avestan texts,and which in fact give equality of status to both men and women as ‘MAGHAVANS’-the original Avestan term for mobeds, means not only that a Zoroastrian man but a women can also be a mobed)For this reason we did not want to use any PARSEE TRUST PROPERTY LIKE AGIARY,WELL,BARASHNUM GAH,ETC. That is why we made arrangements at Sanjan, at the private property of Zoroastrian College owned by Dr. Meher Master Moos’s SBBS and Mazdayasni Monestree.Mikhail was ready and prepared for this ceremony. He has learnt by heart the required prayers and is a practicing NON-PARSEE Zoroastrian for the last so many years. If he had become a naver and had gone back to St. Petersberg WHAT HARM THIS WOULD HAVE BROUGHT TO THE PARSEE COMMUNITY IN INDIA? He would have used his priesthood to promote Zoroastrianism which already persists in his country. Their Zoroastrian Association members about 250 in number had collected the amount for his ceremony.
Unfortunately this good work which we were doing was stopped in the middle in my absence by so called 45 saviours of our Zoroastrian religion in an un-zoroastrian way, by destroying property, desecrating fire, attacking a lady (Dr. Moos)and a very respected, kind and mild Russian Zoroastrian(Mikhail) whose clothes were also torn and was made naked. I AM SURE PROPHET ZARTHUSTRA WILL GIVE JUSTICE AND WILL PUNISH THESE SO CALLED SAVIOURS OF OUR RELIGION.
The following line is mentioned in WAPIZ PAGE: (Free press journal dt.Sept.3, 2010 and B.P.P. Review dt.Sept.2010,vol.I)
"AIDING HER, IN HER ABSURD "CONVERSION" MISSION, IS DEFROCKED ROGUE PRIEST KHUSHROO MADON, WHO HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DE-RECOGNISED BY HIS OWN ECCLESIASTICAL PANTH”
Just for the information of all I hereby state that I HAVE NEVER BEEN DEFROCKED.THERE IS NO ECCLESIASTICAL PANTH WHO CAN DEFROCK ME. I CONTINUE TO BE FULL FLEDGED PARSEE ZOROASTRIAN PRIEST AND AM PERFORMING ALL THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AS A MOBED IN VARIOUS AGIARIES AND OTHER PLACES ALL OVER INDIA AND ABROAD EVEN FOR FULL PARSEES. I PERFORMED TEN DAYS MUKTAD CEREMONIES (FASLI,KADMI AND SHEHENSHAI MUKTADS) IN DIFFERENT AGIARIES THIS YEAR ALSO IN MARCH 2010, JULY 2010 AND AUGUST 2010 AND ALONG WITH ME OTHER RESPECTED 15 TO 20 MOBEDS AND THE PANTHAKIES OF VARIOUS AGYARIES ALSO DID AFERGAN AND FAROKSHI PRAYERS SITTING SIDE BY SIDE WITH ME IN VARIOUS AGIARIES IN MUMBAI. EVEN PRESENT DASTURJI FIROZ M. KOTWAL HAD DONE A NAVJOTE CEREMONY WITH ME AT SAHER AGYARI.
So to conclude, please note that I Ervad Khushroo Madon am a true upholder and believer of our Zoroastrian faith and its tenets, whatever I have been doing and saying is well within the principles of Zoroastrianism . All over the world including India these principles are being followed and honoured. Why ONLY IN MUMBAI have these tenets become un-Godly and disruptive? To force people on the pain of denial of 4 days prayers for the dead, to disrupt ceremonies like navjots and deny entrance in agiaries to the wives of those who have married outside, to deny them to see the faces of their loved ones(departed) who are in Bunglees-how much more inhuman can you get??? Sorry to say B.P.P. and WAPIZ are following the ill wind which is blowing across the world, where one religion throws Fatwas at the others and forces them to do so on pain of death or excommunication. I never thought that I would live to see the day when I and like minded Zarthostis will have to face such a day. Please note we are not against the other works the trustees and their team are doing–but throwing brickbats at those who disagree is against the sacred laws of our noble religion.
I hope I have given sufficient evidence to prove that all the above five activities that I am doing are not irreligious as alleged by the six dasturs supported by B.P.P. and WAPIZ.
IF ANY ONE WISHES TO CLARIFY WITH ME, REGARDING ANY POINT MENTIONED ABOVE HE OR SHE IS MOST WELCOMED TO DO SO.MY PHONE NOS. AND E MAIL IDS ARE GIVEN BELOW.
THANKING YOU AND HOPING THAT AFTER READING MY ABOVE EXPLANATION, YOU ARE CONVINCED THAT WHAT I AM DOING IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AND RELIGIOUS, WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE SURVIVAL OF OUR WONDERFUL RELIGION ZOROASTRIANISM, AND HENCE WILL SUPPORT ME ALWAYS.
Lastly the most important thing that i would like to do is to PROFUSELY THANK THOUSANDS OF MY SUPPORTERS.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
With warm regards,
ERVAD KHUSHROO FALI MADON.
PHONE NOS; 9820170794, 23698207, 66641640.
E MAIL IDS: khushroomadon@gmail.com; and falijimmy@hotmail.com