Parsis and Yoga

Date

March 17, 2010

Post by

arZan

Category

Issues | Medicine

Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram over at Frashogard.com makes a compelling case about Parsis and Yoga.

Today’s fast paced and chemical-laden life has brought, in addition to the comforts and conveniences of the modern age, new and varied illnesses and disorders that plague most of us. Physical wellness and being fit is high up on most persons’ wish list. This desire for wellness and a disease free existence has spawned a large industry which thrives on people’s insecurities and is the main reason for the introduction of a number of methods and fads which aim to bring wellness and balance in the modern person’s hectic life, for a price of course.

Doctors advise that a daily regimen of some form of exercise or aerobic activity should be an integral part of our life. Keeping in mind the negative effects of modern medicine, the ancient science of Ayurveda, along with its adjunct Yoga, has enjoyed a surge and revival. Several Yoga Acharyas have received worldwide fame and respect for their ability to use this ancient science to cure our modern day illnesses. Even in the western world, Yoga is a hot item and numerous institutes and centres have sprung up to take advantage of this growing interest.

Continue reading “Parsis, yoga and pranayama

38 Comments

  1. Nariman Mistry

    Khojeste Mistree says YOGA is against Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian religion as one has to say Sanskrit/Hindu verses!

  2. Nariman Mistry

    Khojeste Mistree says YOGA is against Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian religion as one has to say Sanskrit/Hindu verses!

  3. ANTI - Dhongidox.

    What about CHOGHADIAS on the last page of every Parsee Calendar. Are the CHOGHADIAS are part of Hindu System?

  4. Ray

    He might have a valid point if the people who practice Yoga really believe in the verses they recite and start adopting other concepts in their own religious practice.
    I dont think he has anything to worry about though. Thanks to the wests fascination with yoga, most of the people who take it up today are in it purely for the physical benefit gained through asanas. Spirituality is limited to a bit of controlled breathing, meditation and chanting of words like om. But that probably wont lead anyone to convert to hinduism.
    He probably has some deeper reason for being anti-yoga

  5. ANTI - Dhongidox.

    What about CHOGHADIAS on the last page of every Parsee Calendar. Are the CHOGHADIAS are part of Hindu System?

  6. Ray

    He might have a valid point if the people who practice Yoga really believe in the verses they recite and start adopting other concepts in their own religious practice.
    I dont think he has anything to worry about though. Thanks to the wests fascination with yoga, most of the people who take it up today are in it purely for the physical benefit gained through asanas. Spirituality is limited to a bit of controlled breathing, meditation and chanting of words like om. But that probably wont lead anyone to convert to hinduism.
    He probably has some deeper reason for being anti-yoga

  7. Homi Sidhva

    What about the “Ram” in Hathiram? Will he give up his name because it contains a Hindu God’s name?

  8. Pirojshah

    Anti Dhongi has tried to point out one of the many non Zoroastrian practices that have crept in our Religion.Yes indeed, the names of Choghadias themselves suggest that they are of Hindu origin.

  9. Homi Sidhva

    What about the “Ram” in Hathiram? Will he give up his name because it contains a Hindu God’s name?

  10. Pirojshah

    Anti Dhongi has tried to point out one of the many non Zoroastrian practices that have crept in our Religion.Yes indeed, the names of Choghadias themselves suggest that they are of Hindu origin.

  11. Farzana

    And ‘Ram’ roz :)

  12. Farzana

    anyways, ive never seen anyone say slokas while doing yoga… its just too impractical to even trying doing something like that…

    Majority of Parsees parrot prayers that they barely understand… so how does it matter if they parrot verses from sanskrit or avesthan…

    Anti-Dhongi, don’t forget ‘Aacchoo-micchoo’, another hindu import, which is integral part of parsi lagan-navjotes.

  13. Farzana

    And ‘Ram’ roz :)

  14. Farzana

    anyways, ive never seen anyone say slokas while doing yoga… its just too impractical to even trying doing something like that…

    Majority of Parsees parrot prayers that they barely understand… so how does it matter if they parrot verses from sanskrit or avesthan…

    Anti-Dhongi, don’t forget ‘Aacchoo-micchoo’, another hindu import, which is integral part of parsi lagan-navjotes.

  15. Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram

    Mr. Homi Sidhva has obviously not heard of Mino Ram or the Ram Yasht, or perhaps he has never prayed the Jasa me avangahe prayer wherein occur the words “Ramno Khastrahe vayaosh uparo kairyehe…” Surprising for a member of the priestly class! Anyway the ram in Hathiram does not stand for any God or Yazad but denotes a trader.

    Instead of making personal attacks maybe you should try and understand the logic of what is written.

  16. Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram

    Mr. Homi Sidhva has obviously not heard of Mino Ram or the Ram Yasht, or perhaps he has never prayed the Jasa me avangahe prayer wherein occur the words “Ramno Khastrahe vayaosh uparo kairyehe…” Surprising for a member of the priestly class! Anyway the ram in Hathiram does not stand for any God or Yazad but denotes a trader.

    Instead of making personal attacks maybe you should try and understand the logic of what is written.

  17. piloo

    The following is reproduced from WIKIPEDIA.:
    “Whether the Jadi Rana of the epic was also a historical figure has not been conclusively established”
    “The Zoroastrians of the Qissa are believed to have been the ancestors of some members of the present-day Parsi community of the Indian subcontinent. Many Parsis consider the Qissa to be a factual account, and there are several ancillary Parsi legends in which Jadi Rana plays an important role. The origin and age of these legends is unknown, and they continue to be popular among Parsis.

    Jadi Rana’s enquiry into Zoroastrian beliefs and customs is said to have been satisfied by the recitation of fifteen Sanskrit verses (Shloka) that summarized the most important tenets of Zoroastrianism. These fifteen verses, together with another verse that is believed to have been the king’s response to them, are collectively known to the Parsis as the “Sixteen Shloka”.

    SO PARSEES DID RECITE FIFTEEN SHLOKAS IN SANSKRIT.IF WISEACRES INSIST JADI RANA TO BE A HISTORICAL FACT.
    Thank you Tamboli in helping me prove your own supporters to be wrong..

  18. piloo

    The following is reproduced from WIKIPEDIA.:
    “Whether the Jadi Rana of the epic was also a historical figure has not been conclusively established”
    “The Zoroastrians of the Qissa are believed to have been the ancestors of some members of the present-day Parsi community of the Indian subcontinent. Many Parsis consider the Qissa to be a factual account, and there are several ancillary Parsi legends in which Jadi Rana plays an important role. The origin and age of these legends is unknown, and they continue to be popular among Parsis.

    Jadi Rana’s enquiry into Zoroastrian beliefs and customs is said to have been satisfied by the recitation of fifteen Sanskrit verses (Shloka) that summarized the most important tenets of Zoroastrianism. These fifteen verses, together with another verse that is believed to have been the king’s response to them, are collectively known to the Parsis as the “Sixteen Shloka”.

    SO PARSEES DID RECITE FIFTEEN SHLOKAS IN SANSKRIT.IF WISEACRES INSIST JADI RANA TO BE A HISTORICAL FACT.
    Thank you Tamboli in helping me prove your own supporters to be wrong..

  19. Annahita Jasavala

    Yoga and meditation calms the mind. The stretching and breathing one does in yoga helps relax the mind and body. Where is it written that the practice of Yoga is against Parsi/Irani Zarthoshti religion?
    “A mind is like an umbrella – it only works when it is open” – Walter Gropius.

  20. Annahita Jasavala

    Yoga and meditation calms the mind. The stretching and breathing one does in yoga helps relax the mind and body. Where is it written that the practice of Yoga is against Parsi/Irani Zarthoshti religion?
    “A mind is like an umbrella – it only works when it is open” – Walter Gropius.

  21. K. Tamboli

    @piloo let me tel ya that wikipedia is not an official source nehow, it does NOT guarantee ne part of information on its site to be correct, that ofcourse according to its own “public policy “.

    Our high priest, Gov of Guj, various trusts, museums who do believe in this, I guess can be a better source..

  22. K. Tamboli

    @piloo let me tel ya that wikipedia is not an official source nehow, it does NOT guarantee ne part of information on its site to be correct, that ofcourse according to its own “public policy “.

    Our high priest, Gov of Guj, various trusts, museums who do believe in this, I guess can be a better source..

  23. plioo

    Tamboli,
    You are avoiding admitting that 16 Danskrit Shlokas were recited.. Yes I do refer to various sources in quest for gaining additional knowledge because my mind is not filled with ‘fekoo’
    information of grandma tales.
    As for likes of you, you are free to live in your world of fantasy.

  24. Piloo.

    So GENIUS (!) Tamboli tell us ,who recited 16 Sanskrit Sholkas as per the legend ? Any archaeological proofs of J D Rana?

  25. plioo

    Tamboli,
    You are avoiding admitting that 16 Danskrit Shlokas were recited.. Yes I do refer to various sources in quest for gaining additional knowledge because my mind is not filled with ‘fekoo’
    information of grandma tales.
    As for likes of you, you are free to live in your world of fantasy.

  26. Piloo.

    So GENIUS (!) Tamboli tell us ,who recited 16 Sanskrit Sholkas as per the legend ? Any archaeological proofs of J D Rana?

  27. K. Tamboli

    it clearly states a person who looses his soul from his religion would be infact a in-confident human,

  28. K. Tamboli

    @Farzana Im no Zenobia & dnt knw ne Ervad Behram Dhabhar,
    Parsikhabar: According to farzana she states my statements r to colorful to bear, she forgets tht all of my statements were only & only a reply to their offensive statements itself, e.g: it was 1stly stated by farzana tht I have no mental status & certain abusive line was used to which she labels me as a fool! …
    Thank you….

  29. K. Tamboli

    it clearly states a person who looses his soul from his religion would be infact a in-confident human,

  30. K. Tamboli

    @Farzana Im no Zenobia & dnt knw ne Ervad Behram Dhabhar,
    Parsikhabar: According to farzana she states my statements r to colorful to bear, she forgets tht all of my statements were only & only a reply to their offensive statements itself, e.g: it was 1stly stated by farzana tht I have no mental status & certain abusive line was used to which she labels me as a fool! …
    Thank you….

  31. piloo

    Tamboli,
    I do believe that parents inculcate values in their children.

    If you are assuming that I will hereafter hesitate to post messages because of your senseless diatribes, you are sorely mistaken.Your mission will not be accomplished and if you find my replies incomprehensible you can ignore them.

  32. piloo

    Tamboli,
    I do believe that parents inculcate values in their children.

    If you are assuming that I will hereafter hesitate to post messages because of your senseless diatribes, you are sorely mistaken.Your mission will not be accomplished and if you find my replies incomprehensible you can ignore them.

  33. True Orthodox Zoroastrian

    Mr. Moderator,
    Recently one gentleman by name Bastani has rightly taken offence to the word ‘balls’ being used by one of the contributors on this blog and the same was thereafter removed.
    It seems that once again decorum has become a causality.
    I am shocked to read the drivel couched in defamatory and libelous language penned by one Tamboli, contents of which are character assassination of fellow boarders/contributors.
    Due to arousal of interest in the Religion, this board is read even by teenagers and the impression that will be gained by youngsters is that anything can get published on Parsi Khabar howsoever irrelevant, offensive and Defamatory. Though palpable, I do not wish to comment about the intent behind such offensive posts.
    I assume there is some moderation being done before the posts are displayed. If so, it is unbelievable why posts couched in filthy language appear on the blog. In the interest of promoting healthy exchange of views,the least that you can do, belatedly though is to delete the same and redeem the decorum of the Blog.
    Thanks v much.

  34. Faribooze Pilcher

    Very clever “True Ortodox Zoroastrian”…when everyone has forgotten about the word “BALLS”, you cleverly rake it up again to refresh people’s minds.

  35. Voice of Reason.

    Faribooze,: The issue is not of approving the use of the word by TOZ.
    What have you to say about the obnoxious language of posts of Tamboli. Freedom of expression does not mean license to express in obnoxious and offensive language. Entire Orthodoxy gets a bad name for such folly.
    While Parsi Awaz and Parsee Voice are edited and views expressed in a dignified way,but in Parsi Khabar a calumniator is allowed to indulge himself unhindered. I feel that above post of True Orth Zoro is meant to not let “Parsi Khabar” become known as a source of “Parsi Calumny.”

  36. True Orthodox Zoroastrian

    Mr. Moderator,
    Recently one gentleman by name Bastani has rightly taken offence to the word ‘balls’ being used by one of the contributors on this blog and the same was thereafter removed.
    It seems that once again decorum has become a causality.
    I am shocked to read the drivel couched in defamatory and libelous language penned by one Tamboli, contents of which are character assassination of fellow boarders/contributors.
    Due to arousal of interest in the Religion, this board is read even by teenagers and the impression that will be gained by youngsters is that anything can get published on Parsi Khabar howsoever irrelevant, offensive and Defamatory. Though palpable, I do not wish to comment about the intent behind such offensive posts.
    I assume there is some moderation being done before the posts are displayed. If so, it is unbelievable why posts couched in filthy language appear on the blog. In the interest of promoting healthy exchange of views,the least that you can do, belatedly though is to delete the same and redeem the decorum of the Blog.
    Thanks v much.

  37. Faribooze Pilcher

    Very clever “True Ortodox Zoroastrian”…when everyone has forgotten about the word “BALLS”, you cleverly rake it up again to refresh people’s minds.

  38. Voice of Reason.

    Faribooze,: The issue is not of approving the use of the word by TOZ.
    What have you to say about the obnoxious language of posts of Tamboli. Freedom of expression does not mean license to express in obnoxious and offensive language. Entire Orthodoxy gets a bad name for such folly.
    While Parsi Awaz and Parsee Voice are edited and views expressed in a dignified way,but in Parsi Khabar a calumniator is allowed to indulge himself unhindered. I feel that above post of True Orth Zoro is meant to not let “Parsi Khabar” become known as a source of “Parsi Calumny.”