Sandalwood and Money at the Fire Temple

Date

September 14, 2011

Post by

arZan

Category

Prayers | Religion

When we go to the Agiary or Atash Behram to pray, we sometimes do things involuntarily without knowing if our actions are right or wrong. One such example is when offering money along with the sandalwood at the kebla.

Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram, good friend and editor of Frashogard writes about this very aspect in his article Mixing Money With Sandalwood.

 

……….a disturbing trend is seen in all our Agiaries over the last few years – the practice of wrapping currency notes along with the sandalwood sticks and then putting the same in the metal tray at the doorstep of the Kebla. The same practice is also seen when devotees handover sandalwood for their family prayers, along with currency notes wrapped around the sticks towards the Ashodad for the priests performing the ceremony.

Continue reading the entire article at Frashogard.com

26 Comments

  1. RATHESTAR.

    Do we wash sandalwood perias and ‘purify’ them before offering? If currency notes and coins are considered ‘polluted’ then what should make us assume that sandalwood has not been cut at the the end of the dealer/supplier by  a ;parjat/juddin’ or by a female in her periods?

    For instance at Iranshah one has to pay a hefty amount for ‘boi’ and if the Mobed does not see the currency note, he refuses to offer prayer of “Tandorast’ on behalf of the devotee, though I personally against this practice of third person offering Tarondasti on my behalf. Let Hathiram lecture the Mobedi Tola at Iranshah not to view currency note and install a Currency box for placing Ashodad. Writings of Hathiram often border on making the reader feel guilty, instead of imparting knowledge of Religion.

    Lastly, in ancient days, there were no currency notes, so how did the laity offer compensation to priests then. Will Hathiram clarify?

  2. gb

    Totally ridiculous. Author needs to check facts and figures before he writes such nonsense. Please contact a psychiatrist immediately. Lot of youngsters are not at-all following parsi religion. They do not even wear sadra-kusti. They don’t even pray to God.They cannot marry because of various reasons. A religious person should preach religion in an easy manner to youngsters like me than to teach like this. Lots of money is being deposited in mandirs, masjids, churches and they don’t even bother whether it is accounted or unaccounted money. we have many more important things to consider to safeguard our religion than to read crap like this.

  3. gb

    Totally ridiculous. Author needs to check facts and figures before he writes such nonsense. Please contact a psychiatrist immediately. Lot of youngsters are not at-all following parsi religion. They do not even wear sadra-kusti. They don’t even pray to God.They cannot marry because of various reasons. A religious person should preach religion in an easy manner to youngsters like me than to teach like this. Lots of money is being deposited in mandirs, masjids, churches and they don’t even bother whether it is accounted or unaccounted money. we have many more important things to consider to safeguard our religion than to read crap like this.

  4. gb

    Totally ridiculous. Author needs to check facts and figures before he writes such nonsense. Please contact a psychiatrist immediately. Lot of youngsters are not at-all following parsi religion. They do not even wear sadra-kusti. They don’t even pray to God.They cannot marry because of various reasons. A religious person should preach religion in an easy manner to youngsters like me than to teach like this. Lots of money is being deposited in mandirs, masjids, churches and they don’t even bother whether it is accounted or unaccounted money. we have many more important things to consider to safeguard our religion than to read crap like this.

  5. Npesikaka

    Yes Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram,
    Is very correct in his observation.
    Dear members of our community I narrate a true incidence to you. I regular visit a particular Atashbharam in Mumbai in the morning hours. I day I visited the Atashbharam around 7:30 P.M.
    The Ervard saheb (Boiwala) looked very disturbed. When I asked him what had upset him he confessed that some Parsi had visited the Atashbaram and put a few sandalwood sticks in the thal. It was dark in the evening when the Ervard offered the sandalwood to the Padshsaheb he realised that a Rs.10 note was kept between the sticks. He was so upset that the note must have gone in so many hands and out of over site it has landed in the affergania.
    I would also like to add that most Keblas have a locked place for putting the cash. Bowalla no dabo. People still put the cash in the place where the rakhia is kept or in the thal. As a reasult sometimes the cash is stolen or does not go in the right hands. I wish the members of our community understand that such cash boxes are specifically

    made to secure the cash.

  6. Npesikaka

    Yes Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram,
    Is very correct in his observation.
    Dear members of our community I narrate a true incidence to you. I regular visit a particular Atashbharam in Mumbai in the morning hours. I day I visited the Atashbharam around 7:30 P.M.
    The Ervard saheb (Boiwala) looked very disturbed. When I asked him what had upset him he confessed that some Parsi had visited the Atashbaram and put a few sandalwood sticks in the thal. It was dark in the evening when the Ervard offered the sandalwood to the Padshsaheb he realised that a Rs.10 note was kept between the sticks. He was so upset that the note must have gone in so many hands and out of over site it has landed in the affergania.
    I would also like to add that most Keblas have a locked place for putting the cash. Bowalla no dabo. People still put the cash in the place where the rakhia is kept or in the thal. As a reasult sometimes the cash is stolen or does not go in the right hands. I wish the members of our community understand that such cash boxes are specifically

    made to secure the cash.

  7. Npesikaka

    Yes Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram,
    Is very correct in his observation.
    Dear members of our community I narrate a true incidence to you. I regular visit a particular Atashbharam in Mumbai in the morning hours. I day I visited the Atashbharam around 7:30 P.M.
    The Ervard saheb (Boiwala) looked very disturbed. When I asked him what had upset him he confessed that some Parsi had visited the Atashbaram and put a few sandalwood sticks in the thal. It was dark in the evening when the Ervard offered the sandalwood to the Padshsaheb he realised that a Rs.10 note was kept between the sticks. He was so upset that the note must have gone in so many hands and out of over site it has landed in the affergania.
    I would also like to add that most Keblas have a locked place for putting the cash. Bowalla no dabo. People still put the cash in the place where the rakhia is kept or in the thal. As a reasult sometimes the cash is stolen or does not go in the right hands. I wish the members of our community understand that such cash boxes are specifically

    made to secure the cash.

  8. Byram. Sidhwa.

    As rightly pointed out by Rathestar, if the main Atasbehrams do not have money box to deposit Ashodad than what can we expect from shall Agiaries having a dozen devotees a day. moreover Hathiram cannot deny that many in his profession have developed a system of minimum to paid after offering a Maachi and these clergy themselves are interested in knowing if the minimum amount they expect has been deposited and if the devotees are to deposit the amount in a sealed box, how will the curiosity of Hathiram’s fraternity will be satisfied. Please Er Hathiram do impart knowledge of religion but to do talk as if all fault lies with the devotees and the priestly class are above the love of currency notes.

  9. Byram. Sidhwa.

    As rightly pointed out by Rathestar, if the main Atasbehrams do not have money box to deposit Ashodad than what can we expect from shall Agiaries having a dozen devotees a day. moreover Hathiram cannot deny that many in his profession have developed a system of minimum to paid after offering a Maachi and these clergy themselves are interested in knowing if the minimum amount they expect has been deposited and if the devotees are to deposit the amount in a sealed box, how will the curiosity of Hathiram’s fraternity will be satisfied. Please Er Hathiram do impart knowledge of religion but to do talk as if all fault lies with the devotees and the priestly class are above the love of currency notes.

  10. Byram. Sidhwa.

    As rightly pointed out by Rathestar, if the main Atasbehrams do not have money box to deposit Ashodad than what can we expect from shall Agiaries having a dozen devotees a day. moreover Hathiram cannot deny that many in his profession have developed a system of minimum to paid after offering a Maachi and these clergy themselves are interested in knowing if the minimum amount they expect has been deposited and if the devotees are to deposit the amount in a sealed box, how will the curiosity of Hathiram’s fraternity will be satisfied. Please Er Hathiram do impart knowledge of religion but to do talk as if all fault lies with the devotees and the priestly class are above the love of currency notes.

  11. Phiroze

    In the olden days when there were no coins or notes people used tp pay in kind eg those who farmed gave produce, somewhat like the barter system. Even in the last century in the villages behdins sent flour, sugar, ghee etc as part payments for the rituals to the priests house. 

  12. Phiroze

    In the olden days when there were no coins or notes people used tp pay in kind eg those who farmed gave produce, somewhat like the barter system. Even in the last century in the villages behdins sent flour, sugar, ghee etc as part payments for the rituals to the priests house. 

  13. Phiroze

    In the olden days when there were no coins or notes people used tp pay in kind eg those who farmed gave produce, somewhat like the barter system. Even in the last century in the villages behdins sent flour, sugar, ghee etc as part payments for the rituals to the priests house. 

  14. Percy Madon

    WHAT?… Iranshah Mobed refuses to pray Tandoorasti without payment?, when did this happen? Impossible.. no mobed would do such a nasty thing.

  15. Percy Madon

    WHAT?… Iranshah Mobed refuses to pray Tandoorasti without payment?, when did this happen? Impossible.. no mobed would do such a nasty thing.

  16. Percy Madon

    WHAT?… Iranshah Mobed refuses to pray Tandoorasti without payment?, when did this happen? Impossible.. no mobed would do such a nasty thing.

  17. Percy Madon

    WHAT?… Iranshah Mobed refuses to pray Tandoorasti without payment?, when did this happen? Impossible.. no mobed would do such a nasty thing.

  18. RATHESTAR.

    Mr Percy, When did you last visit Iranshah. ? 

  19. RATHESTAR.

    Mr Percy, When did you last visit Iranshah. ? 

  20. RATHESTAR.

    Mr Percy, When did you last visit Iranshah. ? 

  21. Tehmul Ichhaporia

    Each Fire Temple may consider issuing coupons for Ashodad, within its precincts and such coupons can be placed as Ashodad, which the boiwala can redeem.

  22. Tehmul Ichhaporia

    Each Fire Temple may consider issuing coupons for Ashodad, within its precincts and such coupons can be placed as Ashodad, which the boiwala can redeem.

  23. Tehmul Ichhaporia

    Each Fire Temple may consider issuing coupons for Ashodad, within its precincts and such coupons can be placed as Ashodad, which the boiwala can redeem.

  24. Cawassidhwa

    yes it should not to be done.Absolutely correct.

    The other thing I would like to add is why tandoristi prayer is given to the priest to pray, why not themselves. It is not accepted we should pray ourselves and not the priest to pray for us. The priest are paid for praying tandoristi.

  25. Cawassidhwa

    yes it should not to be done.Absolutely correct.

    The other thing I would like to add is why tandoristi prayer is given to the priest to pray, why not themselves. It is not accepted we should pray ourselves and not the priest to pray for us. The priest are paid for praying tandoristi.

  26. Cawassidhwa

    yes it should not to be done.Absolutely correct.

    The other thing I would like to add is why tandoristi prayer is given to the priest to pray, why not themselves. It is not accepted we should pray ourselves and not the priest to pray for us. The priest are paid for praying tandoristi.