A Parsi lady innocently inquired end July on the traditionalist Dial-a-Parsi WhatsApp group from where she could purchase a metal Sai Baba toran (garland). The assorted suggestions came in fast and thick. The first advised, "Suggest you switch to a Zoroastrian toran for your home as I believe you are from the priestly athornan class. Never underestimate the power of Asho Zarathushtra and Iranshah Atash Padshah Saheb.”
The next comment was more pragmatic: "Have seen these at many a shop in Shirdi…Am sure you’ll get in Bombay also.”
Another respondent defended the lady, noting, "Her wanting a Sai Baba toran is perfectly cool. Doesn’t mean she is neglecting our Parsi religion. Whether belonging to a priestly caste or not is immaterial. Her greatness (is) she respects other religions in our country which we all do. Do not forget a Hindu king gave us refuge… Live and let live.”
Another differed, "Your thinking is misleading. Respect all religions but one needs to pray only to the God who brought you in this world…” This was countered with, "All Gods are one…” to which someone chipped in, "A Parsi by birth is privileged. So why run after Gods of other religions?…” a remark that caused another participant to note, "If someone wants to worship any particular God means that person has faith. They are not converting. Just (paying) respect,” while yet another person questioned, "How is a Parsi privileged? If he is a poor Parsi he suffers all his life… he is humiliated… Privileged if you are born in a rich family.”
The group administrators discourage such digressions and distractions from the entrepreneurial promotion purpose of the chat ("Let’s end this please,” urged one administrator while another participant instructed, "Stop it guys”). Dial-a-Parsi is probably the most popular and widely participated in community WhatsApp groups. It keeps the community up-to-date on products made/marketed by Parsis. When some non Parsis enrolled or wanted to do so, objections were raised stating the chat group was meant to assist Parsis only. The founders of the group are basically conservative. Their venture, like that of the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) biannual sales, is meant to lend a hand to several small-time Parsi entrepreneurs, many of whom happen to be women.
Thus the Sai Baba toran query was seen as a distraction from the primary objective of promoting Parsipanu. But the lady’s leanings and others sympathetic to her views are not unusual. They are part of the community’s mainstream. Many turn to other faiths and beliefs for succor while firmly retaining their beliefs and loyalties to Zoroastrianism. As another party on the chat group observed, "Hundreds of Parsis pay respects at Aslaji Agiary and after that they visit the Sai Baba temple nearby.”
Rather than deride Parsis for turning elsewhere, a more constructive approach would be to inquire what attracts Parsis to other faiths, cults or spiritual leaders. What is the comfort derived from turning to other beliefs that is absent or lacking in Zoroastrianism? What changes, if any, should Zoroastrianism incorporate? How do we retain and possibly win back those who seek solace elsewhere? Over four years ago we had carried an interview with Aspi Mistry, a software professional who took to Buddhism ("What the Buddha taught,” Parsiana, February 7-20, 2020) in which he said he came to the religion, "through the door of suffering.” He said he had been struggling to put together pieces of his life, like in a "jigsaw puzzle.” Within eight to 10 days of practicing his new faith his "situation changed.” Should one berate him for finding succor outside of Zoroastrianism?
Visit any fire temple and you may find yourself the only devotee present. The apprehension voiced that others would want to muscle their way into our fire temples is unfounded; even pure, blue-blooded Parsi Zoroastrians do not frequent our fire temples. Due to aging, declining numbers and people turning away from organized religion, the number of worshippers is diminishing all over the world. An article in The New York Times reprinted in The Indian Express of August 5, 2024 notes, "A drop in church attendance…has been happening for decades. In the late 1940s, 76% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque, but by 2020 that number had dropped to 47, Gallup polling found.” This, despite nearly all churches, mosques, synagogues and temples welcoming people of all faiths, castes, color, creed and sex.
So fire temples in India (with the exception of Delhi) that pride themselves on the number of people they exclude [such as all non Parsis, children of Parsi women married to non Parsis (and in some cases the women themselves)] would fare far worse. How many people would venture into a house of worship that bars entry to their closest family members? The conventional belief is that a family that prays together stays together. If that is the case, then fire temples are not only weakening an already fragile family structure but driving people away from traditional practices.
It is often the absence of gender and ethnic bias that draws Parsis elsewhere. Family members can belong to different faiths but can attend each others’ places of worship. They are not treated as outcastes at family religious events, ceremonies, funerals, etc. They are welcome to convert to the faith of their spouse. The Parsis’ beliefs in casteism, sexual bias and racism are incompatible with the trilogy of meritorious thoughts, words and deeds. Instead of berating those who look elsewhere they should endeavor to broaden the community’s narrow outlook.