When we have physical ailments and illnesses we consult physicians and doctors. For legal problems we seek the help of lawyers and advocates. Similarly, we should consult learned scholars and priests for clarity on religions and cultural matters, reposing faith in their knowledge.
Pope Benedict XVI is the respected head of the Catholic Church with its headquarters in the Vatican. His spiritual guidance in religious matters is final. Other cardinals and bishops are administrators working for the Church under his charge. The Pope enjoys primary status and has the right to dictate in cultural matters as well.
The situation with Zoroastrians in India is different. No vada dastur enjoys the status of the Pope. No one is authorized to be the single most important religious and spiritual guide. There is no consensus in the Samast Zoroastrian Anjuman regarding such leadership. We have learned dasturs whose role is limited to administration of fire temples as panthakis. They are not authorized to guide the entire community. Dasturs must have a good personality and spotless character along with religious and scriptural knowledge.
A vada dastur should be either elected or nominated by the Samast Zoroastrian Anjuman and empowered with the authority to guide the community. The punchayets have no authority to consider anyone as the supreme dastur. The guidance of this supreme priest should be final, as it is given after consultation with religious scholars and scriptures. Religious statements signed by a few head priests have no effect, as that is a limited procedure. A round table conference must decide contentious issues unanimously.
When a limited society deems someone to be a vada dastur it is insulting to other learned high priests. It is a question of their dignity. When there is a scarcity of athravans in the community because of low earnings and lack of respect for the white turban, a panel of learned priests should seriously find the way and community heads must support them and their families.
Are we serious regarding our religion, its tenets and ceremonies? In a minuscule community should it not be easy to elect a supreme dastur through united consensus? Our weakness is lack of determination. Ego comes in the way and we are unable to solve the problem. The supreme priest must be liberal in his administration and have the intelligence to compromise when there is controversy.
There are eight first grade atash behrams in India whose priests must be serious about uniting and deciding on a supreme leader. This elected religious head must be respected and stand high in the esteem of the community. Time will compel us to take this step.
NOSHIR DABOO
Ahmedabad