Ilm-e-Khshnoom - Traditional Zoroastrianism: Tenets of the Religion
Ilm-e-Khshnoom - Traditional Zoroastrianism: Tenets of the Religion
Ilm-e-Khshnoom - Traditional Zoroastrianism: Tenets of the Religion
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WHAT IS ILM-E-KHSHNOOM AND WHY?<br />
ANOTHER PROFOUND SCHOLAR, SOHRAB BULSARA,<br />
OPINES ON ILM-E-KHSHNOOM.<br />
THE UNIQUE KEY TO DECIPHER THE COMPLEX MATTERS OF ZARTHOSHTI DIN.<br />
During our investigation, so far, in <strong>the</strong> truth and genuineness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> miracle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> late Baheramshah<br />
Navroji Shr<strong>of</strong>f and IIm-e-<strong>Khshnoom</strong>, we have heard <strong>the</strong> testimony <strong>of</strong> eminent contemporaries, who had <strong>the</strong><br />
occasions to watch him at close quarters. The Advocate - stalwart Khurshedji Suntoke gave several pro<strong>of</strong>s<br />
for <strong>the</strong> truth <strong>of</strong> Baheramshahji's sojourn for more than three years with <strong>the</strong> Holy Abeds <strong>of</strong> Demavand and his<br />
amazing knowledge <strong>of</strong> "Avesta, Pahalvi and pure Persian terms relating to <strong>the</strong> esoteric side" <strong>of</strong> our <strong>Religion</strong>.<br />
Jehangirji Vimadalal, <strong>the</strong> Solicitor and an ardent student <strong>of</strong> mysticism - particularly <strong>of</strong> Theosophy -<br />
expressed his amazement at <strong>the</strong> deep mystical knowledge Baheramshahji had - though not gone beyond<br />
Gujarati 4th standard - his astounding way <strong>of</strong> presentation, and some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> deeply mystical truths he<br />
revealed.<br />
Manchershah Kekobad, a genuine truth seeker, a great grammarian, teacher and master <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> English<br />
language and <strong>the</strong> first man to present Baheramshahji to <strong>the</strong> Parsi community, told us about how <strong>the</strong> IIm-e-<br />
<strong>Khshnoom</strong> movement had a humble beginning in a small assembly at Surat and how he was bewilderingly<br />
impressed at <strong>the</strong> content and presentation <strong>of</strong> Baheramshah, and what powerful impact he created on many<br />
truth-seekers, scholars and laymen alike.<br />
Then arrived Sohrab Banaji <strong>of</strong> a well-known faithful and philanthropic family, who told us about <strong>the</strong><br />
extraordinary impact and impression Baheramshahji generated in such erudite scholars like Kharshedji<br />
Cama, Dr. Manekji Davar, Sohrab Bulsara, Khodabux poonegar and several o<strong>the</strong>rs, when he was brought<br />
from Surat to Bombay after strenuous persuasions <strong>of</strong> Manchershah Kekobad.<br />
We <strong>the</strong>n met two <strong>of</strong> such pr<strong>of</strong>ound scholars, Khurshedji Cama and Khodabux Poonegar, who declared<br />
in no uncertain terms that, <strong>Ilm</strong>-e-<strong>Khshnoom</strong> was not only genuinely Zarthoshti but also had <strong>the</strong> power to erase<br />
many doubts and difficulties <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> West oriented philological studies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Parsi <strong>Religion</strong>. Poonegar testified<br />
that Camaji, several times, adopted <strong>the</strong> meanings <strong>of</strong> Avesta words revealed by Baheramshah. Camaji<br />
stressed <strong>the</strong> dire necessity <strong>of</strong> bringing up <strong>the</strong> mystical truths hidden in <strong>the</strong> holy Scriptures and not relying<br />
solely on <strong>the</strong> dry philological translations emanating from <strong>the</strong> West. He had no hesitation in presiding at <strong>the</strong><br />
lectures <strong>of</strong> Baheramshah.<br />
A CLUSTER OF ACUTE SCHOLARS.<br />
I am now calling ano<strong>the</strong>r eminent scholar Sohrab Jamshedji Bulsara to express his impression about<br />
IIm-e-<strong>Khshnoom</strong>. Who was he? We, Parsis, are such bad historians that, <strong>the</strong> events which happened just fifty<br />
years back, are forgotten. From <strong>the</strong> last couple <strong>of</strong> decades <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 19th century to first half <strong>of</strong> this century, our<br />
community had produced a cluster <strong>of</strong> erudite scholars <strong>of</strong> Avesta, Pahalvi and Pazend, who tried to explore <strong>the</strong><br />
hazy regions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Parsi Scriptures and traditions, with <strong>the</strong> help <strong>of</strong> Western studies, but with an ardent desire<br />
to reach <strong>the</strong> truth. They had no self interest, no axe to grind, and were intellectually too honest to tinge <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
studies and opinions with any selfish motive. In those days, Memorial Volumes were published in <strong>the</strong> honour<br />
<strong>of</strong> such stalwarts. Just glance through <strong>the</strong> contents <strong>of</strong> such Volumes, wherein various scholars wrote<br />
independent articles on well-researched subjects. You will get <strong>the</strong> names <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Parsi scholars forming <strong>the</strong><br />
cluster. K.R. Cama Memoral Volume, (M.V.), Dasturs Sanjana's two M.V.'s, Dr. Modi's M.V., Jehangir<br />
Vimadalal's M.V., are some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENTS<br />
Sohrab Bulsara was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stars in <strong>the</strong> cluster. He belonged to a group <strong>of</strong> eminent scholars, who had<br />
gone deep into Pahalvi writings, a most arduous and grueling task. Sohrab Bulsara had <strong>the</strong> credit <strong>of</strong><br />
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