Ilm-e-Khshnoom - Traditional Zoroastrianism: Tenets of the Religion

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with some hesitation and replied, with great patience, questions upon questions put to him; and thereafter gave a highly philosophical narration on "the loftiness of Atash". The said Sheth Baheramshah, after admitting that he was ignorant of the present day Western type of education, started using Avesta - Pahalvi, Pazend, Persian words in his lecture without looking to any notes and could thereby create a powerful impression on the students of modern thinking. But since many present could not understand him fully, he was requested to speak there again the next day, when before a packed hall, he was able to explain some more philosophy with the help of Mr. Manchershah, the head master of the Mission School of Surat, who had already come in contact with Baheramshah". (Page 331). A little further at page 333 Sohrabji Banaji writes about Baheramshahji's astounding performance and its effect on his learned listeners: "After listening to Baheramshahji twice at the Bengali School, many Avesta students expressed to Bhai Kaikhushru Choksi, their eagerness to hear more from Baheramshah. We offered the use of a large room in our house opposite to the Banajee Limjee Agiary. Bhai Kaikhushru liked the place and we had then about 75 sittings held in our said large room, where the Avesta Pahalvi Scholars as also leading theosophists, like Khurshedji Rustomji Camaji, Shams-ul-Olma Dr. Jivanji Modi, Dr. Davar, Sorabji Bulsara, Khodabux Poonegar, Ervad Desai, Meherjibhai Madon and his learned son, Sheth Wadia etc. etc. were present." Please note, all those were highly educated persons and scholars of Avesta Pahalvi in the Western Style. Some of them were theosophists. In those days, the mystical doctrines emanating from Mme. Blavtsky, the inspired founder of Theosophy, were extremely helpful to the orthodox learned men, who were trying to combat with the Western materialistic onslaught on the spiritual Institutions, Traditions, Tenets and Teachings of our Din. It was a formidable assembly that Baheramshahji was facing. Here was a simple man whose worldly education had not gone beyond the Gujerati fourth standard, sitting before graduates, postgraduates, Ph.D's !! The partial list of his listeners given by Sohrabji Banaji is highly challenging and even staggering. "Baap-rey"! Camaji was of course a renowned savant. Jivanji Modi was full of degrees, medals and titles. Dr. Manekji Davar was an acutely intelligent scholar having a Ph.D. from Berlin. Sorab Bulsara was a profound Avesta Pahalvi scholar with a series of original scholastic researches to his credit. Khodabux Poonegar was another astute scholar, an original translator of the Gatha. There were several others of equal eminence. And facing them was a simple man who, as pointed out by Jehangirji Vimadalal, was at times speaking Vanpasti instead of Vanaspati ! And seventy-five sittings!! Oh, my God!! How did he fare? Says Sohrab Banaji : "On the very first day he was confronted by questions upon questions on several lengthy and mystical matters like Ruvan-Farohar, Ashaaunaam Fravashinaam, Fasli months and days, reincarnation etc. etc. Baheramshahji explained, "You sirs are asking such questions that the answer to each of them will take 10 to 15 days; so how can I explain out all this in one hour? You can get some idea about these mystical matters only if I go on explaining them from the very beginning. Otherwise, you may be led to have wrong meanings (Arthno anarth kari utho) which may result in a ridicule of Religion". Thereupon it was decided that he will give a continuing discourse at the same place during the whole week, and anybody who wanted to have discussions with him could see him any time of the day. Accordingly, for the whole week the Banaji Lane reverberated with the thirsty-for-knowledge, and the residents around gazed in wonder." Do you see the miracle here, my friends? Such formidable people coming to him for a full week, any time of the day ! How can a man who was ignorant by worldly standard talk for hours with such astute people on heavy mystical subjects and impress them with his knowledge? And what impression? Hear Sorab Banaji : "Sheth Khurshedji R Cama was so much enamored on the philosophy of Baheramshah that although his son Sarosh had expired in London during this time, he remained absent only for two days in mourning and started coming back eagerly to listen to Baheramshahji, on and from the Chaharum day." 19
Can there be a more revealing episode than this to show what terrific impression this simple man of Surat created on his listeners? If the staunch and sincere man in search of truth like Khurshedji Cama was so much captivated by the revelations of Baheramshahji, what further proof is required to accept the miracle of IIm-e-Khshnoom ? Those who try to run away from Khshnoom are not in search of truth. They are just afraid to disturb their preconceived notions and their inflated ego, and are incapable of going wherever the truth leads them. . . . There are enough indications in the above quotes from Sohrabji Banaji's article that Baheramshahji was expounding neither Theosophy nor Mogals-converted-Arabic Philosophy. He was presenting the Zarthosti Din in the purest form, on the authority of the Zarathushtrian 'Abeds' - 'Gebi Shebs', as Manchershah Kekobad called them. Sohrabji gives another list of the subject matters Baheramshahji dealt with : "There is no doubt whatsoever that Baheshta Bahere (i.e. the late) Baheramshahji has thrown auspicious light on the Zarthosti Din, in keeping with the vicissitudes of the present times. For instance, he explained, in his lectures on Atesh Baheram, what is "Hosbaam", about which no student had, till today, any conception. Further, the lofty difference between "Ashaonaam" and "Ashaaunaam", which no student of religion had been able to decipher till today; so also 'Fraado' of water, namely Adu Frad, Vanthvo Frad, Gaetho Frad, Shaeto Frad, Jantu Frad (which is not found in any present day Avesta book but which was shown to me by an Athornan (priest) of Surat in a book written 150 years back) and Danghahu Frad; so also seven 'Dakhu's of Maher: Aivi, Antare, Aa, Upairi, Adairi, Pairi, Aipi; so also eight stages of 'Athornan's set out in the Ujriran Gah: Zaotaa, Havanaan, Atravakhsha, Fraberetaar, Aaberetar, Asnataar, Rathvishkar, Sraoshaverez; so also, the exalted explanation of the word "Laakh" referred to in the Uthamna Prayer, which was taken till today as a number - one lakh of Yatha; so also the knowledge behind the 'Chak's (revolutions) and the bell in Atash Baheram……" Are these not Zarathushtrian subjects? ... (Parsi Pukar OCTOBER 1997 Vol. 3; No. 4) 20
Page 1 and 2: - CONTENTS - WHAT IS ILM-E-KHSHNOOM
Page 3 and 4: 23. “I personally went to investi
Page 5 and 6: community of crackpots! Let me stat
Page 7 and 8: Editorial ILM-E-KHSHNOOM, THE MASTE
Page 9 and 10: WHAT IS ILM-E-KHSHNOOM, AND WHY ? T
Page 11 and 12: When Baheramshah Shroff arrived on
Page 13 and 14: WAS IT ZARTHOSHTI? Jehangirji then
Page 15 and 16: WHAT IS ILM-E-KHSHNOOM AND WHY? Jeh
Page 17 and 18: "The Parsi Youth do not get the kno
Page 19 and 20: Athornan's of my class ?" I thereup
Page 21: WHAT IS ILM-E-KHSHNOOM AND WHY? How
Page 25 and 26: Laws of Staota etc. HISTORY OF THE
Page 27 and 28: Karachi. Pirojshah requested Pooneg
Page 29 and 30: WHO WAS KHODABUX POONEGAR? Just ima
Page 31 and 32: WHAT IS ILM-E-KHSHNOOM AND WHY? ANO
Page 33 and 34: 1. The foundation of IIm-e-Khshnoom
Page 35 and 36: ut if any Tom, Harry or Dick from E
Page 37 and 38: "This humble writer is extremely gr
Page 39 and 40: WHAT IS ILM-E-KHSHNOOM AND WHY? QUE
Page 41 and 42: WHAT IS ILM-E-KHSHNOOM AND WHY? WHY
Page 43 and 44: In this list of the classes of peop
Page 45 and 46: performed all ceremonies entrusted
Page 47 and 48: A person may die any time of the da
Page 49 and 50: WHAT IS ILM-E-KHSHNOOM AND WHY? ANO
Page 51 and 52: "It was he who alone deciphered the
Page 53 and 54: otting in such imperfection and unc
Page 55 and 56: What is IIm-e-Khshnoom and Why? BAH
Page 57 and 58: properties, which can be utilised f
Page 59 and 60: At this point, may I ask my objecti
Page 61 and 62: What is IIm-e-Khshnoom and Why? BAH
Page 63 and 64: * * * * * Let us hear Cawasji on st
Page 65 and 66: in Siroja Yasht) refers first to Ba
Page 67 and 68: What is IIm-e-Khshnoom and Why? “
Page 69 and 70: Components and its Theory and Pract
Page 71 and 72: What is Ilm-e-khshnoom and why? BAR
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things. By 1869, Mendeleev, a Russi
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(5) Zarthoshti community has not ta
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WHAT IS ILM-E-KHSHNOOM AND WHY? THE
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translate the five 'Gatha's in a ma
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What is IIm-e-Khshnoom and Why? DR.
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that was to undergo a "Manthric Ama
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What is IIm-e-Khshnoom and Why? UST
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Atashbehram episode. The episode sh
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Vaagzibiyo", occurring in 'Niyaish'
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What is IIm-e-Khshnoom and Why? WHA
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to receive it, and more than he is
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What is Ilm-e-Khshnoom and Why? MAR
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Following is what he wrote about th
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And Oh Scholars! West is a spiritua
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The sciences, philosophies and theo
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Baod & Fravashi- i.e. such great so
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Ilm-e-Khshnoom - Traditional Zoroastrianism: Tenets of the Religion

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