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

What is IIm-e-Khshnoom and Why?
BAHERAMSHAHJI’S PERSONAL DISCIPLE
CAWASJI SARKARI, REVEALS
HIS MIRACULOUS EXPERIENCES
We have met several prominent contemporaries of Ustad Saheb Baheramshah Shroff. There were (i)
Oriental scholars, (ii) legal luminaries, (iii) erudite intellectuals, (iv) sincere mobeds, and (v) an angelic Doctor.
Each of them testified to the reality of the miracle that was Baheramshah Shroff and his profound mystical
knowledge of the Zarthoshti Din. The last witness was Dr. Rustom Sola Hakim. We have now switched over
to the personal disciples of Ustad Saheb, who were his real spiritual disciples. The first of them was Cawasji
Pestonji Sarkari. We have already entered into his story in the last issue (Nov. Dec 1999). Before we proceed.
I have to record a fact about Hakim Rustom, which I missed.
In the Baheramshah Shroff's Memorial Volume (1930), there is a long 145 pages article (pages 497 to
641) of Dinshahji Masani narrating numerous facts about the life of Ustad Saheb and IIm-e-Khshnoom
Movement. Dinshahji was the brother of "Ervad Phiroze Masani, the first renowned propagator of Iim-e-
Khshnoom and was in close contact with Baheramshahji. On page 537-8 Dinshahji writes about a severe
illness Baheramshaji had in 1916-17. He had a strong, almost fatal, attack of diabetes in 1916. It subsided a
little but erupted more strongly in 1917. The whole body had swellings. At that time it was Hakim Rustom Sola
Doctor, who treated him, with great exertion and anxiety, and was able to control the disease. Dinshahji
Masani writes:
"(During Baheramshahji's illness) the agency nominated by Nature to keep him well was our brother
Baheshta Baherey Rustom Erachshah Hakim Sola Doctor, who treated him through the Hakima -
system, with great capability, patience and his special art and succeeded in giving a new lease of life to
Ustad Saheb. Alas! Hakim Saheb has also left this temporal world in the beginning of 1928; he has,
however, immortalised the memory of his beloved Ustad by writing an article (p.169) in this memorial
volume………"
We have seen the extracts of Hakim Saheb's article (the last two Issues). Doctor -patient relationship is
always very close. Therefore Hakim Saheb's testimony has an added weight of truth.
We now go back to Cawasji Sarkari's story. We have read his words expressing his utmost respect,
wonder and love towards Baheramshahji. He was not an ordinary student of Ustad Saheb. Both had masterdisciple
relationship in the spiritual sense like Ramkrishna Vivekanand's or Yukteshwar-Yoganand's (Nov.Dec
99 Issue - page 8).
From their first meeting, the spiritual relation was established and the two were always near to each
other. Baheramshahji guided him at every step of his life, even after death.
At one time, Cawasji was surrounded by worldly calamities. His job was in jeopardy; and his one and a
half year child was almost dying. On the night of 23rd September 1912, while going to sleep he remembered
Ustad saheb. "you are my Guru …..you have told me: keep faith and all will be well…."
He got a dream. Let us read his own words.
" I saw in the dream that a small spring of very pure water is flowing by. The surroundings are lush
green. Sheep are gazing on a nearby hill. I was standing near the spring. I am pondering as to how
could I cross and go to the other side of the spring. And lo! My eyes fell on Ustad Saheb. He was on the
opposite bank of the spring. "What are you doing here just standing?" he asked. I said I wanted to be on
the other side of the spring; how should I do it? Promptly he pushed a wooden board in the spring from
the other side and told me to come over it. As I walked on the board a little, he caught my hand and took
me to his side. He then showed me the lush green place around. He pointed out to the sheep and goats
grazing up the near-by hill and said "Cawas take it, I give away all this"
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