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

What is IIm-e-Khshnoom and Why?
THE STORY OF "OPEN AND CLOSE" DOORS.
THE MASTER PERFORMS ANOTHER
CONFIRMATORY TEST.
by K. N. Dastoor
Dr. Saheb Framroze and Jehangir Chiniwalla often told me that sometimes Baheramshahji's behaviour
was very strange and mysterious. Even his way of talking with different persons was different. He would call
upon his disciple to do queer things. But all that had some hidden reason or aim behind.
We have, in the last Issue, seen the spy story of the 'Maachi' in Dadyseth Atash-Beheram, preceded by
"cold stout" and Bhuleshwar riots. Baheramshahji had sent a secret agent, not to uncover some serious
international conspiracy, but just to know who came first and who last at the Maachi! It was a confirmatory test
to make sure that whether Chiniwalla brothers would carry on the Khsnoom movement and write and speak
on the difficult chapters of IIm-e-Khshnoom after Baheramshahji. The matter was confirmed; yet he went on
with another test. Nobody knows why he did it and who guided him to do it.
The time was somewhere in the middle of 1924. Some unpleasantness had already set in, in the
Khshnoom Anjuman. Some disciples of Baheramshah had disobeyed him. His experiment to establish an
Agiary on Fasli Aalaat had failed. His attempts to build "Ham-Mithra" i.e. a complete thought-friendship
amongst all disciples, whatever be the differences amongst them, had failed. He then handed over the
Khshnoom classes to Framroze and went away to Surat.
After a time he came back to Mumbai, and as usual resided with his confidant, and close disciple Dr.
Sohrabji Desai in his flat at Sethna Building, Navroji Seth Street, Thakurdwar. Those were the days when he
was under great stress and strain. He was disappointed at the revolting ways of some of his pupils. He
engaged himself in doing certain 'Amal's i.e. exercises in Manthra and was trying to find a way out of the
mess which had cropped up in the Khshnoom movement. (I do not wish to write here about that unpleasant
past. It is recorded by Jehangir in his "lIm-e-Khshnoom ni Maktabni Tavaarikh").
Baheramshahji told Dr. Desai that for some days he would like to sit alone for a meditational or Manthric
'Amal' (practice), from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There was a room in the flat which had two doors. One door was for
going into another adjoining room; and another door opened out in the passage. Baheramshahji was to sit in
the room. He requested Dr. Desai that the door between the two rooms must be locked from inside, so that no
body could enter Baheramshah's room therefrom. But about the other door falling in the passage his request
was quite odd. The door falling in the passage would be closed but not locked from either side. The entrance
door of the flat was to be kept closed but not locked between 11 to 5. At the same time it should be ensured
that nobody enters Baheramshah's room during that time.
Queer! Entrance and passage doors to be closed but not locked, and yet no body to enter and disturb
him.
Dr. Sohrabji Desai was an intimate and obedient disciple. He would not ask any question why all this.
Ustad asks, Shaageyrd obeys implicitly. In fact, Baheramshahji had made Dr. Desai his "Gavaah" i.e. his
close friend and witness, to whom Baheramshah would tell everything, howsoever private or secret, that
happened in his life. (Baheramshahji used to tell his listeners that every one should have one such Gavah
and tell him all things that happen in life - even thoughts that passed and words which were uttered and
deeds which were done particularly any which is defined as sin. This is a kind of confession - exercise, done
through the tongue, and results in the gradual development of the Chakhra - Energy Center in non-physical
body - connected with the tongue - 8th Chakhra called "Ankeesh" in technical language - (Avesta : "Khantem
Yim Vaherkano-Shaynem" (Vendidad Pargarad 1-12). It is an exercise in speaking the truth, which is the first
step and foundation towards spiritual development, embedded in the passage Haoma Yo Gava…..
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