JPEJEfACf. I hove written this ert for d,. '-'K

1\~ZNAN J\\ YSTIC l ife·skctch of the late Behramshah

Navroji Shroff, the 20th

Century Exponent

of

Zarthoshtl Elm·e·Khshnoom

(ie. Esotericism of Zoroastrianism)

N ~ \AllllO\ I . 'lh \\.\, R. "·· LL.D.,

(AJcocal<)

COMBAY

•

•

I •

'

Prtsmttd to the

UBRARY o/th•

UNI VERSJTY OF TORONTO

by

Willal'd C. Oxloby

JPEJEfACf.

I hove written this <hort otcount of the life of our

Revered U•tod-S•h• b e~hrom•hoh Nowroji Shroff with • de•p

loelinq of re1i;>ert for d,. '-'K<ed knowl.do• of "Kh1hnoom", which h1t br~ht f<0m the Sw~il• of Iron. My ettompt

Princ"p1lly has b.en to gove on;< • ., .., for .. I could I ind ... d

the poou1 .,.h..i,. of t"9 'Firdoo", their w1yt of life 0-id theu

methods of teoch.ng It i1 """"'""' that ot was almost •mi>onl

ble for me to do full J<1Stice to thi• gr••t <ub1Kt but of I hn••

s.ucceed.d iin givirig 'SOme u:foa of how a pious ccmmuruty oF tho

ttue (ollQ!Nvrs of the ancient- religion of- Ze1athuJ..trl'I tt'-lfi"n

to-doy In their 1trict HK:lulioo guard oveo Lh•u fold •r~J help to

n1ointa1n thelt tollgion5 Feith, Lhen r -;holl bow in liflce•• qrntitude

to Ahu1n-Mo1da I 1eque't my r~oder'i. [email protected] to lhe cllttptct

on the my,to11•• oo.J the morvel• of Kh.hno.>m, pog<> IJ' 61)

Nanabhoy F. Mama.

CONTENTS

Preface ... Birth and Boyhood

~ uurc ltnow-s no acciJcnl• , , •

The homewud nut<"h ul 1be car.tvaa

l'bc Fird05 not a mph

!'he M"S"v of 1~c llern~vanJ and his "'"Y' of I .•le , ..

roe activities of 1hc MtlftQVt

The mysteric. nnd 1he marvel! ol Khshnoom

"Khshnoom" anJ dr111lt it deep

"li.h•hnoom" The Lem <.:horJ

"fbe Lo.t ChorJ" ...

b

8

11

I •J

H 35 3Y 3'1

"Kh~hnoom" in H•muor , • . 43

"Khshnoom" is Joy 48

"Kh~hnoom" anJ the "!>1o1 Yuna" 50 The Boy Bebram's &luuuon 11 1hc F.rdos SJ

The Professors of f ird01 • .. 5 8

The Bo}· Bcbnm lea\(l lhe i;1rdo. 61

I he Boy Behrim returns home b7

A .l{aztlnznan _jfystic. Hy .llr .• \ a.ii.<1/Jl1im fl'rqmii Mama,

H. A., LL. B., Adt:oca~. Bl RI H Ai\10 130\ HOOD.

Behnom bin .Sowr 111 l'••hofou •kb<• ,.;hroff w"" born in BJ1J1l.nv of ><•ll-i,o:.uo 111U re•f>"Ct•hl• \J ;«laznan parenui on t c:lr U•I) of ,\ lgll I 5'; fW u1CJ al :>urat aftt-r au .,.utfnf 11mro luuj: 111 • '' 111y )•Ht'°"" h•e1>ly-..,••u •l1yaon lho 7Lb •la) of July 10i7, hom lu, IUotbers liiJ•

ri;. boi<lnD ... lo Lht r Uuli) ur th• • 'l'arach 1nJa auJ Crom hi. f!\lhor'• •ide to th• lawily; uf tho "~nrt,. . lie WAli an "Alltttlv&u ( prll!~, GrtLhuun > fi.>· Cll&lU en•i l11saneesiors haJ actu•lly )>ritotl""'J lhAL flt11[0,.,i II iu the f"il'6·'.l .. mples o( Boiuooy and 8ur~t. Out thu lll•t of thuflll in the ]"><800

or hib fnthor '""'11111 lnk•n U(' lh• bn•iuubS of " .. Shwlf" (monoylotl1 lor) ho lwl 00111u to oe known by ~hat •11r111u110,

Hu w•• thoroughly ol111•l• m In• privt~l6 liCe, tila.lwnrt in build Jiku ttll Jmn11111 •Ul~lcl', ttlld !Jy inhe1·iu1UCu bu W~6 t>vut· t!L1th1,ht11P•liu 1u1J hiKll·,;p1r1t1..·d iu w•llttrs ttslig1ona ~nd spil'iLu•I. flo lan<I pru11choJ l'rutl1 u11J J.lrucLiaed iL tuo, a.nd pOSfleRed o 11uunors wlocb \\'IUi 1u•r\lellouely 1·ete11tivo Ilafoz&/. il11 loug lifo J111Jo11~110lf into three periods of R

rallicr una-·en 111J oontr .. wJ 1!4rcer. lhe lirai. uf tbei;o wu hia boyhuoJ l1IJ !Jc "qi about BllLl~OD to aight<MlU )'8llrd Of a:;c, tho octoud tho u1uot \llAll) 11upur1Au~ poriOd of bis life waa th@ ptnoil of aWllt t hrot yeara •nd a half, which be bad •rieo~ in tho e.mJll>D) u! tl1@ grflt ~ az<llluian {l;ilp;<\ or St\hel>-•lel Ma>L•r~111 tho precrncta of the " ~ ird"" 10 W.. lrau·<·liAUn I nDllO.'On , aud finally tl1<> third and the liu.t, which de•I• w11li lht Jl"<IUJ 11£\rr Ina return t.o worldly li!e, oJ \Tlticb a;:atu aobdividm itl\Ulf int11<l !Jr1111111·y oJucoti.m takes one brief i;enteoco to dooo.ribo, via. tb&t lu hi• $t11dieJ1 be hat.I not gone much l'art.her tbun 11 mer~ l(IAll oCtor tbe 111•~ letter of lbe

•

( 2)

Gujrali alplisbel, nnd cv6n thia i1111i~ni6cant little ho could •lull"r nnd Murun•r wi•lo d l!icalty. To line roach•u ~ha ai;e of eighteen ye..ril with onl)' ~o much o! ru~inl( an•I wn<ing and no m•>r•, doe. nol 1lio1>l•J ~ny nnnotJAI al/1liho• or any 1•recocioUA iulolli,:•uQol 10 the WJ hnl be wa1 all tl1•1

1n111tt 1J~~t.ineri t.u rr.oord hie 1'0f\'iOCJI as a l1.1hl1nark..o( OOnt-i .. tlnrablo 1mportauc.; in lho hl•tory of Av. 11111 tlllt•nrch. l11110r11tnhlo are tho Wfl). or N~lUN which work ev11r for lbe i:OOo] Of UlnU, 1Ln1! ie i• tho "11}y llly•tOl'iOUS Jl)?Ullt lba~ oxhl· Lil• lha rAJ'O powt<r or h1 inl(lt111 forth guurl U\'Oll <;_11t ur oovll. A t1ikpule ~t,\i'eeu a. 111oll1nr •'11•1 L.eJ Ht111 is Lho 1110-;t lnrnc-n• ublo feature cl • 111•11'1 lire on rarlh but the """ whid1 1 ... r-11 llehr:lm, 1hot1~l1 l uMnl&bl•, WM JOI d_,.11111") for tl:u M•>Ompliahrnenl of a •J>dCl6c pur1""'• Ibo moot imporlallt llnJ tboron.shly ble3!P.1tl. Yuun.: Br.htiilR ,f;"l_c:ro~d w1~h hi• 1110lhor. aod Iott l11• h.,.rth on•l hi h UL• inn t..•rnpur, bo it I\ r.11iri~ o( 111Jvo11tnro. or bo it I\ fu,jJh1g or rli.,appo1ntttHH\L Ur di•..iu•t, but he mml.hJ.l '""' 1·111nblod away till tho ru•tio li111itM o( hia oati\•o 1•illngu ~·1111< buue11th tlo~ horfa~n buhiml him If there io nny t1llll(ilil• nntl louch,hlo """ rooloblo 1otHett.t;o11 of the l>ivirill f'?bl't..•noe n1nuug rnntoriftl •urri>und .. Ing•, th•o it i! w bo Colt 01hl expenu11ced in the 111olber'a fo,·o an<l lhe lo• .. for lhu rnc.thor. At the 8ltoe tiiue, if llio.re iJt atoy 1·roof or in•iie1tk.u of on 1111 "'" he.tility ilo•llngabout in lhe air, Cl\Osiuh ., L1111lpora1J a\Mtlrali.011 or l1i• intulh'Ct,. th•u th~ bo·t prwf C( 1l1ot •ini•tor pr ..... Doe ia i11 that ••iur MJ ph\lnomenou uu,,le 1nnnift1~L in Lh1t anorne.nl oi 11 1uan'• d1aogreotn~nt and di•cca'fl with hi• dear inother. Uullor ovory nnd ul l ciru11wst11nc••, tlut 11101.hor n1J1.1°lbe·cllild •Olltin11111t 11 &

doublo tloinonaLrotio11 ''" Eurth, which when ourreotly •Pl'•&cillloil •Uffic0&, frrse, tu IJ11fl11 •II nthe1&tic •pecuL1tion•, and oec udly to •tabiliu in rea1U11"<1 flitu many an •f.ITI"•lio 1wi111(· iug ~•wt1>n iguoranl~ a1u1 knowluclgo.. .Angro ~l1inyua i" aA

e-uLial for the pr-rvaliNa PU con~innance vf 11,.1 routtant moliou pcnadi11i: th" Univ•,... as ~p<nlo .M•ioyaa ia: Awl Uie blll•nc.o L<ltweau lloo 11\(o i. UlllUJlaiu..J b) llo• life· i.;hing ct:•u•idiou '"'11·11 •l>01·e, tlml Nature ever work1 for tho good of mau. TheN i~ to bo n "Shukri-Khudo" ( 'l'bna· ka

( 3 )

b& to Ool) for •II t.lmt h•ppoo 'r.~ 1• nwl• of "clr.y'•, uya tho holy l<nrau; b11t from lh~ BU•• .-enerabla "'101'C8, al.., COD'-1 tht gl&d:leninl{. news tha•, wit.tun ll1.0"\tue clay lllJld• form ill t.110 br•t.h of God. I I rho clay therofora in the boy &hrR111 l.<!m~•rarily maJe him uwto•iblo to o wothnr'• ofl'totion, on•I borried him RWl\Y frou1 hor, Lho bre:\th o[ 0011 rovjved ill hi111 th1t noble aontirnonl l•t.or ou uad pnlloJ him baok lo lror oo wo ehC\ll presently••• ·

The Ra.mblinge of Bebra.m a.nd his Meeting with Ra.sheed :-

Tbo ~oy wu going northward• Alnnedabad, K&t.hia.wad, Ponj•b, an I fiMlly "' tho frontier proviooH of Peshawar ho oa1110. H•ra, he m•t hi• nncle (hi• u1other'• brother) and bah ... I I'oobA\V&r ia a city or 'l'olh•uo, a (MOCiOUJJ and a w•rli~o lri~. and youni: Buhrarn h•il been warned to bo very Ol\rtlul In hi• •uociAtion with limn A.a lhe pre.J.e•tina· ti11n ur p•~t." K11rm"'" would h~vo it, howo1·er, the boy in hin loilel'inj( u1111 dny accident.nlly c~me up tun ? IMe wh~re 11

CB<O\'llD of for·nignoro hnd 811CJUllJIO•I ilo iond just ano1vero1J llm CAii ul N•turc aud iu &lriOL oouful'luil.y with the \l11z. dunno roligioos rilH aud curcmunlea of hi1 forebears, ho ha.J. wa>he<l hi1 lt•nJs aud C..ce anol oilier op•o l"'rts of bi1 bOJy • bad uuwouud hia "Kn>ti" and wat inumhlioi; hi• pr•y•rw for lh~ rR·Wh•ling of it '!'hi• ,.,. enough,-the Maz.111.Mn bad boen rooogui...t by bi kin or 11

10 Cllravau Two «talwart1 rrou1 Lhe o•mp soon 11ppru•'lh1• l him with •n iavitalion from their ohiof. he uncle'• Wl\rnlul( """ the olemout. th•t or06tod n doubt "oa hindered i~• ACcepl.nuce. There wa• n feeling of l6Kr in him, tho boy "'~• 11lrnid. Nutu.- howavor o•er work• for the 11ood of rMn. llnm&n pbysfogoomy ht.• bath an o~trM~ong l\Od • rep•lling fore-, and works fo a manner, natural llDd foroalul • F•11turas-the great aoul • apparonl tt<t." (Bryant)-lt 1)111clu •• th• kind and lb• 'lfiok..J, dtt 1iinple and th• ohrillfol, &Ud •vtr ;,; ii Lbat in · •tinct more than expert ,!iill ia ablo •llllrply to disclrirniunU. Tho "'intly ••ronity of th& now aomoro h~•l Alre•dy won tho boy'• hr>Art, nnd the little awkwO\rdn••.., n.nd he.sitntion, thu\

"

I a

(4)

still lurked bahind, weakening the attraction, was eoou ilispellod when the good stranger• pulling &•hie tho folds of tbair outer go.rments showed the "Sudreb and the Kusii" they were themselves wenring. Tho ir!l.c•• of doubt and be3it1tiou in t.l1e boy's mind, therefore, \Vore thus •wept clean out, and he followed tho strangers to their chief in the camp with the joyful willingness of "The )!ary's lamb'", The name of the obief was "RaNiwlji Sahib!' The very look of the man was a mute commancl to-bow. E!c was n "Soheb-Dil". The great Swami Vivek11oand baa somewhere eaid that bhe forebe&ds of tho "Rishis" nnrl the" Mo.hatrnM" cli•play a. sparkle which csrries a voic.,Jos.• command to tho onlooksr, to say ... "Bow I'' H6re was a perfect "Mazdeznan Mah3tma" an<l tho halo round h1s head voice•! the &•me order t.o tho 11.Stonished boy. Tho det.ails of whot hnppeued at this meeting &re noi on record. But it aoems the S111lnoss th•t bannted the boy for tho rocantly caa•e1L 11ob"8nce of• mother's love, Wa.• noe.rly oomponS!ltod for by the fnthorly treatment given him by thia great Athr•vau 1md his a>SOointes. Hob•CJ.me a.tt&c.l.ted to hiA host. n.nrl WAR evon: nn,viUing 10 rctur~l LO hia uncle Beltram fol' tLu 6r•t tim• in hi• lif• foll his hoort throb l.o the rhythm of on indc•orib,.blo fooling of surprise blended wiLh jo.v. But the "gla,] tiding•" of tbo meeting had to ho related io lha uocle, (tho Gujarnti word for • mother's brother is. Mom•.) The old man uaturully gl'ew quite nervous over the inch.lent, nod when lho young n1au •trni~ht off t.old him thnt the strangers \Vere desirous of taking bi111 to lr•n along with t.11em, Lo loft uo duvil!<l nntri•d, honest •>r othorwi8'l, to diosnn.<le him ftum that r11shn&ss. The olu man roadin~ tho dotormiootion on the I.Joy's fMe ro'lOrted to the oxtrome or i11v1111ting ll lie, which o( COUTS& could w•ll be excn..,ol him. llo lo:1ld Lhe boy Hehram, he bad received s.n urg<!nl telegram from B~rubay intims.Llug tb"t his mother was on hct· dea.th·heil anJ that ho •l10ulJ thcl'efore return to aer. Th• love of nn1l duty towards a mother is o.n uoexp\,.nnblo problem for all m1Lokind natl so 11'"8 it for th• hero of 0111· •tory. Tho olfoctg 0£ tbo sad DOW• LIL<l til&lly been intoosifiod by the loug distance between bis mother and himself and also by her long absence.

( 6)

",Just that one word, Mother, Comparo it with no other; 'J'ho 61·st word of tho infant A.nd tho last word of the bravoSo gentle and forgi viog, Oh, prize bor while sho's liviog. No truer frieuJ tbM MoLber ~'rom tho cradle to the gra.ve."

(American :\l.uzdaionn Magazine, November 1937, page 37.)

!for 1.he hoy, Rashee<lji bad already become a &0!1LOe iu bis .orrow, o.od a companion of hi• .ioy. He wa• the ornole whioh Bob.rAm conld never 1\lford t.o neglect. He therefore ro.n up to this 1Han of wisdom and relatro the whole story of the t11log .. am. Thom 1ster ju~t closed hi6 eyes for one brief rnomenb o.ud &imply "ud ~ronoly s11id, "3ly Sou I tho story of the telegram is oot truo. AM l cao \!<le, today ie tho anniversary of your mother's birth.day aod she i• llittiug w·ltlJ her uoighbours, ch·•tlini: unJ gossipping with them ond onjoying the dainLie• peculin" tu Lhnt •:hly,'' Swift •& n lll•h th• hoy remeuiberoJ the "1·oz" (Juy) anu the 'mah" (month) or hib 1nolhor'• birth And WAS OOllVinC<ld Of lbe truth Of

R~·h•edji's worJ;, II.re was " g•nuino inst~nce of what "~lnzJnzuan 'rl'uth" is really lik•; ii ii tVH' l/1s slri<ito•I Truth; it ii susr Uio whols l'ruC/1; and ii is ovtr 11olhing but tl10 Truth. '!'he ell'ects and the infloeocoa of suoL 3 "MnzJaznnn Truth" ho.vo" conr.,go about th""' th"t will dofy a world'• opposition. And the h•••nl!SS c£ n lie sht11l mnkc " CCJW&rd of the most valio.ut solJior. llel'O was Behra111, every little ninsole of hia boyi•h frnme einanutA!d the •parks of nn im·inoiblo re.sol"•· A ret!OJ\·e it \V8H not to n1occ. or to go Lo his Mtuna 1tn31ruore. Untruth eveu ruu&t and"''"" duos dafo,1~ itself: And in NVercnl i~I love nud uodoubting eonfi1leneo lie~ 01 er tb.• Lriumpu or 'J'ruth. Bohrnm IVOUt boldly to his onolo l\lld Lold btm ll11•b1>cd,iee's explanation. 1'1te old mnn steeped io nsLni5hme11~ "'''" oomp<illod to ~cc.pt tho lrutb of tbo •latement uf tho Groat" Dilvat" It 1~•s still .somedAys before tho caravan would et&rt on its r•turn journey nnd those law daya helped

•

( 6)

to oryatalisa the boy'• rol'Olvo t.ii the rigidlby of l\D unbt!nding rook. The cl&y of departuTo 11Uon &rrivo•I: lt waa tho Jut <lay when Beliram'e uncle had m•ltod in vain (or the boy'• return Ile bad leit. 'fhe C&rav•n wu dao to rot11ru, &Dd il had already , &tarted on it.II how•ward jooruey, Bebram 11 oo bo&rit •

:Satnre kno\vS 110 ncci<lcuts: Sow and reap Is Its one r igid law:

Aveetan religion i1 the Stu·.y ol Natu~'• Lt.w11; the lawa tha\ oxplain a.LI phoooUllllla ·loeoribeJ u accid•nt t>y th• limited iololligeuca of :ll•n It hu iuuclt of a myotery which mWlt aatonieh tna unioiliJLt.e,J gonorolity ot U10 hulll&n epeciea, My, it m•y even appear •• 1om1tbi1111 abaurd and 111Jicroua Thero is no inexora.blo ~t}!ltiny, but lbo dootle (in Khahnoom lenoinology Kesh&slt; Snnakrib K•r11111) or m•n make it •o. r~1t the 1loubting minJ think but for ono momor1t, whothor tho whole •Lory of tho hoy Bohr11m, om111oonclug wilb hi• 1li•ni:roem•nl with hi• 100Lho1·, J.ia lMving !.01· in a temp,., bi~ rllmblings over hill an•l •Iola, hi• arrlv"I nt l'u•hawnr, hi• •t.ay M bi• uncle'• hou•e, hi1 nimlo.,. luil•ring• 111 tbo streel, bi< foelinit for ·• Nnlure'• oall, hi• porformauoo of Lho "KbWl•i·Plldht." coremooy on tho "J"'D , . .,,.,,, l\od Lbo ooiucideuoe ur the uranu t..:iug Lbon ju•L lU U1• pOsition to . obeerv• it, and all Lh~L f,llow .. t, .:ouM r-ibly h•vo been but 1Dl!re acci,leot.. l Tho l1•r1J.,.t •l oulit.er too 1n1at Jl"w.! tor a roi'h. The law of "1'0ll1~•h" h••I b.wn L,.J at t\'Ork : ll10 drama that bad long commnne«I w .. coining ID it.." dt1nouemenl. 'The rare fortuno of a vi!Ul to the "li,len Iran" that h..d fllllen lO IJ10 lot of ti" boy Dthrow wu only I.he 1 bor·l"'t o[ all U1at be bad wwu peri..p1 c.int11ries ago. { "A·ru.·· the vrJer th•' (M'fYO•loo O\'ory atom ul tho Uni•on.o anJ which is th• u11111i1takablo ··xhibltion of diviue Justice";' JI proves the conviction• of th~ '.l:hoiat and dftoblith"" Uie trut.h "II of ihe Gatbic law :-

"A kem Aklle Vaoghuhoea1 A1d1oem V1111i:h~vo" ( lfa. XLIII, V. 6)

( 'l )

Good aball beget i;:ooJ, •n•l evil O\-il, Let not the roader 11rcjudge emu bo ~r•judieod nguinot a pheoomcnon rnre onough r-0 ho orillu•tily oliounod, but lot him eonlrider 6".COt with rovorenoo ond faith an J th•"~ 8hall 1urely be much Cur him thnL is new and \\'Ot lh huowin6.

The Story: -Uatad Sahob < 110 clay iu ,. nwrry mood explained lhal

many many yu111 a;:o>, 1110,.. lived 1n tlta ~ntry of Iran a a gTdAI ".< bet.i" (a k:4ru\lll a11 l • piou prion) and a great 11:euoral of tho lrani•n anny. If it 11 ool uno-1 in tho rocio~ u( m .. 11'. to tiaJ ein 1ni iiinominy di-nled and hAlml, it iii alao ooL r.r• that p1•1ty and le11rw1111 t.oo eomotimee eomeo ntr0"1 I\ 1!111il1u hto. •rb.,.., will bo many that hAt~ vice, yet tltoro aro not lcN< that lh1J r,.uJ t with ,-irtuo as well So it \VA& auol •trnngo M it mny 1410tn that oven tho piety or thi• piou1 prieo~ h11<l ltliuohow di•plui>serl llOIDe iguoran~ fsMtio of hie t ii ne•. Nu doubt tho b&ru08L coeiny to couLend with ie Luo iguurAnOtl o( lrt11rt: and juot Ila knowledge 0( t ho right k ind IWAtle to eulli;hwnniaoL, opens up brighter vil!lone Lo view, and 011ublos ono w hoar lbo vvicu tllut iloots down t.o him frflm lbo honvou" llO llO<'• LltU •l•l'knniog ignoranoo not only Jin1it tho vialon bu~ posit ively ma~os one bliutl to light l\Dd deaf to all healthy admonition 'l'lio outburst of ferocity against virtue hu a Jtroog•r uri;o truw the one agaiuat vice, aud tho onNuy of tho Ab<d-Sabob had therefore f1lannoJ and 1ehcmod hie \'loa;eanoe to du ii. worst. Tb~ opportunity aoon came, ond ho wu thore, tho uneheetbed weapon in hie hand and ready lo strike tbe fal.&I blow. Tho propo•t. or lllJIJI how•• er ... not alway• fulfilled. The \'aliant Iranian genoral, aa if •hut out from lbe mother earth, apvea,...l on tl1e -n•. l!ver P""l"' .... 1 as he WlUI IO do his Jaty, bra•• ""'I Corgotful or ..,Jf, aw tho oinieter motive of the a.•eaila nt, llew at him w 1th all the Bercenese and epe<ld uf •Hon's leap, and W~ llfo. I t \\38 "n obligation 110L

"""Y to ropgy . 'l'hore mu~t have been thllnkgivioga nud rejoioiug• l!"iure.

• '

t

•

( 8)

Yo&rs and genors.tions and perhaps centaries ma•t hue pa.eeetl by and lhe Lime had uollelme ripe for that obligation to be repaid by n. ficling reward. 'fbo pio"" priest of yoro b&d now been reborn as tho "Shrosb.n vnre•-saheb.Mo.rzbauji" the Reverend Gr•nd chief of the colony of <he "Sa hob-Di I•" of the Kuhe-Demavand: and tho valie.nt genoral too bad been reborn in tho .t .. Jwart person of our young hero Behmm. Tho former had by his clainuyauce seen .. nd located tho oxisteuoe of the boy, and oogcr to repay his debts of tbooo day• of many centuries •go, had coutrivecl tho Jrarua or Roaheedji'• oers.van to trace him in Peshawru· and to fetch him to Iran. l:le ""s to bo iustruotetl ill the .cienoe of "Khshnoom" which moans Esoteric knowledge which loads tu beatitude and •·1lvation. Thore could uot luwe been a better 1'1pi>ymeot of U1e obliga.tiou 0011forred. H had bean a body.saving obligation and it was now sought to be repaid by " lifo·saving reward.

Suoh was tho cxplaoot.iuu of the reve1•ed U•tad-Sahob him~lf. We who oherigh his w0mory, rcap11cL and boliol'O ii l•'or sucll a.a bositato oo harm aball come: ~ut let uone 1060 himself BO na to ridicule and trea.t it a&"' lie. A pious Joubt is • virtue of gre"t merit., but at1 impious onu I• a oardinal sin.

The Homeward March of the Caravan:-To re.sumo tho thread <lf our narrativu, lbe cnravcm

started on ils return jouruoy. The route was long ~lld beset with dangers, dangers of higbwayineu, aud dnugere of attack from religious fanatics. 'fbe trn vollors w•r• nll Zaralhush· trians of the highe•t order: but they dared oot to disclose their identity. They 1111.J to be cautioas and oareful. It was a C6revan of holy men, and mo11y a limo must it have happened that iL had oorne to clo~o quurt.er• wiLh tho roughe8t of men, ruid the wildest of 1·obbtiro: 11NrcileS11 manndera. nud hea.rtlese meu or ferocious lillimal J>rOpeoeiLie.. But Ra•heedji the iearler """' a man of pioty and when be and hie comrades could command retrospective \'isiou over lltinturiea gone by. and could ..a ea•ily fort.ell eveuts prearraaged by

( 9 )

Nature'• lnm1, i! <locs not become <liflicnlt to believe whiit Uatatl-S~helJ related, tht on oaca•ions ot euch immhient and grtive ila.nger, R.tisheeJJi coulrl m'lke hitnself l\ntl his compo.ny iovisibl~ to hostile eyes, o.nd they wouhl poss by •uch g&DJ;H

quite within touching •lil<Laneo aurl yet rcll1&in unseen by them. All mar.•ol• and evory mystery are •s muob in accordance with tho lnw• of Nnture •• was Lbe apple that foll on ~ewton's he•d. bot ignorance it iH 1 lmt m~kes tbo miracle The simt>le villager, when be Hrst ._,w n flood of the most brilliant light •hoot out of a bull 1>f glMs not nluch higger thrtn a tnarb1e al the to\\tru1mtlll

1ti a•ure t·)uch of

n button somewhere, boliovcd tho Inlier to be o. tledl-in,pired mti.gicino 1tud beca1ne q-nite 11ervo11i; O\·&r it. 'fho perfornlnnce of It miracle is riothi11g 11,0t"tj than tln exhibition or thu knowledb'O of Jaws unknown to the gener&lity or 1neo.

'rho city of PeAhnwar •nd even tho fl'Ontio•·• of lodin. woro soon lost ''icw or. Tbe first halt was n.t Kfifri•t.Au, fro1n thorc t<:i , [g,.ui•Urn'K '1ppor border, Anu thonco towMdq Lh• northern pMt o( th• r .. mous country of Khom•sn, which id" province or Jr .. u nod wbiob iu it• olt1ys or pruspodty 1o .. t1 for long ;hiolueJ tho Irnui fugitives from tho p•rsecu\ion nn l tyrnuuy of t.hair Arab con<1aerors. ~'ro1n KhOl'&S"l.I) tha cnravan proae<iJed iu 11 uortb westerly 1liroction till thoy all reacho•l tho city oi Azarbuitou, tho truo birlb·plnce o[ Z11r11thn•htr11 tho fi1·at prophet on ~:"rth The cn1·uvRo wn• llUW in the north· ~vustc.ro province" or I1·1~n trhonco they •tnrtod alrcob for the 60111 >t.lge or tho blessed jonrnoy noJ tiUUn ca1oa Jo sight or tho longad-f •r UD•linntion llDU goal, tho "Kuh·o·D•mav1>11tl" in the Albru• range of the mouu-1<1ins of Irnu. Tho trunk roaJe ootl oiJs rU&<I• Ll111t loaJ up to the plnina in lhu .,alloy of tho Demavaud mountains are ap•o o.nd known tn 1111 ; but the pnth• tbt1l le .. d thence to tho city of Fir1los are wb11t may uo spoken of as tho mystery runreh of Ibo trnvollors. '.!.'hose p1>tbs M'O guarded by lalismaoe anJ nre invisible to nninitinted <yes. Io this be~ntiful pin in on the open side of the llern.•varnl, tbe Curn \'till, quite nnaocountably, dl"idod its•I[ into two parts, one of whicb left for a Lle.tinntion no one knows anything about, perhaps

•

(10)

for " 0haH1••'""· Tbe other, whioh h"l H•hram with it, proceo l•d i11 A p&rticu l&r direction tow•rd• Lho hill&. 'J'he nAnath•o I• etuJJe'1 wiLb ev .. 11t.o ,.,,d occurroncos wbfob 1llatlnKllit1h lh8WiJQ)ve3 AS \111USUH1, 11111) 01\0 IUUl'U or HUCb \VR8 Lh11L a~horo11\'1 Ct:iend~~ when thoy hu1I J,{•JUJI h1at. {\ [11\\1 pa~s.

•111i1e •u•ldonly and 1mexphiu1tbi\ •11d 11110.•1,.1ctedly found a. von11rahl~ l>nstoor Yary comiorti•bly i-r.cliuiu.ic 1.1n ~ rock in tho uoinhnbie•ble wil.Js of that r•l•c•. h 1oe111ud "'if he had h<>on ioforme•I of lb& Appro•ch or llm CAl'I\\ ~II 1.y a telep1.· Lhetio lol•x-um, ftn•l th•l be h•~ lhordur~ •>•M out I<>

l r&GVive Lbe1n Thi• myot.irr, wh&tever iu 1o>lo1tion mny be, t111J~i cert.aiuly conn(;.tt"lt a perfi;ct. orl("ni!l.1'Lioo and a pufeo\. "Y11"°"•0 of eJmmaui~1.li\Jn1 "luch. thou~h '" 11ura lly "·irolCM1 .)'tl h"'I it.;:; lr-anit111itt.,r1 iu tho L.u1ua.n 111in'1•, an•l il/o\ receivers in lhij. hu1111\u l1ertl'tl. f'h t J)aHt.Ur lo I Lh·• wAy for Belira111'• lri•n·I• l'li•y "°"" c"ua t.:i I\ J>I"<• where tho luosa h>uld·11·• h"d h"0tll11• h•nped into 11 hilluok Thd /)A•tur ren1ove1l 11 f·•w <>t lltotn lo dis· OQViH' n tl1•pp J1, 1·k t,uunul; n.url t'nt1;\rjng thuroiu, uuoo 11toro lo•I thu wny. H w•• utwr Jnrkno .. , lmt thore wa8 trust, Aud faith •ntl 0>11fiJonc'1 The tlO<'i \\AA fo11r·fr~~. They Arft \\'tong ,,·hu """Y <lnrknog iur.pirL"l"I r ... ~ ... No: i~ if' t.lis· tr11•'· llo"L d·J<a it. An·J true 1' i• what St Jultu las oaid :" l'n'ftr t lu1·1 "''l•ll• oul /oar". 11 waa ""t l·Jll)( boforo a lultdnl r•y ur Khor•lteJ !"'Cf .. I throui:la 111• i;!oom ODClll

moro, ... 1 jor •lirre•l afroob th• b ... rt• or all 'fh• bl~'Md lii;bt IC'"" bri:tbwr They Wero iu tho al1<>lo or Lo•• auJ Lihtrt,Y: Tho ~'in!.,., the u1011••i.<11·y .,r ",,,J,.tuan mouluJ th~ ":Saheb-e-DiJ." the IDA!ter< of ... tr •111•1 the eervoot.s of God.

This pl1>co o( mystery, whioh hn1 upto now Ju6ed all archu-oloi:icnl nnd geologic.~! rl!t!<tnrah nn•l oxc 1 •<>liou, i9 looa. t-O<l ll('lllHtwLure on tt.u uuseeu pol\k u£ Uu101r.\'tl>11tl, A•ul jts phyhi0t1l bouudaries, aro thnt the Lvwn of l'nufi• ia ou it& wost: Ito. c:1pil•l uiLy of T~hrr~11 u11it.~11011th-woot; nnJ th& c<1u11lry or Khorooan lAl i~& UU.bL. '1110'41 ploCUti of myat.ory Are like tba ~t.i>r•J:•·'••UA>rie• of tbo forau1 of tho All·Uood and have there.fore to bo scrupu!oualy gut.rd,..! o.gai.ust

(

(11)

onfrfon~ly or rtnriOU• intru•iln. On th~ stnt.ogic roinh or it• utmn.it limit.•, thoy My, lhoru keep >1'""'1 by tnroe during tho dny tho high.,•b a~vnncon sou\g, th• ra•I '' A•h.v~n•" \vhu, no t,q l'l•Y, \\•,\t-ah frtHU t..huir to\vers \Vhonovtr 1i IOJlli•

pioious approRch i• •igl11A!J, 1.hoy w;e the hiRhly <levolopod ]JOWl•r• Of lhUir 1<1111, t.o °"' inlluenee tho nppro111:hi111( Lr<JOpt a& t.o unoon'l<!l<>tuly lo•~ thorn nway from the dlrocU011 of tho F'1rJ•>.t. Wbotber U i1 beli•ve<I "r d16beliovaJ, for thorn thd have r,;t.h, i~ it 8 hrtt, ""d far tb~m t.hllt bav• not, it; •• legend Faith Lo a l•rgii extent is the result of knowlodr. and tho aboonce o( it may 9therwiM ha d•ribetl •• ignuranc-. Wu h.va •id ~atnre know• no socidonl; and it m•y b• ~"'1•·1 th•t 'SatuN know• no miracle• either. Rvtry rh•inom•non, of wh• V.vor chOl'act.or it be, happen• ill obo11ie11eot to • law or \ at11ro, an•l there i• nothing beyo111I that

T H I: Fll~OOS : NOT A MYTH 1-

'!'hnt O>lning l\VOnl& CQ.~t thoir HhadOW• oofornh~1'1) I• n. very •iguiflc 111t '1\ying: lrnt they aro ouly a a\10•011 fow wbo can Heu tl11rn1 •J>pronch It 11 • porteut t.o h1 pr.•11.ro•I 1'he C>untry of I rnn i• 1111 •noicut lQ1u l of uumborl""~ •11int.• nu1i ""!!"._ Aud th•y nre I bu c\'o)ved progeuy of •llC"•LorA trnin&J by 0011iuri•• u( lhu •tnoL-.4 of epiritu•I 1liMliplino. 'fboy """ claim 'he 0<pahilitiH to verify the poet'• •!•roll and diop1"y ti•• I''" er Lo " 11&• auil toll .,f thinga invi•iblo to rnort.al oye1" ( )lilt.on). The"""" advanced of d~80 ha I oeen lho •l,..\o\\ • loominii Lori:• O\'tr Ibo horizon and had corro.Wy i•lterpr•l••I their ai~nificancJ t.o •n;.tor the comin~ calutr"phr, • full hnmlred ye.u• U.f rv 1t1 u u.,. 'fhey k11ew th"ir Juty ii WAI

Lo •nrn, auJ 1 hey knew •• well, 'heir wMningo woul•l bo diirri,;.:arJeil 'l'hoy 111 .. I but OM •lccisi~n to mak~ fur lhe prllllorv•tion of thuir "J>i11" raligioo till "tho alou1l• roll by" ond thnl wn• t.o 11t0luto thorneelves from tho hull~r~kol lor of tho existing disurtlnr, iuto a pl,.co of •nloty who1100 Lhoy could by 1hoir forooful moilit3tion do tho bo tLor eorvioo to Iro.u no1J it.it rt;H.i.ciou nnJ also tto buwnnity !lt. lAra,;u. ·_rhu olou1l• and tile •h•dow• woro tbe vt1n·,uarJs of ti.at violont dil>Uter wltich •>011 ovorlnok l ran aud destroy1"1 all tlmt ,.,.,•

•

(12)

l~nlightanad Iran, tho mother or tho U1en world a<1>tlNoi••, wu to M run over auol tlrau1il•1J by a horde of moro bArb•ri11.ns. A right.eoao •igh mutt a1·iAo, but lut not Ibo justice <>( tho Jispen.atious of lho LorJ be, r.1r all th&t, lookoJ upon with diatrn•t. Ono 1uch llook uf "Abed&" U.J Lhut lurt lr•n for i>n unknown place a. hundru•l )'"~•• boforo lbt iuv1.1iun l>y the Ara.bs, and • •00011'1 ,,.,. ba..l 11hnil.rly loft llOIM BfLy yo.1r¥ iai.er far the Milla noble purf>Of14. 'there w•r• 01hor1 which her! eimil.rl)' rlop1U""'1 ' a• l.iiue "'and oireuJ11•\•11ce h.d favoar~d Lh•m The..., oro 11..i ooltno..D and un-n gu.lr•liawi or ""' lhduu '" rdigfun enJ lhe Murl.anan people : bn1 to their l1ro,d .,,.J hn1aani1 ... lan vio"· tho ll1uJurum religiWJ ia not • ~ri•n cull, but an .11 .. mbr.\oing S<lieoca or the L\wa or Noturo, whence llOM

· aro uxcluJoJ: AnJ to tbom Lho hum&uity -• hrl(• Pi the ~f "''lfL.~n '" tlock. lt reo}gniaee nu Ji1tincti1Jn11 ~1f C"htu; colour. or crcod; tho one thing it know• 11 ll1• grod .. loaJin1t to p$rfueLiun ot the good, tho bottor 111111 Lbo hOli.. U•Lnd·snhel• '""l t.u 11:>y, 1M11)' •Och con111·•11••Liu11N o( holy men e~i•t kHJ,.y, itou OllU Lh'lt Jofl Jrao tbu 1t .. t h lcieal.otl Bl A pl .. co h11owu 1n ll\O Avefitt\ 1\~ "Ol~aich11tt1.1", Lh• e>thflr Willi nt the

t Ku.J1·•·D111vH'lnd in lrAn it..,H, u ll11r•I """ MUUl• ·I 110111ewhut·o un Ll11a b lrd"ro of ~urope."n tluffll·'· l\H•l to "·ard Lh~ x:r "l'' •Jr b~ly 1uau ~oattere l u\·er v.1•le •ru.aiS, \vheooo &.bey tuainL u11 au organilt'J auJ 11Cieot.itiCJ ayetA:!aa of c>nuuunic.•tion and help ll> prokl•· tho poace of lhu W••rld. Tiu! formwr hu IMn I lun~ti') j with what ia ltou1ro in nl>dtrn gOOJ(rapby ..7 lbu IJ"1p1•n S.-1 Sot0e f1cto 1>bout tho "Cbalch""I"" >The I 1\n\ au.I U1e mon auJ.horh.4tJ'e g,. g1·,.phiosl l'ublio.tian (All·•• vf tho \l'orH; fimet or laJ1a, &111b4y I aay• uuJer ll.,.olot;. Judex 1bot the c .. pi•n Sua i• "Lho 1:r~~ iulaod ' '"' in tho ,.., 1~.J. 7UO miles long, II r. t 1 2'10 uoil .. wiJ.s, 26 10 WO (.,L11urua .loop, $.Jo feel below t~u l·JV•I ul 010 lJIAck Sen." 'Phu lo.tter J11u1 cununuuitatiuo \vith i.hu t.lurhLarrAnoun Sea thr<Hl~h tho SDA ot Mnrmora, aoJ tberofor• ii.. lo•·ol oo.a ti.. tak~11 •• tla" >8.1110 IUI ~b• orJiu&r.)' ., •• lovol. U1•di111 ... i!y lhort!f• . .lt«t th1Jn.: id no scienti6c uxpl .1.u&tlOU fur the cur1CJW1

£Act I r tho walere of I.be Caapiau ... lteinl{ 84 r .. 1 hl'IOW tho

II .. •

(13)

- lnel of lb~ nul ide wort.I. 'r""~•tnan myaleri .. howtvor have au oxpl~o,.tlon to i:iv0, and as the rnorod U1t~<l·Hahob would ox11l&io, 1.h• lower lovol is acoouotad for by lht rroxi· mity of tho s11bterriu1aan oulony of " Magava" numbednj( a million HOlll•, 1Vho hy "''mo dsvi"6 of Lheir own draw lhe wat:Gr• ol lho ""'' for tb .. ir n••, a~ricult11rl\l, &rohit..,tnrAI, domn•tic, 11ntl i111lo•trhl Thi• dxplanation not oul.r 11couunL1 for the <htl .. nnct o! th• 1.u.i, bot nlRo h•lp• to prove tho oxi•taooo ol 1he • Fir<J..,," •t Oh•iclmi<ta. Tlw Magna of thi• colony art1 •pirilu•lly of a bigbu i:r;ado, LIJl\n U1- of Kub·o·Dtmavaod: b11t they botb are it1 •~n1taot intucowmuoiC'ltion l·.~ telo5.,lli<rtc m•>thOO.• of coo~nt.rat.erl O'nleru· pl•li m whicl• they e1ll "Sbi10l'l. w Tbe!!8 llai..>&n ba .. 1111 ir owu llm1-Tomplo1 an•l Towor• of Silonce, ao•I have 1•re11t.,e1l tbnm«kea in " .1,.te of i;re" ffjliritool pcrf.,.lion. 1 l1u10 eehol,r11 \\:h> havn 1t11Ui1oel a.n.J kD'l\\·n or tho •• Vnr ., CHU ..

•lrucl.ed liy Hhah Ja1111lw~ and ,J,iscribed in tLu Voa•lid111l, (u ploe• v .. ry ol..,.11 I f~11tir.-.I with Noob'11 Aro), will rMdily tU1•l1•ralau1J, th''""' pin co" Ar<l 1'1d0 n. "\14r \ ( \vhicl1 \V•Jrfl tl1$1\1111. 11 11atn1•"1ly 111•of•"CLe·l lJlttc~). \VhioU uufr1011dl)' ,yo• ei.n1 rieveii 1t1•0, nnJ 1turri1·n·ll) h'L.11118 CJ.tJ n11\'l.'t" h.u·111 'f 110

OJlC.1 nu Wli l 1 t h1 u ffclu1l..,..J pl ace i ;trd n1y"'L"riYU1"l)• 'U 11 •h1d and tho uu~ f11r tha ., r :ol.teh l t ~ •' cJlooy i11 U !tUr1bu.t ittt 0 .:\bt ", wbicb UJl)QUh • WAlery or i.nrough tlia waLer~··;

.. htreo• U1v ,.orJ u•t•I C>r tho eolrao°"" ur tbu 0<>lony u Doma.aod, ""'I 1 .. rbaps al ~ Uie c:.tb!r C>>I( ••I• •>4Ml1 a fa "Khl"-i ', "'1uoh 111tJu1• .. 1ua1ft! of ea.rth. c.r through • aa\:• ". ~ml•• our U 1.&<J.~obob, th.ro is only ono wore inttauoo, f an out i•ior h"''ini onten1,I ihe •• \ .... ar 1 on ri:O:•rJ.. 1rlJ.'itllir..u1::111 i" of tiOU lJ,)' IH,UlQ • Jluoto.m ~&"4.J011lr1'. •• '~ho 1J1u:1 ,._r1.-1t a peci1'"1 u( iueiiLruGL1.1u!I at. the l1Jrllos, rutur11 .. 1l to th11 ouL1u•lti \Vorl1l u1 i hH.·I t.l1111JuRU-iahe,j hiwwlf 111 lrtt11 111 a. "Nttw1J1n1 ' 1 or n1:1-lrolo~er The second oaiu waa our fO\'Ctod Ustt•J.Suhib l<lrn•uff. 1111 pr~achotl lllld pror~gat.etl tho ~•otu. 1·1ca uf ~IU.:Ctl1\tuttn in l11du1 n.nd ha.a im1norudi.tu•I hiw UIU116

lh•re. ()11r Nvor•J U•hd·S•heb WAA ,. t1i1101plo <>I M•;:•v• or ]Juuatv"nd: lt1Ui1t'JlD Nn:it'.lOWi porhllps Wll ~HJ U·1JU.& th.&&Ule pluco. Du~ • ~liir·l iuOL .. oto which reuh\!a 01 fruUI

•

(14)

• beyond the Aryan Janda of India and Ir~n, is of tho l.t,e Rovcreud Dootor Otom1u1 Zaradusbt Banish, who, ae I &m informed by llr. lf'ramroz Cbioiwalla, tha proaent Exponent o[ Kl1ahnoom, lmd boon the di.ciple of otbor lra,nian eages who had their" Fir<los" on the borders o[ European Rusiia. l{o e111orgeil tltorefrom n Masdaz11an of o. Prophet's dignity; spread tbe ltnowledl{O or Mazd•>.non procopl.s ~od principle• in tho contiuonte of Amoric• n.nd Europe, e.nd there le[t an undying Mme [or hhnadlf Of him can be a&id, be wont nbout ''doing good''.

It is not unMturAI that m1my will onet vory gr•ve doubts on the e:dsteoce of such mysterious colonies: but besides the sevcul proofs cit.ed above there are other& equally worth coJ1Hidoriug. A Khsbnoom devotee of considernble repu~tion, Mr. Dinsh•h Shapurjeo "\lnanoi, B. A, lell~ 1ne persoually of a friend 0£ !tis Mr. Nnserwn.nji O~rn.bji Poat-m uior having read in an Eogliah newspaper priotod in Bomblly an acoount publiohe1l therein by a Europenn hl~jor, who hAd gone to Iran iu n surv•y uxperlition n111I of hJU•iug there met with a wouolo1·fol nnoi n strange i;ocioty of man. 'rho Major hAd nlso rnonrioue I tbnt the encolan~o.r wi's sud<lon, a.11d thn.r. oncl) he wAS out c.f thei1· limit11, all his e.ttempta ngnin to ideotify the plnoo :u1d finLl ao ootranco provo1l vn.in. ~l1he name and the dale o[ thi~ n~1v•p~per are unfortuunt.ely 11\iStiing. Tbero is yet on" moro 1•roof of tho existence of theae l•oly men snd their holy co1loniue whicb is to be founJ in ~ho world famous poe•r• or lhe lraaisn poet "Hafc: ". He has "" foolingly suug of tho •~ Sahttb.f)ils ., und of the '' Pir .. e .. lfoga.n ", from whose osoteric ioaohings bu bad IMrnoJ "° 1nuob These exporionce. ar•· "record of tho fourteenth centu1·y, exper.incea of trn~h. truthfully n&rrntoJ The high inspiration of Hsfe7., which tho t!ivino nrr•n::omont of his words displays, goes to prove l1i• aliSOOinotion with tho Abedo of Iran. '!'hare i~ yet oM 111ore nnJ thnt is tho at! vent int.o India io the sixteenth century o[ tho great Da•toor /liar K•ivau. The record i• that he w•• actually uoo £rom ~mong tho mombors of Lh•i Society of Irani•u mngsvs. Ilu hat! come oo lnJi• uuder certaiit circuw•t3uC••, ~ut! by bis learning a nd piety ho<l

(16)

di•tinguiJ!heu hhnscll to such an oxtont ""lo have he.cl e. large following for himsol!, the descendants whereof eontinuo to true di1y. Ifo had 'vriteen many mysterious hookff in PeroU..u, w!Uob are nil availllbln Lo-dRy. Let •o 11111ch suffice for tho man of rAitb and teverenc.i, to cuufirm bis boliefs that the iso!Ated ffOcioties of tho holy men of lre.n are not a legoud but • £11ct..

The Flrdos at Demavand :-The country o[ Firdos i• ell8en!i•lly •n agrionltur&l one,

with " vast territory of !nod, justly !lnd equitably pnrtitionod for the u•• of man and beast. fo is an unending vista or fields undl1lating with Nature's •parkling green: where the lambs gt"••ing •ud tho cattle lowing proclaim o feeling of uuiquo oonfiJence and security, grouter and strongor to be Sure, lhon what our cbildre11 can over bop• for in lhe engine.infested etreeta of uw· rnoilorn city. Agriculture h!Ul been the 6rfft of IJn.zcln•nn.n virtues, and the whole of Fargarn 111. or the Book of Venditl11d he.s beeo <lovoted to its activities. H is there aoid, Lhe ~srtb fouls mo•t bnppy, "where ono of the faithful sows moat corn, gr1U16 and fruit,-where there is most increfl.Se of llooks nod herds" (S. B. E . Vol. IV. pnge ~S-24). The high esteen1 for ogrioulluro ae a profo .. ion, and tho high dignity or ... ngdc11lt11rist is further testified t.o in the same Fargsrd, where i~ is said:-"0 Maker of the materiol world, thou Holy One: What is th• food that fills the Religion of Mazd& 1"

Ahurn :Mnzdo. 1rnswored: H is sowing coin again llDd again, 0 Spitamo Znrathuehtra:

Ile who sows corn sows righteousnesa (S. B. E. Vol. IV. p11g.i 30).

No stronger recummondatiou of an agricultural life ci.n be imagined: und naturally, where such 6 simple •nd noblo life is followed by &II, nothing can bo fort her from their Godguided mentality, than tho un-Oodly and inhuman itlea o( ouilllal el1tughter. 'l'he benst knows foll well, Lh•t there never ~hall be a ctLrnogo: and Lbo men do pride the1oselves on their knowledge of the legitimate use of the mother earth, •nd her quadruped off•prings. 1'be ox and tho cow, the go&t and the

(18) .

· ~la1nl1 llDd the horse, ''"ith their lu1n1"" m1tt~rt, f1>rm b,.rtt. nne family. Thi- great exl11bition of ~lo&tlun•n L<>~•. u1oind•

H mo or thaL ramoo9 poinllUI( uallrot .. 0110 "'the fob1ily • . lo " ilio1 picture ii.ii bigh-ooulo l f'•rntut hu doplct,.J the aoouo of lho humble interior of" l•rn1,.r'• hut: U1t l'Cl'IY chil·lr"" nn1

IUGte.f'round a homo•DIO<Jo ti<blo, "htrt tho 1i1opJe fore of br"".J and millr. i11proacl 001 fur Lreokla8' : an~ through $!Ue

1

om~ll window cl... by, tho fann bol'llO h:u l>'ll 10 hia b• • I for JUa obare of the npaot. Ho i• the ~!ond, "on• of tho f~muy•. Take tM picture u I) pica! of a dailf teen• Co thll' lird They are all happy a11d oootooi.I in one "'otbtr'• OOIUJ'llllY· ham the 00"' \hero I• millr., from tho lamb t 11ero 11 w~I, inJi"P"llli&ble fur ""creol thru<J-g1rdle Kn.ti, aud 1bo bona it for Di&oly •port. Wt nil know tlut.L iu Ibo \'OJ•l•blo kingolom, tbero nro pla11t.. winch 001·"• n1 fo1>d, and theru 01·0

1•l•111l" lhllt act ruo poi•nu; lh"ro nr~ pl~nt1 tlllll hM·t hooting 011; clJi 11nd thoro "'" othtrm Lh•L h<1\'u oooliug elT.,c11 In

I •hort, nm! in gonor•I it '""Y Ito ISlll•I lh•I thoru Art• ..,wu , 11la11l• which are he11lth l(i•ini: a1ul otlu•n "·hicb oro or a I\ co1Mory .. !Teet Tbe5'1 1•ln11t , tho A\'t!!l.a 11Cion"" hu di\'IOlod

i uto LW<> part.;· lhe be1106cial 011C1, iL ha clanifie<! a•: h11 iug-... tho "f)f.lttJ'"' 4oa.1itlt111, an~I t.ho rmat a1 ha,·iug lh$ " J"o.\U uci ··

c1ualili••· Among tloo "lloap~u·h • ( cint lo) ol thc .. utlc, " I 1rlicoliir lyl"' o( Lho 11111\i hAI • J.!ii;hly di1Crtmmaliu11 eon .. ol ..... 11. anu ii. u.ea ii lo ,,.rfoclion "' lht 11oloolio11 or •l• f00<l. II chooee~ Lho ,.,.,. •• anJ tho roola "of •uclt Jll•ult ouly which II'•·• the l.ugut 1.roporUou of' li1>1• " •1o~li11 .. ,) ie!J iog wool for the Allll19 of Siho\Mlilo Tho 'll"Or·l "Gun• tr>&y • take ~ni: to •Xplain, l.ul h 11 thoroughly workable Lo •Y il dtliotff the qualitiu of ' Rll-eu16ce ', •·~-~ tbe worrl \ • Vold-" carnee I.be •um uf banng the quliU. of oclllab--0- The rormer rejo1oe. In the goocl of ~hon, •ad b willing 0 , 011 w aaerifi"" i1.1 uwu h•ppioou !or 1L : whtrea1 ll10 latter -t rej<>i- in the misforl·UDOll af nu ••••• If iL hrrng• him n w~a \11 ~ mor• of mnl~ri•l cvmfurl 'J'l10 11biloHOphy of tho Maidas· uan rnlu :-" As a man t/1i11k~th in hit h~rl, ao it ho; t1a ti

tti.an .alolh, 80 11• lhin!:w," i• time mA•I• oloar auol w0JI. ~ .rxploioed ia th• ~wo Avllllla wb!!I*, ·•Oava" M>d ~,Vobuna ".

"'

(17)

'fho lamb lhereforo i• U1u wiM•t Ul\ter, and tho lamb therefore is rhe mo•t euit~l to prodnce tho llo&t material for the w.ie of me11. 'I' here nro tnany t-poc:101t vr l•,mh~. unJ there a.re grades in those •rc••o•, wuleb dep•oJ 11poo tile relined quality of th~ food tl1•y c>n•urne ; 1\111[ it it j u1t therefore that the Muduoan Ku1ti, hAa lo be woven out of a lamb's wool only. The kinJo- wwards call lo ia ~ duty imJ'O""d by the lluda.soan reli~-ioo, auJ IL cau '"'' couti•Jtntly be 1u1&erted that thatduLy i111owh•rt110 ocrnp11louoly t11rrioi ouL ff'i" theoolony or I.he Firdr». .. Gouoi ,._, ·Um l~m M kAartlMi fell ~o." tG•tha JL .\. XL\' 111. •·er.., o > "V ••,£or lha kine (0 Armaiti :) lot (\by) 1<>11 be ghon, •nd m•y'bl lbou caull6 her lo proaper for our life." (Ro.-. 1 .. II, ~I Ill"• trnralalion.) 'l'he hol"!IO too is for tho lr1111inn an un1111•l ol :;ireut import.ence and useful· ne .. , and jaol 010 l!Am• "" th" lroni~n breed of a lamb is the fiu08t in 1110 wOJ·hl, it mny be l11at th• horees bred and trained in Mazda.JIAU disoll'llno in tho Jrir<lo•, tnUHt al~o be or" vury high qt1l'lity. Jr1111 from lime• immemorial bas loved lho hor&u, nud tho t.1•11i11ing of uvury Tru11i1111 ohlld "'"" bablld oo Ibo lhruuf<1ld dh1oi11lluo of 'l'ruth, llorsemr>nehip anJ Archery. '.l'hi• rniule rule, lhoui;h nol coulinuod with 1intbusium U! lbe oouulry e>I Ii-nu al tho prroon l Jny ytt, wilhin the boUlldari111 of the k'irJuo, thi• thri·•f<1IJ 1lieciplmo i• euforeed wilh all lhe rigouT, •• it u•o.I to bo in lho J"Y" of Iran's world-wid• Empiro. 'l'h• Hl•rn· Yaohl h•• a •·ery •ignilicant l""""'ge abou~ tho horae, "t.ich clearly llho1•1 tl10 magnificent sporu,rneu tLe Jrauian1 l11&va beou a~ a lime when the r<"'l of ti.• warlJ k.uew ,·ery little about iL. "rtae lrain< r of a hone. is oa among ruauy, who reoein1 lhe blwing. of Baoma:-

.. lluomo Aoibtc&b yui urv•nto bit takhsheoli crenaum zavare aojaowcba bitkhabrlili,

( Ji!J'f!\ J'1uM ,,am ff) " Jhoma i:r~uh (•lr•nKlh nod ""urage) to those who

.,oulil nm l·rldluJ l.v1·•u• on rn~u oouroa 11 oou1·,.. which •pan1 bol \J "l" .,J auJ LuU01u \ in thui r hor""") " t Rev. L H. Milli! kaoaldiou 8. 13. E. Vol. XXXl. p. :!81.)

l!'u.rLhor i.n lbu .. JJ,. YuH ht, (Y nl!D• XI. para 1 ), lbo oow,

•

'

•

(18)

tho horse, anJ tho Ffaoma a1·e described •s being the " three cleou creatures (full of blceaiogs )'' (Ibid p. 244). Such is the family relationship of men and c"LLie in tbo oouo"ry or Firdoa. It should bo noted that the aforoea.id citntions from the Hom Yusht beo.r mystical signifie~nco

It is however onfortunal:Al that there is no eottou growing OD aacl no iron ore found in the 6elds or tho Firdos. The hind is cle6cient in its mine1·a I products, and lo •ooh an oicteot that metol cunonoy of coins is entirely unknown. It i11 all barkr, ooth within 1111J without ~he colony. Thor• is no kiJli1\g thoro, neilher for food, nor for spurt, nru.1 much Jess thoreforo for war. Milk a.nd wool are of Lhe best qua lity, bnc•n•o or the pure vegetable food which the cot.tie got, and lll'e "1$0 olimatiCl\lly Cf"4lntial for the mainloaAnce uf hu1oan lifo. ;\nd oho horse being ec1u11lly 08il6[1tiol for tbe physical culture or the iububitnnts, am! it beiug their unshakable belief that all kinds of bodily training and oxeroise, th .. t of horsemanship and archery, are the beat mo&ns for tho promotion of man's apidtWll advance as well, there has come to be dovoloped " condition of mutu&I depondallce b<itweoo man am! beast, this hos evolved inLO mutual love, and all theroforo is poaao au•! prOt!perity and contentment Tho ali-eote or l<'irdo• are .. row or 1·ook-hewu (lll\•ea (rooms), whore ~hoy Jwell in pel\CC unknowa in oua· engio~&l·ed cities tormented with nuiS<> and smoke. fa·ery •lreet hllll o rivulet of uec:tsrlike walers Anwing paot, and lho whole country is &loo studded wilh wclb 1111d other streams of life-giving waters in bloe•ed profu•iou.

'!'he wont "Ff/rdos '' is tho Iranian e11uivaleot of tho Bibliml word "I'aradi•o ", J3ut the latter for ita being Biblical is no le88 Iranian thnn the former. In fact the ideo of Ileaven is 8 z ... atbustrio.n discovery, whence it pormoaled into J udoi«m, rtud theoc.! into Christianity nud 1alnu1. Tho ty'° words have IJut on~ oommou root, the Ave5ta word '' Pai-ric/,a(): 1

' '"htlre "cl<•-;'' ;;igni61:H:1 fL cilad~I or ao enoJo . sure, ancl "Pain" iudic:.tes a couduot of JHe in aooordunce with and 10 obedieuco lo the laws of Nature. Even tho la.test and the most authoritative of English dictionaries derives the

•

(19)

wor<l "Para<liso •• from the old Porsiao '' Pairidncz '' meAning enclosure. (The New St•nda1·d Dictionary, Vol, Ill., page 1789). A Paro.di88 or a FirdD8 is therefore a forti6ed or a guarded onclosuTe or n city where God's will ia being hooonr&d and obey~ Rod ful6llod: where men have faith in God and honour hia law$. Not therefore is it that Paradisa alwl'y• is a post-morl.em cxparienco only; iL is also an expe· rience oonnect.ld with 1ns.n'• Ii!& on earth whnne•·or it iR in full sympathy with N•turo'e order. Oh I Airyana-Vaeja, tile mother-land of the Aryans, thy hallowed ruins have never ceased t.o bloss: and for bim whoee " Hvar&hi.11." h118 carnecl for himself the privilege of a touch of thy sacred soil, Int him but oooe with a measured step nnd n meaaurod breath go round the Kuh-e-DelllAvand, the mountain abode of the liazdaznan :.tahatmaa, the guardians of the •pirit of Mazdaznan, whose sinlesa and sancti6od lives breathe blessings on t.he wor\tl ot la.rgo ; a.nil the serenity of that holy void ah~ll preas all bis 6ins out or him and shall perme&te his p<iraon with tho virtuea of ao Aveslao Ashavan Just the ""me that a Hower· ing garden inspires songs o! love and feelings of happiness, l!O shall the a&nctity ot this vast emptio.ees •wall.en in tbe sincere wanderer an inquiring thought of bis whence, where· fore, and whither, and shall lead him lo 6nd the solution of it all in the music of thRt "ti-ill Bm1Jll wic1" which he thon eh&ll hear. Lot tho tour bo n.ccomplished, with the mind cenwr&il on Saheb-dil sninl.9 who are there aomewhere 11boot, and who thougb aneeen, see, and who though wtknown, know and ble88. .

The Magav of the Oemavand and his ways of life:-

Tho" Magav" is a past.or, n spiritual agricnlturis~. He ondeutands the spirit of tho.t one Avesta sentence of tho Vendidad, wlllch says, "Ho who sows corn sows righteousness." (Vcodidad Fargard Ill, Chapter HI, para 31. S. B. E. Vol. 1 V. pogo 80.) The" Magav" sows righteousness, Be Lbinks of bia Mazda, lllld by hls "Humata" (good thoughts) a&nat.ifies the atmosphere all around : the Magav pre&ahes words of

•

(20)

truth, gnirlAnco and admonition, and by bis "Hnkbta" (good , words) the listeners oro charmed anu bleaasd: and Lho Mngnv eows corn and by his " El varsht•' (good deeds) incites imitation tboroo! by all. '!'he st1nctifying of tho lltmospbero, tho bleeaiog for the listo00rs, a•id the inoiling imi~•tion ••·• each an act of sowiag righteou ;nol!!I: nnd thU• it is tbot tbs Maga v is " spiritual agriculturist. Tho colony at Dema.vnnd is but two tboosaod strong, men, women and children : a11d this entire population of the" Var" dh;d~ itself into tbreo classes, tho good, the bettor, and the best in spiritual Advnncoment, •• we have already observeJ. '.l'hoy l\rO all, however, lhe "Saheb-o-Uils" where the word "Sabeb" is fraugbL with Lhe sublimest of conceptions. First, it is commonly used to mean, (1) Almighty God Himself, as in exprE18Sion, "Saheb-ni-mnrji" (His will ba done.) Seoondly, it is or every do.y and every hour uee,aa a reminder of God's blessings th~t rain con•tonlly, io 1he oriental word of greeting "Sahebji.'' The orientnls uao this word, where the Europeans use tbeir " good inoraings and good evenings" Thirdly, 1t i.8 used for the one who i~ abov& tbe others in any pni·ticular place, a private institution 01· a Oovernltlent office, as 'vben we 8peak tho "Office-no.Saheb " the bead of the Offico, and fourthly, as used in the phrase, "S"heb-o·Dll "1 whore" Saheb" tnei~ua maste1·; 1 e' me.llnS of ; and "Dil" means heart or tniutl. He who is the mai!ler of his own mind, he who has gained, aud tries tO gain, complete control ovor tho pllll8ions of hia Uesh, ho is tho '' Sabeb-e-Dil" or o. "Djl·p•t" whore "pat" stands £or the Avesta word "paiti" meaning master. He wbo has cooqnor~d 8'ltf and serves God, is tho S1>beb-dil.

or the class of the best, is the ~laga\• proper, and incl ados both mon and fewer womon. 'fboy ~re the celebatos, of perfec~d birLhfl; 11nd pree&nt to thij world grand epeoimone of the evolved and angel-like forms, which tho whole huma· nity is destined Lo rMch iu ,Jue time. 'l'hey •re the "Kkritlh,,adalh<u .. of the Avesta, perfected, asexual souls, thoroughly prepared aud only waiting for tho "Great Morning" to appear. They h•ve reaS&lrubled and mergoJ wibhin them· aolvos the sparka of their own soul, that lay scattered in the

(21)

mineral, Lho vegetnblo, the animAl orMtions of the world : nod even assimilotod into them..,lvea the masculine and tho fominine ingredie11U\ of hmn&nity itself so ae w emerge a perfeotod and n completed being, tho "Kbaetbvadnth" of tho Ave•lA liternture. •rbU. fact explains "11eir celebacy and prov"" lhem congeuitally •inless nod passionle""· Jesa~ was e. "ll•z•laz11an S•heb-Dil ", ond ZarAthoabtra led ~hem all. Their principal oeoopalion is doop contomplation l\nd introviaion of U1e Trubhs in Nature (ScJda) and ooa•eless pr&yors, which help tho spiriLul\l progrMI! of the world fl.~ording w the Will of the Lord (Ahon&V~iry•.) Let it not surprillO the reader to know, the•o Magav Saheb-Dils oevor sleep. Tho Avost& has 1t :-

"Him tboo shalt cnll ~n Athre.ve.n, 0 Holy Zarathushtra.: who throughout tho night sits up nod demn.nds of the Holy wis<lom (i, 6. studles the L<•w. n.nd lonna from those who know it) which mAkU!I mao £roe from anxiety, and wldo of hott.rt, nnd easy of oonacienca, nt the bead of the Chinvat Bridge, auu which UU1ko• him reach that world, that boly world, 1u•t excellent worlrl of Para<lir.e." (Vendidad. FnrgorJ XVll 1. Chapter l. Verso 6. S.B.E. Volume IV. page 194.)

Their diot is" ve1·y well regul~ted affair, so that nil 1m>y got jUHt tho ingredient~ thnL their bodily frame most is in need ol'. Those in the class of the bes~. subsist only upon Lhe qul\ntity of milk drawn from speci~lly bred cows of noble brood: such ns we in ~ modern llOn"" won ld call 'pedigree cowe.' It cl\ll bo said that Lhosc 511bsi~t mainly or only on the milk uf cow• bred by them. For each of them the food is prescribed bolh for ita qaality nod quaut.ity by tho higher mystiC5 who marn>ge and organi..e tho dietetics of the entire colony. Ju•t the °"me that milk is obt11oined from apeeially bred cows, so also the ve:;(etables are grown on plots of land epeci•lly prepared by prayers recit;ed over them. The ide,. i• to raiO<J both aoiulals nntl plants on the principles of "go.\',, u.ud 0 vohnu '', so that thl.!re mRy be u.s large n. quantity of lbQ former and Ill! little of the latter as posffible. 'l'be diet of the seco,,d nod tho middle ch...a of tho inhabitants of

•

..i,

\;l'l (22)

. · \. Fir.Joe, u a mixed OllO c·i Uli:I{ and YO.J'IAbl<lll, but,..~ mo,,_ of mil.Ir. tliu ••wlAblot, ud the di~ of tlM tbirJ an-i tho laiL cl&M i1 aJs, " mi~od l.u>a of 1Dilk aod v~;:o Labfu, but ti.ore th• proporLfou Q( ••K.ibbl111 ia lnr;.'llr Lban 1b~1 ol milk. 'l'be Anoi.,nl1 not only bolioved in cooking their ciwn fo><l thorn· eeh•ea bu~ nl10 ueeu tboir ~osb abilltioa iu th• ve1·y produoLion of H. 'l'ho former ua.ge aLHI u11f.il among m•uy a higher oa•lft llinch111. who wHI only eAl Lho food cooked by tbom-1111l•u, for lh~ID eveo & toocb 0£ a •lr1U1g•r m •kW 1be [oo.J "taboo'' for chem. The latter tta;!8 bu bteo torvottoo beca- of the ohaopJ oon litlont: but iu the ....tad•! anJ iJeal 00•10Lr}' of tlrdoa, both hne bMo !'1'9Crvt·l"aod an• being eeteJ op to even to-day.

fhe Activities of the Marave :'fhoir ou1look and thoir andoty and ••!:"tllOoil 1a for tho

goocl ~r un.Jl•tinirulahed hu101mty. Tbo wholo hu111an 11iocie1 i• Lh6lr "wArd" nud lhcy ure it.s "guuJian1". 'l'ho "Magav &hoU." nrv thcrc!uru itle~lly tolerant. 111 fact, tho W&)' they upl•iu lht lil·,;~!ini; forth or the difforenl prophet.II on .

""'"h tn ditt<roo~ ·~"'"• w<koa iL practi~•lly i1n1""1iblt for th"m .. lo t.. othor"i ... • Tha 110Min~ priociplo i1 tht la" or ' "Jin1m • ;,,\'It wbiah <a.~ ordioarily anderaLoo<.I in:tpliea tbal tho reliJ:ion• of tht worlJ are ditl'erentiateJ from ooo anolher in no other way than aro Lite gre•led 01- ol a Uoi•orlity ·~ <.:ollogv. Thor all 11ltimatoly load to the Dool.or'• clog..,.: au•I th• IAlll• tM.t the prinolp•l of a oollegu rOl(U\!J the • atu·l'1Ha or all o].....,, u his eo many •1n1, eo do the Sabobe -roa:arJ, llro Hindu, tho Moalim, the Jew, ~he Cbri1tian and ,.11 olhora u an un•li•linguiabed llook ur tboir own children, varying" inter ae'' io •;:•,development and inherent wu.lom. Thal ••·ery roligion or every kind of worship ulli111alel7 IOllds to union "ith the uma liigboaL Ont, i• bcaulifolly oxpro•d iu a Sanakrit couplet, which uya:- • • ., ..

"Akaohat Pati1a111 loyaw ya11la gachchaU ~•garam -« ( Sar,.in' Jovo nama•karam Kesluwnru praligachhati" ~ ""

It IAfl, lkbo!.l the rains lb&L coruo down to the eerlb in 1

fiooJt AD•l liOrr<llto, t.-C:Tf Jrop thereof O!tit0&t...l7 r.achOI IJie ' - .. ~ ·~,~. J.11 -.' .• ~.t;T~ JI,

~

(~)

•; 111 eball th• rr"y...,. and the "orsb.ippial:" or rn•n t.o wbom-•or Addr",..,,J,-Allah, MAl!lla or JehQ•llh, ehaU nod .,m ult.iroately reach the "K8Bba\'&" wh•. i. tht \11-lligholel.. On ,. worldly anJ • practical ocmpnruno, we . th.lt man reach .. thu highoat ho aim& al, not always through tho same channel: Thu NUW Lbat led Na11oloon to tho 0111perordhip of ~'ranee, ~o,J prnoti011lly of the world. wuru fto dilrorent from thu ron tea lht>t led Abraham l.inooln tMUMlllt, the likes aoJ ibe disliked way be uilferent for evory iuJivi.Jual, •nd beeaW!tl of thia Cuudau .. oial 1lilforonce, th ir NOMI AllU tboir waya I.ah dilr.rent dir•clione, bot load olliwatoly Lo one and I.he ame pl: ., aro lbe dill'orm5 religion• ul tl1• world, ocme ioLo c1iateuca Lo IUit the n...J1 of tho nr1i1111 circom5tsoces of Uw tim .. a11J Ibo changed tewperamout.a And Jifforeol.ly conatiwtod ooulo of meo, and t.o

provide thorn \fi\h tho roulo• and way• that Ar•I most condn· ctvo to tholr quick.or pi:ogre&11 t.o tbo gool. 'l'hOftO routos nnd "'"Ya are what tho Avuta ecionco calla "J\l'(lmt". 'l'he word is akin to tho English word "germ", per hap• tho latt<lr ls a derivative of tho former: They both c1pt"9M ~ho •me root thongbt:-"fh• anbttanae that ie to do\'clop a ntw individaaL l"ljtunllvely, lho primary flllaroo of ony thing, lbat from wbiob a lhioi; 1nay ti.. developed as froUl a 9"<1 ". (Tbe New l)landMJ Dictionary Volume II, paie 1026). \\ bo llioo W'ill doubt th•t tboeo micro•copic beginning• •od tb•ir 1obseqoeot mighty induo11ce• all ocme from the et.rnal HMvon•, where the ang.ilic ®·workers manage and Orgt\ni•• and arr&Dl(U in obedionao lo de6oito !&w<f. Tbe atuJy is not t•ey, it involvoa tho oon•iJeration of faat.s which many Ifil l bo unwilling t.o aclmit Somo faith, aome sobrie~y and enu10 palionoo •hall and will ulthnowly wln and r.11 eball bo u11<lor11Lood. lo Av..Uo eplrltu,\I •cienc.i ~ primary loDuencu which etart lbe Univol'H in ii.A progre""i"e molion o.r. Mlle\! "llllflum St..f'(}m . 'l'h" r~1ult is tbe bl....,.j Ap!J<l<'r>uca iu spooo o( lbe aouutl- 1alar oy&l.l!ms lhal deocrate Ul• cloudl-9tllllmer &lty llDd MlmouW. n111n tA> remember •ad r .. pect bia Crotor. Theao prnnary inlloellcos permcat.o tbrongb the Universe and

•

.. (2')

wben they reach our eyetem, th ir inlloence i• felL in lh differentiation of the idea1 of meu a.coordiug lo tho gred• o their pnrily and iotelligenco and tlins give rise lo wb~I tho Avo~b<n spiritoal eoionoo baa called "Jiram""· '£bo1 it WM

that the iolluenoe of the planet Mfrreury brougbL oboul tho "T~r11di Ji ram" of the ll ind Uj ant.I the BuddWate; tho influence of Venos gave birth to "NAboedi J.iram'' or Jmlia"m and lhe Jewi;; the ioJluenc• of Maro t(l\VO ri&e '°the "H&shatni Jira111" of Mohamedani1m a1ul 1he llobame<U.ns; tho intlucncoi of Jupiter originated tho "Bujiw Ji ram" or Zaral.liaohtra aud AJ .. daanan, and the iniloenoe of :iuuru created tho "Kaivln1 Jiram •of Jc.us nnd Chriot.ionity. ThUB have they all come from lbe mme cele•tiaJ eource, 01na1>ated according t.o definite law• and wore spreei.l rmd promulga Led according to Ibo needa of the timea. lt ie alw11.ya au Atboi= lbal '£bno•ophy gorminftl&!, and it ia alway• In tho disp<msation of N11t11re that when tho oontlilion of mtJu •inks down t<> a rcgrottahlo depth, that a loreruunor, a warner, a prophet i• l>,ru. Of eucb were l. Rtw1l&m J.Ya:oomi• for the laud of lrau 2. Otoman Zar Adll8bt l:lan1ah for America wd Europe, and 3 Beramllhab Na•'l"Oji Sbroft fot' the ancient U.nd of India. lluL unfortunate a.nd lamentablo baa it b..on that oompetitioo bu u. .. 11 conceived wharo coopore1lo11 anJ coordination bhoulJ bave been. The diflereuli•lion which was intoudod by the Augul• uf Beaven to bnloooo tho dottuicnciea of tho time• aud to remedy the defects of untltJnilanJjng, was iotorrtcloo t.o moan a race to rt on to tho front rank•, and a race to ueo all one'• otrenglh to impoM one'• viowa of thing& on all others. forgetting for the motueut, how and why tb811& differenliation1 bad originat.d, llJld that it ,. .. for the purpooe of pr-rviog the harruony of man'• dll&liol:' with one another: aad alt•o forgetting at the eame time that to impose one wan'• likee and Jialikes on another loy force or &\•en by porsuaaion was to croat.e n most damaging Ji~h•rmony in the society of mM1

Uut ii wua the call or wlf: it wne tho Jo, o of lhot \'ain~

• No'>or worked for 11uulic. Hu WM only given MCei.A

t.o Firdaus.

(25)

alurious,-" I tlid it." This proce•• is the one we coll "pro;,Jytizing.'' It has cre~lcd st.rife where previously peace had prevailed; i•, has brought JiHcord1 ''· l1~l'r. originally unity had reigned, and it ha• cau""J blood•hoJ, whero" cordial cml•racu would othondso hav• 1i cm. Woll uncl trnly h11• Dr l•nunroz Ghiniwnll!I., our prei;ont promin,nt Eiq u wnt of I ho !Im-•· Khahnoom i;uid that "Vatlllvv•m+KcN·sft.ni-n6-prabMvebo" i e, Proselyliiiug ia of the inspirnliou or tho Jlovil, Masters of tho 'Jirnma' have frorn time l<> ti mu apponrod on earth, not to disturb but to pacify, and uo• to compote but to co-ordinate. If world-p<iace is the aiin t>ml ohject, le• not the pence Pnlnce at llaguo do lay tho advent of it by Jiscus•ing rules Rlld laws and holding oonferencca, but lei ii, hurry UI' to rcoog11iea tho genuine intcr-nnLiooal iwportnneo •nd ruorlL of lho tn.Azdaznan la\\· uf 11.Jira10" Autl prcnch nnd propagnto ite truth to the world. Thia shall •fot1a"oy u.11 unvy and nil animo&ity and rsco snporioriLy, nu•I the Priuoe of Peace shall provo.il again•i the Demon of Di.cord.

In the colony of the Fir.Joa ihore nro 72 •uch Magnv Atbrnvone of the bigho•t oln••, towering nbovo ,.11 other Atbrnvno& or Prie•tly Order of Y11ozdAlhregart1 beaded by Daetur.. Thie nomber of 72 is pre!!Orved without"" inoro1U1u or a docrC&Se, Lhoreio1 Es.eh iuJivitlual ls a st&l\vnt·t. BO\'on

Ceet high, b1md•omu l.>eyonJ comp•rison, with poinLed nO<le•, oomploxions lmllo\ved nud fair, wlih looks of love nnd icarniog, wisdom and piety. 'l'h" wuole colony of Sahob-Dils io under their leadership &od guidnnoo for evory mattor concerning births, marriages, 11uJ deallIB, and even for "ruitrntion in cases of all dilrer•noe•, which aro novor of,. grave cbaru.ctor. Tho result i.e tbo.t there is ideal potl()C followed by id~l plonty. Nature is luxuriant iu its spark liag green, and ""is society most happy and joyful in its profaeion of prosperity. Moo nod women ai.., ..JI bn equal footing and ~liere does not exis~ a task which is" iofrB dig" for nny man or too complex for any wom .. n. '£ho mou all wear loug hair that flow dowu to lheir uock• aad lllllintaiu vooerable beards. Ju•t oho ""1110

that ihoru are wen-uu~gavs, there arc w.>weu-wagavs as wall but only few. 11lgb l!OU!JJ they all are, who b&ve reached

'

(26)

the perfeolio" or the "Kh11<1h11a4ath<I" They ar" Uio guor•li'°'' aoJ tho guides o[ n II tho women fol~ iu the ' ;;Ab01bclil" colony lu a true Aludazoan fashion, tho :lay "tl•I the night, tL• full poriucl of the e irth'• on• complet<> rotAliou ou its axiM, 2~ hou•·• is divided into llvo "giibe'', '!'he "AiviMrutb· rem O~h" ( 1uuset to rnlclnight) is th~ time for serinons, whon e\'cry i111liviJual lllUJjt atteuol Thu "U•hain-Gnb" ( midni;,:ht to AllDtise) i• LI•• time for lb• i"'<80u&I vr~y•ra of tbe Yagn Atbr&\'aDI and the .Melior- •-Hb&na and early llAv1<nn ie tho Lime for their rest. Tho ·• Ujimo-Oah" (after· noon 3 P Id to sut18et) iR tho ti mo whon they uXAWino and control the org1u1ization ol ooeiety, i .. uo orJers, and maiutAio diecipline. &veryooo of the ma1, .. v·Athravans •• ' t.>BIA!d iodi,·idual lie is a "RubAn-Biahb. ·· Tho ho•J of the n1ons~tery lioe an extra title or "Sbro•hlviuez" who goidoe tho dostinie• of all entrusted to Iii• caru, and b1Jne6ollilly in8neac .. th• outer worltl a• well !::very child boru iu the colony " b1.iugbt h.tfore ham, and bo euanrn'"' I.ho aii;u• frolll

a •piritu•l 1w.int or ,·iow. and dcciJu whether the obild will turn on\ to bu" magav or not.. 1f tho llii;us augur tlmt tho child sh11ll boa magav of the la\u1·u, tlaon its aducatlou is st once trnu•lurr .. I t<> specially appoiuleJ 11t>r.Ouo, and 11 oorriod out in a Jetormined manuur. every other child la returned to ii.. parent• .~II tllli' du1ciplino and rii;uur anJ piety ua&d t.o oo tbu daily rontioo of tho Iranian people before U1uir fall' uud i~ """ lllHO the souroo of e.11 thuii· vitality which bad c"rried ~hum to tho olawu of power Dut with thu '4xity of that disciplio•, c..me the downward juuruoy, and lMo loet its nil, it.. royalty, it.a treMorn, it.s religion, its pbilo'ICJphy and it.s learoing. Bu~ !run i• ao ancient la111l: it• a\moephero is charged with the 11Coul. or tho mii;hty J~eus of ,·,.lonr and mightier Act• of solllussoe111, anJ tl111M1 iu its times o! troublo yet breathe into tho ooul1 of its .001 a hopeful cour.g<i; and tho voice of the Unll<'OD reverberaw l.c> fortify them in tbeu fallen condition-' /..am01ll Not. 1'b1• WRS the high ''Oice

from tho Houvoos that onlivonod and uuoour$ged ll1u vnliaui wus o! Iran ~uJ hulped tho discou,ulalu oneo to bcu it aU op with a calmness oopre.:edeot.ed in the bietory of hu1tuu1ity.

(27)

ll'rlle valonr rnaoifeot.; it.wlf in tho con1net of a aoldiec wh•n bo fearl..,.Jy fa.,.. th~ g'UD'; bot ~rno valour also rnAOiforil

iteelf in thal ("\Mive yet ooorngooa• •tt>aJ 1gai114t tyranny when Lhat. conrlition of tlomin1t.na6 an1I rnlo ia no tnore., ftind A changed oouditiura or depenJonoo Atl•I 1ni•ory take• Its plnoe. Tho latl•r •I.ago gives l(l'e&IAr opp~rtuo1Llos for the exhibilion or that ancestral nobility of ooh!>viour. Tho oons of Iran were le•l<ld with both these aud wertl found as valoron• ia ••r aad victory, "" they were noble 1n dependence and dor .. 1.. Wl\h the C.ll of the empire, came in untold acd ont.Jtiokoble atrocitieo showered on tbu eonqu•red aona of the ..,,1. But for ouch of them as bad dared lo remain faithful to the tr11<litione of their forebears there Waa abundance of propttious ~ign•, ,Jemonstratiag but one me•ge-L4mll1ll Uot Th• Iranian kttows and c~n read the will of the lortl ht ev6r)' pheoo1nenon of lb& earth, and he 11&1 tberofdre also learnt to be ["'tient and sedate In Lhe 1troog eonviotioo thllt all i1 boing JU•Lly done. Tbe royalty of lr&o i1, Lbey My, presorv .. 1 in their Jeacendllnt.a who r"8ide io lbe •[e vanlll of lite l"il'<l•lll to-d•y They think of paaoo, and peace pr .. vails: They pray to )Juda and their proyere are beard. Tho u11,..urea or Iran t.oo arc lllh"1Ilanically atored in the 1'0ndertol mn'l8UIDI of the Firolo..., the exhibits defying human comprehen•ion by their eompleidty, and enchanting all by their bonuty, Tbe philoaopby and lo~rning of auoient Iran too i~ 1t.ord1l in Lho!Ml Qo<i-guartlo•l plo.coe. 1'ho libraries of tho Firdo• aro Lbo pl1<cet wh"MI tlm anoiont and even the modern lit.oraLuro that relat.oe to Mn1dunao1 i• to be aeen int.act, untoucheJ by bo•tilo hAn•lt, •nd 11ninterpo!.Lod an•l uoa!xitlg~J by inter...teJ m1.ch!ef·mongns. A.a an instenoo of lhtA. UlllaJ Saheb n..,J to •!"'"'k of the originl\I and tho troo copy of the "Shah-Nameh oven al Firdstt•i wrow it 011L hint'l<llf, which be hn•i ~•en in the library ul the "~·,.,1.,..: 'l'bo60 t,t.,_sseJ puople aw1'it th• coming of tb.e "ISl11>~h1•11t", Varjavuml (Behrnm i e. lnvinciblu) and tbeu w!ll tho~"" u1nor11~ from tb~ir fa•tno•"""· onriob Lhe world with tl.'otr trc~•urlll!,. and blOSll tho wurlrl li7 thair presence aml piety. !hat will be tho "Oro11l Morning" of tho planoi earth

•

(Ii} The ""'cmcfcl.lhS-viz.. Ille Yr: I \\hr~ra-Priel'l.ly olA!!a onJ!lll(tl<l in porforming o romonies hlllldoil by Dal!tara aader tbA direct.ion or the Mog•VO. MozU. hu inton·foJ th& the priHI. oball bo tho pillar of th• oocneiy, ~.,J wb«r.vor the pril!bt llllJDtain• hil.oaolf \fith piety onJ lo.unin~, tl!MO follows pro•perity ol the higho•t kind: but where \hij pr1eat haa mlleu •hort of the standard of moral nucl epiritn•I eOiciency e:rpectod of birn, the ... oioiy round alidut loo mllb"t

do~oel'ftl.o and IClltkr 1w1y Wilbin tb• aoclosnre. o! the ~·irdoe, the prie•lhood it of U1• 1d011l standard of porfootion and I.ho 1t00iety round About ltlm (horefora ia nlso 1·ei,'ll l~t.ed ond mafolaiaed in on equally iu• 11 eflicioucy. I.I not tht. proved btyund doubt by the manner in winch tba Fmloo Ii,.. not only conducl.ud It.I own aduii11i1lration for centuri .. !"'St, but has 11100 auoctl1ldod in rooi111Aiuing its ~)oofneae from tbc worlJ undetected by the moat 1nqulllitive. Tiioy bod witne••ed Uun tbt fall of Iran'• f mpu.,, 11..J otarw I with th" mJ change that had cumo over it.I ~rienhood, AU•l they thorofoo well k.new tho.~ tho i11t~•grity of th•ir •111111! oolony 1tncl tho aa(ety of 11..i inhabitant.I nil .1 .. , ... 11ll0tl dit" ctly on lhoir IJ"•· ll>DAI i.,1i. , 1our or tr•1th snd lllQC roly. The Vo<dAlhr g•na of Fir.l 1 "'' "noble cla&• of praOllt.s, whO .ind• ratao•I Lltoir clutioa t.ow•rd• their Out! and their re.po11Mibilitios t,uwarcls m•n. 'l'hoy are the Jlillars of tilt' lltlCiety ol tho F1rdo1

(c) The third cl•u U. he ma10 portion uf lbe popu'l.Lioo and th- 1'r• th •h•pberh, •1'riculturi•i.I, wuriora and •rtis•ns. It 11 nnfortunaw that ~her• it! nut much metAI 10 Lbe J~nd of th" ~·1r,1os, auol ooos"'lu1111tly tbore ia "'"" uo mo111llic c11rrei1cy to tnle wilh : it i• all barter ·rb• colon) ol•.o hcki O>"<>U onJ iron: bu~ I ho Fal'd ...... n bot or iu .. 001, Lb, liko of \fhich 1110 outllid wot!J will "'"r rrt.r1vc m vii.in t._. prool uco. When lhorofor•, "t •ptioinlet.l perl<1da th~ onravo•n com'!i oul. t.hey bri111: out their ex lu1-,it11 "'0 JI, and oxcb•nie i~ fur au h coinm~i1J~ iu th•.r i. .. e neod of. They r .. r •hoop auJ c~tUe: the former for their wnol, and tho IAt!mfor tho aupµly of milk nnd ilat Altunrlnnt products tor their foo<I. lt I!!, lb• very kind and Lruly •yw1 .. th•tic Lreatmont "I ich th hmb• l'J' elv an I ~h pu ••g>!' bl~ \Yhlcb tl1•y

(29}

alwaye e&l &bt bocom .. tno c1ui ... ol I.be Tery .uporior q1111\ily or t.hoir tfOOl. The laml .. UUllinct.ioly know tbo1r muteu, • ...,. _. childrC!D kno., U.Oir paronl.o Their feul- free<lom ii their healLh, and thclr lie&Uh Joi.ermia.. &be qcahty f Lhelr wool Oul uf aucli pnre :woof uut,, tho KU!l.i 11 m&de ror • II: vory ufun 11 II tl1" they make the " K:n•ti" fro111 lho wool of a l"'rt.iculnr pd lamb, •md only chiln&• ib when the animal 11 doad 'l'be k11rti made of 72 •ingl• 6lam•ntt or ,.001 bl# an -Lene 1ooso1ng of ica own apa" from 11.1 ~mcacy in prayurL Thero aro 72 obaptert1 of tho \T&m• 1

72 ma&'av Athrnvona in thu Firdou I.hero • •·• 7~ steJ)I or gndcs of A1l1u1 wbicb lead to the Abode of Light, the Oarodo1ab•; anJ I bore .re 71! •tt.ribat.8' of God io the !Iormud Y .. ht, The ecltnCI o( nwnl>eni (Jlm ... Aioltd) u but a rh•pler in lho Book vf "KhBhnoom ". 1£ tlu 1li11it1 carry a ny ID) .. tical tipificaaoa, then MY• the 11111-e·Ald.\d, tho cllgit "9• ttprucnu t>erl-ction: and lbenumber 72 ii 7+2•11. The WOlldora of lbie digit Ir colleet...1 would dll • •olnmo, Ono at lo\ t will ~:.IA)' •ullioe, for the corioo• to ecok more ror himsolf Tl'° dii.,jt ''!I'' ruu a m>;,>'ic !Ooch Jo11t tho oamo lhat iii• &oucb of wi;-r ai&luil u-.rythln;; aw L, llO dlho &ouch ol • 0 • ru.•koo aol •D<I ••vry oumS.r rn tho world, alau "9''. A• nn IUti~utu, tako nny r•odorn nurnlJer, 111y li0167, Oivo this 11uu1bor a touch of "II":

llUU7 x 0=80i418

Totel op tho digilAI of the molloit•le 8-t-0+2+-1•1•3•18 Tollll up ngoio 1+8• 9.

U1ta1l-SohoL hrooi:bt tho nows thlll the l:iaheWi of Firolo1 knew L~ llm..,·AidaJ and Ui:.t th• 'digit "9'' \f1tJ1 I.hem w~1 aymbolic of p rfocl.ioa. This expen:uont •• hot ooe Rr&1n from tho UltH"irele• hCAJ>ll th&l coo .. t1tul>! 1'1• "llm" 111111 t4on tlU. Um..,· Aida J tU.1£ ia bot ~ '-""io ii tho Solian l>&ods of tbo " llm-.. X.ti.hllOOID •.

To rotoro to our 101.J"Ct, tM " .of• Otl!Olly lo 111a1oly agr1eal~ural 111 I eclf. npJKOrting m the matt~r of fooJ; grow •og th•ir Otto aoro, •ti.'llablu1 anol lrnll.•, an I br,. .. hng th~ir O'lrn cat tle, all wlUi a 1 intaal oa.Lluolo: and &tricL c oanlinoaa •

(30)

p1ty.;..1, •~ral aud opmcul Th• ?"l'llQD~ l.o be ealc.in~ it prim•nlJ divitled into porMl1" which th• .,.g .. of tho 001001 a11l A •Ka&\•·, which lllMU8 a 1Ali•n1•n10 nng •lrawn !JO lht I.Un& o>f rito•lia~ic incanatioo• llftd io itflnite propor· tioa.. Tho ideu btiog Lo mako tho laud frnttful and froo Croon harmful pa,...1ii..., wbiob not only tl••~l'()y Lh• vegut&tion bot a lSJ on.._• oplJomica among mon . l'hua helped amt " llli•tod In thuir ·lovulopment and growth, and 11ruli'•n!,t!d J'rom ontaido ~unairiug inflnonoos by th- t:alt~m&tie ~ing• drft.Wll !() t;bc ""°"mpnnm.nnt of tuneful l'"'Y'"'• lh• vegetableg grow op ..trong and lwalthy wit.Ii virt.u.-aectlornting aod l•..t.-killio~ 'l'*'lit.ie& of lbe "p.,." fnll1 Joelop0>I within lhem. Th• rood of mtn mates hi• cbanelAr • l•t him therefore gro" .. i... by erptrienca and fil"lt ahon11& aftd then m&lre hill own food H lb• ninte of the Firdoo do " I! thou will ba genlJo llko a ll\lllh and ooo-rellilllAnt and docolo, eo that thou m•1'1L obtain i:-• knowlodgt, food thou upnn horQ.oo, nud fruilt and oeroal• 1>nd thy blood eball oo puro And cool, u.nd ohaq(Q!l wHh lood for thy ttpil'it in 11•~ and love". (O~hspo: Book of lotpira.tion Chap!.tlr X:ll. vor•Oll 10, I I, pa!l') 800). '1'11oy know the ECionce of JiuLuLio~ to perfootion. l'hsy know •wl aru Rware of veget .. blo val11•& <C•loriOJ ), not only for foo,J anJ m1>lioinn, bot allJO lor Lhoor u .. in z. ..... lhoshtri'n ooromoniala which help •p1rilu•I l\•lv11ncemont. l'loey nu•lentand th• healing and I.he 0>0hng inftuente< of t.be \•ar1uut hl'trbt on mAn1s lower- pt!l~ioua, dit.Linguif.h Lhc·m a• the "\Tobon• plants. and restrict !orhid or ""~ulale their ""' by propor in.iruclions Io Ave hn 0<:jeueo uf diototic., tho '1'ord ":S~b:\t&t ·• repr89ttnts the whole ol the v1·g.i1Able )tiog<lou1; 1\11' t th1• \Vr>rJs "Vqhun1i.. '' ""•I " (h•vA"' roproseot. roapeotil'oly lh•1 injurious and tba bonoOai11I ~1!'¢ct•. lroon Lh& apiritu••I point of view of I.he various plant• wh•n uoed tJ.s

food for m'll 'rhey l:now the 11Cien"" of W.l"l.ri•ntom and r•><ionuu•n•I it 1.0 the world at largn u no Kb•ol11tely ••1"lnfiil aoxiliny Lo the utrnOHl veracity of th~ t.o>ogue (Trnlbfnln· ,$)

""man'• UOI\'• roal religfon iwJ M Lbe ba"'c fir l dop for tho ad'"'"'''went of Uiil l'j'iritoal up1nat.t of I'll "'hg>On• The inadvi,.bility or ••11mal food i• olecid0<l "' uiore than one

(31)

· nl.illc &od moral CC.D11denti<>ll6. "Jt i U.. o;..nl.iminaLioo :r t.b'I blood f IDIUI, by tarW\"OCOU food, wbu- IJ.ou abaJl ioodor", (0Ab pc: Book of lDJi~lr•l•~D Ul••P~' XU '<>n41

l9 p•jl• 800) Tho lit•t of th..., 10, or .. olly, thu aeoouJ 11&y•, i~ ~xoltc. ll1u l'A 1001 u( thu lleal11 uuJ tho U1iril •• lh~l iL iovul•<lll t;h11 •l••tr ucl ion of an i111portnul hoJ1 .. 11u1t<1 to human labour All tlae .. , '"" true 1md 11ro ACce11tuJ, Bui lhc SAho1J11 bavo ouo 111oru to giv• which baa u 111uch '-lnutlflo 11<.Curacy iu ii aa aoy otb rw. llio &hebe my th4t "h•n au animal ie aboal co be alauitimoJ, anJ blood nJ ayu JUJd &ho !<ariul dlJtorti 1 of Ibo rbjai<>;l!lomy of ti IJruLW. optraior aod tbc other C"h" aurroundfugs .,. ..... • f,., 10 ill I~ thia foor Locom 1 U.. cause of a ~Baa-lhlhra'' or a "llaJ-Dul" which tho holpl- Tiel.iui then brcaU.. out '.11>1 word "Bad• WOIUI "t.td'. ")lilhra" llll!llDI tboughLt "'"' '!JUI.' Dl611WJ

a l'rayer ut a wio\1. "Ob I ungrawful 111011 ••i;ho Lile Ccigb· t.cuoJ !Joa t, •fur all the CooJ that yv roo1nv.U Crum m•, ie tbia the 1··•wnril r' The 'igb, Lhuugh iL due1 Qot 1avo, yet 1prC11•l1 tlAolf on tho wavefi of othtr, gatboro tog•tbw: t.. Iorm a clouJ uf L1·lwo1 buo. aod wbon ri1oe, ro1111 ltli 1bowU11 of Jire VWIAliu111 "il<>cao ... tboo C&lllL llOl f..;J \Ill liah DOr 11..i. but tl•rouglo dei.tractioo UDto cluath, avou IO, dt.truct;iQD

ont.o ,1.,.11i .W.11 ooma opo• thy 11>01", (Oti.ii!J9. Book of lnap!rataou tllllJ ICr XJ1. verse H Jlll&'l llO(I) Tb114 II ioa t.hal ignora11t 111~11 111 111• hurry for the grati6,.tlou of Lia barh.cic pleuuru 1uoclvorlonLly eowa tho 1iai I.tr "'°""'• "'bauce iD due tame lhall •rrini,: forth, war auJ fanuna and poatileuQol and plagut aucl ""rlbqoak.ea ant.I Broo; It la ~•t.i.m• ooun~ro&r1te11oJ chat vcgetablu food aleo luvolv• a epecie1 of Ufe-kllhog. Th<1 "'"'wor to LbU. u Uatacl-~abeb brought i~ froU1 lho l'iroloo i&, Y~ tho fact.,. admiLtoJ: bul there i.e a oot.eworLby Jitf<ronoe between tho twu, 'fbu formor i.o. animal fuocl 1111y be dt:eeribed u man'• nlt.itaJo of being "cruel t.o t.. aoln•h''; whureaa tM l1ttor, 1 e. vogolol>le food ln&y be llo1<1rlhocl •• man'6 l\lliludo of L<rng .. crool tu be kiud' 1·1io fonuor ia comparable lo a li11h, the lat.W lo a azula. 'l ho u11<:tatlo4 of a butd1<:r'a kmfo i.uJ a farmer' a 1t7141! hav• 011.oeiw i!ll"oct6. The C~ru.iu l:allaOll )&in, lb.,

("2)

Iott.or e&U!lll rleuort The killing arrats tbc propai. .. tlon of I.be 6(>eCI'"" U1• reopiug h•lpa to farwanl it. llav we oot ••pcncnced llio contrary tJl'oeio of a aigh •na a emile t t:ach baa Its own raJiu. ol lnUu•nco '1111 cigh of nlfotiug ~preada "'""'" an<I 6triku •lo.,·n all progr-= bu~ tho •mil 011J tho IAµgbt.er oi exul!Anl joy can •v•n bring the dud to lifo. Such exadly ••Iha 1U1tl1ho•i1 of animal and vegttablu fooJ. Lot ovory on~ I hinlC !or ham.., I£

The colony ol HrJoe is &elf-aapport111g beoau,. of the fewnea ol its noe•h and Ila• ch&tttt} of ala plauu~ 'tho wen ;;row tbezr own C')rn. "'°''• tbeir uwu clo\.h••, in\·eo draa: their owo plou.,111, c:»lt their own food, oo\ct .avy or OO\"tt tbtir ooaglabour•a forlonct or~~ nor evco amagiue a ocanJal for any ooo.; Women wear veila and lr.eep their boAde oovarud It 11 a oovcriug •pecially oontr1voJ to koep Iba huaJ cl°"od. lluroJ.itu1 anal lhe otbur Or.elau hiawrioa.11 bavo made me11tiu11 o[ th•• he•dgenr in tbUJr work•. Thi.II re•I ancient Jre• ill !Jte1ervod perbape lu tho l•'itdOll only. The men too keep th•ir 1i .. d1 cuvoroJ wiU1 a wbitu ""I' Tho dignity or tl10 t."nllo111ou auJ the beauty of tho IA.ii .. ba•o •n iuapirinii c:h&r111 or their owo Tlte &eer•t ol t!Je wbol hes in the,{Jr.d Ci( lhcit lllU!erJ O\'ar eeJf, tbtir ....-rvoJ a.,.J •nctilleJ phyaical •he:ig1h; 1lmr pore vu,;• tar111u d1ul, (pur• bte&U80 it it gt°O"°D UUJtr tl1t holy inJloence& of tho t.ih•mAUIO raoi;a, calleJ the "K<Uh" aa u1•lai11,J .i..i,·•,) lhoir conataut vractice of good th~11ghi.t, onJ their uvo:r actl\'o anidnty for the good of the worlJ al lar119. lo .hurt thuir woy• of Ufo ure •lrictly in accoi·Jauuu with the Mn&daman law cullctl "lt&lhavia cbakra," which io • eort of a .. uatiBud curriuuluw of pr_.-ibed ral .. of conduct, dn1wu awd Jicut.od by thu groat 0 Rata," leador, caUcd "1 .. utboahtrou11uo ~ lb• "'*" oed to the Lord lantbuahln.

Tho r..-nt he11J ul the colooy 11 the "Sr6aba•·•ru &Lob ;uarzbauji" Ulll>leJ by. oommilt«i or 72 p1ou1 auJ 18UJ..,. allOlbl.aut.e, all Maga'"• chief amuog tb1:111 bcU1i: t.b• N~b (deputy) SrObliavnrti ll..obutiilji Sah~b. Sbol1nryar ::X.bub, A•i-ndiar Sd1ob, KliQdaJaJ S.la•b, nud KbiuLirnuuJ Sahub, and •li.o by &oCI Taun11~ Sabuba as Uie head la(ly.:Uagiiv of

(33)

tbo o:>lo11y. h is es90olo•I lo '"'lro I.be word "Shr•'llli!nns" for tho re.dtr'o li01wr Ulldor.taoJfo;:. The wwd to

dorl<oJ from tbe roo~ ' 'rot"; wh1cb mooo.o 1.:. limn or LO m•ke 0Lber1 listen lo the eornmondwont.e or 1be LorJ. h therefore prac\ically mea1111 • "caof- r• of si111 "'aim on• wbo can make Lb• snDCr ttpanl a nil ttfarm ADd be able bill)• .. ir to limn tn Lbo gui<lin;; voaco frum U.o Un!OC<?n. In tho wonl "Shr~~h•" there ag•ln !1 lhn uane root. TbolO Lhere!ol'flhavo Aoo11rdi11g to tho dicf.11.t11 111 "8hr~!ha" aod •~ho are a~ one wath "Shrv•ba" they alon•· ,. .. bo ca:JeJ • Sr~v•res·SAlieb; 111•1 W 1<Ucb high·111ul•I priat.t alooo e.n tho layman oinfe• bi11i111 and Ncoi .. hi• •hroc· lions thereon The pnctico of coufo•lon of aiM now prevalonl among oar bl'Ol.btt Cbrbtla~ of U,. ltoman C.l.liolic folol lJ a raoaaot of U.ila ancient lh1-luaa11 CUSl.QtD The ltoman C..lholio prlQ!ll is vuy often a very l""rue-1 man, anJ ""o!teo • 111011 uf pluty alao. Moy bo thurofore, tho 1innor'1 co11f••· siona or1<111 1<nou;;h fall on worlliy ear• but a "Sro•h~varns s.hob'' azuwtiriog tho Ava..'lAD ''"tuire:IU('nte mos~ renUlin. rnrity now, a1 it wu in ~ncient. ta11'oa Thus It i1 that ru~uy A M•:..l•ia11111 au.tom nuw cntiroly f.iri.;ottoo in the fol.J it..,11, bu ko1,1 ii.toll alh·e by a 111111ifoabtioa in oth"f r1<ll1:fo11._ Tbia proveo thal l!ASdasn~o fa olr foOTYading and all·pe•m•t· I~. lhttill h th& prOof of lhli9o famous rinlo of thUuoom orlenialin llr. Mumoll<r whon bo MIJ "Afa:da:nall w t.\o r1l,Jk>1' h 1" of aU Nl.j,JW1'1." In ft4uloK it may be nulod thaL "Srlloba" la a "Yu.ta' wbich word mllllL not be con· huaJed with the Eagli•h worJ "Angel" Tb• letter hoinr II lower gra.lu, tt0 thnt an aog~l ru•y uvolvo and do<olopo ant.a 11 "Ya•.aLa''. Tllo Srd1h&var&< SAbu~• are Lbo "ZMatbu•I" tr6t.emoo• who guide Ibo desl.iot~• of Aladaznt.01 in lieu C>I lfArllhU!ht:a bimaolf,

Tho child of the Sohtb Dill grow1 into yootb, tralno<l Cnt in "'° b.obit.t or tho •trictoel. truth, .. coudly OU the t.t•to rlAHd from ialaocy IO ucel in h.....,man.hip both for Ibo bo7 and the girl, and thirJl7, on tho longin;; 1,, r- a 41kaJy ban•I and a tore eye for archery. Th• lif•• of IM lnhaliitanto or tlio FirdOfl, lherdfurc, oommencoe wilh tho

Ii

(34)

throt1tfu1rr Jil'ift'l\ry cduc1tl,n1 · n.ncl a.a hor n1un11J1lup 1L1ul tuchery

arn ftlU!t'nti,1 ror tihe ~1·1r1lu1I A•lv11ocen1 nc. or m1'1l, Lli11 prO· 11r..., of In• hr •ml tho • v •lot on of hi. llOU •ro but 1he h1,.:ber •n I th •rooger \h1vel lpn1 nt. or •h l 1-roo C"\I <llh&l

• 1rrue>< Wo have 111ont1 D l bd •re tl10 · llad" •• chd:t.rn' or 1he curriculum of ala laxr:no od~«lion II h • five rrinei1 .. 1 dlrecl~M f 0 oeaun,: I.hop.op ... hi II 11.eown ~bnoloa 1t t:1 ls tf,c "I\ rnt wli cb m""n '"St n !I' A I ti~ fi,.e ··~O•s.te aro co1nplia1cnln.t.) io each utl '" and lb-: \l'ftllliDI( i• nu\ C'Olpl•ttl 1111t1J tho pupil is otliCICUI Ill >111 Of

tllntu ·-

1. 111<1 iog and arc! r7 fonns but nne it tD ol th• Ion:: couroo of o luc:ation known .a• K ... ~Tan ', ,., re K ml" means 1,tr n;:tb. and "'foul", from "C..11" liodJ ph) •e&•

2 Tulhug the Tr11\h r •nrur but 1mo o!.em iii n lengthy

C'Cureo "' llr••t .. tu""tiorr C111loJ tho "K1ha1 ~;kltl:t'u" "hon; "Eklol.lu'" n1c 111 peaorful ooc .. J and •llui:al rel•ll r rul of polite ioc1cty

!i :Str1ct~t faith 1u tha 1 1>/\~111." a·tthgton 1~ •Jiii? 1Ltuu w

tho 9C1ouon "11own a11 '' K''' att·Z u11ir1" \\'here "l.a-uoirt .. frutu l.un1r 111 •n11, porta101n:,r tic;~ \ruo unJor&anl'llUt:' an aLLa1u

m1Dl of• irotual Im ,w cJ "'

4 "l\uwt..-Bamkh •In/ i• one rnore brand I tl1< 1 icmc nf 1n .. n',. SOClftl rel1tt011~h1p wliort .. f1ruu'' 111CCLWJ ono•" l'•wu ftncl "Kh~1'h'" 111t .. nn rtl1LliOnt1 \J,u1'i11 OIJU•Juot wit.h hl'I 110 'r tOll\~ive11 11 a prJ•>r oon1H•l&rlltiun f,,r hun, t·J l•i• rlutiet1 towarda oocioly " largo~ ~'amily ...,lat1<1n•

5. 111utrict.eU ol11erva11cocf U.o law1, r la11og to U1..,o~I devdopomonl irrclaJiug ouch powers u tft!ol"'thy, clainoynnce, clair:tt11Heno.t~ eouls' ll1p{ht iu 111®t>1a Jea,·ing tlJ~ hoJy Lel11n«i ,. known u "Kiivale·HllhAn1 ·• &"gVO<I y;onrelf, alltl there 1hall be good~M all around F..nvy a!Arta in the lo'~ of .., f. oovt-t.o , ... nep ~s in greed, aoJ 1t it in one'• own inns lhat the •oa111lal M olhel'I! orig111uw• GuarJ egsiu.t tho I· aud thu "Jl'lrdO•" •hAll be at ban•l.

"Tl.roogb lhe pure h!o of oue rnao, a "' ol natr~u

(35)

r-1nt a 111n y" A1,y h11.11 ro irl XS. Cli•plor I p1n1 16,

pogo 187)

The '1ysterlc• an d t he r\larvel'I of Khllh noom .

If h • t,he en I na~ 1um u( h'• Lo ruch &fiat ooeneM, wherein a I h Joy, lh1<• J\wl l'•noo nnd Know111r, and 1( U..ro i19'1Ci no tofindiL,then thltt101eacel!' "KM!•J&•um.·•. IHra· •nl•"": I h r~ aro <Jth<'t wor It Jn the .\ve IJI •ail l'1hl•vi, <»gnal4 to ib,-•uth M, •' /{/1•/1tia<lth•a, KIW.n<t.li, /(Juli. 'H !"'''"· 110, --which nru nll •l4trlvod l'rom & Ol'Jrtuuun rout. -Klulmoo which e1H1t1 tho i•I"• of doing 111uicil11oll wl11oh woolJ advanot the ...... or &h• Cnia~A" o( th• Univtnoo AD•l

lhu p lllm

Top eaM Abora Malia lho Crnt.tn', aad to abaro 1111 J 1 of ptrf 1ng tho U111vene, 1' th~ l>Uic idea. Thor• 10 110

pl are t ro plea 1111;, aail no J>y more eDJoyable, 11.,.11 U.. on U11t f II we tho convichon thu Muda h.'9 been J<l•oad by our oo-oporall·1n ;,. 11,. w"rlc. an I if thou~h&o wurd1 An·I ti a ro na iry to act: v1: t.hllt bh:h'16t of aun h•v uv r

Olthtl d, t~ n n i th i, rl tod aeien.., f l\h hn m ch hat a ph ti.:

"k'.hsh noom ! nnd drink i t deep. Wh nm his ••arth I~r lh '"i:h- t, th ,Ji.., pl• w11h

Fnith, )'OOtM ~· kaow llt lr<tlh lh1t roeuucil"• tit• M11lr11•

•hotlona uf hr.,, Kn1I ju tillt• lh,.,1r exlatiu11co for • 1~uhl111• t11HI, '"'tin·•· ll 1111 wrnrp•d 111. veil ch 1l dotio• hu all1111pl c.o p1 lt., hi liec 1nfurL 11 l • 111teu t kno·v;a l • tn11n ·1• 1r.i

thlelt f ie .. "i"' I " en taolali;uraif th•n 1'1• un rout u~ nna'l w~red 001:111. of LI e

f t rl re • ti.at e~ n •• AA\'"" lllPPh

>f o in•n (I"" wor dnv~ h m to

• f If lruc I t 'f 11 t 1 uta • I a

hope nuike 111 QB t'IU IR' IUU&llC, fOt bot I th ti"' I oft,. u,1.,.irablo !U O~pl unabl• ••d unl..,.mbl

t .11 d •lleuJ~ lh Ct) of 11te h.,.n u1c.er"'1 t.u •h• win I• •ti ot &n an wer ~r evo11 M• ...:ho. fha li.e1~l" Ii.&•

(86)

set o. riddlo (or himself and is out to solve it. This suspenRe in its ferocity, is liko unto & storm; nnd in it• eOools of dejection o.nrl dopression far oat-measures those of Lhe shArpest CATASTROPHES of tho WOll.LD, It is tho "Season Q( Darkness," when the "Fidd-,-Haq.'' (tba devotee 11.nd SCllrcbor of Truth,-God)-exporiencee untold p1tngs of the body ~ad mind, a ll enacted, in the dispensation of nMore, to test bis patience, his perseverance, and bis sinc•rity. Wheu the riddle therefore rises to this pitch or ernbarras•ment•, thero germial\tell in it the first beginning or thnt joy, which gathers strength with every st<1p and burst.B forth with the loudest and Lho brightest eelo.t, when the solution Lheroof is gained. It is t.he joy th:>t O><OOeds &II worldly happines$. Jt is tho joy th&t distinguishes itself from aU tho unreal a.nd evaurt•C<ll1t manifestatious 0£ worldly gladness 61·sLly by its eruLh and then by its ia6nity. It oounotes tha• oouditiou of the mind, whore all questionings have boon solred, exist no more, when nil righteous desire• have been attained aud tho jou1·11oy comes to o. joyous pe•ceful end. This i• the joy, oho beatitude of tho westerners. nud tho "Aonmlom" nncl the "Ushtll" of t ho Aryani of tha East, If you would have it, cuiue to "Kl1Blmoom" o.nd feast it.

''Kh.shooom·' and its root; 1noaning:-

l n the whole ru.ngo of A vt!l!tu Ii taro.Lure, tho word ")(/Wi'llOom" occur• but twico. ~i1 ~t in Oll.thll Usbtuwaiti-Ua XLVIU verse 12, aud noxL i~ Gi\tha V"bi•htr.>ieta-lh Llll verso 5. Halso uccurs ia •notber form in Z~my"d Ya$ht,, whore the word Powru.-Kli.a/1rwoti!.o is used. 'fhe full text runG thus:-" Raokhsh1,i-Khshuooton1 iF1h(l.')nghaet111 u.ih,.,ilrU.no ho rllt.antlm; Pouru-Kh•hnootem ishllonghaeto. otballi·uno ho rutauii.w--iwplying "Ho acquires tho Right GiftK of Athornans namely the Light of Kbsbnoon1 nnd tbe Proticieacy of Kh.sbuoo1u.''

rro every 90holur of a.ucieoi. li t~l'iLLUt'fJ, w ftir as Avestt:L. is concerned, it is au establi•hel fact, th .. t the Yasua iiortion is the 111o~t 1·evered p~rt o( 1t; und of the Yasna,-the Ga&ha portiou h•s a dignity of its owo, which ie higl\er still. I\' 11

(S'l)

p farther it tn•y S1Lfoly be ••id th&t in this almost perfoo· ~ Por~on ~f tho moat sacred toKt, tho finest word to be uruJ iB "Kl.ahnotm1."

Philologist• have Found that the A.vostn and the Sanskrit re sister langu&gos having a common gram1lltlr &nd rosem• lance between them. Sanskrit l'OOt renders great help to <pl•in many Avesta words; in fact it is Sanslr.rit that oos volNJ oat or tho primary pristine Avesta langwt.ge, thereby evealing the ~tages o[ Aryan evolution. A strilr.ing insbanoo f tbie rule is now before us. Ju•'!. the !l4mo tha< tho Gdlhtt,moro strip of the larger text of tho eeven1y two chaptered t.811&, is tbe most revered of the whole literature: ao too the Gita", ,. more strip of the almost endless "Mahabharata," is e most revereJ in the San•lr.rit language. Enjoyable there· re it reAlly ie th~b both the "G~th11.," aud tho "Oita," have oommon &nslr.rit Avesl:an root in "Gd" which moaus "to

·011 diviuely.# They both nre something moro than more 0~•11. What a simple description of the most marvellous roduotion of cho humRn intelloot I lt is n lesson in lruo ·mplicity and unost<intntiousncss, pr•uehijd m&tl.)' 11 thons1rncl cats •go. 'fhis self-elfo.cing modesty iii preserved in tho ord "Bible" ""rl tho "Kor1111". 1'ho former i~ derived from

he Uredk worJ-·'Biblion'' \Vhich 1oonn~ nothing n1oro than "Book'', auJ. tho latter is derived from tho A t•nUic "K•\t.1.\A",

roid; •nd vcl'y truly indeeJ, it only moans th11t which is orth reading.

Returning t.o lhe principal word "Kl1s/1noom" wo fine!, L hn" ita root in "Kita/moo" ( Snnskrit "Kbshnll") which oau• t.o know, to uppreciatc, t.o understand, or to bo ono in

Virit with. ('!'ho modern lrnnian \\'Or<l "ShnnO.khtan" ia rom the sinn• wurco). The !\rove is tile interpretation of tho to Erwail Sahob K•wa~ji ~"'1lulji Kaogn. Enropcnn savants rn~s~te it differently. Rev. Mills callH it,-"Contonting-proJtmLion"; Mr. :\loultou,-"Pleasuro;" ~Ir. Spiego.1,-"\VisOtni"• -1.J r. Oalhrie,-••Sati.slnction";-Mr. Ha-r lez,-"Kno\vodge;'' llad Mr. Darm'?stater,-"Joy." None of these is vrong: and yet, ovon nll of them pot togeLhor do uot c110plate

(38)

the iot.erpretation • K•U.t1oom " an "/l""' ,--. oe1 nco •· 1l ii t.he acienco of nlY•Lion, • dJ,.coorAfJ ''hieJ1 ho,:u with tho beginning ao.J ondo with tbe end of •nan lt uloln• frot11 toe AL.age whao lho 0 l.1rv1'na,'' 1aal1 w"r., 6rat. n.rmc:f with the ofl'owrivo an I d f ""'" 1reapoo of w111>lorn ,.., I Ji rru11111at100, to propare thom for their dooc,nl tltNUlfh 11 ul• to the "~isti•,-t thll net.her worlJ I, 1.> lho mQral aod ti •thicol oode, to regnlat-. th•ir bohoviour on Eort~ an•l fi 1all1 the la wa of opiritnal knowl<11li1• to help them ren .. ure.J l >, •n•I roach th• bl••ie 1 cl ,m1n1on• of lbe "Iluti onco rn• re Th,,.. throe etagee eorretpoo I with th "UIP'll pr 1knClln, "~tbiti-pralrClln ', an I the .. l>•ya prakCllo•, ol tti.i "4rt.•~ri (lhil-pby Tbe •·Ji.Jubnoom" uf'the Ave.ta 11 th•rofore ..,,,. • • what idenlu:al with the' Tal\'A Jo&n& of theSanakr111 I• It 1

thio knowl9dgo lh•t rualr""' "''" r~•liaa, thal heJa 111inl•JIT1 l"•rtlon of the lntinil•, n•y, 1111 tho koowlodg wlnoh prll•• 1111 l.o a man Lbai be will one ol•y 111 ·rg~ in the J..iintto h1111•0 If IL ti1ll11t 111an, how ho bo_,:11.n, '' 1:11•(lo1a 1n!lo a1 tu lot functiuut on F•tth, •n•I 6na'ly it ua1t.O• ~ """ ~ hia ~l •k•r Thi•" ''Kh•h· "°"'"' his the ame Ol lh• Sat Chit Anaod", .(I • I •h• S , i.n• 1~ :Truth 111 Lh \v et.4u I «A ii "" 1l"'

Jm wl..J~ .u th AT l..t it-.h .ao 'J.11<1 ~ii ,J tbe \v..i.an •UiAiA"', Th a- 1nlerrr~tat1on th l 1r 1110

trtntty ao ,..t\l, it D I"'""" •I n! with 11111) 1110 frpth" inilil'::l\t.ea thl\ £ac1* of I\ 10•11'11 1>e~i111unJ ~nd ~11 11tr th•J '

11\.uo,vlo•lgo!' regulttl.01hh•1t1•hflvi1111r 011 R·•rth1 ll111I thu ·.ray" ••" 1111tn'1 r"un1on '"illi hiM ~lnkor. l'hQrP ia yj!t. u 1h•4'p~r ntTiuity blt.weein tht! t\\'b ·rt.e "Ve1IA" ttnii ~h,, ",\vr,•t•" ar' bttt. m• word from L ' cruun 1 MX"t ' \'id"' •., a w ... kn»wled~. whiOb ;, "Kh<iha m • The It.. l>r Otom1n 1Ar·A· ht lla•i•h tit• 0 ..... 1 I• un•" M.a er b 111 11

11voly, tr<•n.biod thew rd "A• ta -..u ti ' "' i: " r, • au 1 1n thllt. 1noa:. c r n,: .. rptft4.tt ut •• ooly ,J.,cr•l., I "Khshn""m' ) ., di• l/u, W r I 1/.1>1 /1 ,.. rrnd '1U.tke .. l~t1r. 11l1Q ,·ory flrlit th· 111.,h! of tit. ,J,1Ju1, t 110-, \Yrtlt ~ht

"""'" Ho 11<1id, "ifl 1111 lru1ill11in!I ,..., lit• Wonl ·rnd 1110 H'ortl u"4• u~lh God and II•• ll'or I w.u God.·

( "t J~lm Vh I \@1"" I )

(39)

Thero io "Khsbocom in all roli!lions. In II there 11

lhe reooncllmlion or t!.e dm: l'<'Dl absurditfo~ "' life; 111 il 11 ..... is tho -:ation for vvory priclt CODJeqaent on apparonl io9<1atut1; In aL la lbo pra..., of lho loood and oen lbo Ju ta. Iles of lb exaote:ico o! e•ery OVll U a 81oan1 \<; a nobler end, and, la it b the cal:n n•LingJof" f.r all and and r all d~ - The ~ooe of lbo whbf ,. C:-lI1..,nLralc I 111

the marvel! 11s ,.or lo of MaZ<lo111•u ocript"'·"•• wl11al1 "'Y .. A• AnM Kia ·r•hnndo llolll.' ( r .. tot }- I fr,.., trnn•lah>11 whoroof wo11l1l 110 "I rcJoicu 11t th• &Jvoot of miMforlun!tll, for thoroin loo l1 tl111 l{UtOl ol Joy' "Kb•hnoom" lhoreforu 11 Liao "llm",-lho ocla11Ct1 LhaL tiMIL ro\"MI• by intuition lh•n pro•·•• by pract co, an I llnally esCabh1h11 by roalialion, the abioluw amly ol all Ualnno.

'th11 11 Ibo lepey loh l.oeh:.id liy our nvend ll•ud Ssbob Behramabab Nowro Shroll" ol blmed m•mcry '1110 l~cy b poc!fio, but Ibero is no lr~IH opecafied., "'l'u "homaooY•r hn fa1lh an.f incorrty, "Khabn00>m~ &11111 > 10IJ ic.ssocnt "K/.,J.MOm' 11 'IOI" MJ,I/,, bul u ii IA. 1ol..s""' of ti, rcoched by the oJco.11011 and el•~atioo ol the lempora men& by the piety an I atln '"" of LIM! boart anJ by 1h mind mado rmJy LO a1 preaat.o tho Jualice o( ""'Y phcn<>menon, and LO realize lbe baboco of ~•turo'• E em 01&.

"Kh!\hnoom'',-thc Lost Chord. 'l'ho ·-11111"-.. uieuco uf "Kl11J1noo1n tit.tel!! not 0011 .. tl'IL iu

the tn•rc r11110111bra11co aml roputtlion <>(ancient. toxLa, but au tlto uuclonu111din11 of tho c• cute aud lbo acting up lo at iu Vary<l&y Iii... t ruiu ouo JJOial <11 ... ...-, "Kll4hoooau • 111

wba' ti• Weatemera lo-day k1JOw u 'llermenoolJeo," (TL ol lnt.orpnl.ing uacatnL text) Tha rnJ.,, of "KbaL-.m

la'fn1All011 l:61.&d·.':iabob would ""J, ware CODlamed lo t.bto ~esta.-1ilao' Y •ma," which 11 now regvJed ... loot. If

ho word • Staot• moaca v1bration1, aud af on price.pl• ol 0 ce lhu andeot.o coul I eolvo ti.air Ji[e'a pnszlc1 111J

•pt1tlonco U.o joys of Uoavon tbeo it i.8 certain ll10 ";:itAot • •1 M I

~• •aa "oL IOet befur• it h..J ii. lllOat £orutidablo &w~uii• nd b&d 1.loo lhoroby ca\UeJ a eyutfJGtbetic am io Ibo bw:nan

(tO)

b .. rt, which I~• 1.ot Y•' eompkt• ly d1..J ouL To JMn

mind, the idea of aolving lif•'• puul .. l·y ~. oouoJ1n:: MHDt not• of IDllllC, ID•) ....,,. Joabtfal [O U...11 I pr tbe 5\Qry of a """'' unique n1.cnenee or ao l:Oglisb 'lady Mr owu noblo wo....tt:-

The Lost Chor d :-"Seel.ed ooe day .. ~ tho ori;an, l wu weary, &n•I 111 at

And my lingan wauJero i i II) O•'tr tbe nof.y koy•· 1 know 001 what 1 WM playing, or what I wu dr1a1

nut I 1traok ono ch()r.! or muoio, like the aoun•l pn l ,\111on, like tbe aoun°J ur o gran 1 A

f'looJoJ tho rriweou Lwiligb,, liko tho clcao of an An

• And It lay on ID)' fovoreJ 1piri\ with a loUOb or inf

It quitl.e<l 1"'in, onJ oorro", like lovo o•·urc:o111i11g otril It eoomoJ the haronouioue oebo, !ro1n our Ji1COrt1mt H link'J a.II ptrploxoJ woanin~. into ono p<'rfod l"'•<X', Aud tro111bloJ away into 01le11cc, ,.. if it wore loath

1 bavo .ought, l.ot l eoek II vainly, ~lie oao lo•l c Jj,

Which can10 !roin th• aoul or tho Orgiin, aod ont.ered II

It may Le that Doatb'a bri¥Ll An~cl, will "l"''k in chord a

It -y be that only 1n ff•'ln, J •fut.II belt that A

( A lelaido A Proc "Kbalmoom," r.1 we ha..-• ler.rnL ID undentr.ad It: h it "I.be U,.~ Chord," ol Adol&!Je J.. Proctor I la il uot w bad Jooo !or Lhe ancient., that l'rlJCt.lr uperitnceJ but '60o)l!.i t 11Kb&hoOOU1" li$9 oonoealccl 10 "tStaot'' of Af worJa. It ha• Leen aounJod bofon', •n·l it W.• llince boen Once more it appeared in ''Tho OranJ A1nno," aud a:;ai iL beeu lo~t.. Ia not tho "N/ld'' (At01osphorlo undul~tlon

(41)

the Loni'• Will, (the Ahunft Vairya ), reapolllilble for lhe appeal'lln•e of lho iuun~aaurablo Uoivo1..,o I &od in CacL, whal i• U1oro lit•• o:ri8t.t aod dooe nol owe Ute birlb lo lho pronauciation o( the "Wor<I," llu•ic. H bu all been sweel or diJ;oardaol, oplirtlnit or demorauilng. The ecre&m of l\D

injured dog, aoJ the bow.wow or tho eamo dog, wblUl be -le hia 1naetfr are ti.. mo•t common, and lhe "'°"~ impr...,;vo inal.a11- of the otl'oct.t of a "Staot .. , oa the hnmao diapalitlon Tbe oolea of ao argiio, aod I.he ICIWJll8 of a dQg are boLh 1110810 In I.heir own way : aod tho oobl• and tho bigbett, lho oeleol1al form of it, ia "Khshooom" Oll tho cne baa.I, anJ the loat chorJ of ''the Groat Aman" on tLe ot~. Jn.•t tbe amu that tho l11gb will of the Lord baa been caugh~ in Ibo Lune or the Ahuna Vairya, and jug~ lhe am• th8l tho "Falaki" (Dlue) uodnlatioos of the Rea~• have lioon reducetl to eound in tbu "S\Aot"a of AllboLO, and joat Uoe l&mO th•~ all tbOM chords of onion between man aod bia Maker h~vu uvor boou eoumlod and \oab: so waa tho aocioot "Kh•hnoom," onGt moro eouodo1l io tho "St&0tll'' of tho Oruat Amen and loeb again. But It i1 n Hfe.suslaiolng Ol>DBOl&tion lo know that, that which ill l\l8t at.ill &xl&t11: it ia 1111dying, and o .. nnot die. A 11<1und not hoard, ia not no11-oxistent, nor ia it inolfvoLual. Thro nro BO many colraocee and BO many exita ill Mao, wboroio "Khelmoom" CAD (l&8S through; and mw.io i1 Duo of tho miglitlob~, rsreat, and best. Why .,. .. "I.he Lol<t Gbord'' of the "0l'tlllt Amoa; Khobooom for Adelaid A. Proct.orl Tho unconocio1111 word.a tlis9olvo lha oocm. Tbt •(oat ohord' baJ "Oood..J the crim.on twilight: t.DJ had B>Olt.od "liko tho cl- ol ao Aogel'a Palm."

The worriee of tbe world bad found au antiJole, bad l'<>und a oure, a lurg1.Uol""'8j it had lain on •ho "foverod •pirit with 1 lo11cb of lotlnile calm." "h quioled paio and BOraow." lt wu "like love ovuoomiog alrifa" and it indeed waa "Lbo harmooiou• echo from our ditcordn.nt strife." Wu oot all Ulla, what ••Kh.ihooom•' promiaea to do for the one •ho will tlnd \LI ll111 not that "Great Amen" funct.ioned ouotly and m&rYell.owsly liko tho "Kbabuoom" when it "linked ' all porpluxed mcnuiug int.a ooe purfect peace• and

G

(42)

then "i' trembled a"•Y iolo silaoco, u if iL were loalh _.. OoM no~ lhe aompari.oo develop into,.., ld1nl.ity The worot., "loeLh to -.· are very ligniGcaoL. lgooran m&n hu been pelllimistio, a od deplorOI tho 1-, eome of "KhJ;hnoom", am! A1lolaid Cooper of the ''Chord~ abo say "I bave oongbt, but I b4!ek it nlnly. Th&t ono 'loet chor dlvino, which cnmo from U.e soul of tho Organ n.nd enter into mino,'' No, notl1ing bns been lost, noiLbor tho Khthnoo nor tho "chord divluo;'' theee only have "trembled away iu silonou'• but bftYe not ®a.et! t.o re110uuu . 'fo be deeponden #Ould be •¥rOlli for our ... Jvoa IUld ungratofU\ towt.tdft Q Romombtr lbu oocouragiog words of Joan1; "Se&f'Ch and wll liocl.w The words of the eong aro an ev•dooco l KLahnoo1u had c~mo to life oooe more, provin11 lhuoby It h1111 nu•or died or disappeared or I011t. &ch and eYGryon of th..., won!• ia a UUUiterful and marvelloue doecriptioo "1011hnoom," ond it.a at.tributea. '!'ho ma~Lor or11anillt. pla.y 011 "i111pro1nptu.'' Sha aound11 a chord and l<1 I iL tiot• bur hoo A-throl>bing 111 uuiou with lho rhythm ol tho spboroe. S had oxperioncocl l\er ououess, with tho only One Who · Uor palu n111l oorrow eho found quiet.ad: bor alriiu w chango..1 to peace: lho diaeordancoi of lilu had oomo back her lran•furma<l Nit.a "hllrmoniouo ~ho. "Aud above all' bl\d eoho•l all hor ricldfoa of life; anawered all lho quorias igooranoe, aooLboJ all U.. rotflioga of lboughl, and Lruug lo pesc:<1, wbtroin lAy the highML realiZAliou o! IUo, tho On n .. with llorutud. llow I Tho anawur la lo tbe auog i It had "llnkt<l all perplex&tl tncalliog into ono porr.ict peace.

Every thought anJ O\'ery sound 11 a lorco of li1uill power. Evory thought which i.8 pious nud BOlfloas nud ever eouod that ha. en ught the cadence of Naturo, booomos "Ohinwat.'' in it.llelf, to carr y the bu111blo to the High an make tbom ooo. For every man, with hie lik~a and dielik lhoro 11 n note ro•orved on the i;eale of an oelavo, the twaugi whereof awakoot I.be dormant oondilioo of bi1 .iul to activity of realia\lion, TMt vibration of ooe'a own indi doal wavo·longtb, eo rue lo !inti, , • ..,.. 1till to atrikb wb found, givea lhe lute of the Unknown and I.be Uoknowabl

(43)

''Khshnoom " In Ham azor :-Wb•t doo1 lh• etodent of ''Khllhnoom• yearn for, long

r and ullimatoly attain tof Ho ..e•kll the "Ham.Azor" ;;u, Ahura 1lasd&. 11 thit word were rightly noderaf.ood aocl Approoiat.&'1 It would not be llO frequonUy and IO vainly otterod. rt we have soon one form of "Kbabnoom" as a dtvlno uot.o from an organ which was eoundod and wr.a lost, bore we have a dlvlnt word, utt.ered in ignoraoco and wn~t.&d on tho wind1. 1 lnt.&rprot ''Kbabnoom", and I int.&rpret "B'am&,.,r;• u dilcl-.1 in the spiri' ol Uiat gre.~ uprouion io tbe "Afreen-.. Ard&-fravosh" which •1• :-"lla~r b&d DMAr H~rmaw, Ray4m 1od Kb~rohOm&nd.-

1 •Y· "Kbahooom" ia tbia "llo~r'', bee&u• they are bo\h the &pn wherein &II ie One. In the apex and oolmin&tion of m•n'• progr- an<I perfection, there i.I tbia 'll•mAzOr, and the very•••• apex and culmination of man'• proirroea and perlooUon I• the u!Um&te ood !lDd aim of "Kh1lmoow" onouo11a.

Snob lo the aoloatiOo logiCAI and rat.ional idontilion.tiou of •HauiAollr' •ml "Khtbnoom." Mazd11oznnn1 Jo tho "li&mlltOr," bat 01100 on lht New Yoer'1 Day (Navroz) Thoy do it by &

clup of tho ht.ndl, aod with a foeling of mutual UoQtlwitl. b lo U.orvluro noL unfortunate though a ooriOl\ity that Paraia, U1111111J1llo•i community in lho world, btvo throe l\ew Yeo.r D&y1, all wiLbln bat one period of the Earth'• ruoluuoo rouoJ tho aun, Tb.it ancionL aoloa'Uggestlon h-. oomo down to ua in tho waewraor'e oastom of ".Shako-handl" eeon evel'y· whor~. It i.I tho phyaical symbol of that 'PiriLual or "MioOi· llarnAwr;• epokon or iu the "Afreen And ah1i0J at by tho etadont of "Kbsbnoom." It is tbia "Shako-hanue" with bis Makar, \01in1r aucl blonding himAulf In the all-11ervadlog oneno .. , l.1111.~ tMI\ yearns for, and slriveio ltia utmntt to roalizo. Tho phyaic•I or e&rLbly abnke ol Lbo h&uda, it aoooonplishod by l~·~ p•rtloe ~t...otehing out their banda 1o ... arJ1 each other, bat 1! one aUondt lo tho psychology of a man, whoo ho is fel'nnUy at praytrw, i~ will be -n that be dlrpl,ya hit aoul'a ea:~n ... lo flrid tbo baud touch di vino of Ood, by iostinctively rahing both hit band.I towards tho 1ky: Be then wait. in

(44)

that potiLaro, and in rare - only a ndianoe lpl'Wode on b• f""9,-tbt nnctifying touch i1 expcrieocod. It is an intLin developed ioto an inlttition but it it the gift common t.o a manltioJ wherever and whaLO\'Or ho i1, blaok or brow yellow or whito. We Jl<lint ibo devil blncik, or the Afrio~ Negro pt.iota bit devil white, but whatevor tho dioitltea rnao'a mentamy may bo, both rai.o their beads, bands, nu eyu high up tow&rds the aky, when they ar .. in a aober m aoJ think of •heir Oreat.or. Juat tho IAIDt, that a now·bo ducldioa will ruo to the water1, mooh to the ooost.ernatioo it. boo molhor, eo will J0111, wbeo in a prayerful mood, i 1tioctiv1ly ra~ his band• t.o the 1ky aod wait for a rospon Too thouand years ago, wu lhil forcefnlly expro-1 io l vory opeoiog words or the AMoavau GAth& :-

" Abaiya YlllJA NemanghA OetAna-aaat6 lta6odraiy 'l'heee art tbe most ancient of Aveet.n word•, and almo•t ti very ftrs~ Zarathasbera uttered, when ho appet.red bo[oro t public. This one word, "U1tAna-za1to,~ -{b1111J1 1·ai hi11b) prov11 once more tho univerality of MazJaznan, all-inchJKive and all-pervading. 11 by a clasp o( the baoJ•, Maadasnan doea the !Dmu<lr, wiU1 his friends and relati whoo be evoh•oa furlbor, be dovolopi his iW1LincL into iutuition, ho foels the air for a touob or his Creator, tho m f11ith!11I or hi• friends "Urvathio," and tho most affeoliona or bi• rolations, "Homkhooehi.". In tho rieiog etogo or t "llamlbOr", wo soo lha~ tho "Hamai.Or'' with tho "Din (religion) procedos tho "lhmA&or" with 'llormazda'. llo again ii tho "Khahn0<>m'' ita mothoJ1 ancl its llcienoo eo 1ki fully auJ eo 1!ffecti»ely il101kated. 'l'bo Mazd••n•n 'Din' ootlung uthor than tho four ategeo or "Khllhoonm', by whi U.t a~a<lon~ of faith will lldvtnco towarW. lbo goal. The 6 one of Tllriltat (laws of lifo·loading). tho second ouo "Mllrofat" (laws of n&turo'eagonoy), tho I.hi.rd ono of 'Shari (ln1ta or righteous behaviour) MIU thu fou1·tb one of "liakilul (laws or the one &allty), leading up to the "Vehedllttiot, (Ibo IOf!ing oneself in the e.Jfulgeucooltho Ono, Who created a

(411)

Tho first ono of "Tariknt," (study aud attainment of tho phonomonal and Jlo~manal, or WOT~ing of N"tnro in her ,;.tino purity in w biDh, Man, Animals, Voget&blo, and

~inerale show their general and spcllial bohaviour, in all their oomplooc diveraities,- in the midst of which Man h&s to tolld Ji[e in• presoribed wa.y, which will profita.bly condnot tho abovo 8'1id Natura.I Workers "ilh 11. good re8ult, ( Kl'.llyAti Fre.shokereti, i. e. wbolelillle salV&tion of the Creation.)

The sooond ooo of Miir3fat of the study encl tttt.&inment of tho vehiolo; tho Natural Agencies or diver&O kinda, which aet in motion the above said Natuml l'booomenal Working; w b.iob ( i. e. the vehiolo) is sol forth in consonance with tho ~wa ol JDBtioe and Liu:iit<i. 'l'he moo who leads his lire nooording to tot rnlea of Tarikat, becomos tho natural boir to propitious Nalunl Ag<moios, both of whom i.e. the m11n 11nd tho propitioua Natural Agencies becoming of one mind, bring aboat tho ultimnte end o( Common Snlv11tion ( Fraabogard) sl)Ouor.

Tho Lhird, of lhkikBt i. c. Study nod realization or tho one Reality in hor diveree phases, nrrBngod in divorso stations, forming Lbs great White J3rotberbood, gronqing so to say the mnchine of Mllrerat..

The M&n of 'faiikat who bcoomos fortunnto in nttaining tho Natural Working of MllrGlut, enters &11 a momlJer in the great White Brothorhood of tho ono Reality o[ Ji ver.ae plulaes

The fonrLb one "Mitbro-b<•tin," i. o. knowlodgo and oxperionco of tho att.ninmout or the Common Salva Lion; ( Fraahokeroti,) wWcb in bor onwn.ru march, is called " VdW<tnW," i. e, losing Conscionsness iu tho great ocosn of Ruallty,-beooming merged iu Lh.i Rl!<>liLy.

Thero is tho philosophy of tho A.freon, mnde mnnifost to mankind, that 'lliunl!.zor' with the Dlo' is tho condition precedent to the • HamAzor with llormazda'. It js tLe abor~t route to St>lvatioo. The " P4tba '' (road) of Aah11-Ashoi-Rightooqsno8"-its geomotrfo-grnpb boing but one

(~)

straighi lino, do6nod "' tho 1horteat di1tanoo botwcon nny two points: (hot'O betwool\ tho man &nd hiJ !falter).

'l'he word "llarubor" ii a bi-ayllabio word, where "II&m •' m01L111 "one in 1plrlt or feeling, or io perfoct wlion, and "Zar" oomu from the root "ZO." wbiob me&na "to be strengthenod by.• With this etymology tho best Eoglillh eqai valent of tho word -au lo be " U Ilion is d111oglh," and Ibo ben intarprctation of the word " Kh.sbnoom" ls t.o be foond in tho Pannd wont. of the Aheen: "B&mbor bU DAJA.r llormud Bayamand, Khorehomand"

Tboro is alao one more beanli!ul 11111tanoo in the Avesta whitb so graphically dllilCribea tho porf~ot.lon attained through "Kbihooom ''. Tbey are wor.11 of prayor wbiob &1y:· -"YA Vor~oo Ahura-MazJ.oo t4 varodobB tkAoabAcbll" (Naiaimi Daevo, or Yll80• UA XII.)-" Moy I attain to tho porfection of Aho.ro-M&zda." li'rutu tho Avoftt.ll tbi1 Wgh idea baa pormeawd tho world. Plato hns snid iiomowhoro; ·'Try to bo liko Got.I." An1l tho IAm•m• w11rd1 of tho lloly Bible sny-" ne yo thorofo1·0 porfool, ovou, nt your Fntbor, whioh is in tho hoavou, i1 porfoct". (SI. MAUhow: Oh. V. voree 48,) Tho • Kbslmoon1 ~ lhoroforo i' ovorywhoro; and Uieroin it its slronglh and it.a lrulh. Tho zu,.\hu,lrlao and tbe .Mudunao reHgiona are no\ difforool from, or iudepeodenl of, each other. They are linl ~npplomonui whiob whoo pol bogetber form ono whole, which ario OAD bi called by eilbo-r of th• uam• H is I.he Avca\a r~ligio11, the religion of tho J..uowlodr of Naluro anJ NaLoro'• Ood From tho ' liai.ti" to tho " Nisli,'' it tho " Din·O M01.dun~n "; and from tho •• NiaU ., blck to tho ,. Aatli " i• t.ho 0 Dio.tl-Za.rLlio.hLi ' ' ; a ny on• of which singly, would be ooly Mlf of the whole. 'rhis whole ia "Khabnonrn.''

Tbo Mazdayami Zuthoobti Doon i• ono •howiog tho two gtlllll p~lhs in Naturo;-ouu of lnvolutinu ; i.o. Ibo mnklng of the Corporeal Body,-lbo oth~r 18 Evolution - i, o. olovation of the Corporon! body to tho level or all light.

It therefore iocluJ01 tho kuowlodgo or how and why tho "Urw&o" of m~n Wil& eonl Jown lo lhu &rib~ a knowledge

( 4'7)

of tho ,.Mpon of •lofonco an1l offonoo providet.I fol' iL w baL tho influenco of Alll!t'"• who exiif!Ad, nnd shall oxillt.

~h• ond of ti mo: a know lodge uf hi1 wicked way• .aod Wa m..,.t.erful maohinatiou'"

Tho eocund ·~• i1 lho prnctice of thia knowl"'311~ iu tho Ii(~ cm E•1 lh t.o r00>gni1111 tho •optrioriLy of" Ashoi,"

0.,er all <>thor •irtuOI of \ho world , to be confhfen• o( limiLIO!ll polCDtialitio•, n11d to bo bravo Aud coura~UI, lo acl up to iL under all aud overy circu...tanCM; &Dd th<mo£oro tho &nal .Ugo ,.( a r....,10<0~ L4 th• " Huti •' : 1 foututa of tho " joy·• that t\W&ill tho good, aod r.ha training that moat fa ll 1o ibo lot o! tho lk>t ~: "' lhaL, in the Infinite llercy of MuJa, ti••)' all may bo prupcm,.J, 11UOoor or lnler for the gro• t •· Snn.cl<.>th0II tloubli eh.ill ha.1·0 boon raJicolly d""troyoJ, and whoo lho word• of tho "Afroou '';-

" U•md.f.or li~J ll1tJt\t• Uormozd, &yuU11md, Khor~honu•nJ," 1h11.1l bo nually folfill~d: aod all sbnll be Ono. ~·r<>m tho Sl&rt af thu " U1·wa11'1 .. uownwarJ journey to tho "Nilti," its lioltl auJ oouOJout*Lt.nd against the v<U"ieu iufi uuu· °"" whou Lhuro,anJ ii.I Unol lrluwph111L colurn lo itsSoJnrou, i• one 001n11luw cycle, lb• kuuwluJgu wLurcof i1 "K.luil1nwm."

"Kh•hnooin" i1 • rivor 0£ Ulea:dn- :- " Khsh.ooom ' u like noto a river lh•l OOJUOt ll"'"WI( dowo iD tloods, aprd0.!i11i; bappio- whcrevor it l.'O< S au.I yet remaiua unpollnl.od aod uodim!nltbtJ, aod ovon ~•or gruwlng monger, 1vu nll can &ck lo ill banks •nd I.a•• c.ur &II .. we -11 may incliviJoally Deed.

"RAm-o-N lldi, 6ka Sl\ruln ; l:lnb.kohildl-dt!t,

IIAlh·lum bh j•i•A jlakl'>,-V atu.Jlhl bltar·let,-1. o.,- RAu1 and tho River : of tboir gifts a free dU.Lributiou

mnkc. Ru' .. ia tho hand jug, eo each one doth !Ake. Tho gilla ot Rati.1 anti l:!iver al'O akin lo tho gifll of

" ~bnoom;·• lltld Lbo •yw bcilio "Di•tba·Kumbb" t.b& b.aud jug, oarr1 .. Lbe oompArioon to It.a ooln11lotion in I.be "lliBh·l'iah" mot bod of lb ad01iniet.rl\Liou.

(48)

"Bish" carries tho idet. ol not to&ehing more iliao the disciple can digest, "nd "l'llih" hu thu ider. o[ not tooobing prematurely or before the disciplo is ready to receive.

Eaoh on• soloots his Jug, in terms of bis needs; no one should a&rry a jug bigger than his needs, or no one should go to the watere, un1898 he is thirsty; for, ho must boar th, weight of it and no one should carry o jug that i• smallor th1u1 his needs; for, ho lhoo muet thirst. From tho Blell8e<j River of "Khshuoou1," is moto!l ont a portiun, not tnore than tho d isciple c~n nll8imilnto, nor &ny, before ho is pro. pared to receive it. Not too muoh, und not too early, io tho osoonce of "Blsb-l'ish," or also, the pbilowpby of tho Jug;-

(( Khshnoom " and Charity. "Khshnoom" is charily in tho true sense of tho term,

The Euglieh word "Oharity," does not always mean a monetary gift As" •natter of fnot, a monetary gm is but tho result o! Charity; it is on• of its loboitimato ooueequencoa, IL is one of tho forms it takes, or it is but one of the wa.ys iu which Charity makes itoolf manifest to tho World. ••Charity'' io its root, moaue "Dllaroeee." A word or an aot of kinr.lnoss therefore in more genuine exhibition ol Ohnrity than oonny Ml iuaivir.lu&I tiCt o( selfishly inspired monotory gifts. A word of guidnuoo to the ignorant, a helping hnnd too. brother, disll.blod by tbo road-l!idc, "care61 to tho sick a.od the ailing, aro snporb oxliibitiooa o! "ChArity''-all Uieao and many tuO•'o aro epitomized in the t hird line of tbo "Ahuna. Vp.iryo.". H is the Will of God whioh 15ays;"Khlbathromcbf..,Ahflrili"-A-Yim-Drogilbyb -Dad•!.- Vlli!W· rdm"-1 interpret it iu my own way to men;-"Ile alone shall renfue Rormaid, wbo unto the noody ehAll sLrotnh 0111 a helping band." The re>lir.a~iou of Horma?.d is ''Kb.shnoom" and it ie therefore in the stretebin~ out of n helping band to a. needy brother, and if ~ltis 1yropathy for the do110rving is Charity, then certainly tb.o practice of Charity is the procie• knowledge of "Khebnoom•.

Khsbnoom is Joy. Any 98B&Y on "K.hsb.noom" would, ft:om its start to i le

(49)

finiah, practically be a ~i".'ert&tion ~~vising 1> reply. to tllo oo.e qnestioa,-"\Vbat is Klll>hnoo'!'. . As. a gom, its faces on> beyond 00uat.; as ~ book of i'lc1eoce, its chapters are unnumbered; as A tre,ti•• on Ethic•, it exh•n•~• all tho 1firtuet of the world; ancl 6Mlly ~• ~he µor~d t. 1 th lo .. 1, of li~bt, it 1& a dt•light, Lhat hn.!.i lo~i.. nll :-it:08P. o( d·J'T ,.,\. l u

uJfering, j~ is a delight thJlt onjoyd bo~l 1 " c tL u1J ,1 " '""-" and talcea it all as for tho goo-I of ui.n. All tbis leo.;th and breadth 1>nd depth, sro undor high compression roducorl t.o the acripturo words,:-

"As AnlLi Kborahend IMm •' "Kbthooom" is a btossing, not a curse; it. i.s wi:>dom,

not ignorance; it is Foresight, Mt n\rrowmiododno.a; it ia not a riddle, but"' BOlutlon of all ritldles, whero the •loprossion an<l disoomfort are •II Jis!!Olvotl into Joy-- "Khshoo:im" ia the Truth and the Joy of all Mazdaznan Scriptures.

There is nothing in tho world, wholly good, or wholly bod;-aod a ooudition of unmixed good or unmixed ovil perhaps is &!BO not to bo wished for. His all to be o. pro· gross towards the Good, the Greater Good; and tho Highest Good;-witb a corresponding retreat from the evil, even from tho leuer evil, ond thonco to tho absence of evil. Tho clay or suob a blessed oloarnnce aball have to be postponed till tho "Great Morning" shall nppenr to usher in the "Son-Clothed" day. But "Tho Pilgrim's ProgroM" to that gDAI •hall be a hard journey indeed.

It shall be a journey over perilou$ boigbt.a, t\nd along more periloWJ deeps, through violent bliZl'.arde ftnd choking storma, but tho end shall be worth more than all ~be ri.l!k, enoounterod. Wbeo therefore, Ibo top is reached its perfect panorama eolvos ftll problems; its majestic height dwU:fuU th~ snrronndings into tboir legitimate iosigni6caoco, and 118 all piercing light leaves no dark oornera unrevealed. The intrepid mountaineer of to-day, ms.y be likened uato the etudent of "Kluihnoom." We hear of his fenl.8 of oourage every d&y, he h&ngs over diZ>y height he balnuces himself 00 neodlo~po~ rooke, and considers u~thiug too valuable to

7

(50)

riek,-t.o ton.oh tho top of tho crag. He negleots tho rlung•r• encl tho risks because ho la n.war• of the Joy ~11!1.t t<w,.itll him on top. 'l.'hla oompar~n of n pbyaical venture, atrelchod on~ to Ila epiritnal counter(l'lrt, N>vMla tho law, thaL tho path of tho pleasures of the Soul ruo.o through clia111~I •hrkne"8, which helps to' saoclify and to cleanse the mortal frame of ita damaging and obslrocling "t\acbmeol, diaptla i11noranca and O<locat.oa by e1;perioo0&. Thero is no t.achor in lho World that can excel U]M1'fon04 SbakMpearo koew t.ho valao o[ exporionco and ronllzod it, and the 1>roof of iL liee. in hia wordo;-

"Swcot """ the uaea of adveraity which like tho toad, ugly And venomol15, woara yot 11. precioos jo .. el ia ii., bu J " "Khabooom" ia tho ScienC4 an I eolulioo of th1 World Problem• of good aod <Vil, plea1111ro aad .-in, joy and llOrrow

" Khshnoom " and the 11 Staot Ynsna." "lthtthnoom" t ... oohea lh•L vibration is at lbo root of all

noturo llnLl that consolouMllMll proooJes all thought or Pl1>11 or nature And that Piao reven 11 or oxpresse• itoo!C iu StMla or Nature.language or colourful thought.- ,.;bratiou1 generated by tbo priatine oonociouancu For l:ui ldiog up lbo Coo.moa.

"Staot" iathe A•eall wor<l for vibralionuad "Kh ,)lnoom" claima to inU.rpro~ A,·eatan 1eriptures on rulea of phone· tioa. H ia Avestan bermeneulioa baud on tbu &iouoe of soun;l and oolour. That sound ovon when It I.a inar(ioulato carrio1 IL mo•ning in our oommon oxp~rienct. 'l'ho lxlrk of a house dog i.a clearly indioative of it& pleasure or pein. Na.y, the bleotlng of lamb convoy• to man, its fooling or aatiaracUon or lonolin• or fear. The voioe of a Patli or a Melba bu helped bo.i.dreda to experience 'be ecataciu or heaven. Sound therofoM with ii.I harmony, ita me.Jody, ita rhythm, e&n

aooompliab a.U. The A•oltan phrueology wa1 all formod on principles or pbon1Uce flrat to cb&rm tho eoul by its mcoauro IUld ita melody, aud then to translat.e iteelf into tho practice of E!umata, Uakhta, Hvarbshta. '!'bat tho 10und is also colour is a proved problem of Science. '.l'he Av111&n koow tblo; it i1 com• down to 111 thaL the ooloan or tho •St.ot' ~!

(61)

,. A•hom" are bh1e. The l1'6nlnu worJ• for the tbreo primory

U F•lki-Blue· 811rkhi:0Rod; and Z..rdia'l'9llow. colour1 nr ,- po - '

'fho , Staot • Ye.an& is a lo•t Na•~ though eomo cobolara ha &r!od to identify it with cerliun p&SS&gee or the utant .A .':ta; •nd ochers bavo maintainer! &hat lbe three pro· 7.a Lbu&hlrian prayer• ol tho "Alhom," che "Ya!W-AhO· ,.~:yo:• and tho "Yenghhe lillAm" po~ togec.ber would waka up the "Sta.at Yaeoa.''

n uood to be the koy lo the oorreet interpret.a Uon of tho AvOltn tnt.tt: bu& aa a Scionoo of hermeneutle1 it i• lost. U•tad Sahib as a true Mt>ZdaiU•lll, rtnd pledged to W. muton *' the D-mavand, would not lell IUI clearly whetb~r ho knew it him .. 1r or not; but he proved 1tt existence and ita koowledge wi'bio tbe precinct.a ot "Tho .-irdOll" by giving lbt iDlel'J'r•· wtooa of many Av.ta worda, which simply &atounded tbo echolor• and mt.de lbem ocmlleious bow meaniogl• were tho 1110Auiugw they had bith~rto rolied upon. Ue!Ad Sabeb'a iol11rprolatlon bad cbarme wb!oh almost hypnotized hl1 he1wora, wllh ile newneu. H WA! a m&rvel in il.IM!IF, ond tho truth di•ola.<'11 10 different, that tho aid one looked like dead tn•ll.r compar<d to tho vit.alily wltl1 which tho new one had come to life itaeU, and evon rc·vitalised nil other• who camo in t.ooch with iL Ult&d S•heb'• '8rtnons and 1,cture1 gave .. \•oat• 1iterota.roa n.ew aigoiffcanoe, n new importauoe, A new 111ei.oing, which not ooly eo rodiClllly ""L Mide Lbt dull, and iD•ip1•l, •n•I 10mo without, an1i others with wroug ml!Aning, oo U111t tho now intorpretatio11a preaoatod tho olu toxte ae 10

wauy rovelatlnns of •ciotttiUo val110, of apiritu•l lrull111, And col ... ti•I li;:ht. To quot<> ooo auoh instance would be oOOURh. '!'he Anu1ta worJ "Yuau1•id•" u111J to be und•ratood as "!'"';..,, laudatiJa, or wonhlp." lho Ouj•rati wore! being "Ar&<llm' - Wit.Ii 41Ua m~ u1ing, it had become 1o riddle to eolve for &be •ymp•thi&or1 aaJ a handle lo work up an op110011lon for tho oppo .. re. lb i~ Lbo most u...d word in Avetln lltero.turo: an•l it hu boon used with Aharo. Mazda ~h• ?•·••tor, And His Atvioointe. on tho oM hnnd, and with Lt.a 1n ~.uilitlllo 111°llnt.Ains and rivera l.\Otl 008tLOS on tho <Jttior. ln faQ~ tho wh•>lo •rr&y of ~b~ V•rie'y of it.• 1bM it ti.yood

(52)

calculation, and with ita ordinarily accepted meaning of praise Or worship, it bad bacomo perploxil\g sud onintelligiblo. Bat "Yllzam•ide" has much more in it, thrut mere praise or worship. To have used this word with that meauinit ill juxtllpo•ition with Ahura MtLZdl\ and Ili• Associates would be possible, but the sn.me word in the same senoe, by the side of "' moonl!lio or" river is not easy to oicplain. Ma.zdaznan hM never ioterpreted worsWp to mo•n a joining of hands and a bowing of het\ds, oor ha.a Mazdaznan over stooped to flattery. It is out of ite essence, the basis of tho whole being Tratb, ~udunana, thoy aoy, have lost milliooa because they would not flatter; but i( Mazdaznans hnvo stood against ceoturiQI! of nnnibilating vicissiLades, the sturdiness ol Lbe whole u traceable to the same virtue. Mazda.znans havo not flattered oven Ahura Mazda. Their basic odacatiou of Truth and Indopoodeoco bu saved them from it. They bavo only boon "Yez11maid6" with Ho1·mazd, aa they have boon with Hia Good Creations. Oostad Sabob derived tho word from the root ••Yaz; which moans to be one witb. E'ar from tho idea or I\ r~Jse praise or an ignorant worship, it carl'ioa in it tho iJon of study. It is a course of study whore first the attribute• are searched for n11d ascert.>ineJ. Then follows tho iuvestig .. tion of their effects on the conetitution and afl'aire Qf mnn, nun Hnally tho 1Lt·one-ment with it, to utilize it for the ndvn.aoemout of tho Good Creations ol lionnazd. Every invention is first s study and a discovery of a law of Nnturo, ""J soconclly a co-ordinMion with it to holp Man ovolvo quicker nod bettor. Man'• evolution shu.11 be advanced or 1·atarded h>. oxnct pro1101·tion, as ho either • lmll co-oporal\& with or contradict and oppose the Order or Nalore that prevail!!.

"Dllmiln YnZ1uaide,"-( llormazd Yasht ), used to bo interpreted as u 1 praiso \\'iadom;'' it is in~ipld and 1neauing .. lllSS. 'l'he sentence has tl.e following import: " [ shall et.rive to gain knowledgo, kuow where to eo·opcrnto nud where J.o contradict, and •hall load 1ny Ure accordingly 60 LhaL my neighbour and 1uyaolf both m<>y adv<>.nco easier &ad 600uer.''

l'o be "YazamaiJ~" therefore with Ahura Mnzda, ia first to know whaL His will is and thep Lo do i~ To be

(53)

"Yammaide" with the mountain both ph.l"lical arid altrt.phyeic•l and also in thoir eomplete physical and spiritual eonstitutioa-" Aom Gairim Y11zamaid6" is to 51.ody and learn their Cunct!Ollll in nature, to accelerate the bono6ts or their uaee, to prevent the wMte of their virtue, and to bo "Yu" attuned with it. all, eo as t.o bring the greatest good to the greatest number. Uatad-Saheb woa the first to teach the esoterica of "Yazamaide," tho 00.uty .,,horeor will become apparent, when it. is oompared with ite first iatorprotation,-"l praise the mountain."

Other Avesta words which received auob acienti8c explanations, are 1. Ahnaavar. 2. Kosh B!Lm, a Fravaahi, and a great many others: too numerous indood for the tnt.n or thought to &ppreciate nod enjoy tho ten thousand year old &0riptures of Zamthuslitra, as the rovooJlng laws of Scienoe, whfob th11 dieeovories of the modern world con6rm, and the law• of social and mora.1 Soiooco, which tho modern humanity regret having neglected to observe.

Ustad Sabob had loarut it from the Sahebs of Domavand. The Boy Behrom was receiving this typo of ednoation in the l:>cl1ool• or l'irJos, and it wns his good fortune t.o rocoi\'o it for more Lhnn throe years.

Such be the Marvels of "Khshnoom."

The Boy Behra.m's educa.tion a.t the Firdos. Du1 ing his stay at the Firdoe, Bohram had boon a good

boy . Tho Sohebs love.cl him well anJ coiled hirn by the pet name •IJohram.' Bo had learnt his leseona with zet<I and had honoured and respoct.ed lhe discipline or the &~ored enolosare. An anecdote rel~tes tbat au agrionlturist within the eocloeuro who hod opprociatod tbo worth aod "irLne& of tbe Boy had offered his daughter ia marriage t.o him. l bal'e oo datn to describe the physical •PP"•ronC) of thnt girl of the 'Pairidaez' on Enrli1, hut my iwagint\lion shall not havo erred when I ea.y that her chn.rms must luwo boon superb and there must have been a halo or bright nose around her pereou to which &u ordinary Earth-born individual would be attracted with an irresistible foroe, Her virtues must have shaped the Qorvea

(04)

aod oooloura of her perllOll, and mu•t lhenfore b•n beeft fault!-. her colour mu•I but b9on ~e genuine wbiL• of th~ AryaJJ raoe made ,..hit..r alill by the innOOiOOO of bor hoarl. Th• jlirll of Firdoe are 10.0111 of troth and excel iu arch•ry aud ho,.manship. The lnat two demon•lrallon1 of phyaic,.t power• rrc in fact Lbe true lrain&re of •pirllual oxn<lllenc~: Rid in& the hone without " oaddle and i;overuing Lho auimu I by boldia& Ha mane n.ro aci1nli6cally an eleclricnl contact which belpe the un!oldin11 ol hi11h•r virtuo111 and tbe eznctilude of the eye u developed by archery ii a gT•at promot.cr of uudentanding and di8Criminalioo. Ber waya aod habit. aod temperamenL ID traioeJ mu.I indeed have made her word1 eouod !weec.er anJ her &ell look more bl-1 nod allnM:t.in. The Oowio& fold1 or her garment., made Ml lo .xi- bot lo protGCt lbe moJoety of lhe w .. rer 111utt have added lhe 6nal looob of porrection to that picture or lranion maidenhood. JC lborulure the pro•poct. or rolation~hip whh the damHl mndo Bohram frol himeelf in tho bigboeL hcM·en; indeed tho muter'• rofu81\} t.o permiL Iha weJJock tnUll lmvo made him experiooee tl1t1 1haq1 .. t 1li•ppoinLmenL ll<!br.m'1 obedience howe,-or waa i.1...,1. lld•r»m-. future "·•• lo 1Jt1 beyonJ tho Ii mi ta or Lho l'irJu1. an•I anylhiu,; tl1ereforo I h 1L woulJ keep him in wu di ... ~11~,.oJ in hw own iuhrea~

'fbe Boy l!ebram had "''L"<e<I the Firdoe with a m•rkt.J btomwer on hi1 liJ •, he wo.1 now l."'ing ou~ u n •HAS.a• oC Av<•ta and PabalYi littralurtll. l:lere Wll n living Pl'<Or ur whAb ao Avesta 'Nir&ol(' oC4u do, when prouo1u1c .. 1 by tho 11iuu1 llJl• oC •• Ab"'1 Druitn r. 'l'ho •Lllmmcriug had gono •111tl n memory of oxtraordinnry rol.<!utivonc~ had htou wit.ow•·' on illfl young man There i1 uotbiug that no 'Av•la ~1 .. 011' cann,L aceoaipliab, "hun pronoou~l by p1~u1 lipe .\n "'''°'ta ~iran;;' is a .. tccLJoo of pa•;:-ea from Lbe l<rgOC" A•CloLA or the 21 n .. ks. It i1 a aoltclion uiado bv thOl8 AbtJa who knew end uodtrflood lho l1w1 or Lht 'SL&nL \"uoa' (the law or vibrationa). Th- ..,Joct.ocl paMago.t aro.pponJoJ to tlie recitation of tho Yuh\4 nnu other prayers or lh1 •rnollcr or lho Khordah-Avesto. 1u our ordinary OXJl<lrfonco or life ibo ~rreot1 of a eong aod a 11c1·occh aro tborougbly wa II koown

(55)

01111 lh8'"$ "" well aro bnt tho law1 of lbo •Staot Yuna,' c~empliHeJ in pr11clie.i. A a~und vibr•tion can bring joy or ..,rrow lo> tho human mind, it can uplift " fallen eoul, can alhr th• phy1ied con<titutioa of man by curing der.iet. aud by improving upon or &trongthoning int.o l~itive exceUGDoe, thu el.i1ti1111 w•aknCl'JI. H can reanod)' and remo\"O all phy•ic'I dufocLI, 19 at.ammeri ug or ilufue1e or a doll memory or •l'•n oh1111go u m•n'a o&Luro from habit.I of eolfishne88 to t.ho IRud~blu doode of self-socriAcu. h1 tho real ma of naturo an 'A\'cetn Nirang' rightly selectaJ nod plou81J' recited CRo help man to grow• crop of "egetation, cart help man t.o rai&e or 1 .. wor lhc lov•I of 1 .. rge 11odergroond ..... rvoire or WIUl1L Ou the.., principlea the words of an' AvtlAta Ni rang' are aelected an I uliliaaeol to obt<•in dl!l!ired ruult.. The"" are but a few ... r ll1n (>OWOrt or lhe llm-hm-Nirnng of the Aveatau ~ya, l1ul tho 111,.uranouotable difficulty for tho 11r-.i~ g<JUOraliou in •pitu or ii.al post<l""iou or 1bo migbLy formulas, is the want or piou1 lips to pronounce them and the high and praotieed wul• Lo know ttn1l understand Uaeir powora. Such pioua lipa, piou• liy tho pr11otice of trutbJuluoea ( l!ehor) and pious by lit<' olA..rvauc:" of .Nature'• l1<wa ol behaviour (Tarikat); men cl un•l1Al .. lllt faith and coovictione baeod on experience of hlo, euch nro tLo t;aheb-Dila of Damavand. An English poe~ J.,,.,,.iLff tt.ooi;h uncoll8Ciou.Jy U10 atlribott:.of sucbble&tooea

l:lo taye: .. who are lho bleat I 'l'bey who l1M'• kept their eymp1U1ia11 awake. • Aud soottored ,joy for more llmn custom's 11&kel)loodfnet and lender in t.bo hour of need, Oonllo in thought, benovolont io deod, Whoee loclc1 have power to ID&~• d•nlfoD ooaeeW"°'"' piles are pl-Ill, aod •"- wordsare peaaa: They wlio ban lived aa banolo• u t.be do•-e, 'J'oacbero Of lTUlh &nd mioi1te.-. Of lovo; Lo•·• for all moral power-all mental g-racoiUl\o ror 1lae humblest of the buanau r~ Lovo for UmL tranquil joy that vir•u1> briDgs-

(56)

Lovo for tho Giver of &!I goodly thlnJt1; ............................................................... Th- are tho only bleat!''

-(Prince).

Theae Sahebs sent ua animpe&Qhablo proof of tho powers of &n "A.-eat.a Ni.rang•• in lb~ l"'r*'n of our revere<l U•IAd Saheb, k&oi.formed from a mmmcrinii laJ into • fiery aod a Ouenl orator, and from • lad of about lirteen who bad not gooe 1-yond bis •Bf.1-Potbi.' Lrannformed into " 'BM~' of Aneta and Pahalvi literatorea. Did not J111111 cleanee the unclean by the aimple 'Nlrang,' "Be thou clean" I And did not Lhe Mahatmas and Hiahiil of old gift all the world coulrl boot.ow by their •Nirang' o! hut on~ word • KalyAn 'I Tho Boy .Bebram emerge.I frotn tho Firdot, equipped All a ho.'ller of the Ill and ailing: a tutor of philo110pby and an intorprol<lr of ancioot texts which a.slooisbod tho PaudiUI and Profcsims.

He know: llm-c-Tib which w111 the llOiouoe or medicine; llm-e-Nazooro which wae Retrology; llm-o-~'111 whiob wu alBO 111,metbing similar: llm·e-Zafur which WM the art of inllue.ncing the mind of man, IO hi to ml\ke i~ bolter, untruthful iolo truthful and eolA1h into Milieu. l lm o-Hnmal or lorluoe t.elling and many olhor 11·t.11 ~ud scieocea, 1och "" elootricity (KHlstar), Rndinm properlie1 (1ti\Juu1) olc. .,i.e.

lL ia important t.o kuow that Behramol1ah'1 oJocalion in tho Firdoe co111u1euood undor the guidnace of a fomalo M.agava, &no Tannb who wa.s a lady profe..,rln lheoacred oncl01u1e and ended with the fatherl7 guid•not or Marsbanji the ShraoahAl'ana. Behnm'• education wu lh1111 oommenoeJ, cooUnued and oomplet.ed oo principlee or ld•I pel'fecl.ion and purity. The Abe<IA beg&n by th• pioua nteilaLion of • Ave.ota Patole' tba 'olola' (•ibratioDI) whoreor, whoo euog with true faith and love, b&ve llie effect of ineplriug coulAlotment, deaire for the performaoee ol good deoda, aod ultor lu1mllity: "° that when the training of the boy WH bcigou he already wae wonderfully po880Md of th•ee very ONeoiiol virtues of r. disciple's tile. The &.Mlle by the rochaLioo o! 'Avesta Niraog,' g-.. vo t.be boy robast hoalt.h, wbicb bo pomC83ed aml

(&'1)

maintained till Lbo end or hi• li£o, Bohramshab Wl\11 a et.alwe.rt, 1bc foot bigb, And ever healthy and acti<"e as a young lll4o. &bramsb~b had Atbravan blood in bis veine, and he bad f.n Albrav•n lompor .. mont for tho love 0£ mattoni spiritual. These th• Sah1be bad for-en and by proper prayen, properly r.ciled had acctleraW Aod a,·•n porf&ei..d I.he development of theeo pha"°' ol tho boy'1 oharacter. When the phyaieal 1irte or lbe boy'• training had been atl<!ndod to and mlllle l'tJ\dy, the Sahebs I.Urned their ati.otion lo tho moral and tho llpir.itual aido of it. They knew lhst whoo lhll hoollh or tho body wH 11n accompliabed fad ( Too-dlUUti) it waa time to turn t? Lbo health of his mind lll>d speech ( Man-daroali and hbon-darosli) and laatly to the health and the 1tr•na1h or hi1 aon&cience. The boy wa1 trained to know and ln arpreclale the value of bal .. nce ( PatmAn) in every matt.er, and prim111ily in thought. A h•lanaed Lhought that will noL run riot either by ont.er inilnenoo or lemplAtlon, and 11 oolsncod lbought that does not etagnato either for fuar ft-0111 wilbout or iicuoranoe from within, le •n auot impoMiblo to c..Um~to in lerms oC worldly value. 'rho thought thnl rc111nioe uodilttorbed wheu attacked and undi&turbod "hou ilatt.ored ia a balanood thought. The mlotl lbd rem11in1 steady, above in8oenoo, and unmindtul of 1urroouJlog clrcumotanoos is the mind that will give birth to 11 hAl&nooJ thooghL and "hioh when oooe aaLablitbod eha-11 be di Oleu1t to dislodge from ii.II trotha. &hram•hah Shroll' diaplayed t.hia impregnable lil.rengU! or •Patro&n• (Lalanc.) on 111.ny an oc.eion or jealoua oppo1it.ioo aod unholy auimoaitlea. Bebr11m'• oduoe· I.ion .,.., about the 1ooet perfect it ...-u pouible to impart. Re waa eduoet«I io tbe philoeopby or luuoan life, frosn iLI eeed to ite end, (ita Eb~'b to iLI lntebn) llDd all that would intervene between lbe 1wo; the oompound char&cter of life which is a misLure of aood eu>d of evil and I.he prinaiplu on 1vhich I.he good wa• to bu loved and inc~ and the evil not to be ha led bnt moroly to be 1•educed or transformed. 'fhe ueeoesity of evil for l11ij JlrHurnlfo11 e.nd increue ot tho good was u we hllve eoon • 111.roug £1\otor of Uohnimahah'a education

ij

(58)

in tho Firclos. The instructions wore noL OllO •ided only, in t,bo proachiugor the profell80rs, hot it wu vory rigoroualy" doublo procel!S where lbe exertiallJI or lhe boy to r1>11J><>nd to the rrayera or o\froonghiut, Dalmm-A£reetea were roquirod to be ol>eye.J to by the obeervance or 6lric~ rrcoedan. (Tarikate). 'fho boy wa a willing worker, 6raL by truth, lhoo by temporamcnt aoJ lastly by dotumin~tion or Xature. !Jo rotp>ndeJ with l,.rmony and rhythm am.I a will to acbil\·o. Thia waa enough; Lo ochio•od, be presched and 111 ma1la hio namo immortal in the hi•tory of lite progrOJ!ll of hie ~JndaUJatt roligion. a .. \;ne"' tho mya~ries and the mA.-ola or 'Khobnoom,' he ba•I naaind Lbo knowledge 'Bioh·Pillb' and •lli•h-Piah' bo gave iL unl.o othere.

The Professors of Firdos. Juel Lho eamo llmL .. Rower hooo111C1 lhe CllUIO or

R<hniration of tho tree, it happona that tho high atlniumaot.t 0£ "disciple become Lho cauae or Inquiry about Lho profioioooy or hie gurull. The IHe of Uohrn1nahah WU II lirilliuot inawnce, which stirred up univor1111l ouriotlly regarding his Lonoh•r• at the Firdos. li•hram1hab'1 ll""tiludo towards \hem wu very oolapokon, nnd the 111me wAI! ulwitya declared hy him in unmistakable Lenna. He wonlcl IO 0(1111 My, 11ntl ""Y ii wilh assurance for hi111aelf and lii1 hearer• tbal bi1 S.bobs u! lbe Uema••antl would help all •• lltoy holpo<I bun, if tl1ero was for diem and bi1n fp.ith and lu•• oombiood wilb a d1tintereel@d dOJ!ire w learn and to t.eoob. llu deocripbon r•f tl1eir cbaraeler and learning IWd piety m,re aa iolerosting and \\Ondarfol aa tbe ben taloa of Mlvtnlure and ro1Unce. Apert from us all who honoured and belioved what our U1tad Saheb had to relate, there it a \'ery luge number, who Jiebeliaved and aooll'ed at it. It i1 the mtot<alily of wan, it is bis faith, and il iii bia love, which Alwayt guides and e•·eo dele=in1111 the direelion o( hia lilcoa and Jlal!kea and tho pr,..ence therefore of Lboee that eoolf i1 from a phllooopbical poout of viow just aa essential for eociety and for Ibo advaocerneot of learning ILi! is the p1·01onco of those who 1·o•·ore nntl roopecl llto 11t1mo. lloreio h I.ho COL'rcc~ uudvroltludiug autl

I

(59)

int.orpnitrttion of tlll' A\'~~l.111hilm.orhy of d\lfllity. 1'here i1 l11• lu&epAral;lo and th~ moet Ollll')ulinl co-exht.enoe of the "Angra" aoJ tho "lSpo11ta" in ovcry noticenblo pbonomenon of the wbolo of the Univor*I; be ii iu the dom&in of its pbysiCAI, moral or llJliritu~l activity. '!'here ia 11othing truly hateful io the idea of tho "Allgr&," but that tbore ia in il•nial.eoce an app,,.,..iable an.I an iMvilAble importance quite iodil!panable for the regulalioo of the world'1alt.ire. Without the "Angra," the "Spcnu." wouM ~ practiaally iout.; Mid witb<>ul the "Aol:T•" there would be no impetua to evolve aod to aooqu,r, The beat prwf tliat in the burl or Bormaad libeM two fact.ora, o•er eo oppooing Ibey may -in, nro equally beloved, is, in the lU8 or tb1 word,' Mino: marle common for tba rl-.iption of both of lbcm. For Ibo ad vanoemtol of man to hie goal, therefore there 1bAll be love for "Sponla" £or be ie 1o Yino and thoro shall not be ouy hatred £or thu "Angra" for he too is a ~lino, and wilbout ii..~ exlalence the onrthly life of mAD

would be like udo" pool of et.ognaWng water instead of" bcightly Rowing ri,.er ruuning to i(J blouod destination. Ad,.ance tho ''!;pent~" and roduoo tho "An~rc"' 60 that lho former m"y o\'or 11row null iuoreue nnd, compress Ibo latter BO thAt it m~y uxlat no ~lggor than n 1)()inl in mathematics. Tho S•heb·Dol1 of J>om•"and aro u band o{ Zaralhnshlriao Mystio&, who lh-o unseen by 11nd unknown to the world. They ate like tho i;u•rJiao 'l'irit.s or Mudazoan, and they are tba holdore or tho roorete and true ellOlerica and who alao bold with t.he1uEeh .. lb• true ecionco of A \'e&tao hermeneutics, the •SU» Yatna.' Tht !:iaheb·Dela are the true Servant• of Ma~nan Sooiot.y, 'fbtir tervice i1 in lbe strength of their U10ugla11>. They l>old tho l:lumat.a "" • weapon or offense and of olofcnco aod when tho MuJaaruu> 1JOCieLy attaio• exoellence in any direction whate\'or, it is lhe thought power or the.. -~~ that baa worked £or it. The blell8'dno.1 ol 1 tbougM ecnL nut Cron1 ll devout aod a pion• heart ill ever crUAtivo And omnipotent. The pbil0110pby o[ "llnmata," that Znralhuohtt·a 6rat rovealed lo lbe world though p1·onouncuil \1y aorl kr.own to every individuo.1 is nol nu easy thing to cooeoive. It i• the mightieaL force imagi·

(60)

oablo by moo ond it u lheroforo also the moat diffiowt virtue to alU.iu, Tho prof_,ro of lhe Firdoe are the beEl. DUl8toro of their own Bumata. Th•y can conooi•o tho good rJioagbt and they oan \Yield ii.II ulwoat llirength. Tllo fortune t.hat befell Sobramabah to be In lbeir company for over Lhroe yoara and to be inslruo~d by them in Lbe marvell of Mncdunan waa one really t.o be en,•iod. ll waa t.l1e result or hi1 •Kuh&s' good do001 or former liv11 when too he waa good ud obliging, that lho "4»mpenao for U!u awe ci.mo to him. in tho form of this tut.olago. Within tho precinct& of lbe Firdo1 tbo11 high eoola uo "orking for the good of mankind in gonoral, Tboy have their grade ot dignity out nocordinit to the value of their pol&Ossions, baL aooordiug to their poroonal dovclopmoot of piety and lUl'olng. The higher grade ia known aa t.bo •Kha.• and lbe olh•r aa t.bo •Am.' The former grade bu in ilaelf one group or perfected ooul1 lcnown H lbe 'khA1-al-kbAa' which group always ooiaili\11 of 72 man, whom the Avoat. dlstioguieho. a1 the 'Mag,.v•.' Abovb all tboso masto~-mioda is the 'ShroHMvarez'.Sllhob.' Be 11'•1• hie Mme Crom Lho aroh·o.ngel 'Sr-ha,' ttilb whom be i1 In 111rroot tune, tho rbyt.hm of hil holy breath koepa him t.LLuned with lbe ornanalloo of "Srnoaha." Theao •iota o{ FirJoa have their bodiea, minJ, braio, speech aod conlMlienco all attoneJ to I.lea.I tru1blalnau and sincerity, n.n.J love which enable• lhem lo know all nod to eee all. They n.ro much moro thnn wh•t wo 01-dinarlly uoderst.Antl as olairvoyaola 'fhey havo powor and oapaoily lo lorn nil ovll into good wb~lever it it, ud £or all lboir worlb they are known at the -S.h1b Dill.' H was Bohramehab'a ruo fortoot to havo learnt tbi1 law under 1uob profeuol'll. 'l'he Sahob1 are ever averlil tu wMte of any klrnl, a rule that hoa come down to this d&y to the Mnzdaiuau; to whom every apeeioa of wast•, larjfC or emoll, is n. sin. Tho commoooat and tho moet practiosl illu•tralioo of it is ro1·oaled to us to.dny in the Mudaanan anooyaoct al the aig~t o( wat4r ruoniog lo

wuU from an opoo lap. '1110 Sahebs aro liooere be!iovua iu

the 'llad·lnllAI' of AhuramuJa and they never iot.erlere whoro •hey soe tho limitations presoribed by nature, ao<I

(61)

wheo they aee that ju1lioo hat prevailed, Thia rule RI well bu oome down to tho Mudunaoa who on occuiont or diN diatre• only •y •Let lbe will of A.haramaada be dooe.' Thl1 rellignolion to the dlvioe diliJl"ll&alion bu penooaf.cd Iel&m, and the very word •Mualim' me&n• nothinii more than ~he one who 11 rosigoed to tho will n! Allah. Tho sallle principle can allO be aeon in the voree1 or tho holy Bible, wb~re we find lhe words "Thy will be done,' so en1pbalically imp-.! on the reader'& mind. The abebe al"ll followers of angelic virtuee, they imiblte 'Armaili' and alway• make mighty act. of self-uerll!oe lheir Orat and only pleaaore.. The good of tho neighbour ia tho 6rst oonccrn, and tho good uf the neighbour ia tho laat ooocern. Self-11.1.crifioe ia the breath of tboir llfo, and tbt oonlrary ida& ii unknown am! non-uxi1tent in Fire! ... 'I hi1 virtue u well baa .un-ived to lhit day in the life habit.. of MaJlduoan, !or whotu it ba1 prnetie&lly bec-:ime their dlffertutia, and bu marked them out from humanity at large. Tho M udn1nao haR &lw•ya laoked 6ut t.o hit neighbour ind thon t.o himHelf. Ile lnves his neighbour 88 bimeell and hi1 pleuo ru are rognl•t.ed ou the prinoiple oontllinod in that Oem o! A\Oe•l&n thought, lbe first line of tht 6rEt vorM or lho •C•tnalty O•lh~'

•Uehu\ Ahmil.i, yahmAi U•hlA, Kab11u\i chit.'

"J'ruo pl1:&soro sholl bl! his throoi;h whou1 Lruo pleMuro hat boon broughL to a 11aighb<1ur.'

The Boy Behra.m lea.ves t he 'Firdos. Tl10 &y Bebram h•d oow been at tho l'inlos for rnoro

than lbree years. On tho principle or '' Bi•h· Piah," be "'''I lesrnt to much Rll he hall lhe 5trenglh to nain1italo, and .., much sa be htld beoome 1•ipo to receive H was now onco ngaln lhe mo!har'• love Lhat worked. lo the in•crnLalllo dispM..,.liou of ~alaro it "a~ tllilt same moLhorly afleeliou, a !A!mporary ab<trrnlion whereof had led to ao u:trangcm~n~ and had pushed him aw•y from home, now reacted t.. ~tir in her tho oonlrary feding of a longing IO - ber eon. Th• enme l11111t11r who had onco aeon her enjoy gosaip wi'h hor ooighboars 011 ~ha nnniv~r1111ry of her b!r~b, now saw hor 1~

(62)

eeoond timo waiting and feeling lonoly and miaerable b<M!no98 or the abeenoe or her eon. It wu a coincidence which tho Muter riglitly roreeaw and nodcralood to be the proper time for the return of the Boy to the \VOrld out.oido the Fir<lo~. Naturally oooogh wlion tho Master had so televized for bimaell tho l!Ceoe of the sad con<litioo or Dohram's mother and had oominuuicalod eamo to him, it excited in tho Boy a 11J>Ontanoou1 pull of filial love. The Iranian word for what wo know u television u "Suda:" and the diflerenoe between tbe two u that according to Mudainan belier. the former ii the reanlL of an act ol a Scientific outrage on the element.I oC Kature, wbereu the latter it the natural outcome or Lhe inherent powers of the Soul Jevoloped by a pereoo through lr1dividual piety and •piriLual odvnnoemeot. That the former ie re&lly an outrage on Nnturo ia explained and proved by 11 very recent discovery of Science, which records that All the <llr~ct result of tho tro1ncndou1 &tmosphorio di•turban~• OllUH8d by the radio and other nerial wave., lunacy amoni: meu bu oollfliderably iocrcab8d. The "Sewa" is free from all euch sioi•ter e<>neequ•m:ea. Hi.• a condition or lire ac11uirvJ by tlao.o hii;h ooul•, wb.? ha,·c porg•'<I Lhcm&el\'tll or 1111 eio•, who have di•rarJvJ the lasl3 of Jile, who 1.ava liveu oolely for tho •lo,·alion oC otl1cre, who hn•e belitM•l in eelr-SAcrifice and .elC-etT110«1nont •• plo .. ure, nod who hnvo co·ordin.ted with the dbrntioru of ~nture. To them time and apncu eU.oJ nnnibilatod; t.o Lhem dMnnce doos ooe disturb ~ud tho rime it takes lo twinkle 011 eye becomes enoui:h for tho nccompU.J1went or rhoir beart'a uesire. The truo oonditlo11 of a 0 .Sezda' iR uotliiug but. the geoniuo roohviliu1 or 010 tabulou. looking ")!uoio or the Spberea." It ia the adju•ting or tho wave-longth• ur ono'11 LhougLts to el.e unJulntiooe of Nature. Of thio tliera an two etago•, the one lower and the other hi1th•r. 'l'ho former is tho "Sczdn-e· Nitnroo," which require> for its successful operl'LiOn the pret\CllCO or lh9 lllKhtor ( Unru). and lhe latter is tho" Shc•1.Je.-o-Amroo," whore tho pious ma.n can offioi~te indepen.Jontly relying on his own l"'Ychic & spititnal

atWnmontB, 'J ho 'Sczda.' is io foct n re•ult of the supor-

(63)

dovclopmeot of nn individual, wbieb evolves bis personal powers and potentialities Uu:ougb spiritual exercises (Tarlkat) and pereoonl piety (Asha). It is a st.ago or perfection which enable. tho A.heel lo CMI and to see a.nd to hear all that an ordinary mortal iu bis ordinary life c,~n ne'Yer hope to feel, to aeo or to hcnr. Let not the materialist scoff at this idea. If he does, let him read what sightless John Milton prayed for & sincerely believed he would get, and be did get. He BAid;

"So much the rather lhou, Oclostial Light, Shine inward and tho mind lhrough all her powers, Irradiate; there pl3Ilt oyes, all 1nisL from thence Purge and diaper••, that I may eee and toll, or thing• invisible to mortal eight."

{Milt.oo's Part1~ise Lo$Li Book III, Lio6!1 51 to 55 ). U is not the eyes thnt •••; nor tho cars that hosr; nor

the tongue tb11t tastes, 'rhero is o. power and a spirit behind these aensee who ie the true enjoyor and worker of all, anJ in lbo proportion lhat an individual by his own spiritual advancement comes closer h that iodwolling At.om of Light, that ho is able t.o feel independent of the burden of all his phyl>icsl 880888. Tho S&beb-Dils of DemAvnod wore very ndvaucool 8Jule, possessed or super-normal powers, and they ronlly oould "see •nd tell of tliinga invisible to mortal eigbt." The television on the other band ie that know ledge o( mntorial Science, whiah spreads vi<>lonoe iu the silence of Nnturo, disturbs ita rhythm t.o a degree and shows "resolt which looks mighty and mnn•ellous only in its outward appearance. It acts and there ie reaction to balance it, U is the reaction that neutr&lizes tho goodneea of the rillow, and for tho short-lived pleasures of the scienae-mado marvels there follow n series of untbiuk111ble and unremediabfo disasters, which leave humanity and the world more uiieerable than before.

•ro coutiuuo tho thread of our story, there is in Nature a b~fanced reciprocity of afl'ecMon between the mother and her child. It holds good for the whole of tho hum•o family OU Eartb,-be t,ho child born 00 the ioe alabe or frigid

f {64)

• .. Orepnlt.nd or bo the child born under lhe scorching rny1 of

' the Sun in Torrid Mid A!rica. God made mau the 11UD1

everywhere in his primary likt1 aud dielikea, but m&n

himeelf yielded to tho influencoa of bis individual oiroumatAnoes and aurroooding1 end auft'eri>J bimaalf to be ••gregatod into clana, caaLea, and creeds, uun•tW"al llllJ repugnant in themeelvee to the c:uiooa tllllt govern I.be Univoree. Nature oxempli601 bor laws for the guid•noa of man on Earth and nlllO £or hie progreM towarda hi1 gool in regions beyond. But It ii bil own negligeoco to obey, that leada him aatray aod delayt hie oalvatlon. U ia one of the IA>Khingt of "Khabnoom:• that lhero ia not a aingle principle of bamao Hre, tho truth aud tho virtue wberooC ia not o:r.omplified in the en be.ranee of ioi>oimat.e Nature: a.nd that there is no 0tremonial on Earth which iB not a couoLerP"rt and the reminder of the activitiH or higher entities in the region• of heaven. Ono euch in1tnnco of tho rogulaLion or the love of I\ oblld for It.I! mother ia ao b<iauli!ully illustr&Led by & grent p:iet, who ob.ened and diaolosed tbe 1piritoality that lay hid behind the behaviour ol a t.nyan tree. Tbe really in•pired words ol tbe poet are:

"They tell ua of an Indian tree, Wbioh, bow-vor the sun and eky llay tempi its bongha to wander free, A.nd shoot and blouom wide aoJ high, 1''ai· !Jolter loves to bond Its um1, Dowinrard again to thAt dear Earth, From which the life that &Ji. and warma Its gl't\teful beioi;, Grat bl\d birth. Iii is thus, though woood by flattering frioude, And fed with fame (if fame it be), Thv /iforl, my oo<m <Wr.r tno«Aw, MldB, Willi lotif'• h'U<I ""'M, baok IQ lhH. •

- M oore.

The Uoy Bebraw now succumbeJ to • diflcrcut feeling. h WU the remembr•n~ ol his • Hutu• s· .. eet Ilome.' Be for a t.imo at least beCl\010 uoconliCiou1 of the joy• ...,J Lho

(66)

oomforts of the ~'irdos and became unsuppor!Ably impatient to retnru to hie eaduened mother and once moro to ijOO

himeelr in the bu ruble and rugged roonia of Lis re•iclouce in Dom bay. H wu indeed "Tbe Mother'• lo,·o calling." It WAI all wonderfully in the di1penation or thinge that lbo end of Behra111'1 education at FirdOI ooincidod with the onde1.riog impatitnct of Bohram'e mother to .. e bor long ~hMenfl and dearly beloved eon. llo muet go baok to bis mother and to bi1 friends and t-elativea, and to proaoh and propagate the grand Scion"" of Khobnoom, that wu b4ing overapread every Jay more and moro by Uie beape of rank and sparioos mi1interpre1.atioD1 and miaooderetandingt boro of ignor&DCO and fanaticism. 'fbe proepeda Of tbe return journey were indeed more grim th•n the onos that hMI led him to the Firdoe. When be came to Firdoa, there bad beon friends wifh him more lo,·iag than & f)"teDt, more knowing than the bes~ or euideoi, and more reliable u .. n th• beet of friend•; but now on the return thtre waa none to acoompeny th Boy, nooo to be friend and none to pl'Qtec~ or guide tho youth through the hazards ol tho &rduoua travol. The ways of tho SAbebll r<ro inecrut&ble, yet perfect, o.ud tboogh appnrontly cc.rele11, yet lull of love and 1ympathy and guardir.nsbip. The value of a piou1 man's bleaia1,,. i1 beyond mea•ure, and the pot•atiality of that ulteraooa i1 unconquerable by the worat of world's avila. It beoomca the guiding voica of a friend, the protectinic lovo or a. mother, and tho in~Lructiog wiHdOlll of a "gnru." The!!& blce.•in11•. the Boy Bohrtun htid received to their full : with these, he was o.rmod to defend hitt1..,ll when ati.acked, anJ bimeel[ to atw:k wheo oorrounded by a danger. 'l'hete blo•inga wore an in•pirlllion, to embolden the boy to uudertALko tho journey homo alone. Ho became bravo, trueting to higher poweni witli siocare faith; ho al"" becarno self ooniidcnt anti Pelf-reliant. 'l'bo Mhebe 811W the oourago of tho youth, hi• oageruess to return to his another, and in th1'•e feeling• or a man, they al>!O raw tho 1ucces.fol working or the worol• ol bleslling they had liO piou.ly and· devoutly pl'Qoounce<I on him. 'Iba yo uni( maq waa ready to <i•par~. lt must ha\·e been ll moment of psin for All concerned, for the youth bad beoo of good buh•viour, oliodloot to his superiors, willinir to work nuu willing to

9

(66)

plo .. e, willing lo lenrn nnd wllling to nntfort.Ake lho grand mi""ion he w1u destioet.! to tuJ6l. All oh•n11•• or limM and circomatane<!s have to bo aurrondned tu. Pro1 .. rations for lhe arduoue• return joorney woro m•do ond complel<!d. It """ obvinua the young tra,·eUer woui.I long bo iri unl.nown and unlriendly land before he r!M>cl>w hi• d•otin•lion, •11•1 rh:rin~ all that period a thot,.and oec...JL1M woul.J ha••e to bo aogwered. Jt it on ,_.,.1 and "o who honour the mhmOry of Otll' U1'tatl Sabeb befie\·o that thn ::iahebt of J>oma\'&od had W""" him. phial or "Akrn~-Aurn" with tho mott definite and the m<>•t ri:,•<>roU• •n•I ~tricl i""trndioos for ii.ti a... lt was• aolution o( chemi .. l• which lt"'I tho power by more applicalioo of turning COl'I"" 11110 i:ol•I. It WM to pr<l\·ide him with pocket monoy ju~i ooou:h tu ktop him out of ortliu•rJ' difficultio1 and no moro !Jo lwl nooJ •nd ho h•d never h"d to bog for his exi•tence. Whi.11 this i11ci1to11~ hicCILl\11 nn ~t.ablisheU faQt, UULUY J\ j~JUlltJ CHIU fttArWtl unr.lol\•nnt indinudiona ugain•L u,. IHu incidonts or nu lrRlllHhah i:)hroff and inlplll&•l IOOLh·o• ,.,,J r.raQtiCU8 which would hurt him•• n '°'" o[ honour nnd euruiu:i. Bf\hrl'lm1hah Shrofr wlt.R a J..~Oci uu,n, 1" lonrni;,J nHul, 1\ nlan o( t<leal humility und a mnn who b«hovod In gtvlnj!' whanovur h• could find a rccepui.clo worthy tu rtCl'i•"· Wn1m h• Jett tho ncadlllDy ct eeotortc Avo•tau roMaroh ol lht) Doronvantl, b~ wu blind-folded for a while, an1l lot out b)' n rolinblo nod foving icuide for a certain di•t..lnce nw•y. whou tho fol·l• w~rc t-emo,·ed, be w0;. .. blheed once tnore "nil h:•tti. lo follow b1a o\\'D way homo. 'rhe •l~o~Lh of lho bl<!P n_gi reci:iveil on U.u. return journey thougb apparently uoprot.>ctod on•I without a guide he coul•l wiLb J<erfect •l•ty tr&Yol over the whole o[ Iran, tho whole<>( upper l111lia anJ coulJ Hen pen•· Intl• into Ure JJ•y&Uioui lauda oi 'l'tll(lt ri11ht uvto Rdioma. 1The fri1•0J.hip of Lhe ~heb• wu not brok•n by B..llram • •l•f"'rlnrc Crom t.he Fird.,.; bo cou\.I 1<111 l11t IUIDd 10 tho tu•oters <>f tho Firdoo ao•I be could hear ll•oir rol'h .. thoroou. Ile bnd beeu iusl.ruC>""'1 in th• mymrita ol tho ••Se~," anJ be =derstood its inlricaci••· lilt 11omcd1•to d...,1plo1 in ladia kno"· ho coulJ tel•d&o 'l'ith h10 ::rnn,l mnator ~lilrtba11ji •n•I solvo tl:o difficull.ies wl1iob woro t<JQ grea~ £or hie individual iuteUigeooa), Ho rtlurn•J ,.,.. Pe•ha>var, whore he onc.1 more met his dear uuolo 11u1I \hone• to h1• duar 1uothor.

The Boy Behra1n Returns Home. 1878-1908.

PhywiClll courage a11J phy•ical onduranca had oomo lo the Boy Bobra111 u lhe uatursl and expected result of hie educalfoo ot tho Firdoa: Aod tborofore when he lefL that oac....J enclO!ure, hi1 !JolJo.,.. ~uJ bia hardihood 0D11blod him '-> wonder throui:h Lbe not countries of Iran, Burma and India, before ho ruo.cbod Home E.-cr w weloomo, and ploa..ureoble l11i• 11ow •nn•vundiog may have be<ln to him, yet, it mnaL bavo ...,med Lo him M>metbing unbelievably different from lbu 0110 ho had loft behind 'fhe charms of tho Firdoe were u11!orgott.ablo, nncl with tho oudden varu.Jiing ol that cuchnnling vieioo ho mUJll havo oxperi<lllced • dullnu&L very difficult to ahnko olf. Thia is truo, but the psychology of tho human mind works mMvels, when it comes to ilB climax in it.a exhibition of tho fooling ol Olin! love nntl atfoction,-a !IOU oomiug back to bla 1110Lhor'ff 010 brace s!Ler " long absence. Tho phyaiool port ol tho tlret joy CUI to wlmt Behrn111 nod hie motlier ml\y hnvo Mid and dooo Lo each olhor, ;,, cMy Lo iml\gine: but what tholr Lbrobbiug bout.I! and panliol( breath had to proAch !or tho 1ierm•nont upli[t of their llOUI i• beyond tho powor ur tho pcn, even r~intly to translalo into articulnt.e word•. The motb•r'• love i• a ruigbty myst.ory ooth for it.a etrooglh and its 1noolrnaa The love of Lhe MoLber, "ho hsl1I tho child, who nuuriohee it wilb tbe very easeoce of her own life, aod who, lo pr-ot it lo Lho world, sulfore tho tbroee of child·birU1, tl1e vary astremo of phyeical pain !mown to nature, that love i1 the moet faitbfal reBectioo of that divine emaoatioa, whom apark penn .. tos the Uoivcne and wboee alfolguoco eholter1 lha entire creation through all epaoe aoJ through all time. It i• 1Hll eaid:-

"0od could oot bo ovorywboro and t.boreforc be mado mothers." (A J.,,,w, prourl>.)

Of the protecting and ov~r watchful LigM, that is God, the motbor'e out·eprond nrrns thAl y0<>ro to close around hor

9

(68)

child, ia bat a dimiDDliYe, yet lolthfal eymbol. Thero are many a reoor·I of ti... opont.&nMo9 dilf!'lay of a ruoU1er'$ Ion; ono aU .... t of which do .• ,,..,, lo t.- truthfully recordo0i One• UJ1<ln R LUM, it HO hoppe110J tha~ I> j!OO<l tMthcr hnd [~r fOlllt boon •op11rnto<l from hur lloarly boloved aon. D.icadu• h~il J>Rb'C1l ~ud eho baJ rO()tliv0tl no now• from hirn. Hl1n had nlways hOJ>UJ and wa1t.uJ, Aud 111 ""doing had become olJ nucl ehrh ,.11 .. 1 t.o U10 bouo.

11\"e1r1 to a mc•hor brini d1ttrou Rot do u~t tnake l><r love the 1-."

(lr~ Th• oj'~""" of Ma"Jfl"'·"l

l:ibc hAJ m .. 1. 11 • habit of hor lafo C\'or to !lit at tho wiadow or hor hUulLlo hut, and aver lo ~eep gnz.iug llt lho v1u1t. au1I Ullft.ll~WOriug UIJ"ll•Otte Of bllll'C40 laud in front ur hor1 O.UJ OYCt

h.>tl •ho uurlureJ wtLhiu her heart tho uodriog ~xpuct.&liou, to .... 11 'Peck appeAr ou tho Ji•taut horizon, which 111 IL Jrow ucaror, "'oultl t.ranrifornt itAtolf iuto tho iwngP &od J~rllOn uf Lor Jou IOU, or tho 1nulhor alun• can it bo •id with at-lut.e appropri1'tuea", and u o( a rulo 1''itbout. uceplion th.al, "Al.,nee make• ll•e hoarl grow fonder.'' Betwocu lhe wothor anti her oon, It 11 won•ler!nlly true. The wailing and lho tt•r l•OJ iog mother ol our et<iry wu • manolloua ill1111tration ul lhia l(f••I rulo She 1.-d oulfol"O<I, her 1ulfcrings '"·I olway. increucJ, aml 11he w .. being oofuobled 1he mnro with lho olo( each Jay, a. "Kbonh,.!" U1e eourc• of nil lii;bt aauk l>eyuuJ Lhe boriwu anJ Jl•ppc&red. Tho patient uwlbar, Wiii ouw fccliog her eud drow near, and oho prayeJ uolo the Lord, that. oho would welcome the angel of DeAtb, and woulJ wi1bQu1 a murmur acoompaoy him with joy aod conl<!alment, U only btforo the arrival of that great raomont ebo couhl 1.aavo a aighL of her .,n, aud feel him well in her motherly ewbraco. It io oft.en the llllDODl of nngrat.efol rnan that hio prayor1 aro neilbor board nor anewcred. Thia i• ool true. Th~ accepl.auco nnd t.b• rojtct.ion of the prnyor, ie regulat.i<I, firtl, by tho ri:,:bt.<uuauOM of the eopplicatioo made, nod 1<>conJly, by tl•t foit.b aod •ioeerity ol miuJ, and tho aioleao .. aod tho vlety

(69)

of Lhe hoer I of Lhe ono wbo pr.ya. (Seo Lbo AV(!lta At.11 Yut..) N~ pnyor, LrOftLh,,.J nnt with faiU:i, ein-ity and pieLy, aod lho e&mo b•ing righteous io ii.a purr-, wa1 over lofL an· an1w.r.J. Nuno nncl nc,·er. Of Lhis let m•m be ever eure:

"And ~II Lhmge wb~t6oe\'er ye ahall a"1c in prayer, bolie\'ing, ye shall receive."

(SI. Malthow CJ,. XX f. ~~86 f!J.)

Tho prayer or the good molher, right.eon• '" it Wll8, and heoved out in fnilh •nd piety was heard and answorod and granted. Tho witberod form once moro W<\8 at tho window one day, •t.oriug Vll<'Antly u ever she W.d dooe When lo I r. fast mo1·ing form disturbed Lbe monol4n} of that faulUline bey~ucl; The ep<ck drew neu; lbe !&111.-ebbing life-bre:iLh of the blOlh•Jr, roee atonce into a ragiag floo.L A 1Cr11am of raptorooe joy OOC:l!'ed her lipe,- -il wu tb.e ooo come hr.ck t.o bi1 mother. Th~y met IUld tho record• My lhal in the lnmult of tho u1oinonL'a high emotions, tho mother aprayed forth in uubuliovnble profusion, the m011t preciou1of111! Bai<la, --tho milk of hor broa•t•. The aceuo inJoud w1111 stuot.ilyiog. 1'ho hnppine•I or Bohoram's m<>~hor oould uot ht.Yo been ditfo· 1·ent nor coul•l it h~v• been lesa. Wo nnrrnto this 1t.ory, not for ii.a nonlty, but, aa we have just aht, for ita ennobling inllaenoo. Thu roolhor"e embrace and the molhor'• joy are a Jl01"nt faetor in tho formdion and d..-olopuieut of tho oon•a characi..r auJ ideal&. A Uu·ee and a half yoar'1 alay at tho Finlot with iu uplifting and emboldening inti uunc:o, and added oo Lo Ll,i•, the ooo oioglo incident of tho motber'a rmbraoo, had well oomliinocl to tr1m1!orm Bebram fr<>m a 1tam111erlng youth, into a et.alwnrl orator, from an illitorsto yourag•tor int.on verit.Blile U•t"J or Ourn, and [rom a orudo uupoli~hod individual into 11 man 0£ humility uud humanity. Ilia uducation and bis knowlodg• hncl l"'ou oousummnLeJ int.o pcrrccUon at the Firdoa; but hi• pereonal iacliU11tions, hie rnnn·•lloua t.olonnc•, nnd bis idool love both for man au•J beast, bis sedate t..oring, aud t.he solemn d1i."'il}' ol his general behavior, were tho direct resolt or tbaL O>erwhohmo:; reoliment o! bia moth~r·• •mbrllet'. Tbd Boy ~braru hll.J ~turned a Uetnd or Gnru Crom tbo firdoo,

( 'lO)

1md MW Lho l'nndil &bram had been lraneformod inU> n pbilnnthrophi1L. Tho moLber's love 11 .. 1 donu ii. IL hnd gono doop int.o every li111b o[ his, and h•cl chAn(('ld it• Mlion from ordm•ry tolf·snoking procliviiios, iot.o n solCIOM boboviour of oo nll-iuoluding goodness.

Thu• reformod Belirom had yot n Cull fifty yoart of life hcfore him, wherein io oxhibit tho knowlodi:o, whloh woul<l rovcal to tho world, the e!lO!Alrio• of the Z..raLlm•htrinn t.cnel<I nnd loacblng1 a• an uochallonged proof ol hi1 1\Ay al the ~'lrJoo; aud a)JIO to oJtbibit bit perfect humanity •n·l bumilily "" l\D uncballooged proof of lbe marvelloue alcbrmy of tho mother'• ombrac.!

4 Thia half a century divid.it iLaolf 1uto lwo

J"'riod. o[ thirty and twenty years eaoh: <luring tho Ont of which ~hram romoinod inactive and incognill, till an acciJunt ui..,.>vure<l bun. And the second p.irioJ o[ twenty yoan of o:dro1nu l\otivili•• of preubing, of praotioo, nud uf tho fuunrling nP variou1 religious literary usooiotion•, nnu oooieti•o. 'l'ho Bret poriod o{ npporoot •ilonoo anJ sooming ii111oiivily i• tho lhomo of the prosoot ob~pler. Tho ro11der 111U1i •pprooiatu tho faot thnt thi• pcri0<I wo• 11 l'"Ychologic ll0008'1ity, and O\'Ull lhough it ID•y looit Jiko & •(IOOiUI or lotharicy, yol, at tho Mme time that it wao phy•lcal inortnoY, it nl.o wn• a period or gNat mental go•tation and excrilon. 'rho youth was a"llduonaly escbe"•ing anJ Jii:uoting the riclh bft1111uot ol J.igb religioU11 lore that bad 1-n forOO<I down int.u him uaring b11 abort stay al lb• FmlOI He WM pract1-cally rogargitatiog the be.l<y meal,aad r-pitulaling the v •luo of """'Y mdi,•idual item of the preceplb anJ principle•, bo had boon lileoaod with. Ho indeed wa1 l>"'l"'rini: for l'r•ctiRO. Uo yot "'"" • boy ul liut twoaty years or •i:•. anol thvul(h h• b,J within hi1n "" the reqnieites of a rully ovolvod "l'1rndit", yet ho knew ho was too young to doolaro hi1n••lf,.. •uoh A true 1'1mdit hns beou JoHnod to ho the ono wholO hnnJu aad hoort co·Ol'dlnnto in po1·fect nnitwn ''•itt. his luuul, l luru \Vl\8 Lhe young Jiociplo atendying bimsolf lo wiih•tond tho oxpcctod ObCilll'ltiouR Lhnt '\10UIJ inevitAL\Jly COUlO. l:lu l11L1) tL 1118BSRUU tu gi"e, tho mo .. ~go hi• Mai, .. v Maswro h•<l enlru•l~•I him with. l:!o wa• w I rcoch bumiliLy and prooti•• it. Uo wu to 111 •Uifea~

(71)

by exnmplo, tho true ocri1•t of l\fozdaz11&n 1elfotneri6ce. Do w&a to unfold lho highoaL philoeophy of Natnre'• i:on0ti•, or Nnturo'a Ordor, ontl or Nature's e..chatology with rol&tion to nil orORtod boinga. Uo WM not to bo a l.ooaher of Umo·worn procopte, but ho wn• t-0 be a t.eaoher with forcnaia ncouraoy and logical ouatnoa, supporting ovory att.tcmont ho m.tldo, nn.y, every word ho uttAlrlld, by tbo undisputed authority of ancionL A.vool4 and Pahlavi textll. Ho wu to reveal Lhn secret.I of tbo1e aocie11t treuuroo, which hitherto lay tiLl1~r on· int.arpreloJ, or ooly balf-iot.orpret.&il, or oven milinLcrpreted. De wu <loolio..t i.o bring to light (for lodia.) lhe marvellou.t knowledae af "Kbahnoom", of whooe Mlotory an•l lifo-gi,.ing ray•, tho world at large hAd yet remained wactully on• con.ciou•. Tho word ' Khahnoom" occune buL twice in th., whole A voe!A lit.era taro. It is to be found, 6rot, in tho 01\thJ\ spontomn<I. llll 4S, voreo 12; and eecondly in tho O~thR Vuhiehtoi•htr1 llll. &a, voree 2. H would be" difficult &n<l ovon n vain 11t1orob to Ood o simill\r iost•oco in ony other litoraturo of tho world. 'rhi• rather roro pbonomonon, JJ<Jrhnpo I• roeponsihlo for ite rt1maining nnnoticeJ by the echoloo or I n<lin, but eo Car nt tho profoaeon of F'irdoe woro concerned, It WAt

tho very brtll1th or their life, and the oue l.'°"l or their li(r'• !Audy. H 1n1 to th•m an unoodiog sourcu or joy, and it wu fur th<•m the p•th or Mh•alion. Jost the aamo tbst "Kbdrnoo<n" is• worJ "hioh hut a (aw can oorrcet.Jy pronoonce, ., at.o i• it a 1oCienc.i which bot o folV cao ondorotand and 1pprecial<! It ie bot natural therufore, th.•t from nm~ni.:tl u1, th•ro !>(!

uoly a ftw \vho revere. and many who raiJ n.l iL: anti even from among the low U11>t re,·ere, there are fewer •till who oon look •l tho Light without being ,lsizlot.l. la it Llwu any wooJer lh•t our ll•ti1d-S1\hch him..,lf, nfter he hl\d loarnt the tbeorie• llr1t,.lU1nd, Look thirty long yonra, to n88imllata tbo grout trulhe, nnd to put thew forth in bnlnoood thooghta nnJ words !01· tho onligbtenment of those who wore 10Ct1tod in dnrkor eornors ., '!'his was Bthrn.m'e miuioo iu lifo nod l10

fulfill,.l it in • m•nnor th•t ngrocd with tho rhylhmio pt1ll!lltione o! Naluro'M LawL Bobrsm was a groat buliovor in the

.....

('12)

doctrine e>f Lhe fif;lloM of t.imes f r the &M01DJ1liahment o! any uodortak:ini;, and in lal«r life, when pre$80d by hi• cllic1pl09, oithor to t.ake a doBnite •tep towarJ.i a fa tare venture, or !or tho oxplanaLion of aomo mystery word, be woul1111-11(1" (ray chi!drtn, the timo;. not yo'. "I"' far it). He wa6 not a fanatic fatalist, nor would be 8Uff•r himself to be the victim of the moment's urge: bnt ho wonld ever conaalt tho voioo that would come to bim from hia Maaiers (Sdzdi.) That voio.1 would eiU1or encourage him to actioo or bid him be qaiet, till 11. bettor opportunity offered itetilr. The Eilenco period or hill life, WA8 ftD uumiat&k&blo proof o[ Lhia great principle. fie ooutrolled himr;eU to rewain obt;cnre, be gaTe a practiaal domon tnLtion of Htudied p&tiouce, &nJ r•roved him .. u thoroughly d-rving llnd worthy of the bononrable appellation of •'Ust&d-Soheb'' which his nppreoiaLi•e dieciplea snbeequontly g&\'O hiw . Evory oodoavour .ball bellr trait, provided it i• launched forth in ri::ht limo, and no ono will deny Lhat an unt.imely effort mo•l need~ lMd to diln•~r. The geniua or m•n rovMl• 1lsolf in the oorrect oelection of tho time to bo11in. Bohram indoecl waa correctly oonetituteJ &n<l abundantly bl...ed. He had tho aupport a1;J lhe sympathy of his maotore and he thoroughly nnderotOOd and appreci•t~ ~•he sigu16aanC<l and the ncceS<ity or bi• •.'WO initial inacti\;ty. He koew tho jnstiCil anJ wi•dom of Nature'• Di•pcnMtiona.

TJ.1 tromilion from 11/me inf·· •1..:di:-

It m•y hsppen th•t a f>r•cioa• jewel hangs ronn•l , uufl'alow'• neck for <loy& and W< lkA but lbH llUI& •hnll "Uroly come "lttn an appreei•the jewo r will pus by and reco;:ni""

ils worl.h 1'he Boy Bebraw wa• a '" a ,.,.re JOWel loiterin,: KIJOot unrecognilled, till the conno1 ... ..,ar f'A,.cJ by and 11<\W

ile valu~. Though vilent, be hud ioterviewe<I l'an<lita and Alolvis, and rnch of them 11.• wore piou, anJ uoprejuJical, tboy bad recognised the meribl of the Boy Tho One bowevrr,

('13)

wbo bad 1 .J•rning eyo, 1md who we.a capable ot appreci&t· ing lhe true worth ol 1 true jewel, even lboogb it dangled roooJ a bu!Talow'e neck and to whom !he full merit& of llrtll. daoovorniog Lhe ],.t.eot geniua of the Boy Behrnm mu~ Lo nwarJeJ w:1.> Mr. Muucherolww Polonji Kaikobiid (lli•wr). lie waa a man of sinooro nod genuine love for the l!Mrod literature of Iran. !Ie washimwelr a u111n ofl~arning,and ho wa~ a true philantlirophist ae ,..eJI, Bi• orthodox oct.ivffiea in Sar~t w~r• bciu11 counteracted by the ReConniat movom~t. in IJombay. Tbe Reformist.s of Bombay L.iJ primary import&oco on philoloi:y •• the m0&t pct#nt inelrumeot. for religiowi r-rch : wbere·&e t~ orthodox workert1 of Sarat had Le..u o.ttract.ed by inherent merit•, wl.ich uuJer the guidll!lceof the U•t '.d.Sahoh •ubo<qoeotly formul1Led it.eolf as the hermenoutica of tho "Stbt Yasoa" It""" indeed n divine intaitiuu Lhai l<i•I prompt.e<l Mr. !UikobllJ, to found in Surat tho "Baamb Roz~ Bortn&&d." It wae an ln1titotion for the .tudy and oearch ol th~ rdi,;ioua liteutoro of tho Parsia. Here in@oJ took place the granJ tran!l.ition ol the Boy Behrt.m into lI1Lf.J.Saheb Behram6haw, u aloo tho ehanr from tho Boy'• poriod of preparat.ory sileoee into that of Lbo Ul!IWJ....!)abeb'a muterly or1>tiona. 1, musL ha•• be1111 a happy day, and &II.Ip•· c1ou1 too, when one dAy yooog llehram, went for hia moruit1g prnyera nt lb• Ac!Aryau Saheb uf th• Blg-<l·P~rsA. H waa bore lbnt tho said BUllla was al.'!O baviog itll clMlles of roll1,oiooa etudy .w.t re-Hearch. &hramabaw, on U1at day, when be bad finiaheJ hi• prayers beforo tho KeblU, jun tarned to an adjoining room to see what WH goiug on there. It. waa tho roow where, u we lave jaat &UJ, tho Buma wu bolcl"" iis cla-: and where, jWlt on lbat day, a member of tho Ctioiwalla family 11·aa lecturing oo the auhjed ofAtasb-<>-Voho l'rian. llehramlhaw when he was -o at the door wu welcc1nod io and given a seat.. The day's work wasdoly concludod, aod Bohram~baw a.ft.er the c!o..., waa over and when tho

mombcra were abool Lo disperse, 111\id that be had board with sincoro inter11et tho discourao of the Vobu Friao, Fire, nod added, that there wero e.Joo maoy other kind of Fires deacribud

~

('14)

in ~ho Avosti. literature t>U., Ala•h-e-Vui,,.,La, Ala&b·o-Spmi· shit>, At.tlsb+Dara, Awh~-N~ryoenngba, oLc. Arul ho lbon que•tiooed whether the i:cullomen Lh•r• p,,_oL know &UY· tbiog abont them. Theee worde .. .,... ju•t ooou;;h for Mr. K&ikobed (Mui.er) IA) ~nL in Lho spe;.ker, • mintly 'lC!bol&r. Mr. Kailtobad frankly admlLl.OJ, they did Doi. They both became frianda. This ..... tho bci;tnning or u •• Prof,,_rial part of Beramsh•'• lire, •nd loL wt ~mi• I.he auapiciOIJJJ IL!pecl of the whole, which wu tb&L be b..d begun hie 6rat di!COune, on tbe ""bject or Fm1 jnot a!Ler be 1 ... d off&red hie heart's devotion IA) that acred el•menl.. The fntOTC preaching of "Kbshnoom" b&d thus ruoivod ita •U!piciou;, happy •nd 6rm iound&tioo. llr. K1ukobaJ introduced Btilirsm•haw to llr. Kaikbiu.bru Barjorji Choluoi, wbo brought Mr. Bebramshaw to Bombay. With Mr. Beboramabaw'e coming to Bombay tho trarurilion bad b.oo ooruploi.e had commeoooJ. Nu life account of Uetli<l-S•heb Bohmm1h11w N11wroji Shroff would be complete wi,hout tho gral<llul romombrauoo therein or these ~WO greaL names,--Mr. Muoohorabaw Pallooji Kaikobad (Ma~oor) wbu lint di-ve...,,I Lbu goniua tbnt •p&rkled bihind tho very l!imple looks of our Uot.»1-Saheb, and the name of 111>lb Kaikhohru llarjorji Cbokli "it.boat wbooe eelfl""" and t-0 a very lnrge oateut thoroughly ,;el!. •crificing philaoi.bropby, U11 1<1-Sabob would hardly bnu bcon able 10 la\-iBhJy to l!bower ll1e blosui.!" or "Xluhuoom" oo all T~ two oamcs mDlt ner be n:rn<mbored with lla.dnn•n gratitude by ovary 1ludenl of "Kbabnoom~ ae being DBxt only to that of Uet&d-Sabob himwlf 'rb- two ~t nnmes, and thair great otforta mOlt roo.lly have been in right. time, beeanse thoy socctedod in a.earing tho hoarl·felL CO">pention of the pillar-like oorv 1cet1 or t.bo other four equally great eqoally 11e1Ile!li, and equally 10ll-w:ri6cing geotlemoo of rlirling aincerity and rare IC11.ming. 'L'beee K"ntlom"° cu-workers aro firet, the pl'l)Sllnt Uottl<l-&hob or "Khahooom·, Dr. t'rarnrO• Sorabji Chiniwalla, n. A., L. M. & s .• G maelor· mind of wonderful lrank.n&ed and aplriluohty. Secondly,

('16)

llr Jot .. n,.'lr Surabji Cluo1•nlla , II A , 1,1, B , A\h·ocat., O~ , • yoang man or ,.,.. ur•\C.Or10.l gifa.... • llll lMrrl6'J Loth in 1 •• awl lout,.; 11nr,J.y, tl4n•I• the ruuna of Rrved Sal1eb t.,rot

Sba(•UfJI 1la11111, )I . A. Lt, II, Solicil<>r, the edic...r or n •• Fra•ho-OarJ, a <jU•rllrly JOUru4I o! the ruoot 111anello11• re.-.lauon. lie 11 a ech~l•r o! A•...ia and l'..lv\ln of gral

vr1grnalrt7, ao•l u allo tho author of many ~" mlighumn1t

ll..ok o:i tbo eoouriotof \••'"" lxe. And fo11rthl7, otaod• ""' m a proauoeot -n•r lb• buJ•w'11'ked yet llD&!tlUm!og mu! eei of llr l>inabaw St..parJi Y,....oi, B. A. lie It

·~ 1m~1V• pr..dler, a Jeep ataJenl and 1 coed 110.J ao -m&.hud\.'-l10 •urker iu lhe CAU9I c;.f ,.KbAhooum•·. May Ma&· IA

pr.,,.ir•e them nil for long Atntll With this body·gU•ml

tlf\llAhon Of Oil< llAf1Mtll llehra1111hl\W •tarted the Joal llDU

the rr ... chln~ f'!'rii>tl of hi• hf• whicb oootinoaJ r~r o~rly

tl1irty y••o.

Nanabhoy F. Mama .

•

Prtruci ti,.

Mt 0.ntht.h °'ha~1 Ma.u.n; • .a. A. •• Hon. M.n•vr F1•"1g..(N,,J Pnr,tjht Pttu I' Ba.nk Scrttt CtaH Un.. f-on lu.'t1liay.

anJ "-bll'1.td ~ dK Patti Vq_ttU1lA a.nd Tt.mpttl.fU• Socl .. ty and Zanho.tH' Radib Soattry of Bomb..y.

.. - ----·

•

1 ti ,.

Documents

JPEJEfACf. I hove written this ert for d,. '-'K