Association for Revival of Zoroastrianism (ARZ) is a public charitable trust duly registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act 1950, since September 2004. The goal and vision of ARZ is the revival of the noble Zarthusti faith of Good Thoughts (Humata), Good Words (Hukhata), and Good Deeds (Huvarshta) by the dissemination, without discrimination, of the Zoroastrian philosophy and ideology based on the teachings of Prophet Asho Zarathustra as enshrined in the Holy Gathas.
It is universal knowledge that the population of Parsis is declining very rapidly. We are all also aware that, in India, inter-married Parsis and their children are not allowed to freely practice the religion of Asho Zarathustra and a lot of discrimination and hardship is being faced by them in our Parsi Agiyaries in India, in the performance of their religious duties.
As we all know, Zoroastrianism is a revealed universal religion and there is no scope of discrimination in this noble faith. Moreover, there has been a long standing demand for a place where the inter-married Zoroastrians could freely practice the religion and perform their religious duties and also for Zoroastrian enthusiasts who seek greater insight into Zoroastrianism.
With the grace of Ahura Mazda, ARZ has therefore have set up ‘Asha Vahishta’ Universal Zoroastrian Fire Temple in Pune, India, so that the inter-married Zoroastrians and their children are provided the requisite Zoroastrian religious infrastructure required by them. The Fire Temple building comprises of Ground Floor + Two Floors.
The premises functions as aZoroastrian religious community place of worship wherein all Zarathusti religious ceremonies are performed. Inter-married Parsis are also able to perform their religious duties, including the performance of the Navjotes of their children.
The ‘four-days’ obsequies prayers and the subsequent prayers, for those departed are also performed at the premises, without any discrimination of the mode of disposal.
Lectures / speeches, by learned local and international speakers, on the religion of Prophet Asho Zarathustra and the Gathic principles for an ethical life will also be conducted at the Asha Vahishta Zoroastrian Fire Temple.
It also has a small library where reference books on the religion would be available.
A full-time priest cum manager attends to the religious duties / rituals, and also look after the upkeep of the Fire Temple.
Today nearly 40% of Parsi marriages in India are outside the community and will only rise in the future as we decrease in numbers. Please understand the grave implication of throwing out people from the religion because when we throw out one person we throw out all their future generations too. We need to be ‘inclusive’. Wake-up Parsis, wake-up. We are on the verge of extinction.
‘Parsi’ is an ethnic term for a particular race. ‘Parsi’ is not a religion. Zoroastrianism is the religion. One can be a Parsi only by birth. As per the definition today, a ‘Parsi’ is a person who is born of a Parsi father. The non-Parsi spouse and their children can follow Zoroastrianism. Therefore, they are identified as ‘Zoroastrians’, and not as ‘Parsi Zoroastrians’.
Example; ‘Goan Christians’: One can be genetically and biologically a Goan only by birth but the non-Goan spouse and their children can surely follow Christianity, and would be known as ‘Christians’ and not as ‘Goan Christians’.
Over the years it was repeatedly suggested by the so-called orthodox groups, that the liberals should set up their separate places of worship. As a matter of fact, we are executing and meeting the demands of these orthodox groups. With the grace of Ahura Mazda, the universal Zoroastrian Fire Temple is inaugurated and open to all without any discrimination.
The intermarried Zoroastrians, their spouse and their children have an equal right to follow and worship Zoroastrianism by building and setting up their own institutions and place of worship.
KHSHNAOTHRA AHURAHE MAZDAO(May the wish of Ahura Mazda prevail)