Professional Documents
Culture Documents
'
Prtsmttd to the
UBRARY o/th•
UNI VERSJTY OF TORONTO
by
Willal'd C. Oxloby
JPEJEfACf.
Nanabhoy F. Mama.
CONTENTS
Preface ...
Birth and Boyhood
~ uurc ltnow-s no acciJcnl• , , • b
The homewud nut<"h ul 1be car.tvaa 8
l'bc Fird05 not a mph 11
!'he M"S"v of 1~c llern~vanJ
and his "'"Y'
of I .•le , .. I •J
'
•
( 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
t
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 1lmt 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
1
nluch higger thrtn a tnarb1e al the to\\tru1mtlll ti 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 perfor-
nlnnce 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 t hoy 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 lalis-
maoe 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\Jn 1 "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, ...1jor •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: F ll~OOS : NOT A MYTH 1-
.. •
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 intucow-
muoiC'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. " \1 4r \ ( \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
on ri:O:•rJ.. 1rlJ.'-
1
an out i•ior h"''ini onten1,I ihe •• \....ar
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 fo llowed by &II, nothing can bo fort her from their God-
guided 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
1
br"".J and millr. i11proacl 001 fur Lreokla8' : an~ through $!Ue
om~ll window cl... by, tho fann bol'llO h:u l>'ll 10 hia b• • I for
JUa obare of the npaot. Ho i• the ~!ond, "on• of tho
f~muy•. Take tM picture u I) pica! of a dailf teen• Co thll'
lird They are all happy a11d oootooi.I in one "'otbtr'•
OOIUJ'llllY· ham the 00"' \hero I• millr., from tho lamb t 11ero
11 w~I, inJi"P"llli&ble fur ""creol thru<J-g1rdle Kn.ti, aud 1bo
bona it for Di&oly •port. Wt nil know tlut.L iu Ibo \'OJ•l•blo
kingolom, tbero nro pla11t.. winch 001·"• n1 fo1>d, and theru 01·0
1•l•111l" lhllt act ruo poi•nu; lh"ro nr~ pl~nt1 tlllll hM·t hooting
011; clJi 11nd thoro "'" othtrm Lh•L h<1\'u oooliug elT.,c11 In
I •hort, nm! in gonor•I it '""Y Ito ISlll•I lh•I thoru Art• ..,wu
, 11la11l• which are he11lth l(i•ini: a1ul otlu•n "·hicb oro or a
I\ co1Mory ..!Teet Tbe5'1 1•ln11t , tho A\'t!!l.a 11Cion"" hu di\'IOlod-
i uto LW<> part.;· lhe be1106cial 011C1, iL ha clanifie<! a•: h11 iug-
... tho "f)f.lttJ'"' 4oa.1itlt111, an~I t.ho rmat a1 ha,·iug lh$ " 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.s-
oan 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."
o
tG•tha JL .\. XL\' 111. •·er.., >"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, (Ynl!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$0 olimatiCl\lly Cf"4lntial for the mainloaAnce uf hu1oan
lifo. ;\nd oho horse being ec1u11lly 08il6[1tiol for tbe physical
culture or the iububitnnts, am! it beiug their unshakable
belief that all kinds of bodily training and oxeroise, th ..t of
horsemanship and archery, are the beat mo&ns for tho promo-
tion of man's apidtWll advance as well, there has come to be
dovoloped " condition of mutu&I depondallce b<itweoo man
am! beast, this hos evolved inLO mutual love, and all thero-
foro is poaao au•! prOt!perity and contentment Tho ali-eote
or l<'irdo• are .. row or 1·ook-hewu (lll\•ea (rooms), whore ~hoy
' Jwell in pel\CC unknowa in oua· engio~&l·ed cities tormented
with nuiS<> and smoke. fa·ery •lreet hllll o rivulet of uec:tsr-
like walers Anwing paot, and lho whole country is &loo
studded wilh wclb 1111d other streams of life-giving waters in
bloe•ed profu•iou.
'!'he wont "Ff/rdos '' is tho Iranian e11uivaleot of tho
Bibliml word "I'aradi•o ", J3ut the latter for ita being
Biblical is no le88 Iranian thnn the former. In fact the ideo
of Ileaven is 8 z... atbustrio.n discovery, whence it pormoaled
into J udoi«m, rtud theoc.! into Christianity nud 1alnu1. Tho
ty'° words have IJut on~ oommou root, the Ave5ta word
• '' Pai-ric/,a(): 1 ' '"htlre "cl<•-;'' ;;igni61:H:1 fL cilad~I or ao enoJo .
sure, ancl "Pain" iudic:.tes a couduot of JHe in aooordunce
with and 10 obedieuco lo the laws of Nature. Even tho la.test
and the most authoritative of English dictionaries derives the
•
(19)
wor<l "Para<liso •• from the old Porsiao '' Pairidncz '' meAning
enclosure. (The New St•nda1·d Dictionary, Vol, Ill., page
1789). A Paro.di88 or a FirdD8 is therefore a forti6ed or a
guarded onclosuTe or n city where God's will ia being ho-
oonr&d and obey~ Rod ful6llod: where men have faith in
God and honour hia law$. 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 Mazdaz-
nan, 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.
1V. 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 Advnnco-
ment, •• 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 " whore" Saheb" tnei~ua maste1·; e' me.llnS of ;
1
1
..
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~
'
(26)
the perfeolio" or the "Kh11<1h11a4ath<I" They ar" Uio guor-
•li'°'' aoJ tho guides o[ n II tho women fol~ iu the ' ;;Ab 1bclil"
0
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 hor 1 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 ol-
o( 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 faulU-
line 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 veri-
t.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 Avoe!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• roe-
ponsihlo 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!ll-
tione o! Naluro'M LawL Bobrsm was a groat buliovor in the
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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 woul<I often par·
auade th• iwpuleivo •piril of yoath to barn ratience, and
woald in a fatherly wanner 1<11l I.hem, "(hU~t->1111-11(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 snbeequon-
tly 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.
Nanabhoy F. Mama .
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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.
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