DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22900#0281
234
HISTOR Y OF THE PARSIS. [chap. v.
But the healthy influence of the Parsi Panehayet
did not last for any lengthened period. So long as its
members were elected by the voice of the whole com-
munity, and so long as it conscientiously and impar-
that parties preferred to incur debt rather than the displeasure of
the priests by sending them away without any asodad. Under these
circumstances the late Panehayet wisely ordained by the said regula-
tions that no priest should go uninvited to the house of any Parsi, on
any occasion, for the purpose of asking asodad; nor was any layman
to give it to any priests other than those whom he may have invited
(and he might invite unrestrictedly as many priests as his inclination
prompted or rather his means would admit of his doing).
" On the 4th, the 10th, and the 30th clay of every month in the
first year, and afterwards on every anniversary of the death of any
Parsi, either male or female, ' custom' obliged them to circulate trays
loaded with sweetmeats, fruits, cooked dinners, and even pots and
pans, both copper and earthen, among their relations, friends, and
acquaintances, in addition to giving extensive feasts and dinners to the
whole caste, on such occasions. All these practices appeared to the
late Panehayet to be both extravagant and unnecessary, and merely
indulged in to 'vie with each other' and for the gratification of
vanity ; and therefore it was ordained by the aforesaid regulations
that neither cooked dinners, nor sweetmeats, nor fruits, neither pots
nor pans, either copper or earthen, should be sent from one house to
another amongst the Parsis ; that they were not to give extensive
feasts nor dinners to the whole caste on the performance of any
ceremony for their dead ; that any Parsi who chose to invite a limited
number of guests from amongst his relations, friends, and acquaintances
might do so ; hut their number should not be so great as to consume more
than 200 lbs. of meat, which was the maximum quantity allowed to be
purchased for a single feast; nor should any poultry be used at such
feasts ; that any individual wishing to give a dinner to the whole
caste might do so, but only during the days of the gahambars, and that
such caste dinner should consist (as hitherto) of plain rice and curry,
without any hind of meat or poultry.
"Another, and a most abhorrent practice, sanctioned by custom
(borrowed entirely from Hindus), which prevailed among the Parsis,
was the going backwards and forwards, on the part of the women, to
the houses of their relations and friends and acquaintances daily for
HISTOR Y OF THE PARSIS. [chap. v.
But the healthy influence of the Parsi Panehayet
did not last for any lengthened period. So long as its
members were elected by the voice of the whole com-
munity, and so long as it conscientiously and impar-
that parties preferred to incur debt rather than the displeasure of
the priests by sending them away without any asodad. Under these
circumstances the late Panehayet wisely ordained by the said regula-
tions that no priest should go uninvited to the house of any Parsi, on
any occasion, for the purpose of asking asodad; nor was any layman
to give it to any priests other than those whom he may have invited
(and he might invite unrestrictedly as many priests as his inclination
prompted or rather his means would admit of his doing).
" On the 4th, the 10th, and the 30th clay of every month in the
first year, and afterwards on every anniversary of the death of any
Parsi, either male or female, ' custom' obliged them to circulate trays
loaded with sweetmeats, fruits, cooked dinners, and even pots and
pans, both copper and earthen, among their relations, friends, and
acquaintances, in addition to giving extensive feasts and dinners to the
whole caste, on such occasions. All these practices appeared to the
late Panehayet to be both extravagant and unnecessary, and merely
indulged in to 'vie with each other' and for the gratification of
vanity ; and therefore it was ordained by the aforesaid regulations
that neither cooked dinners, nor sweetmeats, nor fruits, neither pots
nor pans, either copper or earthen, should be sent from one house to
another amongst the Parsis ; that they were not to give extensive
feasts nor dinners to the whole caste on the performance of any
ceremony for their dead ; that any Parsi who chose to invite a limited
number of guests from amongst his relations, friends, and acquaintances
might do so ; hut their number should not be so great as to consume more
than 200 lbs. of meat, which was the maximum quantity allowed to be
purchased for a single feast; nor should any poultry be used at such
feasts ; that any individual wishing to give a dinner to the whole
caste might do so, but only during the days of the gahambars, and that
such caste dinner should consist (as hitherto) of plain rice and curry,
without any hind of meat or poultry.
"Another, and a most abhorrent practice, sanctioned by custom
(borrowed entirely from Hindus), which prevailed among the Parsis,
was the going backwards and forwards, on the part of the women, to
the houses of their relations and friends and acquaintances daily for