‘Mobed’s Heart to Mobeds’ Hearts’ With Er. Zarrir Bhandara Wins Hearts!
On 2nd November, 2019, an inspirational Religious Seminar – ‘From A Mobed’s Heart To Mobeds’ Hearts’ – featuring Ervad Zarrir Bhandara, was held at the Ripon Club in Mumbai, at 11:00 am. This event was attended by over 20 mobeds, including the ex-Principal of Cama Athornan Madressa, Er. Kersi Karanjia, alongside Chief Guest – BPP trustee Viraf Mehta and Guest of Honour – Dr. Er. Ramiyar Karanjia, Principal of Dadar Athornan Madressa. Organized by health guru and corporate life coach, Dr. Mickey Mehta, the seminar invited all mobeds to participate in this hands-on and interactive session, in keeping with the aim of helping transform the spirit of our revered Mobeds within the fabric of our Zarathushti community.
Dr. Mickey Mehta welcomed everyone and Viraf Mehta introduced the speaker, Mobed Er. Zarrir Bhandara – a 5th-degree Karate Black Belt and has dedicated his life to human welfare and social issues. Er. Zarrir started his presentation by asking all present to hold each other’s hands and requested Er. Ramiyar Karanjia to lead the Humbandagi of 2 Yatha and 1 Ashem Vohu. He thanked all and got to interacting with the Mobeds and conducting a number of interactive exercises with them.
He enlightened the gathering on how our ancestors were able to perform the super natural empowered by prayers combined with the knowledge of astrology, astronomy and alchemy; How priests are the backbone of the community; How to shape the will of the community without shaking the spirit in order to bring about the lifetime of transformation; the role and responsibilities of priests; How it’s necessary to pray with proper pronunciation for the desired effect and initiate communication with the spirit world by means of vibrations – emphasizing, “Do it right or don’t do it at all!”; The importance of acquiring adequate and correct knowledge for performing rituals, especially the higher inner liturgies; and how Mobeds, as role models have to practice extreme devotion and piety to expect at least a few, if not all, community members to be inspired by them.
Speaking on ethics, he said, “When you include ethics as the most important component in your priestly duties and in life, and live your prayers then you, more than anyone else, is going to benefit by progressing in both worlds – physical and spiritual,” he said. He shared his success story and how his life was saved through power of prayers after a traumatic road accident and also his journey as a priest, giving credit to Athravan Education Trust.
He asked numerous religious and thought-provoking questions, which were mostly answered by Dr. Er. Ramiyar Karanjia. Speaking about challenges to be faced by the priests, he said, “I am not saying it’s going to be a rosy path, you have to strive as you will still come across a lot of criticism and controversies, and talking about criticism and controversies – the people who are often most criticized are the trustees who are performing a thankless job whether in US or in India, look at BPP trustees Noshir Dadrawalla, Kersi Randeria, Viraf Mehta and Xerxes Dastur who are the most honest people yet they are challenged and criticized every day. In such situation, you diffuse the issue with love and light.”
He concluded the talk by expressing his gratitude to Xerxes Dastur, Viraf Mehta, Dr. Mickey Mehta, Dr. Er. Ramiyar Karanjia and his mentor and friend – Dr. Huzan Kharas/Daver, his son Zerkxis Bhandara and his friend, Meher Amalsad for helping him with this presentation.
