Zoroastrianism in India
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Zoroastrianism in India has significant history within the country.
Due to persecution of Zoroastrians in other countries and the liberal atmosphere and patronisation of India and the protection provided by Indian rulers, today the largest population of Zoroastrians resides in India, where Zoroastrians have played a notable role in the
History
By 632 CE,
The Zoroastrians moved to India in successive migrations in the Islamic period. The initial migration following the conquest has been characterized as a religious persecution by invading Muslims. According to the account, the Zoroastrians suffered at their hands and in order to protect themselves and safeguard their religion, fled first to northern Iran, then to the island of Hormuz and finally to India. This generally accepted narrative of migration emphasises Muslim persecution while identifying Parsis as religious refugees. Recently, scholars have questioned this explanation of Iranian origins. There is a scarcity of sources about the migration. Historians are forced to rely exclusively on Qissa-i Sanjan written in 1599 by a Parsi Priest and Qissah-ye Zartushtian-e Hindustan written more than 200 years later. This is complicated by the fact that there were already Zoroastrians in India in the Sasanian period.[4]
Iranian Zoroastrians are known to have been trading with India for centuries before the dates calculated for arrival of Parsis per Qissa-i Sanjan. Ruksana Nanji and Homi Dhalla while discussing archaeological evidence for 'The Landing of Zoroastrians at Sanjan', conclude that the most likely date for the migration at the start of the middle phase of their chronology, namely the early-to-mid-eighth century. Nevertheless, they express their general skepticism about the Qissa-i Sanjan account.[5] Scholar Andre Wink has theorized that Zoroastrian immigrants to India, both before and after the Muslim conquest of Iran, were primarily merchants, since evidence suggests it was only some time after their arrival that religious experts and priests were sent for to join them. He argues that the competition over trade routes with Muslims may also have contributed to their immigration.[4]
Although historically unsubstantiated, the story of how Zoroastrians gained permission to step on the shores of
The immigration of Zoroastrians to India continued, and by 1477 they had lost all contact with Persia. Not until three hundred years had passed would they come into contact. Zoroastrians also played a notable role during the
Demographics
According to the
The Zoroastrian community in India remains one of the most recognized groups, playing a part in various commercial sectors such as industry, movies, and politics.[14][15]
Communities
There are two major Zoroastrian communities in India.
Parsi
The word Parsi in the
The long presence of the Parsis in the Gujarat and Sindh areas of India is supported by a
Iranis
Although the term 'Irani' is first attested during the
See also
- List of countries by Zoroastrian population
- Indo-Sasanians
- List of fire temples in India
- Achaemenid conquest of the Indus Valley
External links
- Zoroastrianism and Hinduism - a comparison of both religions and exploring the origins of Zoroastrianism
References
- ^ Rivetna, Roshan. "The Zoroastrian World A 2012 Demographic Picture" (PDF). Fezana.org.
- ^ "Anglicisation of the Parsis". Parsi Khabar. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
- ^ a b Fereshteh Davaran. Continuity in Iranian Identity: Resilience of a Cultural Heritage. Routledge. pp. 54–55, 136–137.
- ^ ISBN 9780815650607.
- ISBN 9789047430421.
- ISBN 978-9004249073.
- ^ "The Other Middle Kingdom: A Brief History Of Muslims In China" by Chiara Betta, p. 2
- ISBN 9004121145.
- ^ "Where we belong: The fight of Parsi women in interfaith marriages". 24 October 2017.
- ^ "Parsi population dips by 22 per cent between 2001-2011: study". The Hindu. 26 July 2016.
- ^ "Biotech firm tries to unravel secret behind Parsi-Zoroastrian longevity - Indian Express". 5 July 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Team, Indo Vacations. "Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism in India". Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Alan Davidson. National & Regional Styles of Cookery: Proceedings : Oxford Symposium 1981. Oxford Symposium. p. 71.
- ^ "Jains become sixth minority community - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". 21 January 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "Govt grants minority status to Jain community". 20 January 2014.
- PMID 28615043.