Appendix VI

Zoroastrian Mode of Disposal of Dead Body, Most Expeditious and Sanitary

In his book “Dawn……” (p.165) Prof. Zaehner observes as follows:

"It does seem fairly certain that it was the Magi who were responsible for introducing three new elements into Zoroastrianism - the exposure of the dead to be devoured by vultures and dogs, the practice of incestuous marriages, and the extension of the dualist view of the world to material things, particularly the animal kingdom."

Zoroastrian Mode of Disposal of Dead Body, Most Expeditious and Sanitary Regarding the above observation, the aversion of the learned scholar to the Zoroastrian mode of exposure of dead body to be devoured by vultures, is based on his ignorance of the insanitary conditions created by interment, as will be borne out by the reporters of the Commission appointed by the 'General Board of Health' of England. At the outset it must be clarified that the dead body buried in the ground does not turn luminous, but is infested by millions of worms created by decomposition of the dead body in the grave.

We reproduce extracts given in "Frashogard" (i.e., Renovation) the quarterly magazine of the Parsi Vegetarian & Temperance Society of Bombay (BK-XII, Nos. 1 & 2, published in 1922_ p. 21 seq.):

"We" say the reporters, "may safely rest the sanitary part of the case on the single fact, that the placing of the body in a grave and covering it with a few feet of earth does not prevent the gases generated by decomposition together with putrescent matters which they hold in suspension, from permeating the surrounding soil, and escaping into the air above and the water beneath."

After supporting this statement by illustrations of the enormous force exercised by gases of decomposition, in bursting open leaden coffins, whence they issue without restraint, the reporters quote the evidence of Dr. Lyon Playfair (late H.M. Post mastergeneral) to the following effect

"I have examined, "

he says,

"various chruch-yards and burial-grounds for the purpose of ascertaining whether the layer of earth above the bodies is sufficient to absorb the putrid gases evolved.

The slightest inspection shows that they are not thoroughly absorbed by the soil lying over the bodies.

I know several churchyards, from which foetid smells are evolved; and gases with similar odour are emitted from the sides of sewers passing in the vicinity of chruchyards, although they may be more than thirty feet from them."

He goes on to estimate the amount of gases which issue from graveyards and estimates that for 52,000 annual interments of the Metropolis no less a quantity than 2,572,580 cubic feet of gases emitted,

"the whole of which, beyond what is absorbed by the soil, must pass into the water below or the atmosphere above"

The foregoing is but one small item from the long list of illustrative cases proving the fact that no dead body is ever buried within the earth without polluting the soil, the water and the air around and above it; the extent of the offence produced corresponding with the amount of decaying animal matter subjected to the process.

The Report referred to gives notable examples of the fatal influence of such effluvia when encountered in a concentrated form. Cholera was unusually prevalent in the immediate neighbourhood of London graveyards. Dr. Waller Lewis reports the many stages of decay - a condition, which he describes "as a disgrace to any civilization." Dr. Edmund Parkes, Professor of Military Hygiene is another witness on this important subject who says - "Burying in the ground appears certainly the most insanitary plan of the three methods viz. Burial in the Land or at Sea, and Burning. The air over cemeteries is constantly contaminated, and water (which may be used for drinking) is often highly impure. Hence in the vicinity of graveyards two dangers to the population arise, and in addition, from time to time, the disturbance of an old graveyard has given rise to disease. It is a matter of notoriety that the vicinity of graveyards is unhealthy.

Respecting the condition of provincial churchyards, where, in the midst of a sparse population, the pure country air circulates with natural freedom the reporter writes:

"I do not know how otherwise to describe the state of this churchyard than by saying that it is truly and thoroughly abominable. The smell from it is revolting. I could distinctly perceive it in every one of the neighbouring houses which I visited, and in everyone of these houses there have been cases of cholera or severe diarrhoea."

Thus we see that the burial system is most insanitary.

In contrast with the above authentic reports against this insanitary burial system, a few extracts from opinions of "Eminent and Enlightened Non-Zoroastrians regarding the Zoroastrian mode of disposal of the dead" are given below from a booklet which bears a beautiful chart of a Tower of Silence, constructed on most perfect scientific lines and based on Nature's economy, the system designed by the wise Magians some 9,000 years ago.

A copy of the above booklet has been posted to Prof. Zaehner for emendation of his misconceived antipathy to the Zoroastrian system of disposal through vultures.

1. (p.3) "Thanks to the vultures, the bones are laid bare in less than an hour, and in two or three weeks, the tropical sun scorches them into such a state of fragility, that the slightest breath of wind is enough to reduce them to powder and to carry them down into the pit. No smell is left behind, no source of plagues and epidemics. I do not know that this way may not be preferable to cremation, which leaves in the air about the Ghat a faint but disagreeable odour."

(From the Caves and Jungles of Hindustan, by H. P. BLAVATSKY p. 28.)

2. (ibid) "It is thoroughly wholesome, and clears away most effectually one of the greatest difficulties encumbering the path of sanitary reformers in great cities. The Parsees, too, affirm, with some justice, that it really carries out the doctrine of the equality of man more satisfactory than burying or burning, since the bones of the whole community, rich and poor, rest together at last in the well within the Tower of Silence."-

(Maclean's Guide to Bombay, p. 297.)

3. (p.5) 'A deep central well in the tower, the sides and bottom of which are also paved with stone slabs, is used for depositing the dry bones. The corpse is completely striped of its flesh by vultures within an hour or two of being deposited, and the bones of the denuded skeleton when perfectly dried up by atmospheric influence and the powerful heat of the tropical sun, are thrown into this well, where they crumble into dust--thus rich and poor meet together on one level of equality after death. To observe the tenet of the Zoroastrian belief, that "the mother earth shall not be defiled," this well is constructed on the following principles: there are holes on the inner sides of the well, through which the rainwater is carried into four underground drains at the base of the tower, _for it must be remembered that the well, like the rest of the tower, is all exposed and open to the air. At the end of each of these drains, pieces of charcoal and sand-stone are placed to act as a filter, thus purifying the water before it enters into the ground"

(The Journal of a tour through the British Empire and America, byMrs. HOWARD VINCENT.)

4. (p.8) "There is nothing of a sacred character ascribed to these obscene but useful birds. They are regarded simply as a means of preventing decomposition, and in accomplishing that task they perfectly succeed. The consequence is, that the grounds about the Towers have nothing of the hideous taint of the charnel-house. There is nothing obnoxious to health; there is not the faintest odour of death to mingle with the perfume of the roses blooming around".

(The Times of India Handbook of Hindustan-compiled by G. R. ABERIGH-MACKAY, p. 146).

5. (ibid.) "The reverence for the elements is again expressed in the construction of towers for the final disposal of their (Parsees') dead. The object sought in these structures is to shun so far as possible, contaminating earth and air and water.

(Parsia the land of Imams, by JAMES BASSETT, p. 314.)

6. (p.9-10) "The exposure of the decaying body to the assaults of innumerable worms may have no terrors for us, because our survivors do not see the assailants; but let it be borne in mind that neither are the Parsee survivors permitted to look at the Heaven-sent birds. Why, then, should we be surprised if they prefer the more rapid to the more lingering operation and which of the two systems, they may reasonably ask, is more defensible on sanitary grounds?"

(Modern India and the Indians, by Prof. MONIER WILLIAMS, D.C.L.)

In fine authentic reports and opinions of English authorities and of other European high dignitaries condemn in unequivocal terms the burial system, because "fetid smells are evolved'; "it is the most insanitary plan"; "it is a disgrace to any civilization"; "It is abominable"; "it is a matter of notoriety that the vicinity of graveyards is unhealthy", and so on.

In contrast with the above, the consensus of opinions given in the booklet on the Tower of Silence is that the Zoroastrian system of laying in those Towers is based on sanitation.

"It is thoroughly wholesome, and clears away most effectually one of the greatest difficulties encumbering the path of sanitary reformers in great cities."

(p. 3).

"Thanks to the vultures, the bones are laid bare in less than an hour, ..." .No smell is left behind, no source of plague and epidemics"

(ibid.)

"The grounds about the Towers have nothing of the hideous taint of the charnel-house. There is nothing obnoxious to health; there is not the faintest odour of death to mingle with the perfume of the roses blooming around"

(p. 8).

"The object sought in these structures is to shun, so far as possible, contaminating earth and air and water"

(ibid.).

"One marvels to see here a perfect system for the protection of the living from coatagion derivable from the dead-I mean one marvels to see this proof that modern science is behind the ancients in this so important matter."

(p. 18).

Thus scholars like Moulton, Zaehner and others will never be able to appreciate the perfect knowledge of science and Economy of Nature, those wise men the Magians possessed, because their idea evidently is to, deliberately or ignorantly, calumniate the Zoroastrian Faith.

"O that I can see the cataract in mine own eye,
Before I point out from my dear neighbour's eye !"