About the Editor
Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram, 37, is a qualified and practicing priest having undergone the Navar (1984) and Maratab (1986) initiations. He belongs to the 27th generation of the famous ‘Asa Faredun Pol’ of the Bhagaria Priests of Navsari, who trace their lineage back to Dastur Nairyosang Dhaval, the leader of the Parsis who landed in India in the 9th century AD.
Marzban’s academic background is in Accounting and Audit. He completed his Articleship from the reputed Chartered Accontants’ firm of Kalyaniwalla & Mistry and rose up to the level of Financial Controller of an international media consultancy in Mumbai. He subsequently gave up this job and took up the position of Panthaky and Head Priest of the Ustad Saheb Behramshah Nowroji Shroff Daremeher [Fire Temple] in Mumbai, India thereby fulfilling his long cherished desire to serve the religion and his community and re-establish the Priestly tradition in his family.
Ervad Hathiram’s specialization, over nearly two decades, is in Ilm-e-Khshnoom - the esoteric science of the Zarathushtrian religion revealed by the Master, Ustad Saheb Behramshah Nowroji Shroff, who was fortunate to live with the Hidden and Secluded Masters of the Demavand Koh at the end of the 19th century. In addition, he has studied Avesta, Pahlavi and Old Persian Cuneiform languages at the Masters level under the guidance of Dastur Dr. K. M. JamaspAsa.
With a view to increasing the awareness of Khshnoom, both within and outisde the community, Marzban started Frashogard - The Journal of Ilm-e-Khshnoom, a serious quarterly publication containing for the first time, scholarly level articles on the Zarathushtrian Mystical Revelation in simple, concise English. In order to spread the reach of this Journal even further, he has set up this website and blog.
Marzban lives in Mumbai with his wife Mahazareen, a Civil & Environmental Engineer, and their 7 year-old daughter Mahafreen and 2 year old son Behzad. You can contact Marzban at the following addresses: editor@frashogard.com
