History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

CHAP. V.] THE GRADE OF NAVAR. 239

initiate him into holy orders. For this purpose they have previously performed the Yasna ceremony for SIX consecutive mornings. Unless they have done this they are not qualified to initiate the candidate into the grade of Navar. On the morning of the day the candidate has to go to the fire-temple for the initiatory ceremony, the parents or guardians invite friends and a few priests to witness the final ceremony of declaring him a Navar. The priests generally sit down on carpets and the guests on chairs or benches. One of the qualified and officiating priests brings the candidate before the collected assembly, holding the candidate's left hand in his right hand. He stands with the candidate Just in front of the head priest or a senior member of the acknowledged priesthood, and asks the permission of the assembly to admit him into their order in the following words :—

“Gentlemen of this gathering (anjuman), doth it please you that this candidate be admitted 2”

The head priest, after an interval of half a minute or so, taking the silence of the gathering as a consent, nods his head in the affirmative. The candidate is then led away for the performance of the requisite ceremony. Flowers and rose-water are then distributed among the invited visitors, While the visitors disperse the candidate is engaged with the initiating priest at the Yazashne gah (the place for performing