The boy's singing and the clarity of his notes affected every heart that was fortunate enough to hear him. After prayers, Merwan would have his breakfast and go to school.
From childhood, Merwan was devoutly religious. Like all faithful Zoroastrians, he would attend his local agyari (fire-temple) with his parents, and the priests were impressed by the youngster's devotion.1 Merwan and Jamshed's navjot (sacred thread ceremony) was performed before a gathering of Poona Zoroastrians when Merwan was about ten years old. Yet the boy was not drawn to the ceremonial atmosphere of the fire temple and used to thumb rapidly through the pages of the prayer book, hoping the service would end soon.
Merwan, however, seemed to innately understand the meaning of true spirituality as evidenced by these words spoken to his friends when he was just twelve:
Every soul lives in the world only for a short time, and when it is our time to leave this world, we go empty-handed. We do not know in the least at what moment we will make our departure from this caravanserai; but sooner or later we have to go, leaving everything dear to us.
Knowing this, it is sheer foolishness to be attached to this world and its possessions, and hold to them at all costs.
It is meant for us to make good our short-lived and momentary existence, which we can do by following the teachings of our prophet Zoroaster. If we strictly carry out the tenets of our religion — good thoughts, good words and good deeds — our life will be a success. And by freeing ourselves from this life's toils, we will enjoy quite a different life.
Merwan then composed these lines:
This world is ephemeral, the soul eternal, That world is everlasting, the soul immortal. Its conduct is indestructible, its love incomparable, O pilgrim stretch your feet on this holy path! Do your utmost to realize Eternity, Then only will you be happy in both worlds.
Merwan loved his parents deeply. He would obey them and conscientiously carry out their words of advice. If he somehow happened to overlook their counsel, he would immediately seek their pardon; and unless they forgave him, he would not feel at ease. When he was young, as per the custom of the time, every morning Merwan would approach his parents and respectfully bow down to touch the feet of his mother and then his father.
Footnotes
- 1.The fire-temple located nearest to the family's residence was the Kadmi and Shenshahi Anjuman agyari in the Khorshed Wadi area of the Camp. (The locals called the fire-temple the Komda [Cock] agyari because of the crowing cock on the weathervane on top of the building.)