Zoroastrian Religion: Sacred Fire of the Zoroastrian Faith

By Aban Bana

Sacred Fire of the Zoroastrian Faith

Fire has been revered and worshipped in ancient cultures worldwide. In Greek mythology, the Titan Prometheus, out of his great love for mankind, disobeys Zeus and steals fire from heaven and brings it down to earth for human use. As punishment, Zeus chains Prometheus to the Caucasus mountain since mankind was not yet considered to be ready for this great gift of the gods.

Fire is the son of Ahura Mazda, the Spirit of the Sun - "atash Ahure Mazdao puthra". Fire is the purest of all elements on earth, indeed, it transcends all other elements. It is the seventh and final creation of Ahura Mazda, after the creation of the human being.

Fire dispels darkness, which is the realm of Ahriman, the evil spirit. When the sun has set, and the cold, dark night begins its reign, then the fire/light is lit. This warmth and light giving fire represents the sun on earth. As warmth, it permeates all living creations of Ahura Mazda.

Fire is an enigmatic element; it is elusive, striving ever upwards, compassionate when controlled, but merciless in destruction when out of control. Moreover, it is the most human of all elements - fire is used in the service of the human being, an animal has no use of fire.

Fire has first to be kindled and then put to use; no human culture is possible without fire. It is used in cooking, in forging ploughs and swords, in kilns for building houses, and in a host of trades, which make human cultural evolution on earth at all possible. Many noble, positive traits of human beings are likened to fire: warmth of the heart, light of thinking, fire of enthusiasm, zeal, courage, etc.

In many world religions, fire is taken as witness in ceremonies. The sacred fire was never allowed to die out. There was also the practice of trial by fire, in which the innocent would be unharmed, while the guilty would perish. Fire is a symbol of justice, truth and purity.

The Zoroastrian religion recognises three calendars: Shehenshai, Fasli and Kadmi. The one commonly used by Parsis in India is the Shehenshai calendar, constituted during the reign of King Yezdegard III in Iran. The first seven days of each month are called the Amesha Spentas or the Bounteous Immortals, likened to archangels who preside over the seven main creations on Earth.

The remaining days of the month carry the names of the Yazatas, likened to angels representing the different elements in nature and the cosmos. The last five days of the calendar year are named after the five Gathas or holy books. The last day of the year is for atonement, reflection and resolution.

Come New Year, most Zoroastrians visit the Fire Temple and offer their prayers to Ahura Mazda through His symbol, the Fire, to Prophet Zarathushtra, and to the other divine beings in the Zoroastrian cosmology, which delves deeply into the world of nature and cosmos in order to reach the creative spirit hidden behind the outer phenomena.

The Zoroastrian enters the fire temple after a short ritual and offers sandalwood for the sacred fire in the sanctum sanctorum, accessible only to the officiating priest. The Fire Temples are of three categories: Atash Behram, Atash Aderan and Atash Dadgah.

The consecration ceremony of the fire of the highest category of fire temples, Atash Behram, is a most elaborate one. In India, there are eight Atash Behrams: four in Mumbai, two in Surat and one each in Udwada and Navsari.

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