FIRE
Fire, the provider of heat and light and the source of life and growth, was the center of all
religious rituals of the ancient Indo-Iranians, and till this day, fire plays an important
role in the religious ceremonies of the Hindus and Zoroastrians.
Since early time, human beings had seen the fire ‘fall from the sky’ in the form of lightning,
witnessed the volcanoes erupt and spew molten lava and had experienced the heat and light
generated by these natural occurrences. But, when humans learned the art of lighting the
fire they gained an upper hand in the animal kingdom; for they could now scare away the
ferocious animals with whom they used to compete for food and shelter, illuminate dark and dingy
caves and keep themselves warm, especially on cold winter nights. Humans soon learned to
control the fire by keeping it under ashes and blazing it into flames by feeding it with
wood and dry grass, and this probably led to their transition from nomads to settlers. The
development of methods and tools for controlling and using fire was critical in human evolution
and is believed to have allowed early humans to spread northward from the warm climates of
their origins into the more severe environments of Europe and Asia. Evidence exists for
deliberate fire use in the PALEOLITHIC PERIOD, beginning about 500,000 years ago; while,
NEOLITHIC sites have yielded objects that may have been fire making tools: drills for producing
friction heat in wood and flints for striking sparks from iron pyrites.
In those days it was a labor to light a fire so it was prudent to keep it smoldering. Fire
was very precious, it required constant attention and was affectionately kept in a special
place, the hearth. For the very early settlers, most activities, such as cooking, eating,
socializing and sleeping, were centered around the hearth. This special place became an altar
and fire became the object of veneration. Since fire played a very important part in the
social and domestic life of the early settlers it was regarded as a special object of deep
homage, presiding in their hearth, dispelling darkness of night and bestowing warmth in the
cold and dreary winter. Fire was fed with animal fat and flesh, grains and incense, which rose
in smoke to reach the gods in the sky. Thus, with the ability to produce and control fire,
humans could now not only create heat and light but cook foods that were difficult to eat in
their raw state, drive game toward killing stands, and keep dangerous animals away from home
hearths. With fire, wood could be worked to a strong, sharp point; clay pots could be baked
to a stonelike hardness; and land could be cleared for planting. Eventually, the use of fire
brought about the birth of civilizations based on the smelting and forming of metals.
The cult of fire can be traced back to the Indo-European period, and even today, fire in the
form of lighted lamps, burning candles, incense and blazing wood adorns the places of worship
of most religions. The Avestan word Athra has its equivalent Agni, in Sanskrit; and Ignis, in
Latin. The cult of ever burning fire seems to have been wide spread among the Indo-Iranians.
Since the sun by day and the fire by night were the only sources of illumination, the
Indo-Iranians came to realize the brightness of their own hearth fires to that of the sun in
the sky. The sun was also necessary for the growth of plants, just as fire was necessary to
prepare the food that nourished them, and they became aware of the central role played by the
sun and fire in sustaining their life. The regular pattern of the rising and setting of the
sun helped them to realize the established truths within the universe and a link between sun
and fire was formed. Fire came to be recognized as the symbol of Truth and Order (‘ASA’ in
Avestan and ‘RTA’ in Sanskrit). This in turn led to the use of fire as the tester of truth
and fire ordeals were used to establish a person’s innocence. According to Pahalvi texts,
molten metal was poured on the chest of the accused or the person was made to drink hot
fiery ‘soogand’ (burning sulphur). If the person survived the ordeal it was taken as a sign
of innocence. Such extreme measures, probably served as detriments to bad deeds and false
testimony. Fire has played a central role in many religions. It has been a God (for
example, the Indo-Iranian Agni) and recognized as a symbol of home and family (the hearth
fire) in many cultures. It has also been a symbol of purification and renewal.
Zarathushtra reformed the fire cult and made it the symbol par excellence of Ahura Mazda. In
his Gathas he speaks of fire as a bright and powerful creation of Ahura Mazda and prefers
fire instead of idols as a symbol of divinity. In its simplest form, fire is that which burns
and gives out light. Fire can consume all organic matter and is able to transform most
inorganic matter. The burning may be likened to that which destroys evil by consuming or
changing. The light may been seen as that which makes life possible by providing heat and
energy that permeates all of Ahura Mazda’s creations. Light in its various manifestations,
whether it be from the fiery substance in the depths of the earth, or the glow of the sun,
or the twinkle of the stars, is emblematic of Nature and Ahura Mazda. In his Gathas,
Zarathushtra mentions Fire eight times in Yasna 31.3, 31.19, 34.4, 43.4, 43.9, 46.7, 47.6 and
51.9. Fire is described as bright, warm and energetic faculty of Ahura Mazda. Zarathushtra
refers to the Divine Fire as the agency that derives its power form Asha (Truth, Immutable law)
and rewards the righteous and the truthful. The epithet for fire in the Gathas is athro
asha aojanho (the true strong fire).
In Yasna 34.4, a verse in the Atash Nyaesh, Zarathushtra says:
at tôi âtręm ahurâ aojônghvańtem ashâ usęmahî asîshtîm ęmavańtem stôi rapańtę
cithrâ-avanghem at mazdâ daibishyańtę zastâishtâish dereshtâ-aęnanghem. (in Avestan)
Thus, O Ahura we yearn through Asha for thy Fire, mighty, most-enduring and courageous,
giving clear guidance in life to the earnest believers; but O Mazda to those with destructive
tendencies, it overcomes their violence by the power of its flames.
(English translation from: "The
philosophical, spiritual and ethical interpretation of the Gathas of holy Zarathushtra" by
Framroz Rustomjee).
In the above verse, Zarathushtra tells us that Athra (Fire) gives clear guidance and help
to the faithful by illuminating the path of Asha, which is easily perceived by the truthful.
The help that Athra gives is reserved for the person whose actions are in accordance with
Asha for the help itself is in accordance with Asha and cannot violate the natural law, nor
can it protect those who are lazy, irrational or evil. Thus, Athra is the faculty of Ahura
Mazda that guides, illuminates and protects those who use their Vohu Mano (Good Thinking) to
understand Asha and can only help those who work to promote Asha. Zarathushtra made fire the
symbol of his religion, a symbol, which in terms of sublimity, grandeur and purity is unequal
by any of its kind in this world. He did not enjoin the worship of fire but only of Ahura
Mazda whose very nature is eternal light.
The zest for fire in Zoroastrianism became the quest for truth. In the Atash Nyaesh, fire is
figuratively mentioned as tava atarsh puthra Ahurae Mazda (thou fire son of Ahura Mazda).
This is similar to the methaphors 'Father of Truth' (Yasna 44.4 and 47.3) and 'Father of Good
Thought' (Yasna 31.8 and 45.4) that Zarathushtra uses in his Gathas to refer to Ahura Mazda.
The Avesta tells us that just as fire can burn and destroy physical impurity in the same way
it can remove spiritual uncleanliness or sin. The fire of Ahura Mazda is mighty through Asha
and will bring manifest joy unto the righteous but a visible harm unto the wicked (Yasna 43.4).
At Frasho Kereti it is through fire that profit will be bestowed upon righteous and the wicked
will be destroyed (Yasna 51.9). According to the creation story in Bundahishm, when Ahura
Mazda fashioned the seventh creation, Fire, it permeated into the other six creations, made
them dynamic and brought them to life. The Amesha Spenta, Asha Vahista,
who represents Best Truth is the protector of fire and is assisted by the Yazatas Adur,
Srosh and Behram.
For almost a thousand years after the advent of Zarathushtra, only the hearth fire in every
home called Dadgah, was venerated and propitiated. Sometime during the Achaemenian era,
permanent fire altars appear to have been adopted for the veneration of fire. These were the
king’s personal fires of worship and were dedicated to the Yazata of Victory, Verethragna.
This Avestan term literally means defeater of the enemy. It became corrupted into Pahalvi
as Varharan and subsequently into modern Persian as Behram. The late Pahalvi texts show
that all fires were regarded as warriors fighting for the Spenta creation, not only on the
physical plane, against darkness and cold, but also on the spiritual one, against the forces
of vice and ignorance. Hence, all great fires were dedicated to Victory, in a spirit of courage
and hope. It was customary to carry burning embers from these fires in front of a Zoroastrian army
when it advanced to combat the enemy. The Behram fires were kept burning day and night by
priests appointed by their kings. It was during this period that the priesthood became very
powerful and the priests began to elaborate the rituals of purification for establishing such
fires. In the late Achaemenian period, Zoroastrian priests introduced temple worship of fire
in opposition to the then prevalent image worship of the divinity Anahita. Another class of
fire called Atash Adaran, meaning Fire of different Fires, was developed. The Parsis of India
call these places Agiyaris. For a Google Map of all the Agiyaris in India
Click here
The Adaran fire was
considered to have a lower grade than the Atash Behram fire because it was formed of embers
from hearth fires of priests, warriors, farmers and artisans, the four classes of the Iranian
society of that time. Eventually, there came into existence the Behram, Adaran and Dadgah
fires.
A Zoroastrian is not a fire worshiper but through the veneration of fire is able to generate
an intimate communion with Ahura Mazda. When Zoroastrians stand in devotion before a sacred
fire they believe that they are standing in the presence of the radiating power of Ahura Mazda.
When they pray before a fire they pay homage to the creation that represents life and the
inherent nature of Ahura Mazda -- total goodness.
In his immortal epic, the Shahnameh, Firdosi repels the charge of fire-worship often hurled
against the Zoroastrians by his words:
Na gui ke atash-parasta budand Parastanda a pak yazda budand, which means,
do not say they (Zoroastrians) are fire worshipers, for they worship only God, the Holy.
The Avesta (Vendidad, Chapter 8) also describes sixteen types of fires :
Adar Shaidan, Adar Khoreh, Adar Mino Karko, Adar Farnbag, Adar Farah (glourious),
Adar Gushpasp, Adar Khorda, Adar Burzen Meher, Atash Dara,
Atash Berezo-Savangh, Atash Vohu Fryana, Atash Urvazishta,
Atash Vazishta, Atash Spenishta, Atash Nairoghanga.
Berezo-Savangh means great benefit. This fire is described as the one which glitters and
gives energy to all of Ahura Mazda’s creations.
Vohu Fryana means loving the good. This fire is described as the life-force residing
in the bodies of men and women. This is the fire that reflects the emotional light that
manifests through love, compassion, righteousness and justice in every person.
Urvazishta means most joyful. This fire is described as the life-force in plants. It
symbolically represents happiness and joy within the world.
Vazishta means swiftest. This is the fire of lightning and it reminds us of the vast
power and swiftness that lies within the creator.
Spenishta means most beneficent. It is the fire which is kept in use in the material world.
It comes from Endless light and it reflects the inherent nature of Ahura Mazda who is total
goodness.
In the Avesta FIRE expresses multi-dimensional ideas for it helps humans through enlightment
that truth can bring in terms of knowledge and understanding, it bestows just rewards to the
truthful and deceitful at the time of judgement and works towards the fulfillement of Asha
and therefore the final victory of good over evil. To a Zoroastrian FIRE has various
meanings, such as the fire of inspiration, the fire of love, the fire of righteousness,
the fire of emotion, the fire of compassion, the fire of devotion, the fire of the life
giving force in all of Ahura Mazda's creations.
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