Udvada Atash Behram

Udvada Atash Behram

Udvada Atash Behram fire temple in Udvada
Udvada Atash Behram
Location in Gujarat
Name
Other names Iran Shah fire
Proper name Victorious Fire
Geography
Coordinates 20°29′15″N 72°52′14″E / 20.48750°N 72.87056°E / 20.48750; 72.87056Coordinates: 20°29′15″N 72°52′14″E / 20.48750°N 72.87056°E / 20.48750; 72.87056
Country India
State Gujarat
Locale Udvada
Culture
Primary deity Atash Behram
Important festivals Salgiri, Bahram roj, Zoroastrian New Year

The Udvada Atash Behram, also known as the Iran Shah,[1] "King of Iran",[2] is one of the eight fire temples of the Zoroastrian religion located in Udvada in the Indian state of Gujarat on the west coast of India;[3] the only other Atash Behram outside India is in central Iran at Yazd.[4] The Atash Bahram, meaning "Victorious Fire",[5] housed in the Udavada temple built in 1742. AD[1] It has a checkered history of its movement within Gujarat after it was moved from Iran in 715 AD. It was consecrated first in Sanjan in 721 AD. It is one of the oldest fire-temple in India representing the cultural and religious link with Iran. Within the temple precincts there are the Dasturji Koyaji Mirza hall and a museum.[1][6]

Zoroastrian pilgrims from all parts of India, Canada, Pakistan, and Australia visit the temple on pilgrimage.[4] Newly wed couples also visit Udvada on pilgrimage, and on their behalf, their parents offer a machi (throne of wood to the fire[7]) at the temple.[8]

Location

The fire temple is situated in Udvada (also spelled Udwada), which is a small coastal village, of about 2 square kilometres (0.77 sq mi) area,[4] in the southern coast of Gujarat. The village was gifted to the priests by the king of Mandvi.[9] It is approachable by road and rail. It is 206 kilometres (128 mi) away from Mumbai towards the north, situated between Vapi town and Daman on the National Highway (NH8) which passes through Manor. The nearest Railway station, Udvada, is on the Virar-Surat section.[4][6]

History

Udvada Atash Bahram in 1905

The Atash Bahram fire was moved from Iran to India in 715 AD consequent to the migration of Zoroastrians in Greater Persia due to the persecution by the Islamic rulers who conquered that country; those who moved to India are called Parsis;[10][11] the earliest link of worship of the sacred fire in Zoroastrian temples is dated to the 4th century BC.[12] The Parsis traveled by ship from Hormuz in the Persian Gulf and landed on the Indian coast at Diu. They then moved along the coast to Sanjan, where the local Hindu ruler, Jadi Rana, gave them asylum and land to settle down but under a few stipulations.[13][11] They settled down in Sanjan and then established their first Atash Bahram, a first-grade fire temple (fire drawn from sixteen sources) in India in 721 AD by enshrining the holy fire that had been brought from Iran.[14] This temple thus established a silsila, a traditional link, for the Parsi community of Sanjan with Iran. The consecration ceremony involved long and winding rites, which lasted for many months. The temple flourished, the community took firm roots, and it was their only such temple during that period, though as a community they spread to other regions.[15] Their stay in Sanjan lasted for about four centuries till political events took a turn. In 1297, the Muslim ruler, Sultan Mahmud, invaded Gujarat and occupied the Sanjan area also; during this battle the Parsis had sided with the Hindus but it was a lost cause. The Parsis then took shelter in the caves of Bahrot hills and kept the sacred fire there for 12 years. As the safety conditions improved Sanjan priests then shifted, with the holy fire, to another village known as Bansda, and remained there for 14 years when pilgrims started visiting the fire shrine again.[3][13][16] During this period, one of the pilgrims, Changashah, also known as Changa Asa, of Navsari, who was also a benefactor, who used to travel to Bansda, persuaded the priests of Sanjan to move to Navsari.[16]

In 1419, the holy fire was moved by the priests to Navsari, a town near Surat, where they established themselves for more than 300 years (1419 to 1740 AD).[9] Due to security concerns (created by Pindharas (nomadic robbers)), the fire was temporarily moved to Surat, and as the situation eased it was brought back to Navsari.[9] The Sanjan priests and the Bhagarias (local priests) of Navsari had a working arrangement to run the sacred fire temple, but this understanding broke down and legal issues ensued. Disturbed by this development, the Sanjan priests moved out of Navsari with their sacred fire, and housed the fire in one of the two agiaris in Bulsar (now known as Valsad), 32 kilometres (20 mi) away from Navsari. Even here the Sanjan priests could not come to amicable terms with the local priests of the agiari and in 1741 they decided to move to Udvada, which was under the Sanjan community.[3][16][17] One year later, in 1742, Zoroastrians built an Atash Behram in Udvada and moved the sacred fire to it;[18] It was consecrated by two high priests (dasturs) who had carried the fire from Navasari,[9][13][17] in 1742.[6]

The Atash Behram (Iran Shah fire is a symbolic representation of the Zoroastrian monarchy of Iran that was overthrown by Arabs [2]), which had been first established at Sanjan in the 90th year of the Yezdezardi era by the first Shehenshahi Zoroastrian immigrants in India, is now maintained at Udvada by their descendants;[19] nine families of priests who were descendents of the three priests who had retrieved the sacred fire from Sanjan to safety. The presiding High Priest or Dastur of the temple is chosen by a rotation system among these nine families.[16]

Features

The architect and builder of the temple was Dinshaw Dorabjee Mistry from Mumbai. The temple structure has been built spaciously and well decorated. The main hall of the temple, which is 50 by 25 feet (15.2 m × 7.6 m), is accessed through a two-stage staircase. The flooring in the hall is paved with Minton tiles. A portrait of the Zoroaster is fixed in the main hall at a vantage position. In the first floor, there is a very large hall of 100 by 50 feet (30 m × 15 m) size. The color scheme, the quality of carpets, and the type of tiles used in the temple have received appreciation from the devotees.[19] The urwisgah, or place of the rituals for worship, is accessed from the doors on the right at the entrance.[20]

In the Sanjan fire was placed in a traditional "altar-like pillar with hollow top" similar to those used in Iran. In Navasari, they kept the fire in an āfrinagān, which was shaped like a vase. A larger version of this was developed as model for adoption at all other Atash Bahrams.[16]

The boi ritual is enthroning (machi) of the fire. It is done with ten sticks of sandalwood of 45 centimetres (18 in) length each; at other similar shrines the number of sandalwood sticks used are seven of 30 centimetres (12 in) length each.[21]

The first boi and maachi, the ceremony that accompanies the regular tending of fire five times a day, was offered to the holy fire at the new temple by Dastur Pheroozi's son.[22]

Portrait of important priests and the religious organizations, who have played a significant role in establishing the temple, are fixed on the outer walls of the temple.[20] The original temple was refurbished by Lady Motlibhai Wadia in 1894.[23]

Festivals

The anniversary, known as sālgiri, corresponding to the date of establishing the Atash Behram in Udvada and also in other Atash Bahrams in India, is celebrated every year according to the Shenshai Zoroastrian calendar on the day (called Ādur) of the month (also called Ādur the ninth Zoroastrian month and the ninth day of the month[24]); pilgrims visit not only on the day of the month but also throughout the Ādur month.[16] Apart from this salgiri, the other religious observance held every month is the "Bahrām" day(the twentieth day of the month). The Parsi New Year, normally held in August, is also celebrated here when a large number of devotees flock to the shrine.[4]

On festive occasions, the Udvada shrine comes to life with large number of pilgrims engaged in buying sandalwood, flowers and other religious paraphernalia to offer to the fire. According to the high priest of the temple "Udvada is an important place of pilgrimage for the 1,00,000 to 1,25,000 Parsis around the world"[23]

Heritage status

To retain the heritage status of the fire temple and the Udvada town, a development plan was initiated in 2007 by the Government of India and Government of Gujarat with a fund of Rs.15 million. This involved the preservation of the heritage buildings including the fire temple in Udvada without making it a tourist hub.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rose 2014, p. 190.
  2. 1 2 Meri 2005, p. 877.
  3. 1 2 3 Iyer 2009, p. 311.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sagar, Homai (4 October 2009). "Fire of faith". The Tribune. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Rose 2014, p. 114-15.
  6. 1 2 3 Iyer 2009, p. 312.
  7. ↑ Kreyenbroek 2013, p. 338.
  8. ↑ Kreyenbroek 2013, p. 34.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Mehta, Behram (24 April 2011). "Fire temple at Udvada is central to Parsi religion". DNA India.
  10. ↑ Hartz 2009, p. 59-60.
  11. 1 2 Joshi 2012, p. 177.
  12. ↑ krishnan 2009, p. 156.
  13. 1 2 3 Hartz 2009, pp. 59–60.
  14. ↑ Hartman 1980, p. 20.
  15. ↑ Kotwal, Firoze M. "Some observations on the history of the Parsi Dar-i Mihrs". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Irānšāh". Encyclopedia Iranica.
  17. 1 2 Hinnells, John R.; Williams, Alan. "Parsis In India And The Diaspora". I J Routledge , J. Taylor & Francis Group. pp. 22,23, 103.
  18. ↑ Hartz 2009, p. 61.
  19. 1 2 Giara 2002, p. 2.
  20. 1 2 Godrej & Mistree 2002, p. 302.
  21. ↑ Godrej & Mistree 2002, p. 305.
  22. ↑ Parsiana. P. Warden. 1996. p. 146.
  23. 1 2 Mulchandani, Anil (30 November 2012). "Eternal flame of Gujarat". The New Indian Express.
  24. ↑ "I Ādur". Encyclopedia Iranica.

Bibliography

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