Yazd Atash Behram

Yazd Atash Behram

The Yazd Atash Behram, also known as Yazd Atash Kadeh), is a temple in Yazd, to the west of Shiraz in Iran. It was built in 1934 and enshrines the Atash Bahram, meaning “Victorious Fire”, dated to 470 AD. It is one of the nine Atash Behrams, the only one of the highest grade fire in Iran where Zoroastrians have practiced their religion since 400 BC; the other eight Atash Behrams are in India.^[1][2] According to Aga Rustam Noshiravan Belivani, of Sharifabad, the Anjuman-i Násirí (elected Zoroastrian officials) opened the Yazd Atash Behram in the 1960s to non-Zoroastrian visitors.

Background

The temple is located in Yazd,^[3] to the west of Shiraz, in the desert province of Yazda, where Zoroastrians have practiced their religion since about 400 BC.^[4] It is located on the Ayatullah Taleghani Avenue and is 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) away from Yazd Airport.^[5]

The highest grade of fire temples were first constructed in the Sasanian Empire for the reverence of fire, which is the manifestation of Ahura Mazda in the Zoroastrian religion.^[1] According to the Zoroastrian religion, this type of fire is consecrated by sixteen different sources, including the fire created by a lightning bolt.^[6]

History

According to an inscription plaque fixed on the shrine, the construction of the Yazd Atash Behram temple is dated to 1934. The funds for building it were provided by the Association of the Parsi Zoroastrians of India. Construction was done under the guidance of Jamshid Amanat. The sacred fire of the temple is stated to have been burning since about 470 AD;^[2] originally started by the Sassanian Shah when it was in the Pars Karyan fire temple in southern Pars district of Larestan.^[6] From there it was transferred to Aqda where it was kept for 700 years. The fire was then moved in 1173 to Nahid-e Pars temple in nearby Ardakan, where it remained for 300 years until it was moved again to the house of a high priest in Yazd, and was finally consecrated in the new temple in 1934.^[2][7]

A bust of Manekji Limji Hataria, who was instrumental in raising funds for building the temple, has been installed in the precincts of the temple. The bust also displays the Zoroastrian divine symbols of the Sun and the Moon.^[8]

Features

Zoroastrian Eternal Flame at the Fire Temple in Yazd, Central Iran

The fire temple is built in Achaemenid architecture style in brick masonry to the design prepared by the architects from Bombay. It is similar in design to the Atash Behram temples in India. The building is surrounded by a garden which has fruit trees.^[9] There is a winged deity of the Ahura Mazda embedded on the front door of the temple.^[10]

The sacred fire is installed in the temple behind an amber tinted glass enclosure. Only Zoroastrians are allowed to go to the sanctum area of the fire. Non-Zoroastrians can only view it from outside the glass chamber.^[11] The Anjuman-i Násirí opened the Yazd Atash Behram in the 1960s to non-Zoroastrian visitors.^[12]

References

1. Ejaz 2010, p. 18.
2. Eduljee, K. E. "Yazd". Heritage Institute. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
3. Iyer 2009, p. 311.
4. Steytler, Georgina (26 May 2010). "Iran: treasures and contrasts". The West Australian. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
5. Giara 2002, p. 172.
6. Rogerson 2013, p. 140.
7. Eduljee, K. E. "Zoroastrian Places of Worship". Heritage Institute. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
8. Warden 2002, p. 32.
9. Godrej & Mistree 2002, p. 315.
10. Karber 2012, p. 160.
11. Godrej & Mistree 2002, p. 285.
12. Godrej & Mistree 2002, p. 323.

Bibliography

• Ejaz, Khadija (23 December 2010). In the Persian Empire. Mitchell Lane Publishers, Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-61228-025-7.
• Giara, Marzban Jamshedji (2002). Global Directory of Zoroastrian Fire Temples. Marzban J. Giara.
• Godrej, Pheroza; Mistree, Firoza Punthakey (2002). A Zoroastrian Tapestry: Art, Religion & Culture. Mapin Pub. ISBN 978-81-85822-71-6.
• Iyer, Meena (1 January 2009). Faith and Philosophy of Zoroastrianism. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7835-724-9.
• Karber, Phil (18 June 2012). Fear and Faith in Paradise: Exploring Conflict and Religion in the Middle East. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4422-1479-8.
• Rogerson, Barnaby (7 November 2013). Rogerson's Book of Numbers: The culture of numbers from 1001 Nights to the Seven Wonders of the World. Profile Books. ISBN 978-1-84765-983-5.
• Warden, P. (2002). Parsiana 25. Bombay: P. Warden.

Coordinates: 31°54′20″N 54°20′21″E / 31.90556°N 54.33917°E