Lance Carson
Fire is a central aspect of Zoroastrianism, with fire temples serving as places of worship for adherents of the religion. These temples contain holy fires that are never allowed to go out, and Zoroastrians are known for their rituals involving the tending of these sacred flames. While fire is a key element of Zoroastrian practices, the use of incense in rituals is also mentioned in texts, iconography, and material culture. Thus, the question of whether Zoroastrians burn incense is an intriguing one that warrants further exploration to understand the role of incense in their religious traditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Burning incense | Burning incense is seen across countries and faiths, and Zoroastrians do burn incense as offerings during pilgrimages |
| Fire temples | Fire temples, or places of fire, are Zoroastrian places of worship. As of 2021, there were 167 fire temples in the world, with 45 in Mumbai, 105 in the rest of India, and 17 in other countries |
| Fire as a symbol | Fire is a symbol of purity and power in Zoroastrianism, but it is not worshipped |
| Consecrated fires | There are three grades of consecrated fires in Zoroastrianism: Atash Dadgah, Atash Adaran, and Atash Behram |
| Tending the fire | Tending the fire is a ritual in Zoroastrianism, and fires are tended to by priests or laypeople using long-burning hardwood and sweet-scented softwood |
| Fire rituals | Fire is incorporated into various Zoroastrian rituals, such as pregnant women lighting fires or lamps for protection, and the navjote initiation ceremony |
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What You'll Learn
Incense in Zoroastrian rituals
Zoroastrians have a particular relationship with fire, and their places of worship are fire temples. There are three grades of fire in Zoroastrian fire temples: Atash Dadgah, Atash Adaran, and Atash Behram. The Atash Dadgah is the lowest grade of sacred fire and can be consecrated within a few hours by two priests reciting the 72 verses of the Yasna liturgy. The Atash Adaran is likened to a church fire, while the Atash Bahram is comparable to a cathedral fire.
Fire is incorporated into a number of Zoroastrian rituals. For instance, lamps, often fuelled by the purifying substance ghee, are lit as part of the navjote initiation ceremony. Similarly, pregnant women light fires or lamps for protection. Zoroastrians also perform regular ceremonies to mark occasions, called jashan, which involve implements such as fruits, nuts, and wheat pudding in metallic trays placed on a white sheet with milk, wine, and flowers.
While Zoroastrians do not worship fire, they consider it a great purifying agent and a symbol of Ahura Mazda's power. In Zoroastrian doctrine, fire and water (atar and aban) are agents of ritual purity. Clean, white ash is used for purification ceremonies, which are essential to the tending of a domestic fire. This is because fire itself is considered sacred and is seen as the 'Son of God' or the 'Son of Ahura Mazda'.
Incense is also used in Zoroastrian rituals. For example, a pilgrim may lay offerings of candles and incense at the Zoroastrian mountain shrine at Chak Chak (Pir-e Sabz) during the annual pilgrimage in Iran.
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Zoroastrian fire temples
In Zoroastrianism, fire is not worshipped, but it is considered a symbol of divine power due to its dynamism, warmth, and protective nature. Fire represents eternal life and immortality, mirroring the perpetual existence of the soul. The Zoroastrian holy book, the Avesta, holds the four elements in high esteem, considering them purifying and valuable.
The oldest remains of a structure identified as a fire temple are those on Mount Khajeh, near Lake Hamun in Sistan, dated to the 3rd or 4th century BCE. The temple was rebuilt and enlarged during the Sassanid era (250 BCE-650 CE). Ruins of Sassanid-era temples have been found in various parts of the former empire, particularly in southwest regions like Fars, Kerman, and Elam.
One notable Zoroastrian fire temple is located in the city of Yazd, Iran. According to legend, Zoroastrian priests in the Fars Province lit a special fire in the late 5th century, and this flame has been kept alive for over 1,500 years, moving between various locations until it finally reached the Yazd temple in 1934. The temple is situated on a busy street, and visitors can enter a peaceful garden before reaching the temple building, which bears the Zoroastrian 'Faravahar' symbol. Inside, the eternal flame burns within a goblet, tended several times a day by priests using a mixture of hardwood and sweet-scented softwood.
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Zoroastrian fire rituals
Fire is an important element in Zoroastrianism, with ancient flames being passed down through generations and maintained for centuries. The ancient Zoroastrian flames are called Atash Bahrams, meaning 'victorious fire'. Zoroastrians do not worship the fires, but they believe that standing near them allows them to feel the presence of the deity Ahura Mazda. The flames are symbolic of various concepts, including inspiration, compassion, truth, devotion, continuity, and change.
The rituals of fire in Zoroastrianism are believed to have originated in the 9th century BCE, around the same time as the shrine cult and the introduction of Atar as a divinity. The fire rituals are deeply rooted in the religion's traditions and are performed within specific temple structures.
Zoroastrian fire temples, also known as "dar be-mehr" or "darb-e mehr," are sacred buildings with four gates or doors, called "chahārtāq," scattered across Iran. These temples house the everlasting fires that are tended to by priests, who wear all white. The fire is composed of a mixture of long-burning hardwood and sweet-scented softwood.
The process of establishing an Atash Bahram fire is intricate and challenging. It requires combining 16 different fires sourced from various professions, such as a bricklayer, baker, warrior, and artisan. Additionally, the fire of a burning corpse and the fire of lightning must be included. The fire of lightning is particularly difficult to obtain, as it requires two Zoroastrians to witness the lightning strike and hope that it sets something alight.
The fire rituals serve as a locus for regular ceremonies marking special occasions, known as "jashan." These ceremonies are led by a priest called a "zoatar," while another individual, known as an atravakshi, is responsible for tending the fire. The rituals involve offerings of fruits, nuts, and wheat pudding placed on metallic trays, along with milk, wine, and flowers.
The fire rituals also extend to death rituals, where fire is brought into the room and kept burning for three days after the removal of the corpse to the "dakhma" or "tower of silence." The Zoroastrians' reverence for fire and their dedication to maintaining the everlasting flames demonstrate their strong relationship with this element as a central focus of their rituals and spiritual practices.
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Zoroastrian fire grades
Fire is a predominant element in Zoroastrianism and is considered the foundation of the universe. Zoroastrians believe that fire, heat, and light are indispensable for the existence, sustenance, and progress of the universe. It is the symbol of their religion and is seen as a manifestation of the divine Ahura Mazda.
Zoroastrians have three grades of fire, each with its own name and significance. The highest grade of fire is collected from seven natural sources of conflagration, such as a haystack fire, a volcanic fire, or fire caused by a lightning bolt. The three grades of fire are:
Atash Dadgah
The Atash Dadgah is the lowest grade of fire. It can be consecrated within a few hours by two priests who recite the 72 verses of the Yasna liturgy. The term is also applied to the hearth fire or the oil lamp found in many Zoroastrian homes.
Atash Adaran
Atash Adaran is the intermediate or middle grade of fire. It requires a gathering of hearth fire from representatives of the four professional groups that reflect feudal estates: the asronih (the priesthood), the (r)atheshtarih (soldiers and civil servants), the vastaryoshih (farmers and herdsmen), and the hutokshih (artisans and laborers). The consecration ceremony takes two to three weeks and requires at least eight priests.
Atash Behram
Atash Behram is the highest grade of fire, also known as "fire of victory". Consecrating an Atash Behram fire is a complex process that takes a year to complete. It involves gathering sixteen different types of fire from various sources and requires the work of thirty-two priests. The Zoroastrian fire temples known as Atash Behrams are the main temples, with only nine in existence as of 2021 (one in Iran and eight in India).
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Zoroastrian fire worship
Fire is an important element in Zoroastrian worship. In fact, the "burning of fire" is a key element in Zoroastrianism, with fire temples and fire altars being central to the religion. However, it is important to note that Zoroastrians do not worship fire itself. Instead, they use fire as a tool or medium through which they worship Ahura Mazda, the Creator. This is similar to how Christians pray in front of a statue of Jesus or how Hindus pray in front of a portrait of Krishna—the focus of worship is not the statue or portrait but the entity it represents.
Zoroastrian fire rituals have a long history. In the Parthian Empire (250 BCE–226 CE), there were two main places of worship in Zoroastrianism: the bagin or ayazan, a sanctuary dedicated to a specific divinity, and the atroshan, the "places of burning fire". The latter became more prevalent as the iconoclastic movement gained support. Fire temples, or atashgah, are constructed with an innermost sanctum where the actual fire altar stands.
Fire temples are particularly important during seasonal celebrations (Gahambars) and especially for the New Year (Noruz). Zoroastrian priests tend the sacred fires and officiate ceremonies, which often involve offerings of fruits, nuts, and wheat pudding.
One notable example of Zoroastrian fire worship is the flame that has been kept burning for over 1,500 years. In the late fifth century, a group of Zoroastrian priests in Iran’s Fars Province lit a special fire and kept it burning as it moved between various locations. Today, this flame resides in a temple in the desert city of Yazd, where it continues to burn.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Zoroastrians burn incense.
Burning incense is a practice that is prevalent across various religions and cultures. In Zoroastrianism, incense is used in rituals and is believed to have a broad spectrum of functions and uses related to the senses.
Zoroastrian rituals that involve burning incense include the annual pilgrimage to the mountain shrine at Chak Chak (Pir-e Sabz) in Iran, where offerings of candles and incense are made.
Yes, there are three grades of consecrated fires in Zoroastrianism: Atash Dadgah, Atash Adaran, and Atash Behram. These fires are classified according to their level of sanctity, with Atash Dadgah being the lowest grade and Atash Behram being the highest.
Zoroastrian fire temples, also known as agiaries or "places of fire," are places of worship for Zoroastrians. They are characterised by the presence of a holy fire, which represents purity and goodness. Fire temples can be found in various countries, including India, Iran, and North America.
