In Zoroastrian temples the centre of worship is not an image but a fire. It burns in a metal vessel, in an inner chamber that only priests may enter, and is fed day and night with fine wood and fragrant substances. In this context sandalwood and incense are not mere aromatics: they are the nourishment of a fire that represents divine light and truth.
Fire as a symbol
Zoroastrianism, the religion founded according to tradition by the prophet Zarathustra in ancient Iran, worships a supreme God, Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord. Fire is regarded as the purest symbol of his light and of the principle of asha, the order and truth that govern the world.
Zoroastrians often point out that they do not worship fire itself, but pray in its presence, facing the light as a visible sign of the divine. This is why their places of worship are called "fire temples" in the West.
The grades of sacred fire
Tradition distinguishes several grades of sacred fire, according to the complexity of their consecration:
| Grade | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Atash Behram | The highest grade, consecrated by uniting and purifying sixteen fires of different origins |
| Atash Adaran | An intermediate grade, formed from fires drawn from different categories of households |
| Atash Dadgah | The simplest grade, which can also be kept in a domestic setting |
The consecration of an Atash Behram is an extremely long rite. Among the sixteen fires that compose it, according to tradition, is fire produced by lightning, regarded as heavenly in origin. Each fire is purified through repeated operations before being united with the others.
The Iranshah of Udvada
When some Zoroastrians left Iran and settled on the coast of Gujarat in India, forming the Parsi community, they brought their tradition of fire with them. The community's most revered fire, called Iranshah, the "King of Iran", is kept in the small town of Udvada. According to tradition it has burned without interruption for many centuries, and it is a place of pilgrimage for Parsis from all over the world.
The boi ritual
The sacred fire must be tended regularly. Zoroastrianism divides the day into five parts, called gāh, and at the beginning of each the priest performs a ritual called boi, which means "fragrance".
The ritual unfolds in a few essential moments:
- the priest approaches the fire wearing a white cloth over his mouth, the padan, so that human breath does not pollute the flame;
- with special tongs he places pieces of sandalwood on the fire;
- he sprinkles incense or fragrant powders on the flame;
- he recites prayers and, at precise moments, rings a bell.
The very name of the ritual shows the bond between fire and fragrance: to feed the flame is to offer it aromatic substances.
The offering of the faithful
Worshippers visiting a fire temple often bring sticks of sandalwood as a gift, which are handed to the priests to be offered to the fire. In return they receive a little consecrated ash, which they place on their forehead. Sandalwood thus becomes the concrete sign of personal participation in worship: each person helps keep the flame alive.
Purity as a principle
Attention to purity is central to the whole Zoroastrian tradition. Fire, water and earth are sacred elements that must not be polluted. For this reason the wood offered to the fire must be dry and clean, and sandalwood, with its fragrance and long burning, is considered especially suitable.
From this perspective fragrance is not an ornament but an expression of purity: a fire fed with fragrant substances spreads around itself an atmosphere that reflects the order and goodness of creation.
A symbolic reading
For students of symbols, Zoroastrian worship offers a powerful image: a light that must never go out, kept alive by daily, regular, humble gestures. The scent of sandalwood rising from the flame reminds us that light does not preserve itself, but requires care, attention and faithfulness over time.
In short
- In Zoroastrianism fire is the purest symbol of the light of Ahura Mazda and of asha.
- Tradition distinguishes three grades of sacred fire, the highest being the Atash Behram.
- The Iranshah of Udvada is the most revered fire of the Parsis in India.
- In the boi ritual, at each part of the day, the priest offers sandalwood and incense to the fire.
- Worshippers bring sandalwood to the temple and receive consecrated ash in return.
