So then why do we parsis put so much importance to fire? There is this beautiful book called "A BRIEF HISTORY OF ANJUMAN ATASH BAHRAM- MUMBAI (1897-1997)". The Anjuman Atash Bahram entered the 100th year of its enthronement on Roz Ardibehesht Mah Aradibehesht Yz. 1366, monday 23rd September, 1996 and this book was published in this respect.
The preface of this book tells us the importance of fire in our religion.
In pre-zorastrian times fire was considered the holy emblem of God. To Zoraster himself, the fire was the sustaining and purifying Divine Power of Almighty God, thus making it worthy of man's devotion, veneration and homage. According to Yasna 19.2,4, it suggests that Ahura Mazda, the Almighty God, created fire before he did human beings. And while there are other interesting theories on the source, it is firmly established that the fire is indeed of divine origin, as preserved in the ancient writings of zorastrians and the Hindus.
Why do we preside over the fire? Because it is said that AHURA MAZDA has created Spiritual Beings(Amesha Spentas and Yazatas) for the management of the universe. And they are at work in nature. So each of the worldly creations is in the care of one of the Spiritual Beings. In the Avesta, Adar is the Yazata (Spiritual Being) in charge of the worldly, visible fire. So when a Zoroastrian offers his prayers to Adar, he offers them in actuality to the Spiritual Being pervading and presiding over the physical fire. And through the Spiritual Being, a Zoroastrian offers his prayers to the creator, Ahura Mazda.
Ahura Mazda himself is described as "full of lustre", full of glory(raevat khvarnvat) and hence his luminous creations-sun, the stars and the fire are especially regarded as His appropriate emblems. In the Avesta, the sun is called the most beautiful visible form of Ahura Mazda. And Adar, who presides over the fire, is venerated as the son of Ahura Mazda.
The holy hymns recited by ZARATHUSHTRA written in the GATHAS in avestan literature also show veneration of fire.
Avesta tells us that there is fire in the human body. The soul is the spark, a glow of light. The fuel required for this fire is good thought, good word and good deed. This shows that mental and physical purity is the first principle of a Zoroastrian.
There are five kinds of fires as described in pahlavi books:
ADAR BEREZISAVAH: "THE FIRE OF UTILITY". THE FIRE OF THE ATASH BAHRAM.
ADAR VOHUFRYANA: "THE FIRE OF GOOD FRIEND". THE FIRE IN THE BODY OF MAN AND ANIMAL.
ADAR URVAZISHTA: "THE MOST JOY-GIVING FIRE".
ADAR VAZISHTA: "THE FIRE SWIFTEST". THE FIRE IN THE CLOUD, THAT IS LIGHTNING.
ADAR SPENISHTA: "THE FIRE MOST HOLY", THIS IS THE FIRE BURNING IN THE PRESENCE OF AHURA MAZDA IN GAROTHMAN, THE HIGHEST HEAVEN.
And as regards the consecration of the holy fires, there are three grades. ATASH BAHRAM: THE FIRE DEDICATED TO VICTORY. ATASH ADARAN: THE FIRES--COLLECTED AND CONSECRATED. ATASH DADGAH: THE FIRES INSTALLED IN THE PROPER PLACE(HOUSEHOLD FIRE).
Religious ceremonies of high order are performed to consecrate and to install the holy fire. Ordinary fires of daily use are taken and then their pure essence is derived from their blaze and the ceremonies are performed over the pure essence of the fire to further purify it and make it worthy of veneration.
When we speak of Final Judgement, again fire plays an important role.
The principle of DIVINE JUSTICE in this case being: evil unto the doer of evil and bliss unto the holy. This DIVINE JUDGMENT shall be delivered by the heavenly tribunal, and at the time of FRASHOKEREITI(RENOVATION), the souls will be tested by red blazing fire,by shining metal and molten metal.
The sacred fire is metaphorically spoken of as a king, having a spiritual jurisdiction over the district round about. The marble stand on which the censer stands, is spoken of as its throne. Its sanctum sanctorum is in the shape of a dome, reminding us of the dome of the heavens. The censer on the slab stands just under the centre of the dome. A metallic tray hangs high above over the fire, spoken of as the crown which is the symbolic emblem of a ruler. The swords and maces hanging about on the inner wall of the gumbad, serve as symbols of the temple militant, to signify, that the devotees should fight against moral evils and vices. The sacred fire burning in an ATASHKADEH(HOUSE OF FIRE), serves as a perpetual reminder to the faithful standing before it, to preserve piety, purity, humility and brotherhood. The fire on the censer reminds one that though pure in itself, though the noblest of creations of the Wise Lord and the best symbol of the diety, it had to undergo certain processes of purifying itself. It had to extract the quintessence of purity, to enable itself to be worthy of occupying the exalted position. So it is important for us to go through the process of righteousness and purity, virtue and mortality, through his good thoughts, words and deeds in order to acquire an exalted position in the life after.
The fire of the Atash Bahram is made up of a collection of fires gathered from people of different grades of society. This reminds us that just as all these fires from the houses of men of different grades have, through the processes of purification and consecration, equally acquired the exalted position in the censer. So too men, in the eyes of AHURA MAZDA, no matter to what strata of society they belong, are equal, provided they preserve the trinity of pure thoughts, words and deeds.
The pinch of the sacred ash applied to the forehead reminds us about the transitoriness of life. The dazzling, resplendent Fire, spreads the fragrance of sandalwood and frankincense around it before it reduces to ashes. Mortal beings have to depart also from this transient life. So it reminds us to spread, as it were, the fragrance of virtue and charity and live a life of righteousness, dedicated to the betterment of humanity, before we turn to dust.
So friends, you see how important fire is in our lives...i hope this knowledge that i shared with you from this lovely book will help our youth to be a little more respectful towards god's gift.. fire...
No comments:
Post a Comment