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List of fire temples in India

A fire temple, Agiary, Atash Kadeh (Persian: آتشکده), Atashgah (آتشگاه) or Dar-e Mehr (در مهر) is the place of worship for the followers of Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion of Iran (Persia).[1][2][3] In the Zoroastrian religion, fire (see atar), together with clean water (see aban), are agents of ritual purity. Clean, white "ash for the purification ceremonies [is] regarded as the basis of ritual life", which "are essentially the rites proper to the tending of a domestic fire, for the temple [fire] is that of the hearth fire raised to a new solemnity".[4] For, one "who sacrifices unto fire with fuel in his hand ..., is given happiness".[5] There are about 177 odd fire temples in the world, of which some 150 are in India.[6]

List of Fire temples in India

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Name Location Picture Notes
Bahrot Caves near Dahanu Bahrot Caves, locally known as Barad, near Dahanu, Maharashtra are the only Parsi/Zoroastrian Cave temple in India. Bahrot Caves is located 25 km south of Sanjan, Gujarat and are situated at a small distance of 8 km away from the village of Bordi. They were unused Buddhist caves excavated by Buddhist monks. Zoroastrians hid for 13 years in these mountains after an invasion of their settlement at Sanjan by Alaf Khan, a general of Muhammad bin Tughluq in 1393 CE. The ‘Iranshah Flame’ was also moved to Bahrot during this period (1393–1405 CE). Even today, the Holy Fire is burning and it is given the most eminent grade of devoted fire in the world. Bahrot Caves have been declared a heritage site and is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).[7][8][9][10]
Banaji Limji Agiary Mumbai
 
 Banaji Limji Agiary is the oldest Zoroastrian fire temple (or agiary, Gujarati for "house of fire") in Mumbai, India that was constructed in 1709.[11] The fire was consecrated here by the Parsi businessman Seth Banaji Limji.[12] The temple has a fortress-like structure and non-Parsis are not allowed to enter, as in all Zoroastrian temples.[13] The temple is a Grade II heritage structure.[14] Situated less than a kilometre away from the temple, Maneckji Seth Agiary (1733) is the second-oldest fire temple in Mumbai.
Iranshah Atash Behram Udvada
 
 The Iranshah Atash Behram, also known as the Iranshahr, or Udwada Atash Behram is a sacred fire housed in a temple in Udvada, Gujarat on the west coast of India. It is the first of the eight fire temples (holy place of worship) of the Zoroastrian religion in the country. The Atash Bahram, meaning "Victorious Fire", is the oldest fire temple in India, dated to the eighth century, and represents the historical cultural and religious links with Iran. The current temple housing the sacred fire was built in 1742 by Motlibai Wadia from Bombay. The temple structure, built spaciously, is well decorated and contains the Dasturji Koyaji Mirza hall and a museum. The main hall of the temple is accessed through a two-stage staircase. The temple attracts Zoroastrian pilgrims from all parts of India, Pakistan, and from around the world.
Maneckji Seth Agiary Mumbai
 
 Maneckji Seth Agiary is the second-oldest Zoroastrian fire temple (or agiary, Gujarati for "house of fire") in Mumbai, India that was constructed in 1735.[12] Banaji Limji Agiary, established in 1709, is the oldest.[11] As in all Zoroastrian temples, non-Parsis are not allowed to enter. The architecture of the building is a mix of Persian and Greek Revival styles, with two lamassus standing guard at the temple entrance.[15]
Parsi Fire Temple Secunderabad
 
 Parsi Fire Temple is a place of worship for the Parsis in India. Located at MG Road in Secunderabad, Telangana, the temple is believed to have been consecrated in September 1847.[16] The temple was built by two brothers and traders, Pestonji Meherji and Viccaji Meherji, who had settled down in Secunderabad. In addition to the temple, the compound also has residential and commercial buildings.[17] The Parsi population in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad is the second largest in India outside Mumbai.[18]
Royapuram fire temple Chennai
 
 Jal Phiroj Clubwala Dar E Meher, popularly known as the Royapuram fire temple, is a Zoroastrian fire temple at Royapuram, Chennai, India. It was built in 1910 and donated to the Madras Parsi Zarthosti Anjuman by philanthropist Phiroj M. Clubwala. It is the only Parsi fire temple in Tamil Nadu and surrounding region, including Puducherry and Kerala.[19] The flame in the temple is burning continuously ever since the temple was built and is stoked five times a day by the priest.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Boyce, Mary (1975). "On the Zoroastrian Temple Cult of Fire". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 95 (3). Ann Arbor: AOS/UMich. Press: 454–465. doi:10.2307/599356. JSTOR 599356.
  2. ^ Boyce, Mary (1993), "Dar-e Mehr", Encyclopaedia Iranica, vol. 6, Costa Mesa: Mazda Pub, pp. 669–670
  3. ^ Kotwal, Firoz M. (1974), "Some Observations on the History of the Parsi Dar-i Mihrs", Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 37 (3): 665, doi:10.1017/S0041977X00127557, S2CID 162207182
  4. ^ Boyce 1975, p. 455.
  5. ^ Yasna 62.1; Nyashes 5.7
  6. ^ a b Mathai, Kamini (12 July 2010). "Parsis go all out to celebrate milestone in Chennai". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. Retrieved 24 Apr 2014.
  7. ^ Anjali H. Desai (2007). India Guide Gujarat. India Guide Publications. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-9789517-0-2.
  8. ^ Nagendra Kr Singh; A. P. Mishra, Nagendra Kr Singh (2007). Encyclopaedia of Oriental Philosophy and Religion. Global Vision Publishing House. p. 78. ISBN 978-81-8220-112-5.
  9. ^ Marzban Jamshedji Giara (2002). Global Directory of Zoroastrian Fire Temples. Marzban J. Giara. pp. 1, 200.
  10. ^ Mani Kamerkar; Soonu Dhunjisha; K.R. Cama Oriental Institute (2002). From the Iranian Plateau to the shores of Gujarat: the story of Parsi settlements and absorption in India. Allied Publishers. p. 34. ISBN 978-81-7764-301-5.
  11. ^ a b "Banaji Limji Agiary, Mumbai's oldest fire temple, turns 306". Hindustan Times. April 22, 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Banaji Limji Agiary: Mumbai's oldest, architectural landmark Banaji Limji Agiary completes 308 years | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. 24 April 2017.
  13. ^ "Fire temple enters its 300th year | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. 24 April 2008.
  14. ^ https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/Upload/Acts%20Rules/Marathi/25-06-019%20Notification%20UDD...sdfglkjl.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  15. ^ Hinnells, John R. (April 28, 2005). The Zoroastrian Diaspora: Religion and Migration. OUP Oxford. ISBN 9780191513503 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ Dharmendra Prasad (1986), Social and Cultural Geography of Hyderabad City: A Historical Perspective, Inter-India Publications, p. 86, ISBN 8121000459
  17. ^ "The oldest fire temple in city". 19 Aug 2013. Retrieved 11 Nov 2014.
  18. ^ "Saal Mubarak". The Hindu. 19 Aug 2008. Retrieved 11 Nov 2014.
  19. ^ Muthiah, S. (4 July 2010). "Madras Miscellany: The century-old Parsi temple". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 27 Apr 2014.
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