The temple fire, Atash (Avestan atar, Persian azar or adar), is the consecrated flame kept burning in Zoroastrian fire temples. Zoroastrians do not worship fire as a god; they pray in its presence as a symbol of Ahura Mazda's light and of Asha, truth and order. Temple fires are ranked in three grades, the highest being the Atash Behram.
Temple Fire (Atash) at a glance
| Also called | Atash, Atar, Adar, Azar; sacred or holy fire |
|---|---|
| Places of worship | Fire temple, Dar-e Mehr, Agiary, Atashkadeh |
| Three grades | Atash Behram, Atash Adaran, Atash Dadgah |
| Highest-grade fires | Nine Atash Behrams: eight in India, one in Yazd, Iran |
| Famous fire | Iranshah Atash Behram at Udvada, Gujarat |
| Associated Amesha Spenta | Asha Vahishta |
Fire in Zoroastrian Belief
Fire holds a special place in Zoroastrianism. In the Avesta, Atar is both the element of fire and a divine being, a yazata worthy of reverence, sometimes called the son of Ahura Mazda. Fire is linked with Asha, truth and right order, and with the Amesha Spenta Asha Vahishta, its guardian. The Yasna even names five kinds of fire, from the fire of the hearth to the lightning in the clouds.
Zoroastrians have long rejected the outsider label "fire worshippers." In their own understanding, the flame is a focus of prayer, a pure and living sign of divine light, much as other religions use an altar or a direction of prayer. Worshippers face the fire, or another source of light, while praying.
The Three Grades of Sacred Fire
Consecrated fires are ranked in three grades:
- Atash Behram ("Fire of Victory"): the highest grade. Tradition describes its consecration as a long process in which many fires of different origins, including fire from lightning, are gathered, repeatedly purified and united through extended rituals by several priests.
- Atash Adaran ("Fire of Fires"): a middle grade, formed from the fires of households belonging to different occupations.
- Atash Dadgah: the lowest grade of temple fire, which can be tended by a single priest and may also be kept in a home.
According to the Wikipedia entry on fire temples, there are only nine Atash Behrams in the world: eight in India and one in Yazd, Iran. The best known is the Iranshah at Udvada in Gujarat, which Parsi tradition traces back to the community's early settlement in India.
Tending the Fire
A temple fire must never be allowed to go out. Priests feed it with dry wood, especially sandalwood, and offer incense. The day is divided into five watches (gahs), and at the Atash Behram a special ceremony called the boi is performed at each watch, with prayers and the ringing of a bell.
Purity rules are strict. Priests wear white and cover their mouth and nose with a cloth, the padan, so that breath does not pollute the flame. Lay worshippers wash before entering, cover their heads, and may bring sandalwood as an offering; the priest may return ash that the worshipper touches to the forehead. In India, non-Zoroastrians are traditionally not admitted to places where the sacred fire can be seen, a custom rather than a rule of scripture, and practice differs in Iran and in the diaspora.
History of Fire Temples
Fire rituals among Iranian peoples are very old, but purpose-built fire temples appear later. Achaemenid royal tombs at Naqsh-e Rustam show the king before a fire altar, and scholars debate how far temple fires existed in that period. Under the Parthians and especially the Sasanians (third to seventh centuries CE), temple fires became a central institution. The characteristic domed sanctuary on four arches, the chahar taq, spread across Iran, and three great fires were associated with the priests, the warriors and the farmers.
After the Arab conquest, many temples were converted or abandoned. Zoroastrians who migrated to Gujarat, the Parsis, founded new fire temples in India, while communities in Yazd and Kerman preserved the tradition in Iran. According to figures cited on Wikipedia, there were about 167 fire temples worldwide in 2021, most of them in India.
Symbolism and Legacy
The ever-burning flame expresses central Zoroastrian values: purity, light overcoming darkness, and the victory of truth over the Lie (Druj). Some Zoroastrians also connect the fire with the ordeal by fire and molten metal that ancient texts describe at the end of time, when the good will be vindicated.
Outside the religion, the image of the Persian fire temple has fascinated travelers, poets and esoteric writers, who often used it as a symbol of ancient wisdom. Zoroastrians today continue to maintain their fires as places of living worship, and the Udvada fire in particular is visited by pilgrims from around the world.
Maintaining a temple fire requires trained priests, a steady supply of wood and a community to support them. Declining numbers of priests in some Parsi communities have made this a practical concern, and community leaders continue to discuss how to preserve the fires for future generations.
Related entries
Frequently asked questions
Do Zoroastrians worship fire?
No. Zoroastrians say they worship Ahura Mazda and pray in the presence of fire, which they regard as a pure symbol of divine light and of Asha, truth and order. The label "fire worshippers" was applied by outsiders and is rejected by Zoroastrians themselves.
What is an Atash Behram?
An Atash Behram, "Fire of Victory," is the highest grade of Zoroastrian sacred fire. Its consecration involves gathering and purifying many fires through long rituals. There are nine in the world, eight in India and one in Yazd, Iran, including the famous Iranshah at Udvada.
Can non-Zoroastrians enter a fire temple?
It depends on the community. In India, non-Zoroastrians are traditionally not allowed into areas where the sacred fire can be seen, a long-standing custom. In Iran and some diaspora communities, visitors may be admitted to parts of the temple, and some Iranian temples receive tourists.
Sources and further reading
This entry replaces an article from the original Mystica encyclopedia (online since 2001). It was rewritten from the sources above by The Mystica Editorial Team under our editorial standards. Last reviewed: September 30, 2026.