subject: Visit Varahram Fire Temple During Traveling In Iran [print this page] Traveling in Iran can be a very knowledgeable experience where you gather information about the ancient civilizations and the people of various cultures and religions. When you plan your travel itinerary, you must remember to include the beautiful city of Yazd which has many intriguing sites of interest.
Among the monuments worth visiting are the Towers of Silence, the Yazd Friday mosque, Alexander's prison, Water museum and of course, Varahram Fire Temple. Built by the Zoroastrians based in Yazd and the country of India, this temple depicts architecture reminiscent of the ancient times of Persia.
The Burning Fire
The main attraction of Varahram Fire Temple is the fire burning inside it. It is said to have been burning for 1,520 years. This is more than the age of the temple itself. It originated in the Nahid Fire Temple situated in southern Fars province. Then it was shifted to the village of Haftador near Aqda. Later on, it was again taken to another village called Torkabad in Ardakan. The fire finally came to Yazd in 1325 from the cave of Eshgeft-e-Yazdan. Before the current Fire Temple was built, the fire was housed in Moubedan. But today, you can see it burning amidst the heart of the city in a well-known residential area of Yazd.
The Structure Itself
Unlike many other temples among various religions, you may be surprised by the appearance of the building here. As the good religion (Zoroastrianism) implies, the nature and soul of the matter is important, not the physical aspects of it. As mentioned earlier, the fire is the most important element here, not the architecture or decoration. Actually, it is a very simple structure.
On top of the facade of the temple, there is the emblem of Fravahar, symbolic of Ahura Mazda, the great God. Around that, you will see three phrases inscribed expressing good thought, good words, and good deed. This emblem is the same as it has been under Achaemenians. The proof to this statement is the relieves at Persepolis.
Fully Protected
While traveling in Iran, you will be greeted by many fantasies of nature, but none as well-taken care of as the fire of Varahram in Yazd. You will feel completely separated form the main room where the fire keeps burning and can only see it through the glass.
Special care has been taken to see that the fire is protected from sunlight, rain and wind throughout the year. It is kept in a special brass cup in a room above the ground floor. A pile of logs which are completely dry and apt for the purpose are kept ready at all times to keep the fire burning.
A Scene of Holiness
If you are fortunate enough, then you may get to see and hear the chanting of the priests in the Varahram Fire Temple. They cover their mouth with a piece of cloth when in front of the holy fire so that they do not defile it in any way. A portrait of Zoroaster hangs in this main room for the people to pay their reverence. Also there are several excerpts from Avesta, the holy scriptures of Zoroastrians placed on the walls and some translated into English for the visitors to read and get to know more about this ancient religion of Iranians.
by: Rahman Mehraby
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