The vibrations of the Avestan prayers were felt in the surroundings of Sanjan creating a mystical aura all around. After a while … BANG! … Struck a huge bolt of lightning caressing the mother earth. What was that exactly??? ………….
After the fall of the empire in Iran, the Zoroastrians set sail to the mighty Hind. While in sail, the ships were confronted with a heavy storm. The Zoroastrians chanted their prayers of “Yatha” and took a vow to the mighty Bahram that if ever they set their foot on the friendly shores and salvaged their ancient scriptures, they would in token of their infinite gratitude set up an Atash Bahram (Fire of Victory) which will remain as an enduring symbol of the religion for the times to come. The storm had subsided. On arrival in Gujarat the thoughtful King of the kingdom, “Jadav Rana“, gave refuge to the Zoroastrians in his land where they could protect their realm and carry forward their lineage. The Zoroastrians accepted the conditions laid down by the King and founded the settlement of “Sanjan (Gujarat)”, which is said to have been named after the city of their origin “Sanjan”(Iran, present-day Turkmenistan), that they had left behind in Iran nearly 30 years earlier.
The plot of land allotted to the Zoroastrians had been a sterile desert, which became into a “Garden of Heaven” after their settlement. The time had come to fulfil the solemn pledge that they had made. The Zoroastrians approached the kind King and the head Dasturji Nariosang Dhawal exclaimed, “O Maharaja, you have given us a place in this kingdom. We now wish that in the land of Hind we should install our sacred Fire“. The king granted the permission to the Zoroastrians to establish a Fire Temple under his rule. He allotted a quiet land far from the local inhabitants to establish the Fire Temple. The king did no more than supplied the various articles for expediting the work of the Zoroastrians to kindle the Atash Bahram.
The work could not be commenced without the “Alats”. “Alats“ are instruments used to perform religious rituals. These included the Rakhiya (The Holy Ash) and Nirang (Cow’s Urine). Since our forefathers did not carry any “Alats” with them, a couple of them had to travel back to Iran via land because as per the ancient customs, “Alats” cannot be transported by sea. The striking part was that the “Alats” must necessarily be brought from an already existing Atash-Kadeh. The “Alats” for Pak Iranshah were brought from the Atash-Kadeh at Nishapur in Khorasan.
On having everything in place the religious sacred work of establishing the Atash Bahram had begun with a large number of pious Mobeds under the guidance of Dastur Nariosang Dhaval. As per the religious rites, a total of 16 fires are required for an Atash Bahram Fire to set up. All these fires need to pass through multiple purification stages. A total of 16 fires includes the following:
| 1. A burning corpse
2. Dyer 3. King or the ruling authority 4. Potter 5. Brick Maker 6. Ascetic 7. Goldsmith 8. Mint |
9. Ironsmith
10. Armourer 11. Baker 12. Brewer, Distiller or Idol Worshiper 13. Soldier or Traveller 14. Shepherd 15. Zoroastrian Dastur (High Priest) or Mobed (Priest) 16. Environmental Lightning |
The Mobeds started collecting all the fires. A total of 15 fires were collected and the purification process had already begun. The main challenge was yet to come, the fire from the Environmental Lightning in a non-rainy day!
Arrangements were made for a miraculous action. Dastur Nariosang Dhaval and other highly skilled Mobeds were engaged in the act. It was for 9 days that Dasturji Dhaval had to get engaged in prayers for preparing himself for the spiritual act. On the final day after the rituals were completed, he placed 9 logs of sandalwood on a stone platform in an open place, fixed his eyes on a certain portion in the sky and started reciting the Mantras. Four other Mobeds placed themselves in four directions around the platform reciting the Avesta. All the sounds together was in tune with the natural elements of the earth and the vibrancy was felt till a distance. By the splendid vibrations of prayers and the effect of religious rituals, the environment became supernatural, the sky became overcast with dark clouds, the sun disappeared. The prayers continued. Finally when the ritual had reached completion and as a result of the spiritual vibrations a great shaft of lightning flashed across the sky, piercing the darkness and filling the entire universe with light. From the spot where Dasturji Nairyosang Dhaval had fixed his gaze a shining ball full of light came out and as he shifted his gaze, it moved along as if pulled by his gaze and approached him and fell on the logs of sandalwood, igniting them immediately. Dasturji Nairyosang Dhaval and the Anjuman assembled there most solemnly and with great devotion bowed before The Heavenly Fire and paid homage to the glowing element of Mother Nature. The fire was collected and the religious rites were performed as per the directives of the religion.
All the 16 fires were brought together on the 9th Roz Adar Yazad of the 9th month Adar Yazad, in the 90th year after Shah Yazdezard Sheheryar, the enthronement of the greatest among all Atash-Kadehs was done. A large number of Zoroastrians had gathered and Dasturji Dhaval in everyones presence had performed the first Boi ceremony.
Dasturji Nairyosang Dhaval declared that since we have lost our Shahenshah and have no Iranian Shah of our own, the entire community should consider this sacred Atash Behram as our “King” and that this glowing kebla will always be known as “Iranshah”. Its attraction will always pull us towards Iran’s greatest Prophet Asho Zarathushtra and his splendid religion with faith and will always remind us of our Motherland Iran and our famed Iranian Shahs.
This is how his reign began and the “King of Iran” was enthroned in the land of the mighty Hind in the year 721 AD and is still glowing bright and warm in the Atash Bahram at Udvada.
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References: Parsika volume 1 by Noshir Daboo; Extracts from History Of Holy Iranshah by Shapurji Kavasji Hodiwala; The history of the Holy Fire Iranshah by Ervad Faramroze Phiroz Mirza; Iranshah by Curset M Patel.
The "Bawa" Guy 