Khalidmendi at 17:34, 15 September 2025

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A '''fire temple''', '''Agiary, Atash Kadeh''' ({{langx|fa|آتشکده}}), '''Atashgah''' ({{lang|fa|آتشگاه}}) or '''Dar-e Mehr''' ({{lang|fa|در مهر}}) is the place of worship for the followers of [[Zoroastrianism]], the ancient religion of [[Iran]] ([[Name of Iran|Persia]]).<ref>{{cite journal |last=Boyce |first=Mary|title=On the Zoroastrian Temple Cult of Fire|journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society|publisher=AOS/UMich. Press|location=Ann Arbor|volume=95|year=1975|pages=454–465|doi=10.2307/599356|jstor=599356|issue=3}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Citation|last=Boyce|first=Mary|title=Encyclopaedia Iranica|volume=6|pages=669–670|year=1993|chapter=Dar-e Mehr|chapter-url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/dar-e-mehr-a-zoroastrian-term-first-recorded-in-the-persian-rivayats-and-parsi-gujarati-writings|location=Costa Mesa|publisher=Mazda Pub}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Citation|last=Kotwal|first=Firoz M.|title=Some Observations on the History of the Parsi Dar-i Mihrs|journal=Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies|volume=37|issue=3|pages=665|year=1974|doi=10.1017/S0041977X00127557|s2cid=162207182 }}</ref> 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".{{Sfn|Boyce|1975|p=455}} For, one "who sacrifices unto fire with fuel in his hand ..., is given happiness".<ref>''[[Yasna]]'' 62.1; ''Nyashes'' 5.7</ref> There are about 177 odd fire temples in the world, of which some 150 are in India.<ref name="TOI_ParsisToCelebrateMilestone">{{cite news|last=Mathai|first=Kamini|date=12 July 2010|title=Parsis go all out to celebrate milestone in Chennai|newspaper=The Times of India|publisher=The Times Group|location=Chennai|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Parsis-go-all-out-to-celebrate-milestone-in-Chennai/articleshow/6156672.cms|access-date=24 Apr 2014}}</ref>

== List of Fire temples in India ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!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)|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).<ref name="Desai2007">{{cite book|author=Anjali H. Desai|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZRLGZNZEoEC&pg=PA129|title=India Guide Gujarat|publisher=India Guide Publications|year=2007|isbn=978-0-9789517-0-2|page=129}}</ref><ref name="SinghSingh2007">{{cite book|author1=Nagendra Kr Singh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J-doi9GWBJgC&pg=PA78|title=Encyclopaedia of Oriental Philosophy and Religion|author2=A. P. Mishra, Nagendra Kr Singh|publisher=Global Vision Publishing House|year=2007|isbn=978-81-8220-112-5|page=78}}</ref><ref name="Giara2002">{{cite book|author=Marzban Jamshedji Giara|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5X4RAQAAIAAJ|title=Global Directory of Zoroastrian Fire Temples|publisher=Marzban J. Giara|year=2002|pages=1, 200}}</ref><ref name="KamerkarDhunjisha2002">{{cite book|author1=Mani Kamerkar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kQRuAAAAMAAJ|title=From the Iranian Plateau to the shores of Gujarat: the story of Parsi settlements and absorption in India|author2=Soonu Dhunjisha|author3=K.R. Cama Oriental Institute|publisher=Allied Publishers|year=2002|isbn=978-81-7764-301-5|page=34}}</ref>
|-
|[[Banaji Limji Agiary]]
|[[Mumbai]]
| align="center" |[[File:Agiary.jpg|none|175x175px]]
|Banaji Limji Agiary is the oldest [[Zoroastrian]] [[fire temple]] (or ''agiary'', [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] for "house of fire") in [[Mumbai]], India that was constructed in 1709.<ref name="hindustantimes.com">{{Cite web|date=April 22, 2015|title=Banaji Limji Agiary, Mumbai's oldest fire temple, turns 306|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/banaji-limji-agiary-mumbai-s-oldest-fire-temple-turns-306/story-QDRVcVwteSjbAiOntitTQI.html|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> The fire was consecrated here by the Parsi businessman Seth Banaji Limji.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{Cite news|title=Banaji Limji Agiary: Mumbai's oldest, architectural landmark Banaji Limji Agiary completes 308 years | Mumbai News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbais-oldest-architectural-landmark-banaji-limji-agiary-completes-308-years/articleshow/58332408.cms|website=The Times of India|date=24 April 2017 }}</ref> The temple has a fortress-like structure and non-[[Parsis]] are not allowed to enter, as in all Zoroastrian temples.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Fire temple enters its 300th year | Mumbai News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Fire-temple-enters-its-300th-year/articleshow/2977335.cms|website=The Times of India|date=24 April 2008 }}</ref> The temple is a [[Heritage structures in Mumbai|Grade II heritage structure]].<ref>{{Cite web| title=Government decision: The accompanying government decision should be published in the Government Gazette by order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra | url=https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/Upload/Acts%20Rules/Marathi/25-06-019%20Notification%20UDD...sdfglkjl.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714112513/https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/Upload/Acts%20Rules/Marathi/25-06-019%20Notification%20UDD...sdfglkjl.pdf | archive-date=2022-07-14}}</ref> 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]]
| align="center" |[[File:Udwada_atash_behram.jpg|none|175x175px]]
|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 temple]]s (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]]
| align="center" |[[File:Maneckji_Sett_Agiary_entrance.jpg|none|175x175px]]
|Maneckji Seth Agiary is the second-oldest [[Zoroastrian]] [[fire temple]] (or ''agiary'', [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] for "house of fire") in [[Mumbai]], India that was constructed in 1735.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com"/> [[Banaji Limji Agiary]], established in 1709, is the oldest.<ref name="hindustantimes.com"/> As in all Zoroastrian temples, non-[[Parsis]] are not allowed to enter. The architecture of the building is a mix of [[Iranian architecture|Persian]] and [[Greek Revival]] styles, with two [[lamassus]] standing guard at the temple entrance.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hinnells|first=John R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MWnUfjzvwHoC&pg=PA92|title=The Zoroastrian Diaspora: Religion and Migration|date=April 28, 2005|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=9780191513503|via=Google Books}}</ref>
|-
|[[Parsi Fire Temple, Secunderabad|Parsi Fire Temple]]
|[[Secunderabad]]
| align="center" |[[File:Parsi-Fire-Temple-Secunderabad-India-2014.jpg|none|175x175px]]
|Parsi Fire Temple is a place of worship for the [[Parsi]]s in [[India]]. Located at [[MG Road, Secunderabad|MG Road]] in [[Secunderabad]], [[Telangana]], the temple is believed to have been consecrated in September 1847.<ref>{{citation|author=Dharmendra Prasad|title=Social and Cultural Geography of Hyderabad City: A Historical Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dDtuAAAAMAAJ&q=parsi+Temple+Secunderabad|page=86|year=1986|publisher=Inter-India Publications|isbn=8121000459}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|date=19 Aug 2013|title=The oldest fire temple in city|url=http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2013-08-19/The-oldest-fire-temple-in-city-69745|accessdate=11 Nov 2014}}</ref> The Parsi population in the twin cities of [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] and [[Secunderabad]] is the second largest in India outside [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{cite web|date=19 Aug 2008|title=Saal Mubarak|website=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/saal-mubarak/article1423079.ece|accessdate=11 Nov 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[Royapuram fire temple, Chennai|Royapuram fire temple]]
|[[Chennai]]
| align="center" |[[File:PARSI_TEMPLE_@_FIRE_TEMPLE,_Dar-e-Meher_-_panoramio.jpg|none|175x175px]]
|Jal Phiroj Clubwala Dar E Meher, popularly known as the Royapuram fire temple, is a [[Zoroastrianism|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 (union territory)|Puducherry]] and [[Kerala]].<ref name="Hindu_CenturyOldParsiTemple">{{cite news|last=Muthiah|first=S.|date=4 July 2010|title=Madras Miscellany: The century-old Parsi temple|newspaper=The Hindu|location=Chennai|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/madras-miscellany-the-centuryold-parsi-temple/article499975.ece|access-date=27 Apr 2014}}</ref> The flame in the temple is burning continuously ever since the temple was built and is stoked five times a day by the priest.<ref name="TOI_ParsisToCelebrateMilestone" />
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of fire temples in Iran]]
* [[Zoroastrianism in India]]
* [[Religions in India]]
* [[Religious tourism in India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Zoroastrianism}}

[[Category:Fire temples in India|*]]
[[Category:Lists of buildings and structures in India|Fire temples]]

List of fire temples in India - Revision history

Khalidmendi at 17:34, 15 September 2025