The Symbols of Light and Fire in the Zoroastrian Faith

Talk by Hootoksi Tyabji at the Lincoln International Women’s Friendship Group, Methodist Church Hall, Lincoln, UK, on 16th Jan. 1996

Thank you for inviting me to share my thoughts with you on the symbols of Light and fire in the Zoroastrian faith.

Zoroastrianism is the oldest prophetic and the first monotheistic religion in the world believing and worshiping the one God, Ahura Mazda. Our prophet Zarathustra lived between 1000-3000 BC in what is now Iran and his thoughts and ideas have helped shape the major Abrahamic religions including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Even before Zarathustra was born, fire was the center of Iranian religious rites. Fire protected the nomads from attack by beasts at night, it warmed them during the harsh winters, it cooked their food. Warmth from the sun, the great fire in the sky, gave life to the world. It also played a part in the legal system and the ordinary household fire was used to offer prayers to the Gods. As a source of warmth, as protector, judge and conveyor of light, fire was a natural religious symbol.

To this Zarathustra added the idea of fire as a symbol of righteousness.

There were no temples or books when Zarathustra preached, light served as a religious symbol and fire was a means to produce light. The songs of Zarathustra are incorporated into our Holy Book called The Gathas which are written in Gathic, the only extant work in that language – throughout the book references are made to fire. The cosmic fire of creation, the fire of Truth, the fire in Energy, fire symbolizing order beneficence, honesty, fairness and justice, the fire and energy of the sun and the immensely powerful symbolism of tending the fire of God, Ahura Mazda within us. From an incredibly young age we are taught to live our lives thinking good thoughts, speaking good words, and doing good deeds.

Zarathustra spoke of the constant struggle between Light and Darkness and used the metaphor of the light of wisdom banishing the darkness of ignorance.

In Zoroastrianism, fire represents the Fire of Thought in Ahura Mazda and in Man. It is this fire which can destroy the evil of lies and violence, thus protecting man from them. Physical fire is an emblem of the divine and most Zoroastrian homes have an oil lamp that burns night and day to remind one of Ahura Mazda and to help focus the mind while contemplating the Divine. Children are taught to find comfort and to give thanks before this light.

We worship in a Fire temple and we pray in front of a huge urn which contains a consecrated fire fed on sandal wood and tended constantly by priests.

Fire is a powerful symbol of Zoroastrianism and to some of us Ahura Mazda is Undefiled Light, the pure flame of fire. To others, it represents the life-giving protective Light of God, and to still others it is a reminder that we tend the flame within us which is God, living each day with good thoughts, good words and good deeds.