I bless this sacrifice and invocation, and the good offering, the beneficent offering, the offering of assistance offered unto thee, O fire, son of Ahura Mazda, we wish your mighty and powerful Fire, which is taught through Asha, to be a manifest help to the ally (Atash Niyayesh/Litany to the Fire)
Zoroastrians believe that Azar, Atar, or Atash is a symbol of Asha, the truth and purity of Ahura Mazda. Fire is the only substance that is never contaminated. It moves upwards all the time. It burns itself and gives warmth and light to the others.
Fire is a spiritual element that vitalizes the other materials, such as water, wind (air), and earth. Fire is so pure and heavenly that it is considered and valued as a kind of thought and wisdom. Pure fire and light are the religious symbol and sign of Zoroastrians. Zoroastrians turn towards a source of light when they worship Ahura Mazda.
Azargan Festival or Azar Festival is one of the monthly festivals of Zoroastrianism. Azargan is celebrated on Azar day in Azar month (November, 24th) which is Azar the third according to the Iranian Hijri Calendar. Celebration of religious culture is always dynamic, which includes growth and development. Anything that provides happiness, survival, and human satisfaction has a special place in Zoroastrianism.
In an interview with Mobed Dr. Mehrban Pouladi, doctor of ancient culture and languages, and deputy director of The Council of Iranian Mobeds of Tehran, we talked about the importance of the festivals, especially the Azargan Festival, which is presented below:
Fire: A Symbol of Purity and Virtuous
The world is greater than we ever imagined. The universe is greater than human thought and assumption, and the creator of this universe must be greater than imagination, and the one that is greater than the universe does not fit into any imagination and cannot be described.
Ashu Zarathushtra Spitama believes that greatness and uniqueness belong to Ahura Mazda and considers him to be the only creator and almighty God. But the final question is how to achieve the correct identification and cognition in this universe.
One way is to worship the fire of life, which is equated with the power of life in Avesta. An important point in the Avesta is that every human being should keep the fire of life with the purest and brightest materials at any time and every day, because fire is a sign and symbol of purity in the human spirituality, whenever they want to light a flame, they must use scented dry wood which burns smokeless. Ashu Zarathushtra Spitama believes that greatness and uniqueness belong to Ahura Mazda and considers him to the only creator and almighty God. But the final question is how to achieve the correct identification and cognition in this universe.
In other words, they light the fire of life every day with vigilance and illuminate and establish the light of purity.
What you have read above is a part of the conversation with the Mobed Dr. Mehraban Pouladi entitled ‘Fire; The Pure Nature of Ahuramazda’, which is published in the latest issue of Amordad.
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