A warm Welcome to ADAR YAZAD
By Er. Dr. Ramiyar P. Karanjia
(Published in Jame Jamshed dated 17th April 2011)
The ninth day of the month and the ninth month of the year in the Parsi calendar is
dedicated to Adar Yazad. For all those who are numerically inclined, Adar is the only
Yazad who enjoys the same position – ninth - in the list of the roj and the mah.
The word Adar means fire. It is another word for atar. As the name suggests Adar yazad
presides over all types of fire and fire energies. It is a Hamkar (co-worker) of Ardibahesht
Ameshaspand.
The second grade of fire, which we refer to as Adaran, is dedicated to Adar Yazad. That
is the reason why sometimes Agyaris are also called Adarans.
There is no Yasht dedicated to Adar Yazad. Atash Nyaishna which is dedicated to fire, is
also dedicated to Adar Yazad. The Athro Ahurahe Mazda puthra paragraph in Atash
nyaishna is a dedication to Adar yazad.
The Athro ahurahe mazda puthra paragraph gives us information about six different types
of fires. In this paragraph the words athro ahurahe mazdao puthra occurs six times, and
every time this phrase comes one special fire is remembered.
Though in neither of the six occurrences, the actual name of the fire is not mentioned, the
names of kings, Divine Energies (Khvarenangh) and geographical locations associated
with the fire are mentioned, from which we come to know about the identity of the fire.
We also get to know the identity of the Fires from the Pahlavi translation of Atash
Nyaishna.
The first time the phrase Athro Ahurahe Mazdao puthra comes, the reference is to fire
Berezisavangh. This is the fire (energy) of Ahura Mazda, which permeates the entire
universe.
The 2nd time the phrase Athro Ahurahe Mazdao puthra comes, the reference is to fire
Farnbagh, also referred to as Adar Khordad (Khvar-dad) “giver of Divine Energy.” This
is the fire of the priestly class, established by King Jamshed on Mt. Khvarrehomand.
With the help of this fire, the Iranian Glory was furthered by King Jamshed when he
effected the threefold furthering of Iranian countries. It is also this fire which saved the
divine energy of King Jamshed from going into the hands of the evil Zohak.
The 3rd time the phrase Athro Ahurahe Mazdao puthra comes, the reference is to fire
Gushasp. It is the fire of the warrior class. It was with the help of this fire that King Kae
Khushru (kavoish haosravanghae), the third king of the Kayanian dynasty, was able to
get the crown and overcome the evils ones. Varoish haosravangh (Lake Husrav) and
varoish chaechishta (Lake Chaechasht) and Mt. Asnavant are mentioned in this
paragraph, as this fire was enthroned in their vicinity.
The word Gushasp means “ear of the horse” When a king was to be selected between
Fariburzand and Kae Khushru, this fire guided Kae Khushru by sitting near the ear of the
horse and helping him win the fortress of Bahman Dez.
Later, this fire was established nearby on Mt. Asnavant by Kae Khushru, who regularly
visited it and stayed in a palace close to it. When he eventually killed Afrasiyab, he was
staying in this palace. Later King Lohrasp enthroned it in the Navbahar AtashBehram.
Queen Homai after abdicating her throne in favour of her son Darab went to this fire.
This fire was burning in the time of Ardeshir Papakan. It was considered the most
important fire by Emperor Khushro II (Nosherwan Adel), who went there to pay homage
immediately after his war with Roman Emperor Justinian.
The fourth time the phrase Athro Ahurahe Mazdao puthra comes, the reference is to fire
Burzin-Meher, Its function is the profession of agriculturists. It was brought by prophet
Zarathushtra to king Vishtaspa to bring confidence in the king about his divine mission. It
is seen in the hands of prophet Zarathushtra in some of his paintings.
Later it was established by King Vishtasp on Mt. Raevant. in a specially built Atash
kadeh. This fire helped him in his war against king Arjasp.
Firdausi uses the following words to describe this fire:
Ke bi khāko ābesh bar āvarde ham, negeh kun bud otash chun kardeh ham,
Ke ān meherburzin bi dud bud, munavvar ne az hizmo as ud dud
“This fire was made without fuel and water, this fire of Meher Burzin s without fumes , it
does not require fuel or incense.”
The fifth time the phrase Athro Ahurahe Mazdao puthra comes, the reference is to all
consecrated physically burning fires. Here fire is referred to as a beneficent warrior, and
Adar Yazad is referred to as a giver of Divine Energy and Health.
The sixth and the last time the phrase Athro Ahurahe Mazdao puthra is recited, the
reference is to all fires connected with Nairyosangh Yazata, who bring divine messages,
guidance and intuition. As Sarosh Yazad ia also the bringer of divine messages, it is
connected with him too.
Three of the most important fires – Adar Khordad, Adar Gushasp and Adar Burzin
Meher, mentioned first indirectly in the paragraph of Athro ahurahe mazdao in the Atash
Nyaishn, and then directly at the end of the Nyaishna, are fires created by Ahura Mazda
during the creation of the world for protecting mankind.
These divine fires took the form of Khoreh (Energy) and came into this world. Even
today, we remember these fires when we pray the Atash Nyaishna, and we pray that the
glory of these fires keep on increasing. This clearly shows that these spiritual fires are
beyond the physical form. They look after and protect the world. These three Fires,
mentioned together at several places, helped several Iranian kings an heroes
When Adar roz and Adar Mah coincides it is a very auspicious day for fires. We may
even consider this day as the birthday of fires. The day prior to this (roj Daepadar) is
regarded as the birthday of all hearths and hearth fires, and that is why many Parsi homes
decorate their cooking places with vermillion and turmeric paste and draw the Afarganyu,
chipyo and chamach over there.
On the auspicious day Adar mahino adar roj several sacred fires were consecrated. The
most important fire for all us Zoroastrians – the sacred Iranshah - also celebrates its
1291st birthday on this auspicious day. May we always make ourselves worthy to aspire
for the blessings and protection from our sacred Iranshah.