Nawazish Godrej Nanji

Giving Architecture to Fire: 'atash Behram', a Persian Fire Temple Nawazish Godrej Nanji

For centuries, fire has been a sacred symbol to different cultures. It represents a great essence in our daily lives as an energy source with its warmth, light and aura, kindling feelings of truth and spirituality within us. Zoroaster, who venerated fire, led mankind to believe that there is one supreme lord that we may follow; a being that can only be known by the quest for truth. For Zoroaster, fire symbolised truth as it brought people together in prayer. In time, fire was consecrated in different orders with the higher ones being placed within covered buildings for protection. These buildings became temples of fire or Fire Temples, where an eternal flame was kept and looked after by a priest so as to keep alive the salvation of humankind and continue our journey towards righteousness. With this, faith stayed alive as long as the Fire burned. Herein lies my celebration of fire where I announce it to the follower on the path to truth as an eternal flame burning, yet resting in a place worthy of all its glory; an ambience created to venerate the flame and reassure the traveller that its light has more to offer than meets the eye.