________________
Zoroastrian Religion
113
(2)
we make use of should be kept neat and tidy, because this Dharma believes that the man who uses unclean things is not a holy man. Hence this religion gives the following commandments :- . (1) Many perished objects are found on the ground, do not.
move about there. Do not throw into the waters bones, hair, dead animals, meat, etc. One should not use dirty water of a deep, dark well. Only because of this insistence on cleanliness, that the Parsis niether burn nor bury their dead bodies or corpses, and they allow the carnivorous birds to eat those corpses. Perhaps there also lies in this custom the ideal of doing
good even after death. The Holy Fire (Atash) and Agni-temples
In the Zoroastrian religion Fire as a symbol of Ahurmazad has an extremely important place. “I invite, O’Atash (fire) thou and all other fires which sanctify all the things.” The supreme top-most elements in nature have been accepted as symbols of God. Light and Fire are such elements, which can remind us of the exact images of God in beauty, purity and holiness. People request the acquisition of happiness, longevity, wisdom, energy, wealthiness etc. from God of Fire. The fire is not simply a physical object, but it represents divine power and man's highest spiritual power. Fire always remains pure, and it burns to ashes all impure things and destory them. One who throws without reason, an unholy and dirty thing in it is worthy of punishment.
There are 3 kinds of 'Agiyaris' or temples of God of Fire :- (1) Ātash Behrām (2) Atas Ādarān (3) Ātas Dādgāh - the best temple of these is Atash Behram. For litting that divine fire, different kinds of Ātas or fire such as Ātas of one's own
