Pak Iranshah

Zoroastrianism is the oldest organised religion and Zoroastrians (or Parsis and Iranis as we know them in India) are fire worshipers. Fire being the son of God (Mazda).

The Zoroastrian empire is known to be the second largest empire (after the British empire) in history. When the Arabs forced conversion and drove the Zoroastrians out of Persia they came in small boat loads to India and landed in a place in Gujarat called Sanjan in 936 AD. The Hindu king Jadhav Rana gave the Zoroastrians shelter and free land to build their fire temple along with complete religious freedom. Something Zoroastrians continue to enjoy till date even in modern India. 

Zoroastrian priests from that small group then went back to Iran on foot and gathered all the ingredients required to set up a holy fire and a fire temple which they did in Sanjan. The holy fire was later moved to another place called Udvada. Today centuries later this fire still burns in the holiest of holy fire temples (Atash Behram) in Udvada without once being extinguished in all these years. This holy fire is called Pak Iranshah.

Udvada is a small town approx. 200 kms away from Mumbai and has been declared a heritage site by the government of India. Every year hundreds of Zoroastrians visit Udvada to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Pak Iranshah.

Since the time this motley group of a boat load of Zoroastrians came to India in 936 AD, Parsis (and Iranis who followed later) have grown and prospered in India. Today there are less than 100,000 Zoroastrians in the world with the majority still living and prospering mainly in the city of Mumbai.

Had it not been for the Hindu king Jadhav Rana who gave asylum to that small group of Zoroastrians centuries ago today there probably would be no religion called Zoroastrianism. Had it not been for India and the religious tolerance shown towards the Parsis for centuries by other communities in India, Parsis and Zoroastrianism would never have grown and flourished the way it did.

As Zoroastrians we offer our thanks to Pak Iranshah for the countless blessings bestowed on us and also our gratitude to India and the people of India for their love and support.

Pak Iranshah ni madad hojo ji.

Entrance to Pak Iranshah Atash Behram 

The main Atash Behram building

The majestic Godhas (winged bulls) at the entrance

A typical Parsi home in Udvada

A Zorostrian priest offering wood to the holy fire (this is NOT the Iran Shah)

Udvada Town - The sleepy hamlet