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Parsi Fire Temple is a place of worship for the
Parsi Fire Temple is a place of worship for the Parsi
Parsis () or Parsees are an ethnoreligious group of the Indian subcontinent adhering to Zoroastrianism. They are descended from Persians who migrated to Medieval India during and after the Arab conquest of Iran (part of the early Muslim conq ...
s in India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. Located at MG Road in Secunderabad
Secunderabad, also spelled as Sikandarabad (, ), is a twin cities, twin city of Hyderabad and one of the six zones of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Telangana. It ...
, Telangana
Telangana (; , ) is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated on the south-central stretch of the Indian subcontinent, Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India b ...
, the temple is believed to have been consecrated in September 1847. The temple was built by two brothers and traders, Pestonji Meherji and Viccaji Meherji, who had settled down in Secunderabad. In addition to the temple, the compound also has residential and commercial buildings. The Parsi population in the twin cities of Hyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part ...
and Secunderabad
Secunderabad, also spelled as Sikandarabad (, ), is a twin cities, twin city of Hyderabad and one of the six zones of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Telangana. It ...
is the second largest in India outside Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
.
History
Variously called as Dar-e-Mihr, Aatish Kadah and Aagiyari, all of which mean "Fire Temple", the temple in Secunderabad was the first fire temple built in the Nizam's dominion by two Parsi brothers, Seth Viccaji Meherji and Seth Pestonji Meherji, in 1847. The facade is topped by an image of Asho Faravahar (meaning "Righteous Spirit"). Underneath the Asho Faravahar is a sign in Gujarati letters reflecting the deep impact of Gujarati on Parsi culture. The sign in Gujarati reads "Humata, Hukta, Hvarshta", which translate as "Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds." Like other Parsi temples elsewhere, this building also has a verandah where the worshippers assemble for ritual washing of the exposed body parts before entering a spacious hall meant for Jashan and other prayers. In the heart of the building are twin rooms, one in the center and the other under the vaulted dome called Qibla, where the sacred fire is enthroned in a steel container 'Afargan' mounted on a platform. A bark-free dried wood lights the fire. Remarkably, the fire lit in 1847 remains uninterrupted till date. Only the Parsi clergy is allowed inside the Qibla. The Parsi act of worship is also called as Namaz, similar to the Muslims'.See also
* List of fire temples in IndiaReferences
External links
{{Commons category, Parsi Fire Temple, Secunderabad Heritage structures in Hyderabad, India Religious buildings and structures completed in 1847 Parsi culture Fire temples in India 1847 establishments in British India