History

Following the Muslim conquest of most of Greater Iran in the 7th century, Zoroastrians gradually became a marginalized community, and by about the 10th century, the formerly Zoroastrian-held territories had become largely Islamic. One group of Zoroastrians fled from Greater Khorasan to the west coast of India in order to preserve their religious customs and beliefs. Upon landing, the refugees founded the settlement of Sanjan, which lies about 30  km south of Udvada.

According to the same legend, on their journey, the Zoroastrians had carried ash from a sacred fire, which a priest is said to have then used for the bed of the Sanjan fire when it was consecrated. A related legend recounts that this fire was consecrated as Atash Bahram fires traditionally are, that is, out of 16 fires, including that of a funeral pyre, a shepherd's hearth, a goldsmith's hearth, a potter's kiln and from a fire caused by lightning.^[1]

Some centuries after their arrival (probably in the late 14th century), Sanjan was attacked by troops of the Delhi Sultanate (possibly those of Muhammad bin Tughluq^[2]) and the Parsis fled again, into caves in the nearby Barhot hills, 14 km south of Sanjan. The sacred fire went with them. Several years later it was installed in Navsari. In the 18th century, a decision was made to return the flame to Sanjan, but along the way, the priests preferred to remain in Udvada, where the fire temple was consecrated in 1742. ^[3]

The first recorded use of the name in reference to the fire there appears in a 1905 work by Jivanji Jamshedji Modi, who made several allusions to the "Iranshah Fire" within the space of two pages. In 1920, when Shahpurshah Hodivala published his English language translation of the Qissa-i Sanjan, he assumed that this was the original name of the fire. It had been so-called because it was consecrated to be the earthly representative of Yazdegerd III, the last Zoroastrian king of Iran, this explanation is accepted by almost all devout Parsis, and even the few sceptics among them tend to refer to the fire as the Iranshah.

In 1998, Sarosh Bana, executive editor with Business India, approached the then Gujarat government to declare Udvada village a ‘Heritage Precinct’. Bana organised a pictorial and architectural assessment of the village and set up a pilgrimage boarding facility and a museum showcasing the history of the Parsis and Udvada. The museum is now OPEN FOR PUBLIC.^[1]

Today

Ceremonial anniversary celebrations are held at the Atash Behram on the day of its founding. The ceremonies in Udvada are held on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Shahenshahi (imperial) version of the Zoroastrian calendar (which, in 2020, was on 21 April). Pilgrims from all over the world visit the temple on that day. Special ceremonies are also held on the 20th day of each month. In the Zoroastrian calendar, that day is dedicated to the divinity Verethragna (Avestan, Middle Persian Waharam, hence Behram), hypostasis of victory.

According to tradition and later as a result of the legal verdict, nine priestly families of Sanjan and their heirs are the sole lawful guardians of the fire and its temple. They alone have the right to enjoy their income. The position of high priest passes in turn from the head of one family to the head of another.^[5]

Major renovations are being made in Udvada Atash Behram by a renowned construction company Shapoorji Pallonji since December 2018. It was due for a major internal renovation. It was a major concern for the Parsi community for it holds great value in creating the community of Parsis in India.