Today’s The World Around Us will be presented in Persian, with subtitles in Arabic, Aulacese (Vietnamese), Chinese, English, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Thai.

Greetings, illuminated viewers, and welcome to The World around Us on Supreme Master Television. On today’s show, we will visit sacred sites of Zoroastrianism in Iran, including legendary fire temples, sacred mountains, and a world’s unique Zoroastrian museum.

The Persian Empire was one of the greatest empires of the ancient world. During the rule of Sassanian dynasty from the years 224 to 651, Zoroastrianism was a widely observed religion. In fact, Zoroastrianism once reached from Rome and Greece all the way to India and Russia.

The founding Master of the faith was Zoroaster. He tried to awaken his people to a positive outlook to life, a life of righteousness, compassion and remembrance of the one highest God of all creation. Thus, the message he preached became known as the Religion of Good Conscience, or the Good Religion.

In Zoroastrian belief, fire is a symbol of the original light of God. Prayer often takes place in front of a fire. In major temples, holy fires can be seen kindling continuously, never to be extinguished. Today, in Iran, there are about 50 Zoroastrian fire temples remaining. In its early stage, the family’s house hearth lit by the fire was used as a place of worship.

Around the 4th century BC, communal temples began to be constructed in villages and cities. The buildings were built generally square-shaped, with four massive pillars carrying round arches and a dome in the center. In the temples, another symbol of Ahura Mazda can be found: the winged disc. Well before this time, on the remote high mountains, there had been previous places that were considered sacred.

The Zoroastrians later adopted them as natural shrines, with no temples, statue, or altars. After centuries of use, simple temples were built. Outnumbering the city and village fire temples, these peaceful mountain shrines have since become the focus of Zoroastrian pilgrimages.

This is Yazd in central Iran. This city in the mountainous region is the most important yearly shrine pilgrimage area. Six holy shrines are there to receive sincere pilgrims such as Pir-e-Herisht, Pir-e-Banou, Pir-e -Narestane, Pir-e-Naraki. Communal yearly pilgrimages are believed to yield the greatest religious benefit.

Pilgrimage ceremonies generally last for five days at the shrines. This is also an opportunity for music and dancing. The temple of Pir-e-Sabz, or Chak Chak, is the most visited holy shrine. Each year, from June 14 to 18, thousands of Zoroastrians from Iran, India, and other countries flock to the temple.

Tradition has it that pilgrims are to stop the moment they see the shrine, and continue the rest of the journey on foot. Below the shrine, pavilions have been constructed on the cliffs to accommodate the pilgrims. During this January, a renovation work has been done to build a ceiling and strengthen the shrine columns.

“Chak Chak” refers to an ever dripping holy spring issuing from the towering cliff. The most popular legend of the shrine’s origin is that Nikbanou, second daughter of the pre-Islamic Persian ruler, the Sassanian Emperor Yazdegerd III, had to flee from foreign soldiers at the time. When she approached the mountain, she prayed to Ahura Mazda, the supreme God, for deliverance.

In response to her prayer, the mountain opened up and sheltered her from the soldiers. Beside the holy spring, there grows an immense and ancient tree. It is believed that the tree is Nikbanou’s cane. The tears shed by the mountain for Nikbanou became the spring water, and a petrified colorful cloth from her was visible in the rocks.

Chak Chak is man-made grotto, featuring two large bronze doors, a marble floor, and walls darkened by eternally burning fires in the sanctuary. Fire is perceived as a holy being that comes to assist humans. It is also used to invoke truth in the believer. When praying, believers face towards a fire, or the sun or the moon, which are regarded as heavenly fires representing Ahura Mazda Himself.

Local people say that historical treasures have been unearthed by residents as well as foreign passengers. Coins, pieces of jewels, and crafts, for example, have been found around these pilgrimage places. It was believed that Yazdgerd or other Sassanian nobles, having to depart quickly from harm, had to bury their heavy treasures wherever they could.

The origin of these mountain shrines are said to be related to Anahita, the goddess of water, rain, rivers, love, motherhood and birth. During historical times, the climate was wetter, and the waterfalls of Pir-e-Sabz may have been more active.

Nowadays, however, there are only small amounts of underground water or narrow intermittent streams. In such dry environments, water is precious and praiseworthy; springs, waterfalls, and rivers are connected to goddess Anahita and accredited to her.

It is also believed that these mountain shrines were a chain of stations for ancient Zoroastrians to migrate to India after the year 1100. Zoroastrians all over the Persian Empire, from Azerbaijan and Aran, to Susiana,) and from the Alborz to the Zagros Mountains moved east. They went through the mountainous areas of Aghda, Ardakan and Yazd, where it was safe and food and water were available.

When we return, we will continue to explore the Zoroastrian sacred mountains and visit an anthropological museum in Iran. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television.

Welcome back to The World Around Us on Supreme Master Television. Let’s continue our exploration towards Zoroastrian sacred mountains in Iran. In Avesta, the holy scripture of Zoroastrianism, some sacred mountains are mentioned, the Zamyad Yasht and Pahlavi Bundahishn.

There is also Mount Ushi-darena, which means “Support of Divine Consciousness” or “Sustainer of Divine Wisdom.” This is the mountain where Zoroaster attained illumination and was imparted Divine knowledge by Ahura Mazda. Zoroaster was an ancient prophet, philosopher and religious poet. He was believed to have lived many centuries ago, although the exact year is unknown.

When he was born, wonderful signs in the sky and other marvels occurred. He did not cry like a normal child, but made a delightful sound of laughter. As a young boy, he had magical powers and spoke and behaved with precocious wisdom. In his youth, Zoroaster left to seek enlightenment, meditating alone in the deep mountains.

Some time later, still a young man, he experienced the first of seven inner visions. In these visions, Vohu Manah, an angel-like being, appeared and guided him to meet the Creator, Ahura Mazda. Ahura Mazda imparted to the holy one Divine knowledge, which were recorded in the Gathas of the Avesta.

As the enlightened Master taught, the Zoroastrian way encourages three fundamental principles of good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. Zoroaster also lived for a number of years practicing solitary meditation in Mt. Asnavant, now known as Mount Ushenai. It is referred to as the seat of Adar Gushasp, or the Sacred Fire. It is in the Azerbaijan region near the lake of Chaechasta, which is also known as Urumiah.

Mount Ushenai is believed to be able to illuminate and purify people’s minds. After meditating here, Zoroaster was prepared and empowered to set out into the world as an enlightened Master.

Next, let us go to Mount Alborz, or Mount Har-Berezaiti. This mountain is known for having a special path that leads to another dimension. This path is called the “Bridge of Moral Discrimination,” and is believed to connect Mount Alborz to the mountain, Chakad-e-Daitik.

Mount Alborz is also associated with a saintly king, Yima Vivanghvant, who was on the mountain when he was invested to become a prophet by the grace of Ahura Mazda. The Alborz Mountain range is about 1500 km long. Located in northern Iran and extending from west to east of the country, it is a natural barrier between the Caspian Sea and the central plateau of Iran.

It is carpeted by forests on the northern slopes near the Caspian Sea. With heavy snowfall in winters, Mount Alborz has some of the world’s most popular ski terrains, which attract many skiers yearly.

Our final destination is Kerman Zoroastrian Museum and the Fire Temple, the sole anthropology museum of Zoroastrians in the world. It was established in 1983 by Parviz Vakhashouri, head of the Kerman’s Zoroastrian Society, and Mehran Gheibi, the head of the Society’s library.

Collecting cultural heritage artifacts of Kerman’s Zoroastrian community and many other added objects, this museum showcases the ancient history of Zoroastrians. It is now considered an important place that displays the culture of ancient Iran.

The museum was designed in the 1990s and finally officially inaugurated in 2005 by Iran’s Cultural, Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization during Jashn-e Tirgan, an ancient Iranian rain festival. Two of the items of the museum are a hand-written volume of Gathas in Gothic, an archaic Germanic language script, dating to over 200 years ago, and a handmade fire brazier that is centuries old. The section for photographs and documents shows valuable pictures of the Zoroastrian Society of Kerman and Rafsanjan.

Every year during Nowruz, the New Year in Iran with roots in Zoroastrianism, Kermani youths guide visitors to the fire temple and museum. Thanks in part to their efforts, the Kerman Zoroastrian Museum and the Fire Temple are the most popular sightseeing places of Kerman, especially during the festive time of Nowruz.

May the sacred sites of Zoroastrianism in Iran continue to inspire awe in the ancient sages’ search for the Truth and the light and wisdom of Ahura Mazda that answered their quest.

Thank you for joining us for The World around Us on Supreme Master Television. Words of Wisdom is up next after Noteworthy News. May your Divine Inner Light be rekindled and shining each day.

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