History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

210 HATSTORYV OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. v.

forms of worship, and to destroy the idols worshipped in the bordering countries. Xerxes, the immediate successor of Gushtasp, was filled with such hatred of idolatry that he destroyed all the Grecian temples dedicated to the gods.

The charge of worshipping fire, sun, water, and air has, however, been brought against the Parsis by those imperfectly acquainted with the Zoroastrian faith, and consequently unable to form a just opinion. The Parsis repel these charges with indignation. Ask any Parsi whether he is a worshipper of the sun or fire, and he will emphatically answer—No! This

declaration itself, coming from one whose own religion is Zoroastrianism, ought to be sufficient to satisfy the most sceptical. God, according to Parsi faith, is the emblem of glory, refulgence, and light, and in this view, a Parsi, while engaged in prayer, is directed to stand before the fire, or to turn his face towards the sun, because they appear to be the most proper symbols of the Almighty.

1 In Bombay at the present day there are three Atash-Behrams or chief fire-temples for public worship. The first was built in the year 1783 by Dadibhai Nasarvanji Dadiseth. The second was built by the sons of Hormasji Bamanji Wadia in 1830, and the third was built in the year 1845 at the joint expense of Framji Kavasji Banaji, Kharshedji Kavasji Banaji, and Dadabhai Rastamji Banaji. There is one Atash-Behram at Navsari, and there are two at Surat, and one, the oldest of all, at Udvada. Fire-temples next in grade to the AtashBehram are called Atash-Adarans, of which more than a hundred exist in different cities of India. Fire-temples are open day and night for the offering up of prayers. Parsis can pray there at any hour by themselves.