Wadia’s sacred wish

Along with Dastur (Dr) Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa and Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza, the boiwallas of the H. B. Wadia Atas Bahram jointly performed a jashan to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the fire-temple.

Speaking on the significance of the sacred fire, the different grades of fire and the consecration ceremonies in­volved, Mirza invoked the blessings of the fire on the community and the nation, mentions a write-up. The chairman of the trust Sir Jamsetji Jejeebhoy was also present on the occasion.

The recent renovation and repair of the Atas Bahram was completed due to the painstaking efforts of the architects Zarir and Jamshed Sethna, engineers Pervez and Adil Kakalia, and paint­ing work by Fali Davar, acknowledged Trust secretary Tehmurasp Kotwal. All of them were felicitated by trustee Keti Mehta.

The fire-temple was consecrated on roz Srosh, mah Ardibe­hesht, November 17, 1830 with Dastur Edulji Darabji Rustomji Sanjana performing ceremonies and offering the first boi prayers, it was related in Marzban Giara’s Global Directory of Zoroastrian Fire Temples. Among the 16 sources of fire used to consecrate an atash behram is a fire from lightning which in this case was specially brought from Calcutta. As witnessed by two Zoroastrians on June 15, 1828, a bolt of lightning struck a tad palm tree in Calcutta. The resulting fire was taken and ritually tended by a priest in the home of Meherwanji Limji until it was brought to Bombay to be amalgamated with the other fires.

Inscribed on the tablet were the sentiments that led to the foundation of the temple: "We have enthroned in the city of Bombay the ancient holy fire — atas bahram — which is the guardian of the people of the Zoroastrian faith. The late Seth Hormasji Bamanji Wadia had desired to install this atash bahram. But since he did not survive to fulfil his wish, the sacred task was undertaken by his wife Mithibai and his sons Bamanji, Rustom­ji and Ardeshir. With all the efforts and zeal they have ful­filled the wishes of their departed father and have enthroned the holy fire on this day to perpetuate his memory.”

With fluted columns, crenellated verandah and bull capi­tals, the Wadia Atas Bahram building is considered a fusion of Indo-Iranian architecture, writes Giara.