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"Fire holds a central position in the Zoroastrian religion. Fire is seen as a living, breathing embodiment of the supreme divine and hence not only a worthy representative of God but also a powerful link between the material and spiritual worlds. In Zoroastrian religion, the word fire denotes much more than the physical burning fires. It also denotes all forms of energies. Fire worship existed in Iran and in India,” stated Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, high priest of Udvada at the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute (KRCOI) on July 26, 2013.

 

 

 

"There are five types of fire created by Ahura Mazda — Barezi-Savangh — the ultimate purpose; Frayan — present in humans and animals; Urvazisht — present in plants; Vazisht as in lightning and Spenisht, the universal fire, as in flames.
"Fire temples in India are of three grades, based mainly on the sanctity of the sacred fire. The highest is the atash behram fire, collected from 16 different sources with about 15,000 hours of consecration rituals. The second grade of fire is the atash adaran collected from four different sources and consecration rituals lasting about 50 hours. The third grade of fire is atash dadgah, made from a simple household fire, with consecration rituals lasting about five to 10 hours.”
Stating, "Udvada is the holiest place for Parsis in the world,” Dastoor spoke about how the sacred fire was shifted from Sanjan to the Bahrot Caves, Vansda, Navsari, Surat, back to Navsari, Valsad and finally Udvada on October 28, 1742 (mah and roz Adar 90 AY).
The fire has burnt constantly for 271 years in Udvada with a total 45 atash ni niyaeshes being prayed over it in a day in the five gahs (Havan — 11; Rapithvan and Uziran — seven each; Aiwishuthrem — nine and Ushahin — 11), remarked Dastoor. This comes to about 44,70,550 niyaeshes to date. The fire has been in existence in India for 1,290 years of the 1,383 years we have made India our home, he claimed.
"In Navsari, there was an understanding that whilst only the original priests from Sanjan would tend the holy fire, the Navsari priests would perform all other religious ceremonies. This arrangement lasted for a long time, but when quarrels arose with local priests it was decided to shift the (fire) within the Sanjan jurisdiction…,”said Dastoor. "The nine families, who tend to and are the keepers of Iranshah, are the descendants of pious Khurshed Kamdin, Nagan Ram and Janyan Sayer. The families are:  Bhajina (forbearers of the Magols), Dastur, Katila, Mirza, Patel, Sidhwa, Andhyarujina, Bhadha and Unwala. Each of these has the right to serve the Iranshah for a month. They work under the leadership and guidance of two high priests — Dastoor and Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza. The Udvada Athornan Anjuman is the custodian and guardian of this sacred fire.”
Benefactors such as Seth Minocher Bahman of Nargol, Seth Bhicaji Edulji of Surat, Seth Jamshedji Guzder made extensions and renovations to the Udvada building to cater to the ever growing number of worshippers. "Finally, in 1894 philanthropist Bai Motlibai Wadia built and gifted the current monument to the Udvada Athornan Anjuman where Shreeji Pak Iranshah is presently enthroned,” he detailed.
Dastoor narrated an exhaustive history of Iran, from Achemenian times to Cyrus the Great to Darius, the building of Persepolis, onto the defeat of Darius III by Alexander of Macedonia, to when Muslims invaded Iran in 637 CE ending the Sassanid Empire.
Muncherji Cama, president of the KRCOI said Dastoor "became a navar-martab at the age of 10, when he finished his martab in 1976 in Udvada.” The H. R. College commerce graduate is also a trustee of his alma mater — the Dadar Athornan Madressa (now Institute). He has been presiding as a high priest for 11 years, following the death of his father Kekobad in 2002.